Dynamos skipper relishes challenge

3:05am Monday 7th July 2008

Dale Benkenstein believes Durham's cause would have been helped in tonight's Twenty20 Cup quarter-final had Yorkshire beaten Essex on Saturday.

Durham host their neighbours after both sides suffered demoralising Friends Provident Trophy semi-final reverses over the weekend.

Durham will be desperate to atone for Friday's comprehensive 83-run defeat to Kent - but their opponents will be just as determined.

Yorkshire crashed to an 87-run loss against Essex 24 hours later with an all southern final crushing hopes of a Durham v Yorkshire Lord's clash in August.

And Durham skipper Benkenstein feels the Tykes defeat adds a little gloss to tonight's encounter.

"It makes the game even more exciting," said Benkenstein, who scored 80 not out in Durham's 218 total on Friday.

"If Yorkshire had got one (final) in the bag it might have helped us because they might have just eased up a little bit but this is their last chance as well now."

The Durham captain admits tonight's game is difficult to predict with the 20-over game more of a lottery than its 50-over counterpart.

But Benkenstein feels Durham have found the right balance in Twenty20 this season, and will be even more determined to reach the finals day at Rose Bowl on July 26 after Friday's defeat.

"No matter how well you prepare it's down to how you react to situations on the day," said Benkenstein. "We feel we have a good method and we're giving everyone the best chance to perform.

"With the team we've got in Twenty20 cricket you never really feel you're out of the game. Bowling-wise we have got such balance I can turn to anyone and batting-wise we have people we can rely on right down to number ten.

"Twenty20 for me is a new period of cricket. I know how much it means to the club and after the disappointment of Friday getting to our first finals day would mean even more. If it isn't to be Lord's, then the Rose Bowl will be great because we've never reached a finals day before."

Durham hold the upper hand over Yorkshire with tonight's game the seventh meeting between the sides this season. Darren Gough's side have won only once with one game tied.

Durham will be without Paul Collingwood who has returned to England duty ahead of Thursday's first Test against South Africa.

Garry Park comes into the 12-man squad with Neil Killeen dropping out.

Durham squad: Di Venuto, Mustard, Smith, Benkenstein, Morkel, Pollock, B Harmison, Plunkett, Breese, S Harmison, Park, Thorp.

The match is scheduled to start at 5.10pm, with gates opening at 3pm. Tickets are available today priced £20 adults, £5 juniors.

Meanwhile, former England bowling coach Allan Donald has warned Steve Harmison that his "fear" of the Test arena may prevent him from returning to the biggest stage.

"I've never seen a bloke as low as Steve was during that Manchester Test against West Indies (last year)," said England's former bowling coach.

"When he came off the field he admitted he was dead scared. He was scared of letting the ball go and he soon realised Michael Vaughan could not turn to him. "Sometimes I feel that there is a fear of being on that massive stage.

"Does he know and fully understand how he became the world's No.1 bowler? Or did he just bowl? I had my doubts as to whether Harmy really understood how he had got there. That's why inconsistencies creep in."

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