T20 Blast 2022 | Coughlin's all-round display hands Leicestershire a 54-run hammering

Paul Coughlin's (42 off 30 & 4/15 in 3) all-round display has helped Durham kick start their 2022 T20 Blast campaign with a clinical 54-run win over Leicestershire.

Leicestershire had no answers to Coughlin's medium pace and his flashy blade as they surrendered meekly on Friday night.

The right-arm seamer ran through the Leicestershire top-order, and by the time the 3rd over of an 185 run-chase was done, the Colin Ackermann-led unit found themselves reeling at 3-16.

Ackermann, too, couldn't do much as he was undone by his opposite number after a pain-staking 20-ball 15.

Rishi Patel (40 off 31) tried his best to keep his side afloat, but it proved to be a bridge too far to scale.

The Durham spin trio of Liam Trevaskis, Scott Borthwick and Ashton Turner wiped out the middle-order before Coughlin returned to claim his 4th wicket.

Ben Mike (24 off 16) did wield his willow in the end before Leicestershire were eventually bowled out for 130.

Earlier, Durham rode on valuable cameos from the likes of Paul Coughlin (42 off 30 deliveries), and Ashton Turner (32 off 18 deliveries) to post 184/8 in 20 overs.

Having been inserted into bat by Leicestershire, Durham got off to a decent start as they made 47 runs in the powerplay, albeit at the loss of two wickets.

Opener Michael Jones was the first wicket to fall (in the 4th over bowled by Callum Parkinson) but not before he had smashed three fours and a six in his 13-ball 21.

Ollie Robinson departed cheaply for a 5-ball 4, as did Bedingham (1 off 2 deliveries), leaving Durham reeling at 3-47 after 6.1.

While Roman Walker (2/52 in 4) dismissed Robinson, leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed got rid of Bedingham.

But a 42-run-stand (in just 4.1 overs) between Graham Clark (36 off 27 deliveries) and Ashton Turner proceeded to revive the innings.

Both batters fell in quick succession, but the trio of Coughlin, Brydon Carse (10 off 10) and Ned Eckersley (20 off 9) ensured that Durham added 75 runs in the last 9.1 overs to end up at 184/8.

Rehan Ahmed (2/22 in 4) and Naveen-ul-Haq (1/26 in 4) proved to be the pick of the bowlers for Leicestershire.

Brief Scores:

Durham - 184/8 (20)

Paul Coughlin 42 (30), Graham Clark 36 (27);

Rehan Ahmed 2/22 (4), Roman Walker 2/52 (4)

Leicestershire - 130/10 (17.5)

Rishi Patel 40 (31), Ben Mike 24 (16);

Paul Coughlin 4/15 (3), Liam Trevaskis 2/36 (4)

Durham won by 54 runs.