Durham Match Thread 2024

[Durhamfootman]

Another good session for us and the first batting point is in the bag. Bedders nicked off for a quick fire 65, Lees brought up his ton and Robbo his 50 before the interval

267-3

Batting looks a little lighter after this partnership. With Ackers and Bas to follow, there could easily be a bit of a procession, particularly if we lose a wicket or two before the new ball is due (which we often do), so Essex will know they are still in this.

Still...... very encouraging

[Durhamfootman]

Also good to see tea being taken at a respectable time with Essex spinners accounting for almost half of their overs.

I'm guessing that Ackers is straight back into the side with that in mind

[Durhamfootman]

Lees has fallen for 113, but Robbo is rollicking along at a run a ball for his ton and we're closing in on a 4th batting point, 4 down

not such a bunsen after all....... at least not yet anyway

[Durhamfootman]

over rate has slowed a lot, but we haven't.

At tea I wondered if there'd be more than 96 overs in the day, but with 10 mins to go there are still 7 overs remaining, which might take another half an hour perhaps.

Robbo greeted the new ball and Jamie Porter by flogging him for 6 off the first ball, then another 4 fours in Porter's first 2 overs with the new nut

Now Ackermann has caught the bug and he's now busy converting a watchful start into an assault. We clearly mean to rack up all 5 batting points today

420-4. 6 overs left in the day

[Durhamfootman]

50 for Ackers

do we need to bat for as long as possible tomorrow, get a monster score and give the pitch as much chance as possible to hopefully start breaking up?

[Durhamfootman]

We clearly mean to rack up all 5 batting points today

not quite

445 runs on day 1

thank goodness we won the toss and thank goodness somebody sat on Borthwick before he did something stupid, like say he fancied a bowl

[Durhamfootman]

We start again tomorrow with Robbo on 146 and Ackers on 58

[captaincolly]

Have been out today. That could hardly have gone better, to score that amount of runs in a day against a quality attack- and seemingly dominate Harmer- is very impressive.
Is Robinson making himself a must pick by England? I got the feeling the momentum was behind Jamie Smith but maybe Robbo is favourite again.
Very good from Ackermann, could easily have been a clatter of wickets after Lees went.

[Durhamfootman]

I hadn't really thought about it, but Bedders was on course to become only the third player in Championship history to score 5 consecutive tons today. Pity he got out on 65. I wonder if he knew? I'll bet he did

Hussey and Sangakkara are the only two to achieve the feat

[Durhamfootman]

We didn't hang around this morning, I see. Over 140 runs added in the session for 587 all out

Lets see how we bowl on this. Could be Parky at one end for most of the day while we pepper them at the other. Or we may have too many seamers in the side and use Ackers and even (gulp) Borthwick to provide extra slow stuff. Essex took 8 wickets with spin

[captaincolly]

I think I'd have preferred to bat on after lunch for 650 plus. It might be a surface where both sides could produce epic innings. If Essex get close- or even an unlikely lead- there might just be enough time for a nervy 2nd innings so I'd have wanted to completely take that out of the equation. Maybe me being negative because there shouldn't be concerns after scoring nearly 600.

[Durhamfootman]

Well, we have an England bowler, a hugely experienced nuggety CC stalwart and an overseas player who has bowled at this ground many, many times in the past. Then we have a 4th seamer and a second spinner for variety, so we have the tools to avoid conceding the 750 runs that your scenario would require. We'll see. If they're 300-2 at close of play, we may be in trouble. Lets hope it doesn't come to that

[captaincolly]

I agree. Unless the bowling falls apart we should be fine. If you score 600 and somehow end up in trouble it'll be self inflicted.

[Durhamfootman]

We have Browne, who I think scored a shed load of runs up here

[Durhamfootman]

we're gradually winkling them out. One each for Potts, Raine and Siddle, including Elgar. 106-3 last I looked