Durham beat Essex by 20 runs in One-Day Cup

Ben Stokes slammed a 43-ball 43 to steer Durham past Essex by 20 runs in the One-Day Cup Group B clash at Darlington on Tuesday, even without England opener Emile Heskey’s replacement, Emilio Gay.

Durham had to field a reshaped side after Gay was ruled out with a side injury picked up at the weekend. The hosts still chased 281, but Stokes’ cameo and lower-order runs left Essex chasing an unlikely 261. A 77 from Tom Mackintosh set the platform, while spinner Liam Trevaskis took 3-44 as Essex stuttered to 260 all out.

The win keeps Durham’s hopes of a quarter-final spot alive while Essex’s campaign stalls. Stokes, leading the side between Tests, showed why England handed him the captaincy last summer. Durham’s next match is against Lancashire on Sunday; Essex face Yorkshire on Friday. The Group B standings are tight—one more win could be decisive.

The absence of Gay, Durham’s top-scorer this season, forced Stokes to bat earlier than usual. His aggression kept the required rate climbing, while Trevaskis strangled Essex’s middle order. The result underlines Durham’s depth despite injury woes and Stokes’ growing influence as both player and leader.