The short version
- Nottinghamshire recovered from a precarious position to defeat Yorkshire and secure a semifinal berth against Leicestershire.
- Durham defeated Lancashire by a significant margin, powered by a century from David Bedingham, setting up a clash with Middlesex.
- Both matches featured notable individual performances that shifted momentum late in the contests, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament.
Nottinghamshire and Durham have secured their places in the One-Day Cup semifinals following decisive victories on Thursday. Both teams achieved their results away from home, overcoming significant challenges to advance to the weekend’s knockout stage. The outcomes set up two distinct matchups for Sunday, with Nottinghamshire facing a regional rival and Durham preparing for a contest against a dominant group winner.
Nottinghamshire’s path to the semifinals was marked by a dramatic turnaround at Clifton Park in York. Chasing a target of 274 set by Yorkshire, the visitors found themselves in deep trouble early in their innings. They slumped to 55 runs for four wickets, appearing well out of contention after losing key batsmen quickly, including two dismissals in consecutive balls for bowler Ben Coad. The situation seemed dire as the team struggled to build any meaningful momentum against a Yorkshire side that had posted a respectable total.
The contest shifted entirely due to a partnership between Kyle Verreynne and Jack Haynes. The pair constructed a 154-run stand that transformed the game from a likely defeat into a narrow victory. Verreynne contributed 105 runs off 123 balls, providing stability after Nottinghamshire’s stuttering start. His resilience was crucial, particularly as he survived a potential hat-trick ball that could have further destabilized the innings. Haynes followed with an unbeaten 116, guiding his team to victory with three wickets remaining and eight balls left in the match.
Yorkshire’s total of 273 for nine was anchored by a strong performance from young batter Will Bennison, who scored 91 runs. However, the home side lost momentum in the middle overs, partly due to an injury to paceman Jack White early in his spell. Yorkshire head coach Anthony McGrath noted that losing the toss forced them to bowl first, a decision he believed may have worked against them as the pitch likely eased for batting later in the day. Despite a strong bowling performance from Coad, who took five wickets for 52 runs, the target proved insufficient to hold off Nottinghamshire’s late surge.
In the other quarterfinal, Durham delivered a comprehensive performance against Lancashire at Old Trafford. The visitors posted a commanding total of 349 for eight in their 50 overs, setting a daunting challenge for the hosts. Although Durham started slowly, reaching only 110 for three at the halfway mark, they accelerated significantly in the second half of their innings. A crucial partnership between David Bedingham and Ollie Robinson added 149 runs in just 16 overs, shifting the momentum firmly in Durham’s favor.
David Bedingham played a pivotal role in Durham’s success, scoring a match-winning century on only his third appearance in this year’s tournament. He reached his fifth hundred in all formats against Lancashire, compiling his score off just 87 balls. Bedingham credited Ollie Robinson for changing the game upon his arrival and praised the team’s overall effort. The high total put immense pressure on Lancashire, who were bowled out for 187 runs. This defeat marked one of the heaviest losses in the club’s 63-year history in one-day cricket.
Lancashire’s chase lacked firepower, with only teenager Joe Moores providing significant resistance by scoring 51 runs off 42 balls, including four sixes. Former Durham player Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon briefly looked dangerous but departed before making substantial impact. Lancashire head coach Steven Croft acknowledged that his team was outperformed in all departments, noting that Durham carried their momentum from the powerplay into the later stages. He admitted that his side did not throw enough punches during the run chase.
The semifinal fixtures will be played on Sunday. Nottinghamshire will face Leicestershire, the Group A winners and 2024 champions, in an East Midlands derby at Grace Road. This marks a significant milestone for Nottinghamshire, who have never reached the final of this competition since it moved to Trent Bridge in 2021. Meanwhile, Durham will travel to Radlett to play Middlesex, who qualified automatically for a home semifinal after winning seven of their eight group games. The venue change from Lord’s was necessitated by unavailability at the traditional ground.
These results highlight the unpredictable nature of limited-overs cricket, where momentum can shift rapidly based on individual performances and tactical decisions. Nottinghamshire’s comeback demonstrated the value of resilience under pressure, while Durham’s dominance showcased effective team coordination. As both teams prepare for their semifinal encounters, they will look to build on these victories and navigate the challenges posed by strong opponents in the final stages of the tournament.
Sources behind this briefing
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- BBC Sport↗Notts and Durham reach One-Day Cup semi-finals
