Cumbrian batsman Graham Clark is hoping to help Durham Cricket Club compete for silverware in 2019, having signed a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2021.

The 25-year-old, who was born in Whitehaven but came through the ranks at Cleator Cricket Club, made his debut for Durham in 2015 and has become a regular first-team player across all formats during the last two seasons.

Clark’s impressive performances as an opener in this season’s Vitality Blast where he scored 408 runs, including three half-centuries, helped Durham secure a home quarter-final and saw him develop a strong top-order relationship with New Zealand international Tom Latham.

Clark has scored more than 1200 first-class runs over the past two Specsavers County Championship seasons and he averaged 39.28 in the 2017 Royal London One-Day Cup.

"I’m delighted to be extending my contract with Durham and excited to help the team compete for silverware next season," he told the club website.

"Emirates Riverside is a special place to play cricket and I can’t wait to get back into training with the lads and continue to develop my skills."

Durham head coach Jon Lewis added: "We’re happy that Graham has extended his deal and I am confident he will continue to demonstrate his ability over the next few seasons.

"Graham has proven over a number of years his ability in T20 cricket and we began to see his talent flourish last year.

"The challenge for him going forward is to establish that kind of form across three formats."

At Durham, Clark plays alongside all-rounder Liam Trevaskis who is a former Penrith player.

Graham’s brother, Jordan, is also a professional cricketer.

He is set to join Division One side Surrey for the 2019 campaign, having left Lancashire at the end of the 2018 season.