Disbelief....Durham Debacle
By Farmer White
June 1 2024
Well this was interesting. At the lunch interal on Day 2 this was a game with a number of possible outcomes. Before the end of that day it was over! Farmer tries to explain it... Farmer...
County Championship 2024. Division 1. Durham v Somerset 24th and 25th May. Chester-le-Street.
The fall of some wickets, where a behind the arm view is given, were viewed online.
Jake Ball replaced Migael Pretorius as a concussion replacement after Somerset’s first innings.
Somerset. M.T. Renshaw, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, A.R.I. Umeed, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), C. Overton, M. Pretorius/J.T. Ball, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.
Overnight. Somerset 171. Durham 177 for 6. Durham lead by six runs with four first innings wickets standing.
Final day 25th May – Disbelief
It could be seen in the faces of the small coterie of Somerset supporters who had made the 300-mile road trip, or five-and-a-half-hour rail journey, to the North East. This was a crushing Somerset defeat. Worse for the spirit, it had been far from inevitable at the start of the second day, even less so half an hour later. Durham had lost three wickets in that time to find themselves 28 ahead with only one wicket standing and Somerset pressing hard for the last. It had been an exceptional fightback by Somerset from a calamitous 84 for 7 immediately after lunch on the first day. Now, half an hour into the second day, the match was back in balance and there was Somerset hope that it might yet be won. Half an hour before tea, the match was over, and Somerset had lost by an innings. They were bowled out for 88 in their second innings, losing their last six wickets for 43 runs in the face of some exceptional bowling from Durham’s pace attack. The fall from hope was so precipitous, so total, this match may bedevil the memories of the Somerset supporters who were there as do Horsham 2013, Guildford 2018 and Southampton 2019.
The day began well enough for Somerset. Jake Ball, playing only because of the concussion injury to Migael Pretorius, was the only Somerset bowler to consistently match the Durham attack but with support, from Overton in particular, he had taken three of the six Durham wickets to fall on the first day. With his third ball of the second he removed David Bedingham, batting a class above anyone else in the match, for 101, a devastating score in a low-scoring game. Ball delivered a perfect late outswinger initially directed at off stump which Bedingham had to play and James Rew took a straightforward catch. Durham 180 for 7. Lead 9. Game on as they say. Even more on when Craig Overton, Somerset’s talisman bowler, bowled another outswinger, wider than the one which removed Bedingham, but Paul Coughlin chased it and edged straight to Tom Lammonby at second slip. Durham 183 for 8. Coughlin 2. Lead 12.
Then, shades of things to come, Ben Raine drove Overton’s next two balls for four, one with more than a hint of an edge, backward of backward point and one, with a check drive, through the covers. From there, as the Somerset bowlers searched for movement, the Durham tailenders drove hard to the boundary, the left-handed Callum Parkinson square off Ball and Raine through the covers again off Overton. Then, for a moment, Ball fought back, pitched full on middle and off with a hint of outswing and Parkinson edged to Rew as he tried to keep it out. Durham 199 for 9. Parkinson 15. Lead 28. Still, it felt, though the ball was clearly moving, and Durham had an attack designed to exploit it, a good start from Somerset’s batters would keep the match in balance.
The balance though shifted heavily, and quickly, towards Durham before the Somerset openers could pick up their bats. With Durham’s final two at the crease, both bowlers, the fours began to flow like a river through a burst dam. Sixty-six soul-crushing runs including ten boundaries, each feeling like a dagger thrust into Somerset hearts, came in 12 overs. “Did you see how the heads went down in that last wicket partnership” asked one Somerset supporter after the match, “And Raine and Siddle walked off with their chests puffed out.” Peter Siddle, late of Somerset, got that Durham final charge underway. He drove his third ball, from Ball, backward of square with an open face. There was luck too for Durham which hurt more than runs off the middle. Raine attempted to pull Ball. There was an audible click off the bat and the ball flew high over Rew’s head to the boundary for four. Then, more Somerset pain as 11 runs came in an over from Overton, Raine cutting and driving to rising applause and cheers from the Durham crowd. “He’s alluss worth a few runs is Ben,” the local comment.
He was worth a few more yet, as was Siddle as he steered Ball through backward point for four to take the Durham lead to 60 which, in the conditions, felt like a mountain in the building. Overton and Ball each bowled a seven over spell, despite the punishment they, Overton in particular, were taking. Eventually they were relieved, Josh Davey and Lewis Gregory took up the attack. Still the ball swung as Davey curved a ball into Siddle, but Siddle stepped back and lofted it over extra cover for four to the ever-rising cheers of the Durham supporters. Durham’s tailenders were taking control of the match, Durham supporters knew it and Somerset ones could feel it. A straight drive for two followed, a Durham supporter saying, “That’s a 70-run lead, mun,” words which hammered into the numbed Somerset brain. Seventy runs truly was a mountain in the prevailing conditions, conditions which showed no sign of relenting.
As if to add to Somerset’s woes, the sun, which had warmed the first hour, was now hidden behind a blanket of thick white cloud which brought a chill in the air to match the one in Somerset hearts. It brought too more thoughts of the damage that the swinging ball could do in the hands of the Durham attack. Swing it might, but still Raine and Siddle drove Durham on. Ten runs came from a Gregory over, all from Raine with two drives and a hook. The cheers were uproarious for the hook, or so was my first thought, but the true explanation was not long in coming, “We’ve got a bonus point,” the exultant Durham comment. Durham had passed 250 on a pitch where a par score was barely 200. And still they drove on. An on drive off Davey and one through extra cover off Gregory, both from Siddle, before Raine, on 46, drove at a mild outswinger from Gregory and was caught by Rew. Durham 265. Siddle 31 not out. Lead 94. Devastating for Somerset as those sagging heads revealed. That came as another shock. It was the first time I had seen Somerset heads sag this season. Even after that near calamitous collapse at The Oval which so nearly cost Somerset the match the heads stayed up, that tremendous last day fightback following.
Worse was to follow. Somerset had barely opened their innings before Tom Abell came forward to Raine, fresh from his onslaught with the bat, and edged straight to Robinson behind the stumps. Somerset 12 for 1. Abell 2. Deficit 82. It was a piercing blow. An over later there was another. Matt Renshaw was caught half forward by a ball which kept uncommonly low and bowled him, his bat belatedly trying to jab down. Somerset 12 for 2. Renshaw 6. Tom Lammonby and Andrew Umeed dug in and saw Somerset to lunch on 19 for 2, but they were still 75 behind with Durham firmly in control of the match.
It was a slow walk around the ground at lunchtime. My insistence on walking anti-clockwise seems to run counter to the direction most people take if the number of people I met is any measure. Somerset supporters and Durham ones both, for Durham supporters generally are among the most talkative in the country. Much of the credit for Durham’s sudden rise to prominence being given by one Durham member to Ryan Campbell, appointed Head Coach at the beginning of 2023. Moving from chat to chat, I had reached just over halfway around the ground when the players returned to the middle. The pitch was much closer from that side of the ground than from the Members Balcony opposite where I had spent both days of the match. I stood and watched for a while as Lammonby and Umeed fought to rebuild the Somerset innings. The Riverside ground has a large playing area and spectators wishing to circumnavigate it have to do so behind the stands which makes the walk even longer. It was six overs into the afternoon session before I reached my seat during which time Somerset had chiselled out ten more runs.
I regained my seat with the score on 29 for 2, 14 overs into the innings and still 65 behind. I had not been back an over when a ball from Ben Stokes lifted unexpectedly on Lammonby and Robinson took another catch. Somerset 34 for 3. Lammonby 14. Deficit 60. The pit of the stomach felt cavernous for there seemed no way back for Somerset in the face of the unrelenting Durham onslaught. More cavernous still in Stokes’ next over when, with Umeed facing, the ball swung away late to a defensive stroke. Stokes’ pace made it virtually unplayable, and this time the catch went to Colin Ackermann at second slip. Somerset 45 for 4. Umeed 16. Deficit 49. The bowling of Stokes, albeit in conditions made for it, was as much in a different class to the rest of the bowling in the match as Bedingham’s batting had been. His movement comes late in the flight of the ball and at a pace.
Josh Davey had come to the crease at the fall of Lammonby’s wicket, Tom Banton being too ill to bat. There was doubtless reason behind the decision to send a bowler in, admittedly one who can hold a straight bat, but Davey coming in at five felt, from outside the dressing room, to be something of a desperate move. Briefly, he and Rew held Durham at bay. He even pulled Paul Coughlin to deep midwicket for four, but from the Durham Members Balcony it felt like Somerset were trying to resist an irresistible force. Runs were at a premium and, it seemed, Durham were bowling guided missiles at the edge of the bat. For six overs Davey resisted, but the seemingly inevitable followed. This time Coughlin fired a ball in on middle and off, the accuracy of the Durham bowling could be seen, even from square of the wicket, from the nature of the desperate defence of the batters, and the ball flew off the edge just to the right of Ackermann at second slip. Somerset 57 for 5. Davey 7. Deficit 37.
Two overs later, Rew was defeated by a near-impossible ball from Stokes. Full, it swung very late, Rew had to play, and the almost inevitable edge went virtually straight to Robinson behind the stumps. Somerset 61 for 6. Rew 7. Deficit 33. The torrent of wickets and the absence of Banton brought the prospect of an innings defeat into view, any thought of Somerset saving the match having long since been given up.
Craig Overton is a fighter and he joined Lewis Gregory. He pulled Coughlin for four but, four overs after he came in, he went the way of the rest. Coming forward to Stokes he edged low to Ackerman. It was Ackerman’s fifth slip catch of the match and Robinson took six behind the stumps, a combined statistic which of itself lent credence to the quality of the bowling and the nature of the conditions. Somerset 69 for 7. Overton 6. Deficit 25. Somerset were on the point of being overwhelmed by a rampant Durham cheered on by a rampant crowd. Jack Leach did manage to drive Coughlin for four as the wind of an impending Durham victory blew around him, but Stokes took the ball for a ninth successive over. It meant no respite for the Somerset batters. “Stokes is bowling endlessly,” said one Durham voice, “He’s looking better and faster than he has for some years.”
It was Raine though who finished the Somerset innings and the match. He struck Gregory on the pads. “That’s out! That’s out!” cried the man a couple of seats along from me before, with the same certainty, although less excitement, the umpire raised his finger. Gregory had made seven from 37 balls which had tested his skill to the limit. His determination profited Somerset nothing. The scoreboard read 77 for 8 with Banton not expected to bat. Durham still led by 17. “We could win by an innings,” the comment. To the Somerset mind it seemed inevitable. And so it was. Leach did cut Stokes for four and he and Ball took some singles but the inevitable came with an attempt by Leach to pull Raine through midwicket only to be bowled. Somerset 88 for 9. Leach 13. Ball 2 not out. Deficit six. Banton absent ill.
The news of Banton had not filtered through to the crowd and there was a moment’s hesitation as the players and officials shook hands. As they began to walk towards the Pavilion the reality sank in, and a roar erupted which outdid all those that had preceded it. The applause was unbroken and saw Durham off the field. Durham supporters were left looking at each other in disbelief at the spectacular turn of events. The few Somerset ones too, but theirs were very different looks of disbelief.
Result. Somerset 171 (M. Pretorius 53, B.A. Stokes 4-54, P.M. Siddle 3-27, B.A. Raine 3-41) and 88 (B.A. Stokes 4-23, B.A. Raine 3-26). Durham 265 (D.G. Bedingham 101, O.G. Robinson 46, B.A. Raine 46). Durham won by an innings and six runs Durham 20 points. Somerset 3 points.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:06:04:16:32:11 by Grockle.
The good news is that whatever we or any other county achieve in this round of matches we cannot be lower than third at its end - the halfway point in this year's CC.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:27:20:13:46 by Grockle.
No further news just yet.
Grizzers
Lewis Gregory, Matt Renshaw, Tom Abell, Tom Lammonby, Tom Banton, Andy Umeed, James Rew, Craig Overton, Migael Pretorius, Josh Davey, Jake Ball, Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.
No.Sean Dixon and 2 more bowlers than required so it looks like Tom Abell will play and then perm 3 seamers plus a spinner (probably Jack as he may need more than 1 game of red ball before the first phase of the Blast)
Siddle is in for them for Potts... hello Peter! Nice to see ya again!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:24:10:59:51 by Grockle.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:24:12:55:51 by Grockle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:24:12:58:02 by Grockle.
Happy and Glorious
What an acquisition he has proved to be.
He been a lot more than a jobbing mercenary and has played with passion and effort which is all you can ask for
Jason Kerr claims he can’t really sort it out because “he has to get really close to the line otherwise he feels no rhythm in his bowling.”
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Quote:AGod
Ball coming in far from ideal, sadly.
Very sad indeed! He's only removed Robinson and Stokes - must try harder.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Two points in the bag - two more than Surrey!
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I suspect his batting will decide this game.
Bedingham does look incredibly good though remember he got a century in each innings last week and finished on the losing side. Well in this game provided the lead is restricted to a reasonable one.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:24:22:42:21 by Des Platt.
Small sprinkling of hard core Somerset fans in attendance yesterday, big first session today.
YOU GOT EM LADS....
Ball carries on where he left off dismissing the centurion in his opening over
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:25:11:18:10 by Grockle.
Full bowling bonus points courtesy of a Ball 5-fer & another stupendous one handed catch from a massively in form keeper.
Things change in cricket.
The "rather more likely" often doesn't always happen.....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:25:15:27:17 by Grockle.
BUT I'm pretty certain that there is no way back from here at Chester Le Street. If I'm proved wrong then Whooopppeeedoo
Wouldn't put money on it happening
It is an issue for the next phase of the red ball competition. Without Renshaw we have issues
Well they've lost while I was posting this BIG defeat this from a pretty level position at lunchtime
Hopefully Hampshire can do us a favour!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:25:15:42:28 by hantssabre.
Domino principle here against a solid bowling attack one goes and they all follow.
Just the point that we are 5 games into the CC1 after a season of having problems in the front end of our batting and we have no feasible solution to that problem.
We seem to have sorted the middle order (assuming that this is a glitch and Lammonby, Banton and Umeed seem to be a more stable trio one hopes). But no one coming back into this side looks like any kind of solution to the problem we have at 1 and 2. If this side is fragile at all it is because of poor starts and we have far far too many of them and I can't see that stoppingwith what is possible.
Tom Lammonby has stabalised at 3 (though he has tended to be a number 2 in most games within 10 overs) But our 'stable' opener now returns to Australia and we have no real idea who could provide the base from those we have left.
Suppose there is a chance to sign an overseas operner... won't hold my breath though
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:25:15:52:46 by Grockle.
Quite why idiot England didn’t get Stokes’s knee fixed before the Ashes last year, God only knows. Had they done so? A tight series would, more likely than not, have gone the other way.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Well if there is anyone coming through they need a thorough workout during the Metro50 and then a late season blooding
But before then we have games against Notts and Warwickshire with the squad we presently have plus Meredith as a replacement for Pretorius.
TKC will have returned but he is not the opener solution. He does give us some flexibility to move people about BUT who and where to?
The players who will have to perm the front end have to be Abell, Dickson, Lammonby, Umeed, Goldsworthy, Banton and the only certain position probably filled would be TKC at 5.
If Lammonby stays at 3 as most people see as sensible then numbers 1, 2 and 4 are up for grabs with Umeed and Abell taking 2 of them I would venture and Banton looking hard to drop from what we've had so far.
Lewis Goldsworthy has not shown any real form, Dickson most definitely hasn't at number 2. It therefore suggests that Tom Abell and Andy Umeed will open and Tom Banton will fit into number 4 or transfer to 5 and TKC will move to 4.
Not confident that particular line-up will be any more successful to be honest.
There's an international spot if they want to use it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:05:25:16:44:39 by Grockle.
Disappointing to say the least.
Grizzers
Plenty are on pre-booked trains home Tuesday.....
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Quote:Loyal of Lhasa
... for once, I shall be wanting Hampshire to win a match and if they do Surrey will emerge with only one point compared with our three and thus we close the gap by another two points to add to the five in the previous match.
It's looking good, with Surrey at 134/8!
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