Durham Match Thread 2024

[Durhamfootman]

we are no good at chasing

we can't cope with the pressure if we lose early wickets, which suggests we don't have the batting depth we need

[captaincolly]

Need to get Shaw out. Didn't he put us to the sword last year?

[Durhamfootman]

I would think so

most players do

[Durhamfootman]

I see that Northants are going along at a mere 400 run pace

so much for the dodgy pitch theory

[captaincolly]

Have the radio commentary on and apparently the bowling in the first part of the power play was atrocious! A couple in the ground sent Emmerson an email saying it was the worst they'd seen.
Slightly tighter now bit still far too many boundaries. 93/1 after 12 and Borthwick coming on to bowl. Change of tactics...or maybe there aren't any and they're making it up on the spot.

[DiligentDefence]

Northants have had some pretty good starts in the competition, but it has tended to go awry later. A bottom three of Sanderson, White and Heldrich will not hang around for long.

[captaincolly]

Borthwick has got rid of Shaw and, in conjunction with Drissell, has got the run rate down to 6. Not sure though that it bodes well for the second innings!
170/3 in the 29th.

Typical de Leede stat - one of his first three or four overs was a wicket maiden- and his overall economy rate was still 10 an over.
Wonder what's going on with Raine and Wagner? If they're available for selection surely at least one should be. And if they're not available why not explain why? Unless they have and I've missed it.

[captaincolly]

261 target. About 150 below what I expected after the start but still think Northants are strong favourites. Need to get ahead of the rate in the power play.

[DiligentDefence]

Once again Northants flattered to deceive.

[captaincolly]

Once again Northants flattered to deceive.

I think it'll be enough. Were chasing about 240 on this pitch in Wednesday's game and went from 40/0 to just over 100 all out.
Probably require ar least one of Lees, Ackermann and Borthwick to get a big score. I think if we're behind the rate when the spinners get to work it'll be curtains.
And Lees still with a bee in his bonnett about the pitch! The YouTube commentators said he threw the groundsman under the bus again this morning!

[Durhamfootman]

Northants have had some pretty good starts in the competition, but it has tended to go awry later. A bottom three of Sanderson, White and Heldrich will not hang around for long.

well, we've had to chase much less than 260 in the last 2 games and been beaten by 150 runs and 90 runs, so I don't think you need to worry.

We can't play spin and so when Borthwick takes 2-42 with his rubbish, then we're in big trouble if you have anything like half decent spinners in your side

[Durhamfootman]

apologies....130 runs and 90 runs

gosh... we're actually a lot better than I thought in the previous post

[Durhamfootman]

I'm not sure what we're about really. We play a couple of academy bowlers and then give them 3 overs each. I'm not sure exactly how that helps them develop..... or why we prepare a pitch that is so spin friendly that we end up having to do that. It must be spin friendly because we've just bowled 26 overs of spin

and yet in the T20 where we had our two best spinners available, we gave them pitches that didn't really do them many favours

I can't work it out, tbh

[captaincolly]

I'm not sure what we're about really. We play a couple of academy bowlers and then give them 3 overs each. I'm not sure exactly how that helps them develop..... or why we prepare a pitch that is so spin friendly that we end up having to do that. It must be spin friendly because we've just bowled 26 overs of spin

and yet in the T20 where we had our two best spinners available, we gave them pitches that didn't really do them many favours

I can't work it out, tbh

Me neither. Change of opener didn't work either - Lees and Ackermann with the rescue act but still nearly 150 required and some inexperience down the Order. Looks as if they're taking the positive approach and so far it is working.
115/2.

[captaincolly]

Old players reunion today. Simon Hughes was doing some commentary earlier and he mentioned Martin Speight was ( or is?) Harry Brook's batting coach and Brook is a big admirer..
Maybe we should get Speight to coach some of our lot!