Durham - Yay we actually stick one away!

The man again!
By Grockle
April 26 2003

We put ourselves in a winning position and guess what...we win!! Needing 120 on the last day, a minor hiccup from Cox, a solid performance from Bowler and Bryant and pyrotechnics from Johnson to finish off!

v DURHAM CC2 @ Taunton 26 April 2003

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

DAY FOUR

SCORECARD

Better luck this time.  Roughly the same situation as last week with a few more runs to get and one more wicket to get them with.  The weather is threatening and the pressure may mount rapidly if we lose early wickets and the runs dry up.  Our top five versus their top four.  The won the first round.

Jamie Cox and Peter Bowler hold the front at the start of the day.  Bowler is established but Cox needs some time.  Unfortunately he doesn't get it, and starts the butterflies going as he is caught behind adding only 2 to his overnight score of 8.   82 for 3 calls James Bryant to the crease with a need to improve on his 13 in the first innings.  He has looked good but he hasn't put a real performance together yet in the real stuff.  He looked composed in the friendlies and we need him to do the business now.  It takes him over half an hour to get off the mark.  Is he struggling or just getting his eye in? 

Meanwhile Bowler is doing what he does and together they move slowly to 100 in the 34th over.  Most of the runs have come from Peter's bat and he reaches 50 off 137 balls with 7 fours but it takes another 8 overs to get there.  But it seems that Bryant has been simply getting the range and now starts to show some of what must have attracted our people to him in the first place.  He starts to pepper the boundary with an array of shots.  Some one seems to have told him that the rain may be coming because he starts to go after the bowling with a vengance.  In the 45th he hits Killeen back past him and then repeats the shot with his next ball.  He seems to want the afternoon off!

Lunch arrives with Somerset on 162 for 3, Bowler has 62 and Bryant has reached 44.   We can't throw it away from here can we?  The fact that people around the ground are asking that shows the level of uncertainty that presently exists.  Two batsmen have established themselves, there are 7 wickets remaining and we only need 33 but we can't be sure!!

Bryant reaches 50 but then is caught behind off the bowling of one of the lesser choices - Phillips.  Ain't it always the way?  See off the big guns and then lose out to a change bowler!  But it does bring in Johnno for a little flurry.   171 for 4 needing 24 to win.  So Johnson hits 23 of them off 7 balls and the game is over!!  Peter Bis not out 67 - the anchorman again and the batting bowler adds a bit of icing to the cake at the end!!  We've got a win under our belts and although there are still issues, we can go to Derby with confidence that we can perform when necessary.

The bowling is in good hands it seems.  There is a question about who should be batting at first change.  We need a person who can take the role of attacking or defensive opener, depending on the situation and although Mike Burns can do the first, he isn't the first person you'd choose for the second. Bryant, on today's performance looks the part and maybe he should be tried there.  Coxey might be the man in the long run but he isn't yet firing all the time and possibly needs some more time.  If Banger is gone after the C&G openers then Wood and Holloway may get their chance but that's for May.  That is the only issue for next week - who bats at number 3!!

One dayer tomorrow.  It looks bad in terms of the weather and we may end up in a practice for the 20 over slogfest.  Who has been identified as a one day player this year?

Steffan Jones should be in the starting line-up.  Keith Parsons may also be a replacement name.  Will Ian Blackwell be fit again?  Who will open?  Peter Bowler may not be playing and Aaron Laraman and Richard Johnson may be fighting for one of the first two spots.  Keith Dutch hasn't really had the opportunity to show what he can do in this game but we probably will not be able to afford a spinner place, especially if 'Blacky' is available.

We shall see tomorrow.  Tune in, same time, same channel!

Somerset Man of the Match - Richard Johnson - AGAIN!!