<\/p>\n
T<\/span>he Metro Bank One-Day Cup has been a bit of a sleeper hit this summer. Words such as \u201cdevalued\u201d and \u201csecond tier\u201d have followed the tournament since the dawn of the Hundred in 2021 but there has been a quiet resurgence of late.<\/p>\n The prolonged dry spell has provided certainty and pleasant conditions but the big one has been the Hundred\u2019s tractor beam slightly easing. Essentially, the full availability of England players \u2013 plus one extra overseas spot per franchise \u2013 has lessened the strain on county 50-over squads and upped their quality a touch.<\/p>\n And though he is just one man, Ben Stokes\u2019s presence in Durham\u2019s ranks has also played a small part. Wherever Durham travel, supporters have been able to watch a bona fide England great in the flesh; close enough to read the tattoos or catch a whiff of expensive cologne as he prowls the boundary rope between spells.<\/p>\n This was not by design, of course, but rather an unexpected bonus after Stokes pulled the pin on his England career<\/a> in June. Having not registered for the Hundred auction, the all\u2011rounder could not slip into the tournament as a late addition. Whether he would have, given his rekindled love for Durham, is uncertain.<\/p>\n Stokes was at New Road on Tuesday, where his team were looking to lock down their place in the knockout phase, and the defending champions Worcestershire<\/a> needed a big win to boost their net run-rate and pip them to third in Group B. Jake Libby, the home captain, was also eyeing his fifth List A century to equal the world record.<\/p>\n Libby fell for 46 \u2013 the domestic record of four in a row will have to suffice \u2013 but his team still squeezed out the win. Problem was, it was not quite big enough, having posted 291 and then needed to keep the visitors under 205. Durham<\/a>, 214 all out in 38.5 overs after stumbling to 199 for nine, progress to the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n Still, for all the local disappointment, or the relief in the away dressing room after Hampshire lost a nail-biter at Derbyshire, this was still a pretty life-affirming day all the same. A crowd of about 3,000 may not jump off the page but they were engaged, buzzed throughout, and stayed to applaud the players as they left the field.<\/p>\n New Road was pretty much bliss in the sunshine, even if at one stage, when the hosts slipped to 162 for six in the 32nd over, it looked like a damp squib might unfold. Step forward Tom Taylor, blazing a career-best 86 from No 7 \u2013 eight fours, three sixes \u2013 to give his fellow bowlers plenty more to work with in the defence.<\/p>\n