Durham Match Thread 2019

[Durhamfootman]

no doubt

[Durhamfootman]

made it to lunch unscathed

[captaincolly]

made it to lunch unscathed

That's a relief. The stage seemed to be set for a disastrous start!

[captaincolly]

Another 50 opening stand...just like the first innings!

[Arthur Crabtree]

A run out is always galling.

[captaincolly]

A run out is always galling.

Yep! And with our batting line up one wicket can bring 2 or 3. Or 9!

[captaincolly]

Game in the balance so no pressure on Robson or the debutant Steel!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Handy runs from Robson.

[captaincolly]

Handy runs from Robson.

Yep. Hard to know what will be a good total - if conditions are still tough for batting 150 might be tricky but if things are easier we are likely to struggle.

[captaincolly]

50 for Robson.
Lead is 173 but only two wickets left.
Apparently the Eckersley lbw was a poor decision - so the curse of the captaincy may have struck.

[captaincolly]

Robson last man out for 64. Target is 196 with 9 overs left in the day if the light holds. Hopefully it will!

[captaincolly]

Robson last man out for 64. Target is 196 with 9 overs left in the day if the light holds. Hopefully it will!

Off to a flying start! Where's the bad light?!

[captaincolly]

21/0 after 5 and off for bad light so that should be it for the day.

[Durhamfootman]

Good runs for Robson in a low scoring game

Rushy seems to have been unusually profligate. I hope it isn't a sign of things to come.

I agree with Arthur, losing a set opener to a run out is galling. In a game like this, with absolutely time pressure at all, it's needless and wasteful

All things considered and in an ideal world, Middlesex should win. We wouldn't last 5 mins in div 1. We need another year to strengthen the side and bed it in before taking those teams on

[captaincolly]

Good runs for Robson in a low scoring game

Rushy seems to have been unusually profligate. I hope it isn't a sign of things to come.

I agree with Arthur, losing a set opener to a run out is galling. In a game like this, with absolutely time pressure at all, it's needless and wasteful

All things considered and in an ideal world, Middlesex should win. We wouldn't last 5 mins in div 1. We need another year to strengthen the side and bed it in before taking those teams on

Agreed. Think the Middlesex batting is vulnerable so we probably still have a reasonable chance but we're definitely not remotely ready for the first division. There have been plenty of encouraging signs this seasom but also sone glaring weaknesses that need to be sorted out.