Durham Match Thread 2025

[Durhamfootman]

block away boys, block away

[captaincolly]

Made it to the close thankfully. No doubt it will be plain sailing tomorrow
As you said the first 20 overs with the new ball are crucial .

[Durhamfootman]

going to rain here all day, so maybe it will do the same in London

[Durhamfootman]

we have 3 points from this game if we lose, I think

the decision at the toss was crucial to that. We're busy spending the last 2 days of this match trying to survive. In great batting conditions against a batters ball we managed to get 2 batting points by 110 overs. Would we have batted like that if we had chosen to bat first? I don't think so. This tentative approach to batting is entirely down to the daunting nature of 820 runs conceded and because we are so passive, it gives the Surrey bowlers something to work with, because they know we are always a little tickle and a nervous new batsman away from a mini collapse

I really don't get that decision. Yes, we might have come out on day 1 in a positive batting frame of mind and gifted away wickets trying to score too quickly, which we have been guilty of in the past, but that would have been entirely down to us. We went into the game with a makeshift bowling attack and consequently that single decision ceded every bit of the initiative to Surrey who are just too strong a side not to take advantage of it. It was a monumentally stupid decision and I have no idea why Lees thought it was the right thing to do, or why Campbell allowed him to go out to the toss with that thought in his head

[Durhamfootman]

doesn't feel as though many overs were bowled, so I'm going to guess that there was a bit of rain about this morning

[captaincolly]

doesn't feel as though many overs were bowled, so I'm going to guess that there was a bit of rain about this morning

Yes, lost the first hour.

[captaincolly]

we have 3 points from this game if we lose, I think

the decision at the toss was crucial to that. We're busy spending the last 2 days of this match trying to survive. In great batting conditions against a batters ball we managed to get 2 batting points by 110 overs. Would we have batted like that if we had chosen to bat first? I don't think so. This tentative approach to batting is entirely down to the daunting nature of 820 runs conceded and because we are so passive, it gives the Surrey bowlers something to work with, because they know we are always a little tickle and a nervous new batsman away from a mini collapse

I really don't get that decision. Yes, we might have come out on day 1 in a positive batting frame of mind and gifted away wickets trying to score too quickly, which we have been guilty of in the past, but that would have been entirely down to us. We went into the game with a makeshift bowling attack and consequently that single decision ceded every bit of the initiative to Surrey who are just too strong a side not to take advantage of it. It was a monumentally stupid decision and I have no idea why Lees thought it was the right thing to do, or why Campbell allowed him to go out to the toss with that thought in his head

Agreed. And it's not in hindsight either because it seemed like a ridiculous decision at the time. Apparently it was stats driven because bowling first has been the way to go in recent games! Overcomplicated imo, we have a depleted attack, Surrey a formidable lineup, it's the Oval with a Kookaburra ball in the blazing sunshine!

[captaincolly]

Another hundred for Gay. He seems to either get out straight away or score a century.

[Durhamfootman]

perhaps it's the sort of decision where only a masters degree in sports strategy would have been able to unpick that conundrum

We're playing properly in this second innings, in part perhaps because Surrey only getting half a dozen overs at us in the second innings before lunch relieved the pressure. First innings we went completely into our shell.... scoring at less than 3 an over is about as alien to us as it gets and consequently we made a right knackers of it. Pressure slightly off, we play normally, the way we like to play, the way the players are familiar playing and we are 176-0 from 38 overs at something just shy of 5 an over

Not rocket science, is it?

[Durhamfootman]

Another hundred for Gay. He seems to either get out straight away or score a century.

indeed

14 knocks, 3 tons and 5 blobs

[captaincolly]

perhaps it's the sort of decision where only a masters degree in sports strategy would have been able to unpick that conundrum

We're playing properly in this second innings, in part perhaps because Surrey only getting half a dozen overs at us in the second innings before lunch relieved the pressure. First innings we went completely into our shell.... scoring at less than 3 an over is about as alien to us as it gets and consequently we made a right knackers of it. Pressure slightly off, we play normally, the way we like to play, the way the players are familiar playing and we are 176-0 from 38 overs at something just shy of 5 an over

Not rocket science, is it?

Exactly.

[Durhamfootman]

If Lees wants another ton, he'll have about an hour to score 49 runs, because they will surely shake hands at 5 o'clock and go away to sit in an ice bath for a bit

[captaincolly]

I'm not sure it was overly sensible for burns to bat as long as he did .......pitch is so flat his bowlers have a long two days in the field now with a draw most likely....if you pull out at 500 there's still enough time for oppo to think they can get a lead therefore creates chances....now Durham have to just flat bat for two days on a road.....not great from Surrey I don't think

You were spot on. Once they got 500 there was no realistic chance of losing so the time wasted adding another 300 made the draw more likely.

[captaincolly]

If Lees wants another ton, he'll have about an hour to score 49 runs, because they will surely shake hands at 5 o'clock and go away to sit in an ice bath for a bit

And he did. Reached the century in the last over.
Excellent game for him - with the bat!

[captaincolly]

Raine will be out for an extended period according to Campbell. He also said Surrey would have bowled first!