T20 FINALS DAY @ EDGBASTON SATURDAY 15 AUGUST 2009

Sussex v Northants.

Finals Day starts on time with the Sussex team running out between two rows of lassoo swinging cowgirls in gingham and denim hot pants – razamatazz gone wild!! 

Northants have been put into bat by the Sharks but Harvey and White come out to less schmaltz. The girls have gone and it’s a bit more like business. Good to see a familiar face in the Northants line-up.  Not a player however but Ross Dewar our ex-second team physio seen puttting Monty and Harvey and the rest through their early morning warm-ups. The sun is out on time and the crowd has started to fill the place a little more than half an hour ago when it was decidedly spars on the right hand side of the ground. Luke Wright is the opening bowler and he goes for 8 as Harvey climbs into him twice.  Arafat is a little more of a handful from the other end and he goes for a miserly 2. Unfortunately the “international one day specialist” at the other end isn’t such a miser and it’s 2 for one after his second – he’s gone for 18. 

 So what do you do?  You change Arafat for Kirtley!!  Hopefully to bring him on at the other end perhaps? But no, it all goes pear shape for Northants before that as Harvey looks to cut Kirtley’s 5^th and chops his middle stump out with 23 on the board.  Smith takes over at the City end (where we are) and White becomes the big hitter for his side.  By the end of 5 they are 39 for 1 with 5 boundaries and the Sussex captain Yardy brings himself on at the City.  He’s moving his bowlers about because Beer is on at the Pavilion for the 8^th and up comes the 50 off his 5^th (46 balls and 4 fours). 

Wi-Fi here is almost non existent so these stories are going to have to go on in lumps – apologies for that.  I can’t therefore bring you up to date on the fact that White was run out by Jyce for 24 with the score on 54….the sun goes off the pitch with him and in comes Wakely to partner O’Brien towards the half way point. O’Brien has been quiet up until now but in the 10^th he skies one into the stands for the first six of the day and Northants finish the first half on 67 for 2. But he doesn’t stay much longer as he is stumped by Hodd in the 11^th for 24 and the man walked which was excellent to see.  He then has to stand and wait before leaving the pitch just to be officially given out by the replay!!! 

In comes Nicky Boje at 69 for 3.   His partner Wakeley is the next to depart trying to push the game along in the 13^th.  The first ball from Beer is deposited down Arafat’s throat at mid wicket and Northants move to 84 for 4 with Wessels the next man in.  Rory Hamilton-Browne – the Millfield boy – is the next bowler for the Sharks and the third spinner they have used and after 75% of the innings  they Steelbacks have 95 but they’ve lost wickets consistently. Luke Wright returns from Pavilion end after going for 18 off his two at the City end at the start of the innings.    He does better in that they only go to 100 off his third over (95 balls  6 fours and 1 six).  Kirtley swops ends as well to the City  for the 17^th.  The outfield on the Pershore Road side of the ground is very slow the other side seems quyicker so one can only think that that is the outfield side where the rain made such a mess a couple of weeks ago. Arafat is in for the 18^th at 106 for 4.  But Northants are not pushing along and they manage one boundary (the first since the 13^th over before Arafat cleans up Wessels middle stump at 112.  Van der Wath in at the end of an excellent over from the Sussex man. 

Kirtkley finishes off with the 19^th and the first side go into the last 6 balls with 124 on the board.  That soon becomes 130 before Arafat skittles Van der Wath for 9 and they end up at 136 for 6.It’s all a bit flat as a semi though.  You get the feeling that Northants don’t think they have enough and Sussex think they’ll get them easily.  Goodwin is steady but nothing impressive and although the Sharks do have to go down to the wire you really feel that there was never nay dobt in the result.  Northants are better in the field but there aren’t enough runs for them to play with and they go for too many.  Murray finishes with 80 off 67 balls with 1 fours and they need 1 off the last 3 and win it with 2 left.   They looked the better side and won with 137 for 3.  No Northant bowler did particularly badly though Van der Wath did go for 34 and Daggett for 27.  Hall was the pick with 2 for 20 off his overs.  They just didn’t have anything spare so had to bowl very tightly…..and didn’t. So.  Finalist number 1 – Sussex  

THE REAL GAME!!  V Kent 2^nd Semi Edgbaston Saturday 15 August 2009 

If there is “stuff” on this day then this is the ‘real’ stuff. 

The team - Trescothick, Langer, de Bruyn, Hildreth, Kieswetter, Trego, Suppiah, Phillips, Thomas, Waller, Willoughby. 

We’ve won the toss and we’re gonna let them bat first.  That has to be a good idea, we must be better chasing a total than trying to defend one.   On we come then through the lassoo guardesses of honour and the “Magnificent Seven” theme.  Alfonso is opening the bowling from the City end and Denley will face.  It’s a bump ball first up. Though the crowd weren’t that sure, first single comes off the second ball and this game already has a better ‘electricity’ to it.  And Alf yorks Denley middle stump with his fourth!  Van Jaarsvelt replaces him and is off the mark with a boundary. 8 for 1 at the end of the first.  Charl opens from the Pavilion end to Rob Key and is flipped for 4 first ball.  Craig thinks he’s got Key stumped off the 3^rd ball but the third umpire rightly give him ‘not out’ and Key then looks very dangerous guiding another four to the boundary.  18 at the end….not a great start from the lefty but a worrying start from Kent after 12 balls. Another boundary starts the third.  Alf gets Van Jaarsveld as the ball nips back and takes him as well 22 for 2 and Alfonso on fire.  2 overs 11 for 2.   22 for 2 after 2 and we want a better one from Willow.  It starts well as Jones is tucked up  with the first and can’t get anything except one from it. 

“High Chapperal” is now the theme and Ben Phillips is on at the City End.  The next time we’ll see Alf is at the end unless we tuck them up for little.  Ben nearly gets Key trying to glance it down the leg side but it was outside the line and he replies with a four to take his side to 30. Jones isn’t staying around though because Charl clips the top of his off stump as he makes room with his first ball in the 6^th. 

31 for 3 and it is being backed up by some really manic fielding as the infield men dive for everything they can get near.  Charl 3 overs 1 for 12 after going for 10 off his first.  “Bonanza” starts the 7^th from Phillips.  37 for 3 at the end of the 7^th and it looks like Justin is going to bowl Charl through but courtesy of really heroic fielding on the boundary Kent are unable to get away.  Pete Trego for example stops a sure fire four at full length after making thorty yards to even have the chance.  Charl finishes with 20 for 1 off his four and half of them came of the first.  Langer may well be looking to bowl Ben through at the other end as well  why not if they are doing the job?  Stevens climbs into one and brings up the 50 off 51 balls with 7 fours including the one he has just hit. 55 off 9 overs and Arul comes on at the Pavilion end to take us to halfway.  It’s been good up until now but the momentum of wickets has gone and now the “press” is what is important.  Stevens is not happy to be kept quiet though and square cuts Arul’s 5^th and takes his county to 62 for 3. 

Big part of the game as Trigger comes on for the 11^th.  This could make or break this innings.  If he bowls well then we’re in with a chance.  If not then the hold on the Spitfires can be lost very quickly.  He goes for 9 off his first 71 for 3 with 9 to go.  150-ish is on, anything under that would be a real bonus.  The ‘press’ is being employed very heavily at the moment ,  with Pete Trego moving up a gear and Arul doing well at the Pavilion end putting the pressure on is starting to hurt the Kent men but not enough yet and it needs to be maintained for the next 18 balls to really start to “pinch”.  80 for 3 with 7 to go….Trigger goes for 3!! Ball 1 of the 14^th brings up the 50 partnership off 48 balls but the enthusiasm of the Somerset boys is very clear as Arul fields off his own bowling by sprinting halfway to the Hollies Stand boundary to save the two.  84 for 3 with 36 to go.  Well bowled Arul .

 Justin keeps faith with Pete and Stevens gets away with going aerial stepping outside to leg and taking Kent into the 90’s. 93 for 3 with 5 to go.  But then  there’s some controversy as Trigger asks the umpires about something and the replay shows that Trigger has bowled Key for 34 so it’s 93 for 4.  This decision came after quite forceful discussion between Trigger and the umpires because no-one seems to have noticed.  Stevens and Key put on 62 off 59.

Max is on for the 16^th from the Pavilion with Kemp joining Stevens.  The Kent three figures arrives with a boundary from Steven s off 95 balls with 12 fours.  Max finishes the over with the score on 104 for 4….11 runs and the most expensive over…to the tune of “For  a Few Dollars More”. Alf is back on at the City to bowl to Stevens and he goes to a valuable 50 during the over (4 balls and 6 fours). It’s ‘Nelson’ with 18 balls to go and Trigger changing ends.  A well run two starts the over.  He goes for 28 off his 4 and got rid of Key…good day at the office.  Alf continues with 117 up.  Ball 1 goes for 1.  Full toss for the second gets away with 1.   Third goes for 1.  1 for the fourth.  Hildreth stops a full drive off a full ball to keep it down to 2 off the 5^th and a flat batted slog gives Alf 26 for 2 off his full complement.   125 for 4.

Arul has the enviable task of bowling the last over.  A full belt to the boundary is missed by Hildreth – catchable but difficult and a boundary to boot.  The second goes for 6 and the third for 2.  6 more off the fourth gives a 50 partnership off 28 balls with Stevens contributing 36 of them.  The 5^th is a dot and there’s a run out off the last going for the second .  145 for 5 at the end.  Excellent innings by Stevens when his side was in trouble. He hit 19 off the last out of 20.  His 77 came off 51 balls.  

Neither one thing or another this total.  They need 146 runs to win this one and I wouldn’t want to call it at the present moment.  Marcus will open with Justin and 5 overs from now we’ll have a better idea.  The only thing I would say at the moment is that this side will have the confidence and self-belief that they can chase this one down. 

Amjad Khan will bowl to Trescothick first up and off we go.  Banger makes no attempt to play the first.  But the 3^rd goes to the rope…as does the 4^th and 5^th and 6^th and it’s 16 off the first.  Very sloppy bowling but he’ll murder you over the top. Wayne Parnell is bowling to Justin and he puts the first….to the boundary.  5 consecutive fours.  It doesn’t carry on as the bowlers start to get their radar sorted and Parnell is banging it in straight by the end of the over.  The over ends though with a one bounce 4 punched off the back foot and a cut for 1.  26 for 0 after 2. Trescothick is being immense again as he thumps Cook into the crowd to take us to 34.  He has 28 while the boss has 6.  As long as he is there then we are well in with a chance for this but the moment he goes it’s back into the melting pot once again.  Interesting facts about Darren Stevens who is bowling at the moment.  This is his 6^th semi T20…he’s played 65 of these games in his career and today he added 11 to his best score.  Stevens is bowling  a better length but Justin takes us t 42 after 4 with a pulled boundary. MT is simply knocking stuff over the in field or driving them on the ground taking twos and singles.  50 up with a straight drive (50 off 28 balls 8 fours and 1 six).  He glances the next and goes into the 40’s.  54 without loss and there’s an awesome player at one end and a partner hitting boundaries at the other off a no ball and now he faces a free hit for one only.   Mahmoud gives him the next and he walks up the pitch and square cuts a full wide ball to the Hollies and goes to 47.   He sixes the man in to the crowd for a standing ovation 50. 53 off 27 balls, 8 balls and 2 sixes.  They also take 17 off the over 71 for 0 after 6 overs. 

Langer faces Tredwell and while trying to turn the ball he gets a leading edge and goes for 17 off 12 balls caught by Van Jaarsvelt.  73 for 1 in the 7^th.  Hildreth is in and sweeps the first ball for four to the middle of the Priory stand.  Poor fielding by Azhar who simply tried to stand on it.  Stevens continues at the Pavilion.  Trescothick and Langer’s partnership was 73 off 41 balls….great entertainment. Banger then gets a leading edge as well from Tredwell and is caught by Mahmood and goes at 84 with 56 off 32 balls. 

Now we have to settle and grind this one out.  Zander is in exactly to do this.  87 for 2 after 9 overs.  Tredwell has pulled it back with 2 overs taking 2 for 10.  Hildreth drives over the bowler and nearly into Mahmood’s hands for 4…not a confident go at that one…lacked the confidence but had the luck - 94 for 2 at halfway.  Key keeps Tredwell on to do something but James does something instead.  He brings up the 100 with a six to mid off. Somerset have made their plan plain -  63 balls with 3 sixes and 16 fours.   Key is bringing back Parnell to try and get a couple of wickets.  All the boys need to do is keep the scoreboard moving and do NOTHING complex.  

THE MIGHTY MAN WITH THE MIGHTY BAT

By the 15^th Kent have a handle on it a bit more as we move to needing a run a ball but we have only lost two wickets and are 117.  We need 29 off 30 balls.  Wayne Parnell is back again for the 16^th from the Pavilion end.   After taking 2 off the first and 1 off the next James sixes the South African’s third and boundaries his 4^th.  All in all they take half the runs they need off that over.  14 off 4?  Can we win this?  MahmoOd is back from the City to try and stop it.  The 50 partnership at a run a ball comes up with 3 fours and 2 sixes so these two men have done their job wonderfully well and poor fielding sends them under 10 required at 138.  “The Good The Bad and The Ugly” wafts out at the start of the 18^th as Parnell tries to keep his county in it.  A Hildreth hook adds 1 and a quick single takes it to 140.  One hit to finish this.  Or any 6 from 15.  Another hooked single – 141 and it is going into the 19^th.  They need 5 off 12.  Mahmood will bowl 6 of them and he bowls James Hildreth with his first 141 for 3 – 36 runs off 32 balls with 3 fours and 1 six. In comes Craig K and is met by a loooong talk from ZdB.  Dot first – beautiful forward defensive stroke.  Up the wicket and driving the second but only for a single.  4 from 9 but Zdb drives one and they run 3!  The last should have been a run out but Mahmood didn’t collect.  Single and VICTORY by 7 wickets with 7 balls remaining. 

Marcus just ripped their heart out in the first 5 overs and the couldn’t come back from that attack. 

We’re going to India.

 Yayyyy!  Photos courtesy of Alain Lockyer 

THE PRESS CONFERENCE

 Justin thinks we won it in the first 6 overs with bat and ball.  He sees no problem with Marcus in India and that 145 was a fair total n this wicket which was a bit slow but not a problem if you attacked it like his main man did.  The preparation for the semi was more clinical than he has ever experienced, even at international level and he intends to do more of the same before the Final.  He’d have Marcus in any side he had – so would I. Rob Key was obviously much less happy.  He commended our bowlers for bowling full and straight while he says they bowled full and wide to Banger and died because of it.  He reckons the slower bowlers are harder to get away on the strip…you don’t need fire

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