Long-serving batsman Gordon Muchall looking for the perfect send-off with Durham Jets at T20 Blast Finals Day

After a nail-biting victory over Gloucestershire in the quarter finals, the Jets will face Yorkshire Vikings in the semi-final in what is only the second time the side have reached Finals Day.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Aug 2016, 16:29 BST
Updated 18th Aug 2016, 17:34 BST
Yorkshire's Steven Patterson watches as Durham's Gordon Muchall scores more runs during the Royal London One Day Cup match at the Emirates Durham ICG, Chester-le-Street. Picture: Anna GowthorpeYorkshire's Steven Patterson watches as Durham's Gordon Muchall scores more runs during the Royal London One Day Cup match at the Emirates Durham ICG, Chester-le-Street. Picture: Anna Gowthorpe
Yorkshire's Steven Patterson watches as Durham's Gordon Muchall scores more runs during the Royal London One Day Cup match at the Emirates Durham ICG, Chester-le-Street. Picture: Anna Gowthorpe

And for Muchall, this would be the perfect end to his 14-year stay at the Riverside as he bows out of country cricket at the end of the season.

“A full house at Edgbaston - I couldn’t think of a better way to round things off,” he said.

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“It’ll be a nice way to go out, but it’s all about the club and hopefully winning that first T20 trophy.

“We just need to get past that semi-final first.”

Durham’s only other appearance in Finals Day came back in 2008, when they were beaten by eventual champions Middlesex in the semi-finals.

Muchall wasn’t involved that day, but has fond memories of the run to the final.

And now he is hoping to write some new memories, albeit with a slightly less well-known cast than the squad of 2008.

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“I didn’t play in that, but we had an all-star team then,” Muchall commented.

“There was the likes of Shaun Pollock and (Paul) Collingwood, and I think there was only one player who hadn’t played international cricket.

“This year, we haven’t had an overseas player so it’s been nice to get there with some local lads.”

It’s been a turbulent few months for the Chester-le- Street based side but Muchall feels that the final is a perfect remedy to off-field worries, while insisting that confidence has remained high.

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“Obviously there’s been a little bit of uncertainty at the club and getting to the final is something we’ve wanted to do for the last few years,” he added.

“Getting there has come at a really good time.

“We’re on a bit of a roll with white-ball cricket.

“We finished the 50-over stuff really well and were unlucky to get washed out at Old Trafford.

“The way we’ve finished the T20 stuff has been brilliant too, so we’re going into Finals Day full of confidence.”

A crowd of up to 20,000 is expected at Edgbaston this weekend as Durham, Yorkshire, Notts and Northants battle it out for the T20 Blast title, with a great atmosphere almost guaranteed.

“A few of my mates are going down and I think the club have sold all of their tickets,” said Muchall.

“Some people can’t even get a ticket so it’s going to be a great atmosphere.

Related topics:GloucestershireDurham