***Official*** English Domestic Season 2007

[brockley]

Mckenzie not picked in the saffies touring party,thats sealed it for somerset expect his signature soon.

 

[jakob1978]

Kent all out in their second innings for 160 to set Durham 52 to win.

So if we can knock these off, that'll be 20 points in the bag, and probably second place in the championship (but still with the hope that Worcestershire will pull off a miracle against Sussex and play out a draw, or that rain will come down)

 

[jakob1978]

Kent, defending 52, decide to go for the unusual & unexpected tactic. They start with 2 different opening bowlers (Neil Dexter & Matt Walker) and with Martin Saggers behind the stumps instead of Geraint Jones. Maybe they just want to get the match over and done with.

 

[grecian]

Munday gets 8-55 for zummerzet, will be interesting to see if he get's a run in the team next year. Jenner rates him above Rashid and Lawson, if I remember rightly.

 

[jakob1978]

And now Geraint Jones comes on to bowl only his second over in Championship cricket (and gets hit for 6 first ball). So we've got the wicketkeeper bowling an early over, to the opening bowler who's keeping wicket. I don't think Kent are taking this very seriously.

Mind, Durham are still making a bit of a meal of it, losing 2 wickets, and now Durham have sent out Paul Wiseman (who is their usual number 11)...are the 2 teams just picking players out of a hat to decide who's batting, bowling and keeping?

 

[Spitfires_Fan]

And now Geraint Jones comes on to bowl only his second over in Championship cricket (and gets hit for 6 first ball). So we've got the wicketkeeper bowling an early over, to the opening bowler who's keeping wicket. I don't think Kent are taking this very seriously.

Mind, Durham are still making a bit of a meal of it, losing 2 wickets, and now Durham have sent out Paul Wiseman (who is their usual number 11)...are the 2 teams just picking players out of a hat to decide who's batting, bowling and keeping?

Bah, poor effort from Kent. I know they're safe now and that's what counts, but if I supported one of the other sides contending the Championship, I'd be pretty hacked off at Kent right now.

 

[jakob1978]

Rob Key is bowling now (quote from the commentators on his first delivery "My nan with 2 false hips could bowl a better ball than that" from the Durham commentator and the slightly (but not too much) kinder "That's a bit Village Cricket" from the Kent commentator)

 

[Scaly piscine]

Wish all the rain here could move over to Hove.

 

[jakob1978]

And Durham win, take 20 points and move (temporarily) to the top of the table. Now we just wait for the other results (and pray for torrential rain over Hove).

 

[Spitfires_Fan]

Wonder whether Kent's apparent lack of interest in winning (particularly today) has been a protest at the way in which they've been treated by some of the counties vying for the Championship? You could certainly argue that they don't owe anybody any favours.

 

[wpdavid]

Bah, poor effort from Kent. I know they're safe now and that's what counts, but if I supported one of the other sides contending the Championship, I'd be pretty hacked off at Kent right now.

Durham only needed 50odd tbf, so it hasn't changed anything. Still very amateur though.

 

[Woodster]

Lancashire are appearing to have the same problem every county (who has played Surrey) has had over the past two years, dismissing Mark Ramprakash!

 

[wpdavid]

Lancashire are appearing to have the same problem every county (who has played Surrey) has had over the past two years, dismissing Mark Ramprakash!

Could be interesting if Lancs end up being set about 450, as a draw may or may not be enough depending on events at Hove, where Worcestershire's 1st innings now seems to be in freefall.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Lancashire will need a win (or tie possibly) I'd have thought after Durham won.

 

[jakob1978]

Could be interesting if Lancs end up being set about 450, as a draw may or may not be enough depending on events at Hove, where Worcestershire's 1st innings now seems to be in freefall.

A draw won't be enough. If they draw they'll finish behind Durham.

Durham have finished with 197.5 points
If Lancs draw, they'll have 4 bonus points, plus 4 for the draw, which makes 194 points
If Sussex draw they'd have 8 bonus points, plus 4, which will give them 192 points.

So both need to win to stand a chance of being champions.

 

[Woodster]

A great way to end the seaon with 3 teams still in with a decent shout of winning it. To be honest can't see Lancs beating Surrey, they'll end up chasing in the region of 500. Should be an exciting last day, because as you say a draw is not good enough.

 

[Woodster]

Lancs will need to remove Ramps and Butcher very quickly after lunch to have any chance of chasing a realistic total.

 

[wpdavid]

A draw won't be enough. If they draw they'll finish behind Durham.

Durham have finished with 197.5 points
If Lancs draw, they'll have 4 bonus points, plus 4 for the draw, which makes 194 points
If Sussex draw they'd have 8 bonus points, plus 4, which will give them 192 points.

So both need to win to stand a chance of being champions.

Thanks - that makes things much clearer.

I suppose Lancs need to dismiss Surrey by tea today if they're going to have any chance at all. It could happen if Ramps goes quickly - Surrey's batting after Butcher isn't special -but they'll still have to bat remarkably well. And I suppose Hove boils down to Mushy vs the weather. I wonder what the forecast is tomorrow.

 

[Poker Boy]

TBH, unless there's a deluge at Hove (Worcs 8 down in first innings, Mushy six) I think the title is going to Hove UNLESS...will Butcher do as Botham famously did in the 1984 title race and declare and set Lancs a gettable target? PS - well done to Durham. Unless Lancs get an unlikely win they'll be 2nd (at least) which is quite an amazing achivement and as a nuetral it would be unfair on Sussex but a bit of me wishes it rains at Hove because Durham winning the CC would be a fairytale. Who'd have thought it even a year ago?

 

[Woodster]

Worcester now all out, and Chris Adams has enforced the follow on, unsurprisingly. Sussex the favourites, weather permitting.