Durham Match Thread 2026

[Durhamfootman]

done for the day

[captaincolly]

It looked at the start of our innings that a wicket could come with any ball so well done to McKinney and Bedingham to calm things down.

[Durhamfootman]

seemingly the wicket of DBD for nought was BR's 300th FC wicket for us and he becomes the 5th bowler to achieve this for us

I thought McK looked somewhat watchful at the start, which I'm very happy about, but then when he did start to hit boundaries they looked pretty crisp to me

[captaincolly]

No spectators allowed in today - storm damage and play won't start on time! Looking on social media it appears as if there's damage to sight screens and the covers blew off so the wicket is soaked.
That sounds ominous- wouldn't be a surprise if there's no play today and possibly tomorrow. Would be typical misfortune if this game is abandoned for a freak reason with us well on top.

[Durhamfootman]

it was a bugger of a wind

[Durhamfootman]

not sure why the wicket would be soaked, because I'm not aware that it rained at all

unless Kent snuck in this morning and turned the sprinklers on

[captaincolly]

If the wicket isn't wet then maybe the delay won't be too long - although it has just started to rain in Pelton!

[captaincolly]

According to Martin Emmerson the main issue now is the wet wicket. Seems quite blustery so maybe we will get some play.

[Durhamfootman]

really sunny here

I still don't see how the pitch can have got wet. Unless it's Spring dew

Anyway.... Barely, if any, rain, sunny and windy.... how long can it take to dry out? Surely we'll get enough play to post a score ahead of a final day shoot out

[Durhamfootman]

update: no play before tea, but there are hopes for the final session

seemingly the covers ended up in the stands

[Durhamfootman]

update: no play before tea, but there are hopes for the final session

so much for that hope

Done for the day

[Durhamfootman]

So the groundstaff had the stands safe and the sightscreen replaced by lunch

Only the umpires prevented play today, because and I quote, the cold wind wasn't any good for drying the pitch. The sun has been shining all day.

I'm still not convinced that there was much, if any, rain overnight. I do think the umpires have made their decision using that old covid 'abundance of caution' approach. It seems to border on the farcical, if you ask me. I live a mile away from the ground and there was no rain/damp/precipitation that would have prevented me from cutting my lawn today, if it had needed cutting. Sounds like a crock to me. I reckon the Kent team have been bleating away in the match officials ears all day long. Apart from anything else, having already told people to stay away, the club would surely not have announced at 1pm that people could come down if they didn't think that there was a very real prospect of play. It's a nonsense, and will almost certainly cost us the chance to win the game from a commanding position

[captaincolly]

Yes, when they announced the ground was open I assumed it meant they were sure play would commence.
I hope we don't take any riisks tomorrow with a silly declaration.

[Durhamfootman]

indeed. Lets hope we learnt the lesson of Warks last year

[captaincolly]

About the rain- went for a walk today in fields that are usually horrific after a lot of rain - they were bone dry so it is a mystery why that wicket was deemed unplayable.