Durham secured a commanding victory over Lancashire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup opener at Sedbergh School, thanks to captain Alex Lees' brilliant century and crucial contributions from Dutch internationals Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann.
Lees anchored Durham's innings with a well-crafted 111 off 126 balls, featuring eight boundaries and a six. His performance laid the foundation for Durham's impressive total of 344 for 4, their sixth-highest in List A cricket. De Leede added a brisk 72 off 63 balls, while Ackermann contributed a quickfire 59 off 33, helping the team finish strong.
In response, Lancashire faced a daunting task under ideal batting conditions and before a crowd of around 2,000. Despite a valiant effort from Josh Bohannon, who scored a career-best 147 off 119 balls, Lancashire fell short, finishing at 287 all out. Ackermann and de Leede played pivotal roles with the ball, sharing six wickets and ensuring a Durham win by 57 runs.
Lees' decision to bat first proved fruitful, as he dominated the leg-side, including a six off George Balderson's seam. Ben McKinney, another promising talent, scored 43, while Michael Jones provided late impetus with a rapid 41 off 21 against his birth county. Durham's batsmen maintained pressure, with a notable 129-run partnership between Lees and de Leede for the second wicket, a record for Durham against Lancashire in List A matches.
Lees reached his century off 117 balls but was soon dismissed, caught at long-off. De Leede followed shortly after, and Durham accelerated in the final overs, with Ackermann and Jones propelling the score to 344. Lancashire's bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, with only Balderson managing an economy below six.
Lancashire's chase began positively despite the early loss of George Bell. At 91 for one in the 16th over, they seemed well-positioned, but Keaton Jennings' run-out for 44 triggered a collapse, losing four wickets for 46 runs. Ackermann's off-spin was particularly effective, claiming three wickets, including two in the 23rd over.
Bohannon tried to stabilize the innings, forming a 61-run partnership with Harry Singh, but de Leede's double strike in the 34th over left Lancashire reeling at 202 for seven. Bohannon reached his second List A century off 93 balls, but without substantial support, Lancashire's defeat was inevitable. He added a 62-run stand with Will Williams before being bowled by Jonathan Bushnell, ending Lancashire's innings at 287.
This victory highlighted Durham's strong all-round performance, setting a high standard for the rest of their campaign in the tournament.