1st Blood to Durham

[Andy Mellon]

Durham win the first victory of this year's county championship with a crushing defeat of Leicestershire. The final margin was an innings and 216 runs as Leicestershire capitulated in their second innings.

What was particularly heartening for Durham is that there were contributions from the whole team. Although the batting was underpinned by Hussey's 253, there was able support from unsung players like JJB Lewis (ex-Essex boy) Gordon Muchall and Phil Mustard. Liam Plunkett then took 8 for 98 in the match to overshadow more well known players like Harmison (4 for 66), Ottis Gibson (3 for 121) and Claude Henderson (0 for 104)

Does this bode well for Durham? Or in contrast, does it suggest disaster ahead for Leicestershire? Or is it too early to say?

[cantplaycantalk]

I was singing the praises of Plunkett and Muchall prior to the start of the season.
Mark Davies managed 50 wickets at 21 for Durham last year, he had very limited backup and the loss of Harmison and Collingwood plus the poor performance of North (standing in for Gibbs who never turned up) and the abysmal display of Shoaib and his replacements left the youngsters very exposed.
This year we have Hussey, who already looks good and Nofke/Lewis who may struggle to get a game until Harmison is back on international duty.
That Durham have draughted in 2 additional non-english players to add depth and provide some support for the home grown youngsters should put Durham in a position to push for promotion in both CC and NUL this year.

[Beny]

Hussey's 253,

Not a bad day at the office eh...

[cantplaycantalk]

Hussey is a player who seems very well suited to English conditions. He plays the seaming ball very well.
His performance was in marked contrast to Marcus North last year.
The Durham bowling did quite well as well.

[Teatime FatCat]

Well now, how's this round of county fixtures going eh?

Durham have dismissed Worcs for 170. Harmy picked up 3 and that wibbly wobbler Davies picked up 6! However, if Durham can get a big first innings lead and then win, people are going to have to sit up and take notice of them.

Elsewhere - Chris Read on 46* batting at no6

Bell bowled first change or Warks!

Key got a magnificent 11 ball 4 for Kent

Giles has picked another couple of early wickets for Warks

Pietersons already had a bowl at Hove.


Well, well - Giles and Durham to be this years county stars!

[Paoli]

Down at Hove, Yardy brought up his third ton, aided by a Murray Goodwin 87...The Devil strikes!!! Adams just went out and Prior has just joined him..

[Notts Exile]

Prior and Read are both back in the hutch. Prior for 6, Read for 63. Some said Read would not score many in Div One, hmmmm. Fleming started with a duck, whereas Kent Kolpacker Van Jaarsveld got an un-welcome ton.

Pietersen may have bowled, but he was only allowed one over!

[Teatime FatCat]

D'you know I started reading the previous message before I noticed who it was from - and I thought to myself, I bet I know who wrote this........and I was right!

Big thumbs up to Notts, this is the second season they've pushed Read into the no6 slot, and I for one hope he does score loads of runs in Div1 - does this however, prove that he can score runs in tests?

[Teatime FatCat]

Right then - Hants having a good afternoon, taking the last 7 Sussex wkts for only 20 runs - Tremlett 6-44.


Geraint Jones sets off in pursuit of Read's 60 odd - he's 21* off 24 balls, inclsuing 2 x 4;'s and a 6!
Surrey are showing how to crush the universities with 407/6, whereas Derbyshire aren't with 221/8!

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Actually in the Ashes, read might be a better bet than Jones. Read cant do pace, and the aussies arent blessed with a lot of that. Read has got a bit of patience.

Weird, its gone 5pm already and I've only done one Kneejerk ?!?!?!

Kneejerk number2 - davis for Durham for england.