TAUNTON, England, CMC – Jamaican Gareth Breese played a defiant match-winning innings on Sunday for Durham, a result that handed the English Pro40 Division One title to Dwayne Smith’s Sussex.
Worcestershire beat Sussex at New Road but Somerset’s failure to defeat Durham at County Ground meant Sussex claimed the Pro40 title to add to the Twenty20 Championship they won earlier this season.
The Barbadian Smith, who has had a solid season with the bat for Sussex, fell cheaply for one as Sussex plunged to 165 all out off 34.5 overs to lose by 49 runs.
Worcestershire’s had scored 214 for six off their 40 overs, Smith picking up one for 25 off five overs.
With that result, Somerset – with West Indian all-rounder Omari Banks — had a chance to clinch the title and provide a fitting tribute to retiring captain Justin Langer.
They scored 242 for seven and narrowly lost the match when Gordon Muchall (61), Phil Mustard (49) and Breese hauled Durham to 243 for eight in 39.4 overs.
Playing without West Indies star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Durham edged home with two balls to spare with Breese playing solidly for his 38 off 49 balls with one four and one six.
