I should be in a happy and contented state after Durham won its sixth championship game of the season, equalling the wins last year which saw the county take the championship title for Division One, but this time are six further matches to play. The win means a gap of 32 points over Somerset who have also played 10 matches and of 42 over third place Notts who have the one game in hand. Lancashire who Durham play next are 49 points behind also after 10. Durham’s home game against Notts before away games in Hampshire and Worcestershire could see the championship settled, even earlier if results go well over the next two games.
Durham won because of an extraordinary batting performance on the first day by Michael Di Venuto who scored 254 runs not out, the best performance of his career to which another 39 run was added in the second innings also not out. A total of 293 for the match. This means he has now scored over 1000 runs this season in the championship improving his averages by some 20 runs from 50 to 70 and generally making him one of the outstanding batsmen of the season to-date. He was supported by Captain Will Smith whose first innings century was timely and which helped to raise his batting average from the mid twenties where along with Stoneman he has performed the least best of the established Durham batting order. Ian Blackwell, former Captain, Beckenstein, and Phil Mustard have all managed several good scores to place them ahead of most batsmen in the championship. Smith however has shown his ability as captain on and off the field. Sussex who as mentioned before have a good balance all round side, bowled very well on the first day restricting Durham to under 300 on a good batting surface. The following morning Di Venuto and Smith successfully pushed the scoring rate faster to achieve 4 batting points getting to 350 within the allotted first 120 overs. After Smith reached his century and was out and then Di Venuto reached 250 the question of a declaration arose in order to give the bowlers sufficient time to try and bowl out Sussex within 300 to make them follow on and get them out again, given that two sides had managed to hold out at the Riverside at the beginning of the season.
The wisdom if of the decision and the nature of the task was reinforced as Sussex achieved a hundred runs on that first evening session for the loss of one wicket with Joyce also injured, although he was able to return the following morning as Thorp who had been impressive the day before commenced to take wickets, finishing with 5 for 85. Sussex struggled to 245 with held from three tail enders, contributing 45 of the total. Then in the evening session Sussex batsmen performed well again although this time Yardy who was run out for 97 in the first innings went for 20 and it was Nash first with 55 and then Luke Wright, not out 118 with the help of Hodd 33 in particular who ensured that the game went on well into the fourth and final day. The fifth wicket having gone for 115 it was anticipated that the game would be over that third evening but two mention improve the position to 200 overnight and the resistance continued to the frustrations of a few in the ground who have quickly come to expect victory with ease, quickly forgetting, or perhaps because of the years watching the team draw at best and frequently lose at home and away.
There was criticism for Steve Harmison at one point because he appeared slow in the field allowing a run before they realised that he was doing so deliberately in order to bowl at the new batsman. The majority in crowd had failed to appreciate that he had been forced to leave the field because of foot blisters the previous evening and which continued to cause him distress so that he was not brought on to bowl until the situation required a break through. For the second time in the game Captain Smith showed his metal as he persisted with Harmison who then had Arafat LBW at 257 before bowing both Rayner and Lewry to end the resistance at 304 leaving Durham two sessions to get 77. Sussex still giving no quarter continued to bowl and field with conviction with Rayner 8 overs for 16 runs and the wicket of Stoneman the best. It was fitting that Captain Smith not out 21 along with Di Venuto, the man of the match seeing the home side complete the victory by nine wickets with plenty of time to do some shopping on the homeward journey before tea.
And there was an incident which left me feeling upset and uncertain what to do, spoiling the rest of the day. The uncertainty means that for the moment I will leave the details of what happened.
There was an excellent BBC special on the life of Sir Bobby Robson shown in the North East in the evening. This followed closely the points which I made yesterday including revealing footage that Bobby could show in his anger and his disappointment like the best of them, but his basic personality was such that he quickly moved on. Freddie Shepherd went further than previously it claiming that he had not wanted Bobby dismissed while Bobby blamed the media for creating the sense of panic. What also emerged is the difficult he had faced controlled Bellamy and Dyer, young men with ability, who became millionaires but without the temperament to respond someone with the experience and approach of Bobby. My concerns about the club making the most of the situation continues, although the response of the public in the north east continues to be no more than one has come to expect. It would be good for the memorial service to be held at Durham Cathedral where the service could be relayed to general crowds who could assemble on the vast Green outside. I hope there is no suggestion that the service be held at the football stadium.
The latest in the Street drama appeared more contrived than the previous but was nevertheless effective in dealing with the real emotions British working class people have about the use European and other nationals to undertake the lower manual jobs, especially in the service industries. In addition to the story line contrivance there was a basic flaw in the main character who mouthed with authentic hatred his feelings about anyone black or white who came from overseas to work. The programme also furthered the fallacy that the overseas workers are paid less when the reality is that they often earn more because they work hard and are prepared the hours required to get the job in question done. There were some good points worth making which redeemed this episode.
Having slept on what happened as I was returning home after the match and some shopping I have decided to let the matter rest, for the moment which caused me so much upset at time and led to an unhappy and disturbed night. I am reminded that one of the strengths of Bobby Robson was his ability to bounce back quickly after situations which upset him, angered or disappointed and sometimes all three.
Durham won because of an extraordinary batting performance on the first day by Michael Di Venuto who scored 254 runs not out, the best performance of his career to which another 39 run was added in the second innings also not out. A total of 293 for the match. This means he has now scored over 1000 runs this season in the championship improving his averages by some 20 runs from 50 to 70 and generally making him one of the outstanding batsmen of the season to-date. He was supported by Captain Will Smith whose first innings century was timely and which helped to raise his batting average from the mid twenties where along with Stoneman he has performed the least best of the established Durham batting order. Ian Blackwell, former Captain, Beckenstein, and Phil Mustard have all managed several good scores to place them ahead of most batsmen in the championship. Smith however has shown his ability as captain on and off the field. Sussex who as mentioned before have a good balance all round side, bowled very well on the first day restricting Durham to under 300 on a good batting surface. The following morning Di Venuto and Smith successfully pushed the scoring rate faster to achieve 4 batting points getting to 350 within the allotted first 120 overs. After Smith reached his century and was out and then Di Venuto reached 250 the question of a declaration arose in order to give the bowlers sufficient time to try and bowl out Sussex within 300 to make them follow on and get them out again, given that two sides had managed to hold out at the Riverside at the beginning of the season.
The wisdom if of the decision and the nature of the task was reinforced as Sussex achieved a hundred runs on that first evening session for the loss of one wicket with Joyce also injured, although he was able to return the following morning as Thorp who had been impressive the day before commenced to take wickets, finishing with 5 for 85. Sussex struggled to 245 with held from three tail enders, contributing 45 of the total. Then in the evening session Sussex batsmen performed well again although this time Yardy who was run out for 97 in the first innings went for 20 and it was Nash first with 55 and then Luke Wright, not out 118 with the help of Hodd 33 in particular who ensured that the game went on well into the fourth and final day. The fifth wicket having gone for 115 it was anticipated that the game would be over that third evening but two mention improve the position to 200 overnight and the resistance continued to the frustrations of a few in the ground who have quickly come to expect victory with ease, quickly forgetting, or perhaps because of the years watching the team draw at best and frequently lose at home and away.
There was criticism for Steve Harmison at one point because he appeared slow in the field allowing a run before they realised that he was doing so deliberately in order to bowl at the new batsman. The majority in crowd had failed to appreciate that he had been forced to leave the field because of foot blisters the previous evening and which continued to cause him distress so that he was not brought on to bowl until the situation required a break through. For the second time in the game Captain Smith showed his metal as he persisted with Harmison who then had Arafat LBW at 257 before bowing both Rayner and Lewry to end the resistance at 304 leaving Durham two sessions to get 77. Sussex still giving no quarter continued to bowl and field with conviction with Rayner 8 overs for 16 runs and the wicket of Stoneman the best. It was fitting that Captain Smith not out 21 along with Di Venuto, the man of the match seeing the home side complete the victory by nine wickets with plenty of time to do some shopping on the homeward journey before tea.
And there was an incident which left me feeling upset and uncertain what to do, spoiling the rest of the day. The uncertainty means that for the moment I will leave the details of what happened.
There was an excellent BBC special on the life of Sir Bobby Robson shown in the North East in the evening. This followed closely the points which I made yesterday including revealing footage that Bobby could show in his anger and his disappointment like the best of them, but his basic personality was such that he quickly moved on. Freddie Shepherd went further than previously it claiming that he had not wanted Bobby dismissed while Bobby blamed the media for creating the sense of panic. What also emerged is the difficult he had faced controlled Bellamy and Dyer, young men with ability, who became millionaires but without the temperament to respond someone with the experience and approach of Bobby. My concerns about the club making the most of the situation continues, although the response of the public in the north east continues to be no more than one has come to expect. It would be good for the memorial service to be held at Durham Cathedral where the service could be relayed to general crowds who could assemble on the vast Green outside. I hope there is no suggestion that the service be held at the football stadium.
The latest in the Street drama appeared more contrived than the previous but was nevertheless effective in dealing with the real emotions British working class people have about the use European and other nationals to undertake the lower manual jobs, especially in the service industries. In addition to the story line contrivance there was a basic flaw in the main character who mouthed with authentic hatred his feelings about anyone black or white who came from overseas to work. The programme also furthered the fallacy that the overseas workers are paid less when the reality is that they often earn more because they work hard and are prepared the hours required to get the job in question done. There were some good points worth making which redeemed this episode.
Having slept on what happened as I was returning home after the match and some shopping I have decided to let the matter rest, for the moment which caused me so much upset at time and led to an unhappy and disturbed night. I am reminded that one of the strengths of Bobby Robson was his ability to bounce back quickly after situations which upset him, angered or disappointed and sometimes all three.
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