A confident Cassidy McCarthy is backing The Blaze to seal their spot in the Metro Bank One Day Cup semi-finals against Durham at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

Seamer McCarthy returned figures of 3/12 from four overs in a rain-affected 44-run victory away to Somerset at Taunton Vale on Sunday, a result that left The Blaze second in the table.

Now, as Craig Cumming’s side return to Trent Bridge for their final home group-stage game of 2025, they know a win will confirm their spot in the last four with a game to spare.

“We’ve beaten a lot of top teams this year, and we know we can beat Durham to stay in that top four,” affirmed 23-year-old McCarthy.

“We’re obviously all hoping for a home semi-final. If we can do our jobs and get ourselves to that point, it would be great - and if we can do it in front of a home crowd too!”

McCarthy has been named in an unchanged 13-strong squad for the clash with the north-eastern side, which commences at Trent Bridge at 10:30am tomorrow.

Any win for The Blaze on home turf will secure their safe progress, but a bonus-point victory that comes coupled with a loss for Lancashire - who host Warwickshire on Wednesday - will be enough to seal a home semi-final.

Bonus points have not been hard to come by for The Blaze in 2025, though, with the side having collected six of them from the seven wins they have registered thus far, including in their most recent encounter.

“I think the main thing about [Sunday] was that we weren’t at our best at different aspects of the game, but we were good enough to get the win, and the win with a bonus point, so we’ll take confidence from that,” said McCarthy.

“Within the partnerships, the batters were clear on their plans, we were strong up top with the ball, and I think we just need to take that confidence to help us build momentum going into Durham.”

Durham will retain hopes of a top-four finish themselves, currently sitting fifth and just one point off the final qualification spot that is currently occupied by Surrey.

Despite being heavily beaten by leaders Hampshire on Sunday, the Chester-le-Street outfit had won four of their last five completed 50-over games prior to that.

“I think they have a good team on paper, and they’re obviously in good form,” said McCarthy, “but if we take confidence from the way we’ve been going about our game, I don’t think we’ll have much to worry about.

“I think we’re clear and we’re confident, and I think with the quick turnaround, it’s more just about recovering and getting ready for the game.

“We’re pretty clear with our plans and we know that we want to be aggressive as a team, and with the ball and the bat, and that’s worked out well for us so far.”

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