Durham Match Thread 2025

[captaincolly]

turned out to be plenty in the end. Comfortable win

Yes, very impressive and no real alarms after the first few overs of their innings.

[Durhamfootman]

On Rhodes, he is our 3rd highest run scorer, has the best average and the best strike rate, so we bat him at 7 and give him 6 balls to face

Aldridge is a useful bat, but he's primarily a bowler and specifically a bowler with an econ of 12 over 4 matches, so we usually bowl him for one over, where he goes for 11 or 12 and then we don't see him again, but tonight his one over for 12, meant that one of Raine or Foulkes, both taking wickets and both with economies under 7, couldn't bowl out

it just makes no sense to me

[Durhamfootman]

as things stand, Rhodes 83 from 48, bats below Neesham 58 from 46, Ackermann 74 from 69 and Aldridge 69 from 51

now, it's entirely possible that we hold him back to give us some late innings impetus, but if that was the case it would have more sense tonight to bring him on when Robbo fell with a little over 4 overs to go, rather than when Neesham fell with just over 2 overs to go...... at least it makes more sense to me

it leaves me with the feeling that they are still making it up as they go along. There seems to be no logical thought process behind some of the things we do.... although we do do the same illogical things in each game, so I have to assume that they have thought about it..... but maybe after a few too many beers

[captaincolly]

Makes no sense to me either. There are too many options and it seems confused thinking.
I don't know much about him but have a feeling that Aldridge might be a very handy red ball cricketer, there's a suggestion he may leave Somerset and I'd have him- his bowling should be effective in the longer format and he is a good batter and fielder.

[Durhamfootman]

yes, decent enough red ball player. I didn't know about the possibility of a move

not sure why he would come, though. He seems to step in at Somerset when the Matt Henry's of this world aren't available, but that would probably be the situation here, covering for Potts/Carse and we already have Connors for that........ if he ever plays for us, that is
Incidentally, I've just looked at the crapinfo averages for us in the CC and the list of players we've used is extraordinarily long. Aldridge has played 4 matches for Somerset and has 12 wickets @ 32's. Yusuf has played 4 matches for us and has 17 wickets @ 21's. If we are interested in him, does that mean we are thinking about overseas batters for next year... does that raise question marks over Bedingham's availability/contract?

[captaincolly]

Pretty sure this is Bedingham's last year of his contract and there must be a concern that it hasn't been renewed yet - unless it's just a formality. SA won't play many tests but if he gets into their one day side it may be an issue.

[Durhamfootman]

the Northants bowlers are now all taking a wicket in their first over. Change the bowler pick up a wicket

BR is trying to raise the pace with 14 off 5 balls, but 74-4 at the halfway point ain't great

the women are doing better against Notts. 94-2 just past the half way point

[Durhamfootman]

Glenn has put the brakes on our innings

men are 88-5 and struggling like buggery

[Durhamfootman]

88-5 and utterly becalmed

[Durhamfootman]

Bates and Heath have the innings back on track

men are still in rebuilding phase..... just wait until they cut loose

[captaincolly]

Good score by the women, must have a fair chance of defending it.
Men look short again although that Neesham innings might give us half a chance - should he not be batting higher up the order? He might be playing the finisher role but if we're nearly finished by the time he comes in it won't work!

[Durhamfootman]

We didn't panic, so to get to 157 was about 20 more than I thought we would. I doubt it will be enough, because my recollection of Wantage road is a smallish ground with boundaries to match. We'll see, but we'll have to bowl very well. They have a lot of runs in that line up

women definitely have a chance, but Beaumont is the key wick and she's already got 22 of their 25 runs. She's in good form too. We strangled her in the one day cup game and she holed out, I think, but looked as though she was struggling for rhythm in that game. She isn't atm. We can't let her take the game away from us

[Durhamfootman]

we have Potts in the side. I didn't spot that

No McKInney

[captaincolly]

Both Notts and Northants off to good starts. I think the men have probably had it.

[Durhamfootman]

well, they haven't run away with it yet. Northants are probably only around where we were at this stage, albeit with fewer wickets lost.

I think Ravi will win it for them. They seem to be holding him back, but I don't know why

90-3 after 12