DURHAM’S hopes of recording their first Twenty 20 win of the season against the only team who finished below them in their group last year were ruined by rain at Worcester yesterday.

It was a repeat of Worcestershire’s visit to Chester-le-Street last season, underlining the futility of travelling such distances for Friends Life t20 games.

It will not happen again as the tournament will revert to ten group games next year following two seasons with 16.

Durham will take today off and spend tomorrow practising before embarking on another long trip to Northampton for Thursday’s match, which is followed by a floodlit game at Derby on Friday.

Northants suffered their first defeat of the season in any form of cricket when they lost their Twenty20 opener against Leicestershire. But they won by 40 runs at Edgbaston yesterday after Warwickshire had won their first two games away to Durham and Yorkshire.

Durham will note the figures of the two offspinners at Edgbaston as South African Johan Botha took four for 16 for Northants, while New Zealander Jeetan Patel had three for 19 for Warwickshire.

Meanwhile, Durham will continue to give second team and academy opportunities to New Zealander Henry Nicholls, but don’t have any plans to sign him.

The 21-year-old batsman scored 209 not out in a three-day academy game at Longhirst Hall, near Morpeth, last week, in which Durham beat Yorkshire by an innings and ten runs.

“He’s here as part of a reciprocal arrangement we have with Paul Wiseman’s club,” said Durham coach Geoff Cook.

“Ben Raine went out there in the winter and has obviously benefited.

“Henry is playing for Blaydon on Saturdays and is available to us during the week.”

Adam Hickey, a 14-yearold Durham School offspinner, took four for 53 in Yorkshire’s second innings at Longhirst. Easily the youngest player in the match, he is from Darlington and is the son of Darren Hickey, who has played for several North- East clubs.