Durham dominated Essex by nine wickets in the opening match of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at Banks Homes Riverside. A brilliant four-wicket spell from rising star, Phoebe Turner, followed by a composed 93* from New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, led Durham to a commanding win.
Turner (21), who impressed with the ball in last season’s regional 50-over competition, was the standout performer with figures of 4-33 from eight overs. Her effort helped bowl Essex out for 177 in just 48 overs after Durham elected to field. Fellow seamer, Grace Thompson, also impressed on her professional debut, claiming 2-34, while experienced leg-spinner, Katie Levick, contributed with 3-28.
Essex struggled to gain momentum after they were reduced to 65-5 in the 20th over. Despite a resilient sixth-wicket partnership between Jodie Grewcock (31) and Sophia Smale (40), the visitors’ total proved insufficient. The pair added 53 for the sixth wicket, but Durham's bowlers kept the pressure on.
Durham’s chase, led by Bates—who is the club's first professional overseas signing—was anchored by a solid 173-run partnership with captain Hollie Armitage (64* off 87 balls). Bates’ 93* off 103 balls, which included 14 boundaries, guided Durham to victory in just 33 overs, securing them the five-point win.
Last year's leading wicket-taker, Thompson, set the tone early with some clinical bowling. Thompson, first struck Jo Gardner, trapping her with an lbw. Turner removed Essex captain, Grace Scrivens, for 19, who was caught behind. Turner continued her assault, dismissing Cordelia Griffith and Lissy Macleod, the latter off a top-edged catch to herself.
Essex were in further trouble, as Flo Miller fell to a superb diving catch by Abi Glen at first slip, leaving them 46-5. Grewcock and Smale’s stand under the Riverside floodlights brought some respite. Levick then had Grewcock and Smale stumped and Essex were 145-7 in the 42nd over. Levick and Turner then cleaned up the tail to bowl Essex out, with 2.3 overs remaining.
While the chase wasn’t entirely without drama, with Durham losing early opener Emma Marlow (lbw to Kate Coppack for 5), Bates and Armitage steadied the ship. Bates, with 348 international appearances under her belt, played a calm and composed knock, reaching her fifty off 68 balls. Armitage followed soon after, also bringing up her half-century off 75 balls, as Durham coasted to victory.
The win gives Durham the perfect start to their campaign, with both the bat and ball firing in all departments.
