John Winn has already summarised the end of season game from Riverside, which I also attended, and has appropriately delved into the past which often throws up arguments which we need to recall in today's debate about county cricket. So many people are opposed to the ridiculous proposal for the so called 'hundred' and wish to protect the historic county championship that surely the powers that be must take notice.
We need to think who the 'powers that be' really are. It is not just the much maligned Messrs Graves and Harrison, but the counties themselves whose representatives attend the decision making meetings. It seems to me that these people do not really represent their clubs and supporters but merely nod their heads in agreement as soon as large sums of money are mentioned. It really is a failure of their duty of care for a very a precious commodity which has caused the current uproar.
As John has rightly pointed out the finish of the one game which went into the final day was happily televised by Sky, after a whole series of intriguing games around the county which all finished in three days. There currently seems to be a swell of opinion in favour of a regular county championship highlights programme, which I have long advocated, to promote the game which means so much to so many people. I can only commend an article by Jonathan Agnew in the new Wisden Monthly which recommends a return to a one division championship, something I agree with wholeheartedly.
However the outlook is not good and one cannot help wondering whether next season really will be the end of the road for county cricket as we know it. However rather than end on a pessimistic note I will give a few thoughts of my own of the game at Riverside, where Durham who were in the ascendancy for so long, contrived to lose the game at the death with a spectacular collapse.
Durham v Middlesex has great memories for me as I watched the entire game some three years ago at Lord's when the Welshman James Harris had a memorable day taking 9-34 to help Middlesex to victory. This after Rushworth and Hastings had demolished the home side very cheaply. Harris will not remember this week's game with much affection after being hit on the head and withdrawn from the game for concussion checks. He did however manage to make top score in the Middlesex first innings with 31 out of a lowly total of 121 all out.
The most spectacular dismissal of the innings was that of James Fuller, yet another South African, once of Gloucestershire, who went down the wicket to Salisbury, played a dreadful cross batted heave and had his stumps re-arranged. Salisbury was the best bowler with 6-37 confirming the good impression he has made since joining from Essex, via Hampshire, earlier in the season.
Durham's first innings was built around another South African, Gareth Harte, who scored a workmanlike century, which included good partnerships with both Richardson (50) and Collingwood (32). Collingwood was given a resounding welcome from the Riverside faithful and the Middlesex side, who gave him a guard of honour. He played some characteristic shots, such as the push through mid wicket for easy singles, and a specialist cover-drive standing up tall to drive the ball to the boundary.
The crowd were momentarily silenced when Collingwood was given out lbw to the lively Ethan Bamber, one of several Berkshire products on the Middlesex books. They were soon on their feet however to applaud him all the way back to the pavilion. At that stage Durham were 201-4 but the momentum continued well until Harte was ninth man out for 112 and Durham had a first innings lead of 189. Thoughts were already turning to the possibility of an innings victory for the home side.
It was not to be and the final session after tea on day two saw the game swing back very much the visitors way. Not only did they clear the deficit, but were 66 ahead at the close of play with still eight wickets in hand. Steve Eskinaze batted beautifully until the nervous nineties struck and he was caught at slip by Collingwood for 96. Middlesex added two hundred runs in the final session. Earlier Collingwood brought himself on to bowl and broke the stubborn opening partnership by clean bowling Robson to general acclaim.
Nick Gubbins gave Eskinaze valuable support, while not scoring at quite the same rate. Having been 90 not out Gubbins fell early on the third day lbw b Rushworth for 91, but skipper Malan helped by Martin Andersson pushed Middlesex to a commanding total of 355, which meant that Durham required 167 to win. Thoughts of the extra half hour being claimed to produce victory for the home side were soon put on the back burner when Lees who had started brightly was out for 25.
Steel went into his shell completely and with Harte and Richardson soon gone as well it looked as though captain Collingwood was the last hope of victory. Despite another great welcome he was soon out bowled by Andersson for only 10 and took his last farewell. Durham were 67-4 and despite some resistance from Poynter the rest of the side subsided rapidly to the four pronged Middlesex pace attack of Murtagh, Bamber, Fuller and Andersson. 97-5 and as the long shadows from the pavilion reached the wicket Durham were all out just before six 0'clock for a miserable 109. Middlesex the winners by 57 runs.
Only three overs of spin were bowled in the whole match, by Durham's Steel and subsitute Rayner was not required to bowl, despite snaffling three excellent slip catches. A fascinating game throughout with the twists and turns which make championship cricket such compelling viewing.
The crowd wended their way home, with many farewells and wishes of 'winter well' all around the terraces. The fondest farewell of all of course to Paul Collingwood. One wonders how Durham will fare without him next season.
No comments:
Post a Comment