Durham Match Thread 2019

[Durhamfootman]

got one

wrong one, probably, but I'll take anything atm

[westoelad]

Josh Dell-20 year old on debut, comes in 10th over,3 wickets down and bats for 4hrs.We've never produced a batsman who's done that.

[captaincolly]

Josh Dell-20 year old on debut, comes in 10th over,3 wickets down and bats for 4hrs.We've never produced a batsman who's done that.

Yep. Soaking up the pressure and tiring out the bowlers.
It's going to take a monumental performance to win now, I'd have favoured Worcs if we had a modest lead on first innings but it seems certain they'll be the ones with a lead - and not a modest one either!

[captaincolly]

Wessels finally out. Can they- for once -quickly finish off the innings? I think it'll be curtains if they don't even though we still lead by 37 right now.

[captaincolly]

Scores are level and still just 6 down so they've answered the question about quickly finishing the innings off!
The answer is - no they can't!

[westoelad]

Rushy goes for 29 in 4 overs with the new ball. Match changing.

[captaincolly]

Rushy goes for 29 in 4 overs with the new ball. Match changing.

Yeah. The last thing we needed.

[Durhamfootman]

Scores are level and still just 6 down so they've answered the question about quickly finishing the innings off!
The answer is - no they can't!

closing in on another century partnership...... and that's against the new ball too

I have a sneaky feeling that they may only need to chase down sub 100 in the 4th innings

chalk this one up as another disappointing defeat after looking briefly as though we were on top.

amazing how many runs we keep on conceding to lower middle orders. It's why we keep on losing matches

[captaincolly]

48 run lead for Worcs at the close. Desperately measures are required! Or maybe they will prove me wrong and make a huge score in the second innings after quickly taking the last 4 wickets tomorrow.

[Durhamfootman]

we have half an hour in the morning to avoid conceding 400 in their first innings, I reckon

so much for feeling as though the one day cup might spark something off for us in the CC, but if we keep on losing the top order for 14 runs against a ball that is designed to not get anyone out, then this is sure to continue, because we will never be able to post competitive scores

[captaincolly]

we have half an hour in the morning to avoid conceding 400 in their first innings, I reckon

so much for feeling as though the one day cup might spark something off for us in the CC, but if we keep on losing the top order for 14 runs against a ball that is designed to not get anyone out, then this is sure to continue, because we will never be able to post competitive scores

Yep.
I think the new ball is still effective - we've taken early wickets in all 3 first innings so far but then it all goes wrong.
Seems to be a combination of a poor top order- Bancroft excepted- a dodgy middle order, long tail and a bowling attack of medium pace and no real spinners.
Apart from that...
There's only one top class batsman in the squad! I think it's highly likely Lees will re-establish himself, Eckersley is a good batsman imo but not a worldbeater, some others have promise but if you have a batting lineup where there's one outstanding player and the rest are either rookies or fairly moderate performers then I can't see how it will ever work.
It'd need underperforming players to suddenly improve and for the younger ones to quickly establish themselves - highly unlikely imo

[captaincolly]

Apparently Whitely was dropped by Salisbury when he had scored just 4!
So the fielding is poor as well as the bowling & batting. Struggling against these division 2 sides is a very bad sign.

[westoelad]

"Resolve and resilience" was Franklin 's message on the eve of the game so Lees aims an expansive drive 2nd ball of the game and Steel plays at a wide one a few overs later. Are they taking the zipp? Compare that to how Dell and Rhodes applied themselves. A few seasons back Lees and Steel were proving themselves to be two of the best openers in the game. Naughty boy nets for the pair of them until they get the message.

[captaincolly]

"Resolve and resilience" was Franklin 's message on the eve of the game so Lees aims an expansive drive 2nd ball of the game and Steel plays at a wide one a few overs later. Are they taking the zipp? Compare that to how Dell and Rhodes applied themselves. A few seasons back Lees and Steel were proving themselves to be two of the best openers in the game. Naughty boy nets for the pair of them until they get the message.

Yeah. Everytime we lose 3 quick wickets and getting out to loose shots is very poor. Might be a partial excuse this time for Lees having to adjust from 50 overs straight back to 4 day but that would be a generous verdict.
Will Smith is probably in his final season and has a pretty modest record but he has experience and probably won't give his wicket away. I'd consider bringing him back although Franklin might have decided to move on from him. It's just that we seem short on experience.

[captaincolly]

Whitely finally out for 72. It's obviously imperative to get the last 3 wickets very quickly! Although they very rarely do it.