Durham Match Thread 2026

[captaincolly]

Sounds unlucky then with the byes.
Game moving on at good pace - I'm in Stanley and it has looked like raining all day but have only had one shower so far. Bedingham having another superb campaign.

[Durhamfootman]

another hundred for Bedders. Excellent partnership with Stokesy to put us completely on top

rain arrives with us 297-7, leading by 160

Wouldn't surprise me if that was it for the day. If the covers were to come off after tea, I'd be happy if we grabbed 3 runs and put them back in

[Durhamfootman]

back out, surprisingly. 330-7, lead is 193

[captaincolly]

All depends on the weather now. There has to be a good chance that Gloucestershire won't last long second time around- although also a chance that Bancroft- who has had a poor season- will lead a recovery. Kent v Northamts looks like it could be a draw.

[Durhamfootman]

rapid scoring this morning. All out for 384. Gloucs need 247 to make us bat again and they've already lost an opener without scoring

Carse the bowler. It would do him no harm to rip through this top order. We should (could) get play all the way up to tea with any luck

[Durhamfootman]

good opening spell this, from Potts and Carse. Batters under the cosh almost every ball. They have 9 runs now, but most have squirted off the edge

9-2 from 8 overs

[Durhamfootman]

bit of a partnership for Gloucs. 50-2 at lunch

If I was Robbo, I'd be standing up for Hammond, especially when Aldridge is bowling. Hammond keeps coming down the pitch to him and Stokes

[captaincolly]

How's the weather? Sunny with clear skies in Stanley but rain possible later. Tomorrow looks poor so we probably need to get the job done today?

[captaincolly]

Still no play at Northants so that must be a certain draw. A win here and we'll surely be almost certain to go up.

[Durhamfootman]

How's the weather?

It's been okay, but clouding over a bit now

Gloucs did themselves a favour with a 3rd wicket century partnership, should tomorrow get wiped out, but Aldridge took both batters in consecutive overs and has added a third to his tally. Gloucs still 115 behind with 5 wickets remaining. We may have to do this today, but then none of the weather predictions from the last few days have actually materialised

[Durhamfootman]

Still no play at Northants so that must be a certain draw. A win here and we'll surely be almost certain to go up.

I think we have been for a while

there's been much talk in the cricketer about Durham wanting to prove a point after that final day at Headingley last season, always talking about correcting that final day, but this suggests that that was a bit of an aberration... almost as if the rest of the season was okay and only that final afternoon capitulation was at fault for the relegation. I suppose simplistically it was, but the whole season was a cock up. The management got everything wrong pretty much all season (T20 groups being the exception) last year and if Hants hadn't gifted us a last day lifeline, which we spurned, I think we'd have gone down anyway.

Still, this has been much discussed already. We are putting it right this year, but next year will be very different and we will need to avoid making the mistakes of last year. Lets be honest, we started the season with an ageing overseas bowler, somewhat past his best... and he got injured! Come on fellas... stop repeating the same mistakes. If Stokes has half a season for us, that will help. We may not have Bedders, which won't. Can we afford to sign another Olivier? I think not. Will we be fully prepared for the challenges of div 1 from match 1? we haven't been 'on it' at the start of the season for a long time and perhaps our better showing this year (before the storm came along and flattened the ground) was in some part due to every team having their preseason plans thrown up in the air by the orange don.

Anyway... we'll see

[Durhamfootman]

a 9th wicket for Aldridge in this match

he's never had a 10fer before. I hope he gets one in the next hour or so

[Durhamfootman]

lights are on, btw

[captaincolly]

Farcical end to the day! Surely the umpires could have used a bit of common sense.

[captaincolly]

According to the BBC play was abandoned because Gloucestershire wouldn't bowl spin! So surely the umpires should have told them to just bowl pace.