That last session took the gloss off of what has been a great match for us so far. Not so much in terms of Durham now probably avoiding the FO - I doubt we'd have enforced it anyway; batting last on a turning pitch, with the pressure of a run chase to survive hardly sounds appealing, even if that chase is only 120 - but more that our lead continues to be eaten into, and we're now having to go into day three with the match still only in its second innings.
Obviously Warks fighting back excellently against Lancs hasn't been great news for us today either.
These two can bat (quite clearly), and Onions has been in decent batting form recently (Rushworth is nothing to comment on though). If you go with a negative viewpoint and say that it takes us a whole session to bowl Durham out tomorrow, and we come away with an 90 run read, then realistically I would suggest that leaves us having to score something like 250 in 60 overs. Declare with a lead of 340, and have five overs at them tomorrow night and then all of day four. Not ideal - 130 overs to bowl them out with a 430 lead would be much nicer than 100 overs to bowl them out with a lead of 340 (which is where we could have been if we're bowled them out tonight) - but still a really good to win from. Not that scoring 250 from 60 overs would be straight forward, however.
Would love it if Somerset won the title Trescothick deserves it.
So does Vic Marks![]()
Would love it if Somerset won the title Trescothick deserves it.
So does Vic Marks![]()
Hmm, this rain really needs to go away. Fast. (There's no rain showing on the forecast, which makes it even more frustrating)
They won't stop for bad light unless they really have to. The umpires will show common sense. And it's stopped raining in Hedge End.If it is not rain, then bad light will intervene. Yorkshire in the lead now against Middlesex. That is Middlesex's chances of a win gone, Need bad light and rain there, and good weather over in Taunton for Somerset to get the title. Over 400 in front. Come on Somerset!!!
They won't stop for bad light unless they really have to. The umpires will show common sense. And it's stopped raining in Hedge End.
They won't stop for bad light unless they really have to. The umpires will show common sense. And it's stopped raining in Hedge End.
Not raining in Hedge End.Given the change of innings though, 80 overs is actually only 78 overs - or potentially 76 overs, if we do still manage to get into a position where we can declare before the close. Possibly even less still, if bad light comes into it.
But unless we take these three wickets in double quick time, I'd suggest that are pre-close declaration from us is unlikely now. I think we need at least 60 overs of batting. If a Vince or a Ervine will tuck in, then maybe 50 overs will be sufficient, but I think that is very unlikely.
And as I type, you can potentially bin all of that. It's started raining in Soton again...
Not raining in Hedge End.
Given the change of innings though, 80 overs is actually only 78 overs - or potentially 76 overs, if we do still manage to get into a position where we can declare before the close. Possibly even less still, if bad light comes into it.
But unless we take these three wickets in double quick time, I'd suggest that are pre-close declaration from us is unlikely now. I think we need at least 60 overs of batting. If a Vince or a Ervine will tuck in, then maybe 50 overs will be sufficient, but I think that is very unlikely.
And as I type, you can potentially bin all of that. It's started raining in Soton again...
A lot of the time the rain slides past the Ageas Bowl. Hopefully it will this time.Give it about 15 - 20 mins generally.