Durham Match Thread 2025

[Durhamfootman]

along with rapid fire half centuries for Critchley and Harmer

there's Critchley's

[andy]

244-3 deficit now only 85, Elgar and critchely going really well! Worryingly the forecast for tomorrow has gotten worse as the days gone on

[andy]

307-3 deficit now only 26...critchely approaching his 100 been a really good day for Essex real shame if the weather does arrive over next couple of days

[Durhamfootman]

that Essex scoreline has not come as a surprise to me

[Durhamfootman]

the women lost today as well, ending any faint hopes of making the semi's

they were looking good at one point, so it's a disappointing, if not unexpected, result

[Durhamfootman]

the headlines from the last couple of days.... 'Hants dominate Durham to make semi finals', followed by 'Blaze beat Durham to make semi finals'. There's a theme developing. Surrey's turn next

[captaincolly]

that Essex scoreline has not come as a surprise to me

Nor me. The bowling is toothless, even Raine and Potts have been well below par this season and, for various reasons, the backup bowling has been almost totally ineffective.
I just can't see them taking 20 wickets in any of these remaining games unless the opposition self destruction or the pitches make the games a lottery.
Thanks to andy for the view from the ground!

[Durhamfootman]

continues to go well

Essex with a lead are closing in on a 200 partnership and a 3rd batting point

[captaincolly]

Potts has removed the two centurions. 30 ahead with 4 wickets left. Think the rain will arrive after lunch but if it doesn't the predictable scenario would be those last 4 wickets adding a lot of runs and/or a 2nd innings batting collapse.

[captaincolly]

Light rain forecast tomorrow but the percentage chances are lowish throughout the day so we could well have to face plenty of overs. And I'm not confident of survival! As you mentioned earlier, this match has been predictable so far - so the batting collapse after conceding a big first innings lead is usually what happens next!

[captaincolly]

And right on cue - 2 down straight away!

[Durhamfootman]

last day catastrophic collapse at Chelmsford?

almost never happens, that

[Durhamfootman]

I suppose the irony is that we chose to bat first so that we wouldn't have to bat last on a day 4 pitch, with Harmer at one end all day

not much of a plan as it turns out

[Durhamfootman]

I don't even think the season is going to all the way down to the wire. Worcs are going to go down. Essex will pull themselves clear of almost all danger with victory today. That leaves us and Yorks..... and Yorks are going to pick up a draw today courtesy of the weather. If the weather is poor again next week and they walk away from Hove with a draw in their pocket they might go into the final game against us with survival as near to nailed on as makes no odds.

I can't see anything other than relegation and it will be fully deserved. Our approach to this season in every way will have contributed to it, from early season stupid run chases trying to snatch victory from certain draws and ending up losing to last day failures to take the necessary wickets and letting teams escape with draws. From shambolic overseas recruitment to pre season jollies that provided nothing in terms of getting us season ready. Did anybody think that Lees would make a good captain? I didn't.... I said so on here umpteen times before the season started

Still, all the contract extensions were sorted out before the entire season fell apart, so that's all good

Just as well that relegation means *modded* all in the county championship

[andy]

We're gonna get done by the bloody weather