Cricket

Durham take Lords by storm

28 August 2007

In their first ever Lords Final Durham, who were the bookies underdogs, went on to beat Hampshire in one of the most convincing victories in the long history of this cup. The cricket worlds version of the FA Cup Final.

Durham's score of 312 was the highest 50 over score in this cup final, only ever beaten by an earlier 319; but this was in a 60 over final.

One feature of the pre-match build up was a sad comment by Mark Ramprakash in his Telegraph column of that morning, which Durham did not deserve. Mark, one of crickets finest batsmen, and in everyones words " a model cricket professional and a lovely lad" - and we all know not a bad dancer - had this to say, in an otherwise fine long article.

"There are a lot of good things happening for Durham at the moment. They are competing across all the competitions yet there is one thing nagging away at the back of my mind. They have two overseas players as well as Dale Benkenstein. Paul Wiseman, and Breeze - all guys who are not able to play for England. Add to that, Gibson, who played for the West Indies, and that leaves few members of their side available to the England selectors."

Mark does seem to miss the point that in that final we had six boys who have come through our Durham Cricket Academy: Mustard, Coetzer, Collingwood, Killeen, Plunkett and Onions with a probable seventh if Steve Harmison had been fit. Based on players we have produced for England in recent years - just this year three in the test side and another in the squad - we probably have the most successful Cricket Academy in the country. So Mark, your comments do seem rather unfair when acknowledging what Durham have done and are doing to produce England players. It surely is unfair to criticise us for filling places when we have players playing for England. Most other counties do this.

However, nothing can dim the wonderful victory and the joy of Durham cricket supporters nationwide, and I am sure many neutrals. However many other great victories come along, and I am sure this Durham side have more to come, nothing can quite surpass "that first one". I have just got back home since Lords and friends tell me that the town is agog with talk about that final.

And the Band Came Too

Yes, Durham even took their own brass band along too - The Tavistock Chester-le-Street Riverside Band. For Band Chairman and Durham President Tom Moffat, arranged for the band to play in the interval at Lords. Durham boast that they are the only First Class Cricket County with their own brass band, and a championship one to boot, for the band rehearse twice weekly at Riverside.

It was simply marvellous during the interval, as the Durham supporters were basking in the glory of that 312 first innings score, to see and hear this wonderful band march around Lords and get such a great reception.

Those imortal words - - "and a great day was had by all" - - seem most fitting for Durham's first Lords Final was certainly a day to remember

» top | more articles | | | shown 148 times

 

Post a comment

Name:
Type in your name or nickname!

E-mail:
Your e-mail address will not be published on the web, but must be valid!

Comments:
Please enter your comments. The length of your message is restricted to 3,000 characters.

Notice: All fields are mandatory!