By Grockle
April 27 2003

The Sabres rest their strike bowlers in favour of some new faces and put faith in the young guys to do it. Including first team debutant Gareth Andrew. Jones, Parsons and Andrew alll get their chance to shine.

v DURHAM @ NCL2 Taunton 27 April 2003

SCORECARD

Will we get through a whole day's play?  A young side gets a run out and the strike force gets a rest.  No Johnson or McLean and as predicted, Peter Bowler gives up his opening spot for the one day games.  In come some old favourites to show their wares.  Keith Parsons and Steffan Jones get a first run out of the season and a debut for Gareth Andrew - a young 'three dimensional cricketer' who impressed in the first friendly against Glamorgan.  Lots of confidence in the squad for the first one dayer - all will unfold!!

Durham won the toss and decided to field and Trescothick and Burns open for the sabres.  Four runs cracked to the off side boundary by Banger off Srinath's second ball hopefully sets the scene - against background of ominous rain clouds and sunshine - hope it makes its flaming mind up!  Unfortunately, before I can post this Mike Burns season continues to falter as he goes for 0 bowled by Pretorius in his first over - we are 5 for 1 with Cox in with Trescothick.

It does get better though.  Marcus Trescothick seems to have hit some one day form as he takes 10 off Srinath's second over with a 4 into the crowd and a 6 onto the Old Pavilion roof.  It's 24 at 5 overs and the 50 is up by 9.1 with Coxey playing the support role to Banger's stroke play.  Harmison and Killeen takeover in overs 11 and 12 and while Trescothick puts Harmison's first to the River Stand boundary Coxey toe ends one straight to Danny Law for 19 and we're 71 for 2 in the 12th.

James Bryant makes his first one day appearance.  Not a long one though as he copies the Tasmanian by lofting Killeen's second ball to Pretorius and it moves on to 72 for 3.  Keith Parsons therefore returns to the County Ground for the first time in 2003 with something to prove about whether he is only a one day player or not.  It nearly comes a cropper as the whole Durham infield appeal for a catch behind in the 15th but Keith stands and the umpires give not out.  This starts a 'chat' between Killeen and KP, followed by another 'chat' between Banger and Killeen.  It all gets nice and spicy from then on.

Tresco's 50 precedes the 100 up by a minute or two.  One 6 and eight fours in   the half ton and we move on to 'Nelson' by the 20th.  The two batsmen put on a 50 partnership when we pass 123 and at one run later we reach the halfway point and a predicted score of about 250.  Unfortunately the run rate starts to decline from then on.  First KP flips one to mid-wicket into the grateful hands of Danny Law for 35 - just as he was starting to move the total along at a pace.  Then Trescothick skies one to Gough for 74 and we are 144 for 5 with two new men at the wickets in Turner and Dutch.

The two new men take it carefully - too carefully in the opinion of some - Gough offers the first spin of the game in the 26th and we have slowly moved to 157 with 15 overs to go.  This is where Durham start to put on the pressure with Pretorius returning at the River End, getting Rob second ball LBW for 12.  On comes Aaron Laraman, complete with new number of 40.  It seems that his first number - 69 - offended the delicate nature of some important fan so he had to change it.  Jamie Cox (now to be pronounced Co - as in Cockburns) is to change his name by deed poll to avoid offending the same person and stop the indignant letters of complaint!!

Anyway!  Aaron proceeds to break his bat almost immediately and we move on to 174 with 10 to go.  Revised target - 230.  Srinath returns at the River End and the first real shot in anger that Laraman tries is straight down Killeen's throat at the Old Pavilion and  we're 183 for 7.  Incomes the debutante Gareth Andrew and he's soon into the game with a well played four.  He brings up the 200 with another one in the 39th.  Dutch has been tipping and running and smacking anything short.  He hits one real hard and is well caught by Hatch in the Straggler's corner.   Unfortunately, the umpire's aren't sure and don't give it.  One of those that's no-one's fault really - a replay would have sent Dutchy back but we ain't got one so he stays!

Controversy 2 occurs next over.  Andrew smacks one towards the Business Nissan Hut.  Wells catches the ball, nearly goes over the rope, throws the ball up, crosses the rope, comes back on to the field of play and re-catches the ball.  The umpires converse and give 6.  We're confused.  Wells didn't have the ball in his hand when he crossed and the ball didn't hit the ground - he's out isn't he?  215 for 7.   Then 5 runs disappear off DUTCHY's score!  It seems they have decided that as the ball didn't cross the rope it is only 1.  But if it didn't cross the rope then Wells caught it and Andrew was out?  But it seems that Wells left the field of play and that negated the catch - does it?

Andrew is caught in the deep for an excellent 22 at 218 and we have 3 overs left to survive.  Dutchy is bowled by Pretorius for 39 at 230 and Jonah sees us through to the end at 233 with Francis.  So we are 233 (or 235) for 9 (or 11) depending on what you believe.  Who says Cricket is confusing!!

Francis and Andrew open for us and Gough and Peng belt along to 22 off 4 overs.   Then Gareth continues his debut with two wickets in quick succession.  Gough caught behind by Turner.  25 for 1 and then Wells caught Trescothick for no score.   Two steepling near catches have happened since then and the present score is 36 for 2 off 8-ish overs.  We suffer for those and by the 11th over Durham have moved on to 65 when Jonah gets his first chance to bowl of 2003, he goes for 3 and looks fast and raring to go.  Laraman takes over at the River End in the 12th -he goes for 9 - Peng has his eye in.  Jones goes for 14 of his second over - you feel for the guy.  He's been pent up on the sidelines for a week or more and now gets his chance, but he seems to be trying too hard, bowling too fast and it's not his kind of conditions.  He's being punished by both Peng and Gary Pratt and by the 15th they have moved to 101 and Peng has 50 off 51 balls with 9 fours.  We are being left behind and the bowlers can't a) stem the tide or b) take the wickets.

At 112 for 2 with 17 overs gone, the rain comes and the teams are off for about 20 minutes.  By 5:45 they're back with a revised total of 215 off 40 overs.  It's not going to make much of a difference I am afraid.  The gamble of resting both main strike bowlers has backfired.  The guys on the field have little to fire off and are being picked off at will.  Keith Parsons comes on at the Old Pavilion and stems the tide a little but it is too little too late.  Pratt hits the fastest 50 of a Durham one day player off 37 balls with 7 fours - 125 for 2.  We try Gareth Andrew at the River End but they move to 141 with 18 overs to go.  We move Jonah to the River End but the effect is minimal.  There are 54 runs away from victory and 51 runs ahead on the D/L and it is really over.

Dutch at the River End and Francis at the OP work towards the last rites with application and Dutchy draws Peng into the wrong shot and bowls him for 92 after a 164 run partnership but they need 1.9 an over and it's cold.  Supporters just want it to end.   200 up in the 30th and Steff on for a last hurrah with the 31st - a good over but 12 off 9 just gives Pratt the time to go to 100 off 79 balls with 14 fours - the fastest Durham 100 in the NCL ever. A four at 211 takes them to the total and it's over with 7 overs left.

What happened?  Well Gareth Andrew had a decent debut.  Trescothick looked good. Burnsy still isn't where he wants to be.  Jonah wanted it too much and tried too hard.  Everything else was pretty ordinary.  We missed the bowling cutting edge and suffered for it.  One down, let's hope the rest go better.  File this one and move on!