Durham Match Thread 2024

[captaincolly]

Quite amusing that we used two night watchmen to protect McKinney and he was out second ball anyway!

[Durhamfootman]

some might say it was amusing, others might say it demonstrates the folly of nightwatchmen

[captaincolly]

some might say it was amusing, others might say it demonstrates the folly of nightwatchmen

Yes, it'd have made sense if there was just one over left but not two. I was expecting there would be at least one wicket but my hunch was a run out!

[captaincolly]

Probably just as well there's nothing at stake in this Kent game given the amount of rain that has fallen.

Starting to think about the red ball season. At the start I thought staying up would count as a success and staying up comfortably would be a real achievement. In the end we have done that but it's a little strange because, on one hand, we maybe should have done a bit better but , on the other, if Matty Potts hadn't been available for the Lancs game we could have been in a very difficult position.
Need to add a couple of bowlers for next year and hope for better luck with the overseas slot.

[Durhamfootman]

well I think that's the key, isn't it. If we are going to lose Pottsy and to a lesser extent Carse, then we need an OS bowler who we can rely on to play more than one game before heading home injured. It's been terrible bad luck, but maybe the fact that Siddle completed his complement of matches without trouble and with a reasonable degree of success, points out the direction of travel when recruiting

We have Connors for next year, but he isn't going to replace Matty Potts, so we have to have our OS choice available all of the time

match closed for the day already. I'm hoping to make a final visit of the season tomorrow, so we could do with a fairly dry day today. Although the first game of the season was completely wiped out despite some dry days, so I'm not sure about my chances

[captaincolly]

Yes, Siddle was handy and the one to avoid the injury Curse. That's the type we want.
Hopefully there will be some plat over the weekend but I also have doubts- has the feel of that opening game and I doubt either side are desperate to play.

[Durhamfootman]

if there is to be no play, or very little play, then 2 of our 7 home games will have been wiped out with barely a ball bowled

[captaincolly]

Wouldn't surprise me if there isn't any but if by any chance they do get on for a reasonable amount of time I wonder of they'll try and make a game of it with innings forfeits. Nothing riding on the game really and the result won't impact the other relegation battles.

[captaincolly]

Well I was wrong! Can't go today but I'll pop down tomorrow for the season finale.

[captaincolly]

149/1. Lees 5 short of a century in the session.

[Durhamfootman]

It was very pleasant when I arrived, but it’s clouded over a bit now

Productive morning. At one point I thought Leesy was going to bring up his ton before lunch. First chance I’ve had to see emilio gay bat

[captaincolly]

Interesting comments by Campbell on the stream. Unless he's keeping his cards close to his chest it doesn't sound as there'll be any major departures. Talking about Coughlin, de Leede, Lees in terms of next season and mentioned Luke Robinson and Stanley McAlindan as if they're both still in the plans.
Ominously for Borthwick he said North wanted assurances McKinney would play with Gay and Rhodes coming in. He said he knows how it'll work! I still don't- two coming in so two will have to go. The one thing he said is he expects Bedingham to break into the South Africa ODI side so he might miss some more games.

[captaincolly]

Campbell also talking about trying to win this by enforcing the follow on. Demain on now says he's assuming both sides will forfeit an innings. Doesn't look that way right now because they seem to be batting with an early declaration in mind.

[Durhamfootman]

they do indeed

Bedders is on the charge..... making mincemeat of Parky M

[Durhamfootman]

skies one

out for 66 off 38 balls