Maher keeps Durham in hunt

Jimmy Maher © Getty Images

A confident century from Durham opener Jimmy Maher against Nottinghamshire kept the pressure on North Conference leaders Lancashire in the race to qualify for the C&G Trophy final.

Maher hit 109 from 128 balls with 12 fours and shared a first-wicket stand of 155 with Jon Lewis, a new competition record for Durham’s opening partnership.

The left-hander’s accomplished knock helped Durham to a total of 280 for six from their 50 overs, before the hosts imploded in the face of some accurate seam bowling, with Ottis Gibson claiming four wickets.

Notts tamely collapsed to 95 for eight, meaning a brilliant 135 from Chris Read - his second hundred in limited-overs cricket - was irrelevant to the final result.

The hosts were dismissed for 252, losing by 28 runs and ending their faint hopes of qualifying, while Durham are two points behind Lancashire and hold a game in hand.

After winning the toss and choosing to field, Notts wilted under a fierce assault from 32-year-old Maher, who hit boundaries all around the ground.

His opening partner Lewis was just as aggressive as the pair matched each other shot for shot to reach their fifties off 57 balls, with Lewis hitting nine fours and Maher eight.

It took until the 30th over before the home side claimed a wicket, Lewis holing out to Jason Gallian at long-off off left-arm spinner Samit Patel for 73, his highest score in the competition.

The wicket failed to slow Durham’s momentum, Gary Scott scoring at nearly a run a ball before he lofted Graeme Swann to Gallian at deep midwicket for 41.

Maher brought up his hundred in the next over before a late collapse sparked by the return of Mark Ealham, who claimed four wickets in seven balls.

First, Durham skipper Dale Benkenstein miscued a full toss to Gareth Clough at midwicket, before Maher hammered a low drive to a diving Gallian at long-on.

Phil Mustard was bowled behind his legs and Gareth Breese swept straight to Stephen Fleming at short fine-leg.

Notts were never in the hunt from the moment Gallian dragged Gibson on to his stumps in the second over.

Fleming was given out lbw by umpire Roy Palmer for 26, although the ball appeared to pitch outside leg, and Patel fell first ball after gloving a leg-side bouncer to wicket-keeper Mustard.

Australian batsman David Hussey’s dismal form continued as he was bowled by Neil Killeen, before Callum Thorp removed Will Smith and Clough in one over.

Ealham and Swann gave away their wickets cheaply and it was left to Read to add some respectability to the score, putting on a record 155 for the ninth wicket with AJ Harris in 20 overs.

Read eventually fell, caught by Benkenstein off Mick Lewis after smashing six sixes and 10 fours, with Harris last to depart, bowled by Gibson for 34.