Breese

CHESTER-LE-STREET,

Durham (CMC):

Jamaican all-rounder Gareth Breese bagged a pair of wickets and helped Durham defeat Leicestershire by six wickets in their English Pro40 Division Two cricket match at Riverside Ground yesterday.

Electing to bat, Leicestershire compiled 215 for five off their 40 overs and Durham replied with 218 for four off 30.1 overs for a comfortable victory.

In Leicestershire's innings, South African HD Ackerman top scored with a rapid 72, including nine boundaries, and got support from John Saddler (46) and Paul Nixon (39).

Breese was Durham's most successful bowler, claiming two for 43 off eight overs, while captain Dale Benkenstein picked up two for 51 off his eight overs.

West Indian pacer Ottis Gibson, Man of the Match last weekend when Durham beat Hampshire in the Provident Fund trophy final, finished with figures of none for 34 off six overs.

Durham made fairly easy work of the run chase with Phil Mustard smashing a terrific 78 off just 40 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Mustard, whose 50 came off just 21 balls, dominated a second-wicket stand of 110 with Kyle Coetzer who contributed 39, and Gordon Muchall was unbeaten on 41 with Breese (6) when Durham secured victory with 59 balls to spare.

Benkenstein (32) also contributed to his side's success.

Bowling for Leicestershire, the Jamaica and West Indies pacer Jerome Taylor returned figures of none for 59 off eight overs with one maiden.