Durham Day 3 - Not much but Enough?
Number 3?
By Grockle
April 25 2003
It was only two hours but it might be enough for us to record our first win in CC2. Then again there's anough time for Durham to rain on the parade...or for the rain to rain on our parade. 120 with 8 men left...should be a doddle (yeah right!)
v DURHAM CC2 @ Taunton 25 April 2003
DAY ONE |
DAY TWO |
DAY THREE |
DAY FOUR |
No cricket until 4:30 and we needed them out if we were going to put this one to bed on Day 4. The Saturday forecast is poor and we don't need them holding out until the morning of Day 4. The weather looks good for this afternoon - time to sort the men and the boys. 167 ahead with 153 on the board and five wickets to get. In the words of Craig Charles..."Let battle commence!"
Good start - 153 for 5 becomes 153 for 6 as Law's stumps collapse to Nixon without a run added. Gooee! boys. Pratt A lasts a little longer but is pouched by Burns off Johnson with only 12 more on the board. Phillips goes to Nixon next ball - he looks good in these conditions with the tail end facing. Might be interesting at the end of a one day game here! 8 for 165 turns into 9 for 165 as Johnno sends Killeen back courtesy of Turner and although there is some resistance from Durhams new ball partnership, Harmison finds it too hot and Simon Francis closes the innings with his wicket at 180. All out in less than 45 minutes for the addition of 27 - well the bowlers have done their part! McLean 3 for 50, Francis 3 for 41 and Johnno 4 for 52 - couldn't ask for much more really.
So we are about an hour from the close needing 195 to win and a probable short day tomorrow. Do we need a solid start or what? If we could keep the loss of wickets to a minimum and get as close to 100 as possible by the close we should be in a winning position. But our batting is fragile and Srinath, Harmison and Wells have shown that they can get under our skin quite efficiently.
Bowler and Trescothick open and Marcus starts in the same manner as Innings 1 - be patient and hit the bad ball - 28 from 7 shorts is his solution. Bowler is his solid self and together they blunt the first attacks and move to a 50 partnership. But no further as Marcus hits a ball from Killeen to Pratt and departs. 50 for 1 (145 to go). Once again, in comes Burns at number 3 - is it because he has the number on his back? He is a fighting batsman, and on his day is as good as any we have, but he isn't an opening bat and he isn't a stabaliser. He needs to come in when the score is moving, not when it needs to be controlled. But he's there and we expect him to maintain the position with the man in touch and move us through to the morning. But, once again Killeen is the fly in our ointment! The captain lasts 4 balls before he is bowled without troubling the scorers and troubling an awful lot of Somerset supporters!
2 for 54 - Cox at the crease, enough overs to go for Durham to make a big dent and 141 needed. Brown trouser time? Cox has other ideas and sets about helping Bowler move the score upwards. He seems to have little trouble and by the close of play we are 75 for no further losses. 120 for the morning and 8 wickets to play with. Before you all go to bed happy and in expectation of our victory. Remember that less than 10 days ago, we were 90 short with 7 wickets left and we failed. Please don't do it again boys (and sort out this number three spot before Derby!)
It was worth playing today. Let's hope the rain holds off long enough tomorrow for us to cement this position and that that time doesn't give Durham enough to kick us in the Championship teeth!!