Stephen Cook’s first century for Durham was overshadowed by Jonny Bairstow’s 174, as Yorkshire won their One Day Cup clash on Wednesday.
No total is safe in List A cricket anymore, especially when players are capable of scoring 174 off 113 balls. Bairstow, in England’s ODI squad for the Champions Trophy mainly as a back-up wicketkeeper to Jos Buttler, produced a career-best performance to maintain Yorkshire’s 100% start to the Royal London One Day Cup.
Durham, looking to maintain their unbeaten start, had their South African-born top three to thank for getting them to 335-5. Keaton Jennings, Stephen Cook and Michael Richardson, respective sons of former South African household names Ray, Jimmy and Dave, scored 278 runs between them.
Jennings and Cook amassed 124 in their opening stand, Jennings dominating the partnership with 72 from only 63 balls. Cook found an extra gear to push on and bring up his first century for Durham, this after some mixed performances in the County Championship, and scores of 18 and 60 in the One Day Cup.
He eventually departed for 106, but Port Elizabeth-born Richardson brought up a maiden List A century himself, getting his ton with the last ball of the innings off 86 balls.
Bairstow and England Test captain Joe Root then shared in a 189-run stand, but 132 of those runs came off the bat of Bairstow, as he smashed seven sixes and 16 fours to leave an easy chase for Root (55) and Australian import Peter Handscomb (47 not out) with 2.2 overs remaining.
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