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.
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Hide AdAnd 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.
“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.”
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Hide AdDurham’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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Hide Ad“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.”
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Hide AdIt’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.
“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.
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Hide Ad“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.