Durham match thread 2023

[Durhamfootman]

Gloucs 9 down now and Patel has 5fer

This season is proving without a shadow of doubt the value of having a quality spinner in the side..... something we've all been saying for years

[Durhamfootman]

good effort from the bowlers today, both with bat and ball, and all despite a moderately lengthy rain delay in the afternoon. 7 wickets in about 20 overs, which I presume was all in the final session of the day

[captaincolly]

A fair few extras again but can't complain about a day like that. de Leede's bowling is a bit erratic - probably because he's not used to red ball cricket - but he has taken key wickets -top scorer today and YJB last week, and he has batted well. Very encouraging start.
And Patel appears to be an excellent replacement for George!

[Durhamfootman]

Gawd bless George

I've forgotten him already

(just kidding George)

[captaincolly]

Gawd bless George

I've forgotten him already

(just kidding George)

[Durhamfootman]

is Ajaz available for the Dribble?

can't be if we've signed Turner, but maybe, like the situation Lancs may have ended up with, we'll have 3 O/S players to choose 2 from depending on injury, or conditions, or form

[captaincolly]

is Ajaz available for the Dribble?

can't be if we've signed Turner, but maybe, like the situation Lancs may have ended up with, we'll have 3 O/S players to choose 2 from depending on injury, or conditions, or form

Would be handy to have that option.
Assuming there are no heroics from the last pair in the morning and the follow on is an option I hope we bat again.

[Durhamfootman]

plenty of time left in the game and both sides have good spin options. Wickets have fallen to spin on both days 1 and 2, so there's no reason to think that life will be any less hard on day 3 compared to day 4.

If the final wicket does fall early, then our bowlers will have had a good rest and the first innings won't have, or will have only just, reached the new ball stage, so with Patel able to tie up one end and the seamers able to rotate regularly, we might not need to worry about them getting overly tired, or that batting on day 4 will be any more challenging than batting on day 3. I guess Borthwick and Campbell just have to go with whatever their gut is telling them

[Durhamfootman]

I'm liking this new Durham

[captaincolly]

plenty of time left in the game and both sides have good spin options. Wickets have fallen to spin on both days 1 and 2, so there's no reason to think that life will be any less hard on day 3 compared to day 4.

If the final wicket does fall early, then our bowlers will have had a good rest and the first innings won't have, or will have only just, reached the new ball stage, so with Patel able to tie up one end and the seamers able to rotate regularly, we might not need to worry about them getting overly tired, or that batting on day 4 will be any more challenging than batting on day 3. I guess Borthwick and Campbell just have to go with whatever their gut is telling them

Yes, I suppose I'm just usually in favour of the follow on if time or the weather is a concern. We should win either way but I think I just get more jittery if the 4th innings is a run chase.

[captaincolly]

I'm liking this new Durham

Me too. We probably should have won every game so far.

[Durhamfootman]

We are batting, I see.

86-0 at a decent lick, so I guess it’s a race to a 400 lead and declare after tea

[captaincolly]

We are batting, I see.

86-0 at a decent lick, so I guess it’s a race to a 400 lead and declare after tea

Hopefully! After the first half hour I was wondering if it would be one of those annoying days- seems to have just been a blip though...provided there's not a meltdown in the afternoon session!

[captaincolly]

Last night it looked as though Sussex and Leicestershire were both going to win. Glamorgan and Worcestershire fighting back this morning though.

[Durhamfootman]

Leics could easily lose today

Sussex have plenty of time to win theirs, but they need to break this partnership between Labu the beast and Carlson. I still think Sussex will win.

Sussex are in a similar position to us..... they've also looked like a shambles in recent times, but with a change of coach, a change of mindset and a couple of canny signings they've transformed themselves into promotion candidates.