DURHAM V SURREY at the
Riverside (LVCC1), 23-26 APRIL 2008
This match finds the bookies' third favourites for the title in championship
action for the first time in 2008. The main reason for Durham's strong showing
in the antepost betting markets lies in the strength of their seam attack; which
is no less shabby for the loss of Ottis Gibson - last summer's leading
wicket-taker for the Riversiders - to retirement and the England set-up.
Last year Steve Harmison, Mark Davies, Liam Plunkett and Graham Onions all
took over thirty championship wickets at less than 33 runs apiece. With Paul
Wiseman's off-spin also claiming 31 scalps at below thirty, it's not difficult
to see why Durham's coach, Geoff Cook, was quoted yesterday as saying that his
side's priority tomorrow needed to be putting a big first innings total on the
board.
What Cook was hinting at was that the hosts batting is heavily dependent on
how Dale Benkenstein and Michael Di Venuto perform. To shore things up,
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is Durham's overseas player this year, but since he is on
international duty South Africa's Neil McKenzie is deputising. McKenzie may not
be in quite the same class as Chanderpaul, who arrives in late May, but he is still
an awkward proposition and one that Surrey would do well to have a plan for.
Jonathan Batty needs 78 runs for 7,000 first-class runs for Surrey. Matt
Nicholson needs five wickets for 400 career f-c wickets and six wickets for 50
for Surrey. Mark Ramprakash needs 32 runs for 11,000 f-c runs for Surrey and two
centuries for a hundred career hundreds. Saqlain Mushtaq needs four wickets for
800 career f-c wickets. Chris Schofield needs five wickets for 200 career f-c
wickets.
To follow.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Lancashire |
16-19 Apr 2008 |
Match drawn |
The Oval |
537-5d |
241-6 |
Lancashire |
19-22 Sep 2007 |
Won By 24 Runs |
The Oval |
427-9d & 295-5d |
234 & 464 |
Warwickshire |
6-9 Sep 2007 |
Won By 9 Wickets |
Edgbaston |
373 & 179-1 |
285 & 264 |
Hampshire |
30 Aug - 2 Sep
2007 |
Won By An Inns & 37 Runs |
Rose Bowl |
556 |
221 & 298 |
Sussex |
21-24 Aug 2007 |
Abandoned |
The Oval |
- |
- |
Given the strength of Durham's seam attack, if the conditions are in the hosts'
favour then the same side that racked up 537-5d against Lancashire last week
could be cut down to size. The key for me, therefore is how the visitors perform
in the field. Having said all that the Met Office are saying there is a 60%
chance of rain on every day except Friday. But the forecasters have been known
to get things wrong. Who am I to be critical, my predictions have been known to
be wrong too? That's why I'm hoping I am wrong about this one. Durham win.
M Di Venuto, M Stoneman, K Coetzer, N McKenzie, D Benkenstein (capt), P Mustard,
L Plunkett, P Wiseman, G Onions, M Davies and S Harmison.
Barry Dudleston and Barrie Leadbeater.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
DURHAM |
13-16
Aug 2007 |
Match Drawn |
The Riverside |
Durham |
Bat |
183 &
198-3 |
232 &
397-7d |
8-10
Jul 2007 |
Won By 6 Wickets |
The Oval |
Durham |
Bat |
243 &
154-4 |
191 &
204 |
6-9
Sep 2000 |
Won By An Inns & 68
Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
453-4d |
241 &
144 |
2-4
May 2000 |
Lost By 231 Runs |
The Riverside |
Surrey |
Field |
104 &
85 |
234 &
186 |
30
Jun - 3 Jul 1999 |
Won By 226 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
335 &
247-6d |
217 &
139 |
9-12
Sep 1998 |
Won By 121 Runs |
The Riverside |
Surrey |
Bat |
323 &
142-1d |
253-3d
& 91 |
6-9
Aug 1997 |
Won By 9 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
350-9d
& 64-1 |
136 &
274 |
20-24
Jun 1996 |
Won By 8 Wickets |
Stockton-on-Tees |
Durham |
Bat |
440 &
142-2 |
377 &
203 |
11-15
May 1995 |
Won By An Inns & 159
Runs |
The Oval |
Durham |
Bat |
652-9d |
269 &
224 |
30
Jun - 4 Jul 1994 |
Won By 290 Runs |
Darlington |
Surrey |
Bat |
236 &
538-6d |
335 &
149 |
1-2
Jul 1993 |
Won By An Inns & 205
Runs |
The Oval |
Durham |
Field |
473-9d |
148 &
120 |
31
Jul - 3 Aug 1992 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
Durham Univ |
Surrey |
Field |
431 &
116-3 |
189 &
357 |
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