Durham Match Thread 2026

[Durhamfootman]

Target is 357. Will Kent be tempted by that? Probably not, given NE’s reaction to our declaration

There were no bowling alarms for BR and MP, although the ball that cartwheeled KR’s middle stump out of the ground might have kept low…… not sure

KA, of course

[captaincolly]

100 run partnership! Early handshakes on the cards here.

[Durhamfootman]

Ackerman into the attack before tea don't expect him to find much spin here if any

the way it's turned out, we should have had a spinner in the starting XI. Lots of spinners have taken wickets yesterday and today, but we don't have one. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I reckon

It was one of those afternoons where it felt everything was going against us. I lost track of the number of times we hit the pads, but the only one given was that of Crawley, who'd been hit on the pads so many times that I think eventually the umpire felt obliged to give one. We had both Crawley and Northeast caught behind but not given, even though there were big noises, so the umps must have thought it was the thigh pad or something. We dropped DBD regulation at 2nd slip on 4, I think. Raine had Muyeye on a string for about 6 overs of his spell. Hit him on the pads a couple of times, beat the bat loads of times, found genuine edges that flew past the slip cordon. The first proper shot he hit took him onto 34. Extraordinary spell of good fortune

Sadly for us, the only time we looked really, really threatening was when BR and MP were bowling. Roach's bowling was as loose as a goose and Aldridge didn't really threaten much after the first couple of overs when he found the DBD edge and then Muyeye edged another just wide of the despairing dive of 3rd slip. The next time Muyeye nicked off to 3rd slip, we'd just moved him to short midwicket, so it went to the boundary instead

Not our day, today. Pottsy was magnificent in his opening 8 over spell. Full of aggression, caused the batters no end of problems, conceded very little. Had no luck with the umpires at all. His opening over he got Crawley to nick off (not given) and then rapped him full on the pads next ball (not given). He thoroughly deserved his wicket when it came. Poor old Ben Compton must feel aggrieved to be the only batter given out nicking off.

It's a bit worrying that after a winter of recruitment we still seem wholly dependent on Ben Raine and Matty Potts and that when the ball goes soft we stop taking wickets. It stopped us winning anything last year and it'll do the same this year if we let it

[Durhamfootman]

the game was crying out for a spinner this afternoon. At no point have Kent looked interested in having a go, despite our positive field settings, so we could have had men around the bat all afternoon

Campo came to the club saying we'd play a spinner every game. When we did do that, we got promoted that year and then finished mid table in div 1 the next. When we stopped doing that we got relegated instead, because we couldn't take 20 wickets, no matter how green we prepared the pitches

[Durhamfootman]

2 quick wickets

BR and MP again

min 23 overs.... so possible, but then I never know how it works on day 4. Will it be 23 overs or will it be 16 overs between 5pm and 6pm? My understanding was that captains couldn't shake hands before that final hour on day 4, but Surrey and Warwickshire did, so I know nothing

[Durhamfootman]

Muyeye brings up his century

It's hard to comprehend just how hopeless he looked before the tea break. Astonishing really, he could have been out half a dozen times by the time he got to 40 off the edge of his bat. He had no idea what to do with Ben Raine. He didn't know whether to stick, twist, or start a karaoke. He looked hopeless, hapless and helpless. It goes to show what just sticking in there can do..... might be a lesson there for the England test players if they have the wit to see it

[Durhamfootman]

the inevitable draw, served with a big helping of be careful what you wish for

They way we lost wickets this morning, had yesterday not been lost, we might have been beaten today

Take the draw and think about that between now and Friday

[captaincolly]

Yes, without a proper wicket taking spinner or a genuine quick bowler it's going to be hard taking wickets once the ball gets older. Unlucky today wirh so many near misses but after two innings The Cricketer comment you mentioned about Roach seems to be right!
In the same magazine the preview suggests he was third choice - CA wouldn't release Boland ( another ageing and injury prone fast bowler) and Brendan Doggett was also unavailable because..he's injured!

[Durhamfootman]

we have to give him time, I suppose. He's only recently flown in, new club, new conditions and has to adapt to the dukes ball again. There was talk about him bringing valuable experience, and whilst that is certainly true, in BR and MP and WR we have that in abundance. What we need is a Matt Henry, or a James Pattinson type to fly in and immediately tear dozens of sets of stumps out of the ground. Having 4 right arm seamers all bowling between 75 and 85 mph feels a bit samey to me

Will Rhodes was ill before the game, I'm led to believe and so wasn't in contention to start. I'd like us to play Ghafari, if I'm honest, but I think Rhodes for Ackers might be the only change for Gloucs. We absolutely can't afford to not beat them

It's also high time that Robbo scores some runs. I've always rated him highly and thought his signing was a master stroke, but 18 months is a long time to be out of form

[Durhamfootman]

The women are warming up v Warks today. Warks batted first and scored 252-9 in their 50. Only 212 came off the bat as we racked up 40 extras, including an eye watering 28 wides. It wasn't one culprit either, 27 of them were shared between 5 bowlers, so that will need to be tightened up

Emma Marlow has departed with the score on 11. She did this a lot last year too as I recall

Club have announced the signing of Aussie Thalia Wilson for the first half of the one day cup. I know nothing about her at all. Not a name I've heard before, but I'm going to have a stab and guess she's from WA. Heather Graham is over for the T20 I think and she is certainly from WA

[Durhamfootman]

No, I'm wrong. WkB from NSW

averaged 44 this year at 83 SR in the Women's National Cricket League from 13 matches

[Durhamfootman]

17-3 in the 6th over, so it's going well. Marlow, Harriet Robson and Emily Windsor the wickets to fall

Hollie A still there, but she needs some help

[captaincolly]

we have to give him time, I suppose. He's only recently flown in, new club, new conditions and has to adapt to the dukes ball again. There was talk about him bringing valuable experience, and whilst that is certainly true, in BR and MP and WR we have that in abundance. What we need is a Matt Henry, or a James Pattinson type to fly in and immediately tear dozens of sets of stumps out of the ground. Having 4 right arm seamers all bowling between 75 and 85 mph feels a bit samey to me

Will Rhodes was ill before the game, I'm led to believe and so wasn't in contention to start. I'd like us to play Ghafari, if I'm honest, but I think Rhodes for Ackers might be the only change for Gloucs. We absolutely can't afford to not beat them

It's also high time that Robbo scores some runs. I've always rated him highly and thought his signing was a master stroke, but 18 months is a long time to be out of form

Yes, he seemed to lose form around the time he was talked about as a possible England pick. Has never been the same since and it's hard to fathom.

[Durhamfootman]

It isn't getting any better. 2 wickets in the 13th over 47-5 and I don't think we have any batting left other than HA

[Durhamfootman]

and after a period of re-building, the drinks break buys the wicket of HA 2 balls later for 48. A very generous lbw. We could have done with a few of those yesterday