Ben Stokes made a quickfire 43 off 27 balls, propelling Durham to a 20‑run win over Essex in a One‑Day Cup Group B match at Darlington. The game was trimmed to 38 overs by early rain; Essex were bowled out for 209 after a 30‑3 start. Stokes’ burst of five fours and two sixes set the tone, and former England captain Colin Ackermann finished on an unbeaten 80 to bring Durham to 229‑5. Essex’s opener Noah Thain hit 76, but the rest of the top order fell cheaply.

Emilio Gay sat out the match to recover from a retirement‑hurt after Friday’s loss to Middlesex, leaving Durham to rely entirely on the experienced batting lineup. Elsewhere, Jake Libby’s fourth century of the tournament was not enough for Worcestershire as Glamorgan snatched a two‑wicket win on the last ball at Cardiff.

Group B leaders Middlesex eased to an 87‑run victory over Derbyshire, while Hampshire’s openers Ali Orr and Ben Mayes shared 225 for the first wicket in their 51‑run win over Sussex. Kent’s Daniel Bell‑Drummond unbeaten 133 helped keep their Group A hopes alive, and Gloucestershire beat Nottinghamshire with five balls left.