It is 7.10 an on 30th June 2011 and I am home, having decided when the match ended yesterday afternoon wanted to return rather than spend the night at Widnes and returning in the morning spending the day reacquainting myself with Liverpool before doing so.
On Tuesday morning the expectation among another full house of perhaps 1500 plus packing in the Liverpool ground was that the game would be over by tea time. In the event it lasted until 3 pm the following afternoon. Lancashire had been invited to bat after Durham won the important toss of the coin and Callum Thorp was primarily responsible for sending the majority of the Lancashire batsmen back to the pavilion for 8 or less runs with figures of 12.2 overs, 5 maidens 6 wickets for 20 runs, with Brown going at 7 for 5, Chilton at 11 for 3, Croft for 2 when the total was 37, Cross for 8 with the total 76, Hogg for 1, clean bowled when the total was 84 with Khan who had come in before hand for 0 when the total was 83. For the whole of his bowling performance he threatened a wicket. His quoted best championship performance is 7 for 88 so this should replace that in terms of ratio and for the match the figure is 8 for 73 again his best match figures todate with his first innings tally proving match winning in the event. In my judgement he has been Durham’s most consistent bowler this season whose performance must surely bring him to the attention of the selectors. He has bowled more overs than anyone else in the championship
I also thought Graham Onions commenced to demonstrate something of his former threat with prolonged bowing wicket to wicket with swing in hot humid conditions. The level of greenness of the wicket providing for a fiery bounce which he like Thorpe was able to exploit. His first innings tally 2 for 10 runs was from 10 overs with four maidens which added to his second innings 4 for 74 from 15.2 gives him a match analysis of 6 for 6 for 93 for his 25.2 overs. It was the bowlers who did the damage with Benkenstein 1 for 6 and Steve H taking the other wicket in the more expensive more expensive 7 for 37. Lancashire. Steve continues to attract attention more for his tendency to bowl wides which the keeper cannot save thus giving away 5 runs a time, something he accomplished twice in his first over and once further so that all in all he saved Lancashire from what would have been one of their lowest ever totals.
Lancashire are known for their excellent bowling and variable batting so having been dismissed for 84 we all awaited to see what the best batting side this season could make of the conditions and in truth the response was no much better with Smith going when the total was 1, Di Venutu at 8, Collingwood at 38, Muchall who had looked the most secure at 52, Blackwell soon after at 53 and Captain Mustard at 61 and we appeared to be in the same mire as Lancashire. It was the championship winning and now one day Captain Benkenstein who has already scored more first class runs that anyone else at the club who showed the way and his two batting performance also made him a contender for man of the match, notably his first innings of 83 not out made all the difference to the result of the match. Durham had been bowled out for 186, 102 runs more than their opponents. Young Proctor 3 for 29 and stalwart Hog 2 for 34 impressed. They gained no batting points hence the way the wicket had been prepared.
With bad light resulting in only one over on Monday evening I speculated how the wicket would play on the second day when the weather changed with a chilling wind to mellow the constant sunshine. Lancashire appeared confident at the increase and with openers being able to put on 58 runs for the first wicket and 112 for the second. However after that wickets fell consistently every 20 runs or so with only 62 from Horton and Proctor 52 achieving a total to pose a challenge to Durham winning the game.
I had prepared better for the second day stopping at the corner shop for a can of Pepsi which I drank early and a bottle of water which I poured immediately into a flask to keep it cold which it did. As with the first day I had added olives to the prepared salami sandwiches plus a Danish type pastry. I brought the binoculars to have a look at what the ball was doing, or was not. I also got the same seat overlooking the bowlers to the right of wicket at the other end. The ground appeared to fill sooner than on the first day although as with the previous day I did have a free seat to one side for the morning
As with the previous day I was able to engage in conversations with my neighbours and had prepared well with my knowledge of the Durham players and backgrounds and that the side contained four captains including two who had won championships and a third who had won the 20 20 World Cup.
I had mixed feelings about the sudden departure of the last three Lancashire batsmen and this meant Durham would have to play the last overs of the day after having spent a tiring day in the field. My concern was well justified as first Di Venuto who is having a lean time of late was out for 7 with the total 11 and Gordon Muchall having his best season with the club was out for 8 with the total 23. Graham Onions who had looked safe at one end for hour while Benkenstein amassed his first innings runs was out in quick time and result of the match was suddenly in doubt with Durham 28 for 3 at the close of play.
The Lancashire Club announced that entry for the third and final day, unless the weather intervened, would be free. The club was hoping for a dramatic day given they had already won the first three of the five championship games being played at the Liverpool ground. Because the weather forecast suggested showers I had packed a small brolly and decided to sit at the side rather than the previous position. Smith and Collingwood were put under great pressure which they weathered with Collingwood going for the runs, The two men run quickly between the wickets and were taking two where others would normally take the one and in a couple of instances three when the most likely addition would be two. The outcome could have been different if Collingwood had not been dropped by Paul Horton when he was 21 as he went on to make 45 and was dismissed by an excellent catch to a fierce stroke shortly after returning to the crease after a delay for rain. Smith who had looked less confident went for 30 legs before wicket looking most unhappy with the decision of the umpire and Durham were 101 for 5 with 80 runs still to get. Benkenstein who had look comfortable from his arrival at the crease went onto make 60 again not out with Blackwell 26 to see the match won by 5 wickets.
The Lancashire spectators remained until the end hoping for a miracle although most appreciated they would lose and in doing so the chance of their first championship for 70 years has taken a blow. However the championship is still being contested by six of the 9 clubs with Hampshire looking doomed not having won any of their 7 games and who along with Sussex have played three less than Durham and therefore have potentially 72 points to add to their present totals to provide a better picture of the present position.. The most vulnerable is Yorkshire who have played 9 and with only one win look set for relegation than Worcestershire with two wins and game to play to potentially add o the gap of 5 points above Yorks. Although Durham look good with 169 points in total with Lancashire 145 an Warwickshire 115 Sussex having played three games less for their 72 points could add another 72 and then beat Durham on their visit to Hove to overtake in the table. Durham entertain Warwickshire and Worcestershire along with the championship winners of last season Nottingham. They visit Somerset with their placid pitch and an in form Trescothick as well a making a visit to Nottingham which I am attending in later August. The outcome this season is far from beings settled, and it will be exceptional if the batsmen and bowlers can sustain their first half season form continuously. I have been looking bat the players averages and the Most valuable player statistics provided by the professional cricketers association and which still shows Ben Stokes as an outstanding all round performance prior to his major injury which is keeping him out of the action for at last six weeks. The issue is then who will he keep out if he is to return, given that Collingwood is Collingwood and returning form in the county championships. In the one day games especially the 20 20 I can see Breese making way for Stokes. Perhaps Borthwick will be the one to make way.
On Monday and Tuesday I decided to make do with the food brought with me so had a starter with soup, a can of beans, some grapes and a Danish pastry. The mistake on Tuesday was not to get some cold water from the store and I was too tired when I realised it was getting human once more even with the window open.
Yesterday I remained unsure of what I would do until the game ended with victory at 3pm. I was tempted to go onto Widnes and watch the Tennis with Andy Murray playing his last 8 game later afternoon but equally the thought of being home early evening became too tempting. In the event it was just before 8 pm I returned. There were two three reasons why the journey took so long. I missed the correct turn from the Aigburth Road to get on to A3080 and reach the M62 from its commencement. Instead I went along a road though industrial Merseyside before joining the M62 as in fact it becomes the M60 Manchester ring motorway rather like the M25 in London. It took the best part of an hour to travel the same distance it had taken 30 minutes on the day of arrival. Secondly there was a patch of slow to stopping traffic over the Pennines which was caused by traffic volume. The third reason was that I became tired and decided to stop and try and sleep on reaching Wetherby. I did sleep a little with a stop over half an hour having stopped earlier at Hartshead for a comfort break and an ice cream sitting in glorious evening sunshine. I could have listened to Murray’s game but instead having got the CD player to work I enjoyed 90 minutes of Operatic Arias from the 3 CD collection.
When I arrived back I could not find the key to the connecting door between the Kitchen/Day room and the rest of the property. I did not panic this time confident that it was somewhere in the luggage and after having a cooling Pepsi systematically emptied the luggage. In case the key had been lost I gathered in one bag all that would be required. This took the greater part of an hour leaving the case last. The over should rucksack was given special attention as the summer jacket. I then replaced unused food tins and put the remaining packets of Danish pastries in the bread bin. The two cool bags were cleared and cleaned as was the Leisure club bad which I had used to take to the match.
I slowly unpacked the case fearing the worst so there was great relief when the key was found in the pair of trousers and thus it was not necessary to prepare and eat the evening meal before going round the lane and entering the front of the house to try and find the spare key which had been cut when the key was previously lost!. I enjoyed half a dozen spice chicken wings with some prawns in various kinds of coatings together with coated mushrooms. As anticipated the second part of the IJT order had arrived and will be collected in the morning. The camera did not work so I will have to get my expensive one repaired but it is not a priority. I will decide about second part Olympic tickets after getting myself organised again over the next few days. Viva Lancashire and Liverpool.
On Tuesday morning the expectation among another full house of perhaps 1500 plus packing in the Liverpool ground was that the game would be over by tea time. In the event it lasted until 3 pm the following afternoon. Lancashire had been invited to bat after Durham won the important toss of the coin and Callum Thorp was primarily responsible for sending the majority of the Lancashire batsmen back to the pavilion for 8 or less runs with figures of 12.2 overs, 5 maidens 6 wickets for 20 runs, with Brown going at 7 for 5, Chilton at 11 for 3, Croft for 2 when the total was 37, Cross for 8 with the total 76, Hogg for 1, clean bowled when the total was 84 with Khan who had come in before hand for 0 when the total was 83. For the whole of his bowling performance he threatened a wicket. His quoted best championship performance is 7 for 88 so this should replace that in terms of ratio and for the match the figure is 8 for 73 again his best match figures todate with his first innings tally proving match winning in the event. In my judgement he has been Durham’s most consistent bowler this season whose performance must surely bring him to the attention of the selectors. He has bowled more overs than anyone else in the championship
I also thought Graham Onions commenced to demonstrate something of his former threat with prolonged bowing wicket to wicket with swing in hot humid conditions. The level of greenness of the wicket providing for a fiery bounce which he like Thorpe was able to exploit. His first innings tally 2 for 10 runs was from 10 overs with four maidens which added to his second innings 4 for 74 from 15.2 gives him a match analysis of 6 for 6 for 93 for his 25.2 overs. It was the bowlers who did the damage with Benkenstein 1 for 6 and Steve H taking the other wicket in the more expensive more expensive 7 for 37. Lancashire. Steve continues to attract attention more for his tendency to bowl wides which the keeper cannot save thus giving away 5 runs a time, something he accomplished twice in his first over and once further so that all in all he saved Lancashire from what would have been one of their lowest ever totals.
Lancashire are known for their excellent bowling and variable batting so having been dismissed for 84 we all awaited to see what the best batting side this season could make of the conditions and in truth the response was no much better with Smith going when the total was 1, Di Venutu at 8, Collingwood at 38, Muchall who had looked the most secure at 52, Blackwell soon after at 53 and Captain Mustard at 61 and we appeared to be in the same mire as Lancashire. It was the championship winning and now one day Captain Benkenstein who has already scored more first class runs that anyone else at the club who showed the way and his two batting performance also made him a contender for man of the match, notably his first innings of 83 not out made all the difference to the result of the match. Durham had been bowled out for 186, 102 runs more than their opponents. Young Proctor 3 for 29 and stalwart Hog 2 for 34 impressed. They gained no batting points hence the way the wicket had been prepared.
With bad light resulting in only one over on Monday evening I speculated how the wicket would play on the second day when the weather changed with a chilling wind to mellow the constant sunshine. Lancashire appeared confident at the increase and with openers being able to put on 58 runs for the first wicket and 112 for the second. However after that wickets fell consistently every 20 runs or so with only 62 from Horton and Proctor 52 achieving a total to pose a challenge to Durham winning the game.
I had prepared better for the second day stopping at the corner shop for a can of Pepsi which I drank early and a bottle of water which I poured immediately into a flask to keep it cold which it did. As with the first day I had added olives to the prepared salami sandwiches plus a Danish type pastry. I brought the binoculars to have a look at what the ball was doing, or was not. I also got the same seat overlooking the bowlers to the right of wicket at the other end. The ground appeared to fill sooner than on the first day although as with the previous day I did have a free seat to one side for the morning
As with the previous day I was able to engage in conversations with my neighbours and had prepared well with my knowledge of the Durham players and backgrounds and that the side contained four captains including two who had won championships and a third who had won the 20 20 World Cup.
I had mixed feelings about the sudden departure of the last three Lancashire batsmen and this meant Durham would have to play the last overs of the day after having spent a tiring day in the field. My concern was well justified as first Di Venuto who is having a lean time of late was out for 7 with the total 11 and Gordon Muchall having his best season with the club was out for 8 with the total 23. Graham Onions who had looked safe at one end for hour while Benkenstein amassed his first innings runs was out in quick time and result of the match was suddenly in doubt with Durham 28 for 3 at the close of play.
The Lancashire Club announced that entry for the third and final day, unless the weather intervened, would be free. The club was hoping for a dramatic day given they had already won the first three of the five championship games being played at the Liverpool ground. Because the weather forecast suggested showers I had packed a small brolly and decided to sit at the side rather than the previous position. Smith and Collingwood were put under great pressure which they weathered with Collingwood going for the runs, The two men run quickly between the wickets and were taking two where others would normally take the one and in a couple of instances three when the most likely addition would be two. The outcome could have been different if Collingwood had not been dropped by Paul Horton when he was 21 as he went on to make 45 and was dismissed by an excellent catch to a fierce stroke shortly after returning to the crease after a delay for rain. Smith who had looked less confident went for 30 legs before wicket looking most unhappy with the decision of the umpire and Durham were 101 for 5 with 80 runs still to get. Benkenstein who had look comfortable from his arrival at the crease went onto make 60 again not out with Blackwell 26 to see the match won by 5 wickets.
The Lancashire spectators remained until the end hoping for a miracle although most appreciated they would lose and in doing so the chance of their first championship for 70 years has taken a blow. However the championship is still being contested by six of the 9 clubs with Hampshire looking doomed not having won any of their 7 games and who along with Sussex have played three less than Durham and therefore have potentially 72 points to add to their present totals to provide a better picture of the present position.. The most vulnerable is Yorkshire who have played 9 and with only one win look set for relegation than Worcestershire with two wins and game to play to potentially add o the gap of 5 points above Yorks. Although Durham look good with 169 points in total with Lancashire 145 an Warwickshire 115 Sussex having played three games less for their 72 points could add another 72 and then beat Durham on their visit to Hove to overtake in the table. Durham entertain Warwickshire and Worcestershire along with the championship winners of last season Nottingham. They visit Somerset with their placid pitch and an in form Trescothick as well a making a visit to Nottingham which I am attending in later August. The outcome this season is far from beings settled, and it will be exceptional if the batsmen and bowlers can sustain their first half season form continuously. I have been looking bat the players averages and the Most valuable player statistics provided by the professional cricketers association and which still shows Ben Stokes as an outstanding all round performance prior to his major injury which is keeping him out of the action for at last six weeks. The issue is then who will he keep out if he is to return, given that Collingwood is Collingwood and returning form in the county championships. In the one day games especially the 20 20 I can see Breese making way for Stokes. Perhaps Borthwick will be the one to make way.
On Monday and Tuesday I decided to make do with the food brought with me so had a starter with soup, a can of beans, some grapes and a Danish pastry. The mistake on Tuesday was not to get some cold water from the store and I was too tired when I realised it was getting human once more even with the window open.
Yesterday I remained unsure of what I would do until the game ended with victory at 3pm. I was tempted to go onto Widnes and watch the Tennis with Andy Murray playing his last 8 game later afternoon but equally the thought of being home early evening became too tempting. In the event it was just before 8 pm I returned. There were two three reasons why the journey took so long. I missed the correct turn from the Aigburth Road to get on to A3080 and reach the M62 from its commencement. Instead I went along a road though industrial Merseyside before joining the M62 as in fact it becomes the M60 Manchester ring motorway rather like the M25 in London. It took the best part of an hour to travel the same distance it had taken 30 minutes on the day of arrival. Secondly there was a patch of slow to stopping traffic over the Pennines which was caused by traffic volume. The third reason was that I became tired and decided to stop and try and sleep on reaching Wetherby. I did sleep a little with a stop over half an hour having stopped earlier at Hartshead for a comfort break and an ice cream sitting in glorious evening sunshine. I could have listened to Murray’s game but instead having got the CD player to work I enjoyed 90 minutes of Operatic Arias from the 3 CD collection.
When I arrived back I could not find the key to the connecting door between the Kitchen/Day room and the rest of the property. I did not panic this time confident that it was somewhere in the luggage and after having a cooling Pepsi systematically emptied the luggage. In case the key had been lost I gathered in one bag all that would be required. This took the greater part of an hour leaving the case last. The over should rucksack was given special attention as the summer jacket. I then replaced unused food tins and put the remaining packets of Danish pastries in the bread bin. The two cool bags were cleared and cleaned as was the Leisure club bad which I had used to take to the match.
I slowly unpacked the case fearing the worst so there was great relief when the key was found in the pair of trousers and thus it was not necessary to prepare and eat the evening meal before going round the lane and entering the front of the house to try and find the spare key which had been cut when the key was previously lost!. I enjoyed half a dozen spice chicken wings with some prawns in various kinds of coatings together with coated mushrooms. As anticipated the second part of the IJT order had arrived and will be collected in the morning. The camera did not work so I will have to get my expensive one repaired but it is not a priority. I will decide about second part Olympic tickets after getting myself organised again over the next few days. Viva Lancashire and Liverpool.
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