Durham Match Thread 2026

[Durhamfootman]

Crumbs…… not getting any better

We’ll have to bowl well and keep the ball away from Carse if he starts spraying it around

[Durhamfootman]

to get from 162-9 to a batting point was a welcome surprise. Played BR and Parky

Looks as though Carse is spraying it around with 4 byes and a no ball (plus boundary) in his first over

BR going for a few too in his first 2 overs. Will be rusty after such a long lay off

[captaincolly]

Decent recovery. First session tomorrow could be crucial.

[Durhamfootman]

Excellent fightback. We are putting ourselves in a commanding position. We are already 237 ahead with 8 wickets still in hand and 2 days still to play

100 up for McK Not sure, but I think it might be his 3rd for the season. Good support from Lees and Rhodes and not forgetting the 5 fer for Carse and 3 fer for BR which got us a 50 run first innings lead. (Carse was still bloody expensive, particularly when adding on all the no balls, the 8 byes that went to the boundary and perhaps also the 5 penalty runs. Still....... 5 fer is not to be sniffed at... so well done to him)

[Durhamfootman]

that's a damned shame. I was rooting for McK to bring up his 200. Middlesex were pretty clever really. After bowling dreadfully in the first few overs this morning, they tightened everything up. I think our first 50 came up in the first half hour, but the second 50 took over an hour. McK lost his way a little after an imperious start and rather got bogged down a bit. He lost the middle of his bat and then gradually lost his bat, missing the ball completely a few times attempting big booming drives and eventually having to settle for the odd single here and there. Zafar frustrated him quite a bit, but I think he thought the arrival of the new ball with 15 mins left in the session might give him more opportunities to get to his double hundred. Sadly for him, Middlesex didn't take the new ball and brought on Hollman instead in tandem with Zafar. Perhaps he figured he had 2 overs left to try and score the 16 runs before lunch and tried to hit Hollman over the top, but he didn't get all of the ball and holed out to Holden well inside the boundary. Rush of blood to the head, I reckon.

Never mind. The match situation looks excellent and McK has another 2 matches in which to find 84 runs to bring up 1,000 runs for the season, which would be a big achievement for him

[Durhamfootman]

An odd thing happened, which I haven't seen before.

There appeared to be an impromptu drinks break (or maybe a planned drinks break) and Sue Redfern left the pitch while the drinks were being brought out, which I assumed was for reasons of comfort. After a few minutes, Bunny (It looked like Bunny) who had come onto the field in his blue tracksuit alongside the drinks carrier, presumably with instructions for the batters, was approached by Martin Saggers standing at the Finchale end and he subsequently went over and stood at square leg for the absent Redfern, which made me think that perhaps she had been feeling unwell. At the end of the over Bunny went to stand at the other square leg umpire position as though Saggers was intending to switch to the Lumley end. Fortunately at this point Redfern reappeared.

It had everyone guessing and Bunny got a round of applause as he came off the field. There is a 3rd umpire, so I'm unsure why he didn't run out to take Sue Redfern's place if there was going to be a delay. Odd!

[Durhamfootman]

Robbo didn't last long. 6 down, lead is 382

getting darker back at home and there is a bit of weather forecast for this afternoon. 400 lead and declare?

I did think that perhaps the pitch had flattened a bit first thing this morning, but once Middlesex started bowling better, scoring became much more difficult, so there ought to be plenty there for our attack, even without Potts and Stokes

[Durhamfootman]

Oops.... KA didn't last long either. 7 down and lead is still 382

we might not have to worry about a declaration at this rate

[Durhamfootman]

Victory in this match means we are definitely promoted

the rain arrived a few balls after the Aldridge dismissal. Just drizzle here at Footman towers, but I'm pleased I didn't stick around after lunch

[captaincolly]

Hopefully get the lead to 450?

[Durhamfootman]

currently 418

Carse out for 16

[captaincolly]

Off for bad light & 9 down.

[Durhamfootman]

back on. Ackers closing in on a very patient 50

[Durhamfootman]

didn't get it

Tea

target is 424

could be a stop start affair for the rest of the day. tough conditions

[captaincolly]

Yes, seems a little brighter but doubt we'll get all the overd in.