Sunday, September 17, 2006

Pro 40 cricket: Durham v Essex

Daily Result: £160.93

Can't believe many would have had their money on Durham for this one. What with Essex's Pro40 record and the fact they needed to win the game to guarantee winning the tournament - and that was before they won the toss and chose to bat first.

But it turned out to be one of those occasions where it was a bad toss to win. Essex got off to a snail-paced start (averaging 2 an over after 9 overs!) and were also losing wickets at an alarming rate. Of course, one of the great strengths of Essex is they bat a long way down - to no. 11 in fact, and eventually they rescued the position to a respectable 201-8 after a good innings from Andy Flower who held it all together as the wickets fell around him. After losing so many early wickets you always felt Essex were holding back and it cost them runs but I still thought 201 was probably the winning score.

Shows what I know as Durham walked it. Their odds quickly plunged as they reduced the initial 5.07 required run rate in each of the first 5 overs. Durham had promoted Phil Mustard up the order to get them off to a quick start and he didn't disappoint as he started spraying boundaries around. In fact at one point I was starting to wonder if he and Jimmy Maher might win the match without the loss of a single wicket. Cracking partnership which effectively won the game for Durham. In the end the partnership ended at 152.

I gave away some of my green at the end so I could enjoy the Arsenal / Man Utd match without having to keep a constant eye on the cricket but it was a small amount and I'm still more than happy with the £160+ green for the day.

Anyway, despite losing the match Essex clinched the Natwest Pro40 title after Sussex collapsed to 110 all out at Nottinghamshire. So well done to the Essex boys - it's been fun watching and trading this year!

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