By Beefy and Lower Pav (with Barmy Kev filling)
August 4 2013

I can see this as being a day of disasters.

It starts off with me running for a bus as all my travel plans are disrupted due to track works on the London Underground. I nearly get run over catching this. On route a passenger offers driver a £50 note an argument starts and eventually driver lets him on for free. Then I find out my BR train I made it just in time for is cancelled. Grrrr.  I caught later Sardine Express and thought blow this (or something to that effect) I’m not standing and travel 1^st class.

I take position in Upper Q and listen to Mr Perambulator droning on. As Dext is closing in on 50 Dext out wafting a hook bowled Onions caught Mustard hooking disappointed with poor shot.     Ollie starts with 6 and couple of balls later out with Mustard Onions combination strangled down leg side.  Berg looks settled but chose bad shot selection as caught by Mustard bowled Onions.  Murts attacks and hits successive boundaries, but Finn out it’s Onions again but caught by Richardson. Corey is applauded for two successive defensive shots and even louder applause for a single. Murts nearly achieves boundary and easy 3 off last ball of over but settle for 2 to protect tail ender as Corey faces next over and hits 3 and then tail ender is out you guessed it bowled Onions caught Mustard.

We are bowling and early on Lower Pav shouts we need a wicket Stoneman is out LBW off Murts for 0. Then Jennings is well caught by Robbo in slips.  Durham are equal with 2 wickets down but not for long as its 32-3 or 7-3 as dangerous Brothwick is bowled for 26.

After lunch was painful as Smith and Stokes built good stand and achieved first 50 partnership of game and were -3 on over rate. Ollie called on to bowl there was long delay a change of ball and Corey bowled instead.  Smith lost patience and was caught of Murts by Finn, phew. Then a peach of delivery Colly bowled all ends up by Colly.  Colly wobbles Colly. 97-4 then 98-5 looks better. Stokes scores first 50 of game and Ollie is finally on. And off 1^st over Stokes is stumped halfway down pitch and in same over is Richardson is caught at slip.     129-7 as LP comments Ollie’s 7-step run up is a trot.  At tea its 154-7 as Thorp and Mustard build a partnership.

After tea Thorp is bowled by Finn played on 168-8 or 143-8 in real time, it’s now 168-9 or 143-9 as Onions Middle stump is dislodged. Rushworth doesn’t last much longer.  We need 147 . We can’t mess this up. Read on.

Robbo out for 6 as Richardson juggles catch at slip. Denly scores quickly but out for 32 off short pitched ball now 41-2.  1^st ball Moggy appeal looks plum LBW umpire puts his arm out no ball, massive phew! Next over everyone appeals Moggy “ caught behind. Not given no DRS even bigger phew! Fortunately Moggy and Voges survive to close playing well with no alarms.  No extra half an hour. Back tomorrow 44 needed 8 wickets left. can we mess this up?

Who says County Cricket is boring?