A PPP Pub

Yorkshire 254 & 218 all out

v Durham 227 all out

and 249 for 9

Yorkshire 91 for 3

Durham win by 1 Wicket

County Championship Division Two

Sunday 14 May 2023

Played at Chester-le-Street

Somerset 325 for 6

v Middlesex

close on Day One

County Championship Division One

Thursday 18 May 2023

Played at Lord's

A one wicket win is, by the maths, tight as arseholes. But, I'm here to testify that it didn't feel that way at the end. In a two hundred and bits each innings game, it's going to come tight.

Malan and Bairstow began Saturday. And took their stand to 95. That was Malan gone at 136 for 4. Bairstow went soon after. Save for a lovely, and needed, 51 off 52 from George Hill, the innings fizzled out a bit from there. Leaving Durham just under 250 to win it.

A good start had them 47 for 1, 82 for 2, and a still healthy Bon Jovi at 136 for 3. The Fish had Robinson at 147 for 4, and Jones at 150 for 5, and de Leede at 154 for 6. Even I thought Yorks might get it home from there.

Jordan Thompson reinforced that with two in two to leave Durham 173 for 8. At 191 for 8, with 55 still needed, we went into the extra half hour. But, in a sense, that was that. 213 for 8 at close. Everyone in the Carrier Bag Firm have a late finish truncated night on the ale. And come back in the morning.

Which we did. I was left a bit confused by Masood's fields. Seemed to be ones and twos for the taking. Nowt funky. Just fucking letting it drift. Late drama, with Potts going for 25 with just two needed. And the injured Carse hobbling out with Borthwick as his runner. Cliché time. Only takes one ball to win it.

Dot. Dot. Dot. Two to Third Man.

Fuck Sake. Train Home.

Gilbert & Smith's, 413 Durham Rd, Low Fell, Gateshead NE9 5AN

A micropub owned by the Whitley Bay Brewing Co. Very well appointed place. Micropubs are becoming so gloriously embedded in British Pub Culture that I feel different categories are emerging. This one in what I call the - Prosecco and Premium Pilsner PPP - category. Nothing wrong there. Got to get the punters in.

I'm going to single out;

Whitley Bay Brewing Co, Dark Knight, Stout on Cask at 4.5%

Great stout. It's the bitterness that does it. Very little lead in, maybe hints of coffee, then great bitter in the finish, some burnt thingy all the way through. Lovely.

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