DURHAM were grateful for the rain at Grace Road last night after suffering their second clobbering of the season from Josh Cobb.

The 20-year-old Leicester-born batsman thrashed an astonishing 21-ball half-century before the Friends Life t20 match was washed out after five overs.

Cobb made 87 when Durham visited Grace Road in the CB 40 League but that was in vain as Ian Blackwell's 98 had put the game beyond Leicestershire.

The former England Under 19 batsman hit four sixes last night before he fell for 54 to the last ball of the fifth over just before rain drove the players from the field.

Cobb's opening partner, Australian all-rounder Andrew McDonald, had faced only four balls and scored four runs.

Durham made their first change of the T20 campaign with Graham Onions rested ahead of today's championship match against Yorkshire, allowing Scott Borthwick to come in.

Mitch Claydon bowled the first over and saw his second and third balls driven straight down the ground for four by Cobb.

The youngster also took a single off the final ball then smashed Chris Rushworth's opening delivery straight back over his head for six.

Cobb stepped back to carve a four through the off side as 13 came off the over then Claydon was clobbered over long-on for six.

This prompted him to put a man back and bring up third man as only two fielders were allowed outside the circle. True to form, the next ball flew off a thick edge to the third man boundary.

Liam Plunkett came on for the fourth over and Cobb pulled and drove him for two sixes as 18 came off the over.

The onslaught prompted Durham for the first time to turn to a spinner before the fielding restrictions ended and Ian Blackwell ended the mayhem with the final ball of the fifth over when Cobb went for another big hit and was bowled.

As five overs a side is the minimum for a T20 match it was possible that Durham might have had to go in needing 61 to win under the Duckworth / Lewis formula.

But the rain didn't relent and they remained one spot below Leicestershire, having slipped three places when their net run rate plummeted in Thursday night's thrashing at Trent Bridge.

The next T20 match is at home to Lancashire next Friday, followed by the visit of Leicestershire two days later.