Benk warns glory boys

Aug 22 2007 By Jeff Bowron, Evening Chronicle

DURHAM captain Dale Benkenstein is confident his side can refocus following their record-breaking exploits at Lord’s when they face a pivotal period in their NatWest Pro40 League campaign, (writes ).

The Dynamos’ brilliant 125-run win over Hampshire Hawks in the Friends Provident Trophy final brought the first major silverware to a club which only gained first-class status 15 years ago.

Benkenstein hailed the win over Hampshire as the greatest in his career – and the Zimbabwean is determined to carry the euphoria over into the three games in five days which will be critical to the club’s 40-over aspirations.

The Dynamos face Somerset Sabres at Taunton tomorrow in the NatWest Pro40 Second Division and then host top-three sides Leicestershire and Yorkshire on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Benkenstein said: “Winning the Friends Provident Trophy in a Lord’s final which attracted a big crowd on the Saturday was something special.

“It was like a one-day international with so many internationals playing.

“However, we have a big five days and a big five weeks coming up and we have to refocus, as we have realistic ambitions to win the LV County Championship and be promoted in the Pro40 League.”

Benkenstein added: “We have had time to recover but I don’t know how winning our first trophy will affect us.

“I, and many of the other lads have never had such a big win in our career.

“It was a fantastic weekend and the greatest in the club’s history so far.

“It has given the players even more confidence and we want to keep going until the end of the season to bring in at least one more trophy.

“However, we are all professionals and there is still a job to do. “

The Dynamos will make only one change to a side whose heroics with the bat at Lord’s brought 312 runs – Paul Collingwood is on international duty against India, so either Gordon Muchall or Ben Harmison will deputise.

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DURHAM DYNAMOS: D Benkenstein (capt), M Di Venuto, P Mustard, K Coetzer, S Chanderpaul, G Muchall, G Breese, O Gibson, L Plunkett, G Onions, N Killeen, B Harmison.

The Friends Provident Trophy will be on show at the Riverside’s Media Centre during the games on Sunday and Monday. Fans can have pictures taken alongside the trophy free between 12.45 and 4.45.