Durham match thread 2023

[captaincolly]

Parkinson very expensive but has got rid of Hammond who was racing along. Need to take regular wickets, a very short boundary so hard to stop the flow of runs.

[captaincolly]

Chris Dent usually does well against us so getting him out in these conditions for 85 will do.
205/4 Don't think that's a bad tally given the conditions but think Lees dropped a catch earlier. Just arrived, lights are on and overcast skies but dry for now.

[captaincolly]

A bit of rain now, think we might be off soon.

[captaincolly]

A bit of rain now, think we might be off soon.

Maybe not. Brightening up a bit - does look like a very flat pitch so not sure what would be a good score- only concern is if the conditions aren't so good when we bat.

[captaincolly]

A wicket for Parkinson just before tea. They must have our script with wickets falling at the end of a session. Came a bit out of the blue. 256/5.

[captaincolly]

Raining now. Not heavy but lots of dark clouds around. Covers coming on. Looks as if it's going to be one of those annoying times where it wouldn't have interrupted play at the minute but they won't resume after tea.

[captaincolly]

No! Covers coming off again. Looks a bit dodgy overhead though, very gloomy. Could be a good time to bowl if the rain holds off and light holds.

[captaincolly]

Just as I was about to say I wouldn't have Parkinson bowling he has taken a wicket - Bracey. 261/6 but raining again- staying on for now. Next ball almost another wicket!

[captaincolly]

Decent day but we need to wrap this innings up in the morning and then bat well enough to get a significant first innings lead- Matty Potts was saying he thinks spin will be a factor later in the game, a concern with Zafar bowling!

[Durhamfootman]

I was there for the morning session today. Looked like hard work for our bowlers. Is this the second kookaburra match?

I felt a bit sorry for Matty Potts today. After a very non threatening first 3 overs he started to put the pressure on and got the early wicket. I counted 3 times that the batters nicked off, only to see the ball fly through/past the cordon for 4 runs. I also think (although I'm not 100% sure) that we dropped a couple of sharp chances at slip and at leg slip, so Gloucs got quite a few slices of luck in the first hour and a half. They weren't gimmee's though.

I had to come away just before the 2nd wicket fell and I also missed the first wicket as I moved round to the pavilion to get a bit closer. Maybe if I'd done that more often we'd have pouched some of those chances

Judging by how placid the ball was, how flat the pitch looked and how largely ineffective the bowling seemed, I think we did pretty well to get 6 wickets today. We had pretty attacking fields set all morning, so if we kept that up after lunch, then perhaps that was the reason. Dent appeared to lead a charmed life this morning. If his innings had been curtailed then we might have bowled them out today

first time i've really noticed how quickly Carse moves when fielding. He can certainly shift. Given his injury woes, it was good to see him moving around so freely

[captaincolly]

I was there for the morning session today. Looked like hard work for our bowlers. Is this the second kookaburra match?

I felt a bit sorry for Matty Potts today. After a very non threatening first 3 overs he started to put the pressure on and got the early wicket. I counted 3 times that the batters nicked off, only to see the ball fly through/past the cordon for 4 runs. I also think (although I'm not 100% sure) that we dropped a couple of sharp chances at slip and at leg slip, so Gloucs got quite a few slices of luck in the first hour and a half. They weren't gimmee's though.

I had to come away just before the 2nd wicket fell and I also missed the first wicket as I moved round to the pavilion to get a bit closer. Maybe if I'd done that more often we'd have pouched some of those chances

Judging by how placid the ball was, how flat the pitch looked and how largely ineffective the bowling seemed, I think we did pretty well to get 6 wickets today. We had pretty attacking fields set all morning, so if we kept that up after lunch, then perhaps that was the reason. Dent appeared to lead a charmed life this morning. If his innings had been curtailed then we might have bowled them out today

first time i've really noticed how quickly Carse moves when fielding. He can certainly shift. Given his injury woes, it was good to see him moving around so freely

Yes, the last kookaburra ball game. It's one of those days where I suspect we'd probably have been in a better position than Gloucestershire had we won the toss. Didn't see the first session and a half but from what you say it sounds as if there's something in the pitch for the new ball so that makes it even more important to wrap this innings up quickly and start well with the bat. Potts said the fielding early on was below par. Gloucestershire certain to post a score that will have us in trouble if we don't bat well- no reason to fear we won't given the way we have been playing but it'll require a measured approach- Potts said that once Dent got in he defended the straight balls and picked off the loose ones - that sounds like the way to approach it.

[captaincolly]

Been out most of the day so missed the disastrous start, from what I gather all 4 wickets were poor shots. Subsequent partnership suggests the conditions haven't deteriorated. Three successive hundreds for Lees and another vital knock from Graham Clark - I thought the decision to play him in red ball cricket was a poor one - wrong again!

[captaincolly]

Bazball 150 now - got there with three successive boundaries and in about 160 balls. Just signs though that he might be getting carried away - no need to try anything too risky at this stage.

[captaincolly]

A few dark clouds. Need to be sensible here and not gift a wicket- although I bet they will continue to go for big shots

[Durhamfootman]

someone forgot to give Gloucs a kookaburra at the new ball change. first ball Lees lbw, second ball Raine caught behind, third ball four runs for Pretorius

lead is 48 and we're in danger of throwing an excellent position away