v Glamorgan 20/20 @ Taunton 27 June 2005

The same side as that which turned out against Worcestershire here last Thursday welcomed the Glamorgan Dragons for a return match in the regional 20/20 heats.  Injuries still kept our bowling resources limited and John Francis off the pitch - obviously his head hasn't completely healed yet.  Caddick remains in the side for his likely wicket-taking and so Mike Parsons loses out (although I am not sure he is fully fit after being replaced during the game against Scotland).  We won the toss and went for 'em with the bat!

Graeme Smith and Matt Wood opened once again and after the heroics of Mr Wood last week we expected the fireworks to come from that end.  It was a much more sedate start, although the captain had dispensed with the 'bull at the gate' approach in favour of a wait and see what we have one and was therefore still there after the second over!  From the ourset, the Glamorgan fielding was woeful and as early as the 4th over Wood was dropped going for an over ambitious shot.  They were still going for their shots and a lot was going via the air route but there was none of the free flowing strokeplay of last week.  It was all a bit scrambled and slogg-ish!

After 5 overs, we had reached 36 and it was Smith who was the aggressive one bringing up the 50 in the 6th with two consecutive bludgeoned fours to the Stragglers boundary.  Matt did start to opent the shoulders but was caught in the deep with the score on 56 which brought Keith Parsons out.  Smith didn't hang around though and shot one into the hands of another boundary fielder on 58.  3 balls and the line-up had changed with James Hildreth joining KP.

The two moved the score to 79 at the halfway stage after their recovery had heralded a change and the introduction of Robert Croft (of blessed memory).  The fielding didn't get better though as a Glamorgan outfielder in front of the Colin Atkinson comes running in to stop a four, deals with the bonce and pats the ball down, slips and then is embarrased, chasing to the boundary to stop a four which it seemed he had thrown there!!  It helped us bring the 100 up in the 12th and by the 15th the two have moved us to 123.  We all expect to reach about 170 - 180 if we play our cards right off the last 5 but after another drop in the outfield, Hildreth shows that he has another idea for a total by plopping a six into the crowd to bring up his own 50 and the 150 for his side  It hasn't come off a lot but as the announcer has a mouthful of cotton wool I have no idea how many balls it took!

They've added 17 for the 16th and JH continues by putting the Welsh captain into the crowd twice more before perishing for 71 off 37 balls by trying once too often and being caught in front of the CA.  171 for 3 and Ian Blackwell comes out with not a lot of time to work.  At the end of the 18th the score has moved to 179 and we have added 54 off 18 balls!  But Ian is happy to let Keith do the legwork and it is Mr Parsons who bullets the next six to help push the score to 192 by the end of the 19th.

6 balls to go and IB on strike.  We reckon 203 but as he fires a six off the first, it might need revising.  He takes a single off the next and Parsons returns the favour to post the 200 off the next.  So Ian decides he has done enough running and plants the ball to the left of the main scoreboard next ball.  He tries to repeat this with the penultimate one and we have a rar dot ball.  Never mind, he gets it right with the last and we have scored 212.  Keith Parsons has 57 off 28 and Blacky has 22 off 9.  89 off 30 balls isn't bad really is it? 

It's a big score but it can be got.  The entertainment this evening is eclectic to say the least.  What with the Wurzels to start off proceedings playing Oasis and Toto covers from the back of a lorry to a half empty ground and then the 'contemporary dancing' of two young ladies in flamenco dresses on the outfield before the Somerset huddle predicted the restart, we were kept amused.  Would our humour continue?

Caddick was given the first over once more and some of us winced in memory of Thursday last.  Not to worry though...Andy has found his length and has Croft and Elliott (also of blessed memory) in all sorts of trouble.  He nearly 'yorks' the Aussie with his third but gets him LBW anyway and we are off and running at 1 for 1.  This is the paceman at his best and Simon Francis is partnering him at the River End although he is getting a bit more stick.

By the 5th it is time for a change at 35 for 1.  Caddy's third got quite a lot of stick and it is time to take both the openers off and bring on Gareth Andrew at the River and Keith Parsons at the OP.  Firstly, Gareth almost pulls off a miraculous C&B as he insticitively tries to hold on to one hit straight back at him. and then James Hildreth pulls off a remarkable stop and throw which Carl Gazzard fumbles, allowing the man (Ganguly) to get back to his crease.  I'm there again I'm afraid.  Standing up I want Rob Turner - he doesn't miss those.

It isn't costly though because almost immediately, Croft skies one straight to Wes Durston and it is 41 for 2.  Parsons produces an over resulting in oone run and a wicket - a vital item in a 20/20 run chase - the rate just keeps on rising and the Welshmen keep on dying!  But they go down fighting and we witness the first Dragon six in the 8th and the 50 arrives at the end of that over.  So Smith turns to spin and introduces Blackwell in the 10th.  Ganguly takes a real shine to him and rockets his first ball over the boundary for six -welcome to my world Ian.  Ian turns comes in again and has the Indian LBW next ball to welcome him to the real world!!  68 for 3.  At the end of the 10th they have 70, are well behind the D/L requirement and have a run rate in the mid teens..  A situation that Hemp does nothing to help by scooping a Hildreth longhop straight to Frank Senior at 74.

It gets little better when some excellent partnership boundary fielding leaves Thomas out of his ground as Suppiah rockets the return in to Gazzard and it's 79 for 5.  Our fielding has been outstanding and it is winning us this game as the Welsh batsmen find it increasingly difficult to hit the boards as the demands for them to do so soar!  They are getting desperate.  No more so than Wallace who is the next man to go.  Blacky is back to bowl and Wallace steps away from his stumps to sweep him....shame his wicket was in the way really!  Is there anything more embarrasing than sweeping the ball into your own stumps?  Well not by the reaction of the CA crowd as the unfortunate batsman returns to the pavilion with his side stumbling to defeat at 95 for 6.  D Thomas helps to push the score past 100 and they face a daunting task of 105 off 30 when they reach 107 at 15 overs gone.

Thomas tries his best, is tempted by Blackwell and becomes his third victim as he smashes the ball straight to the Somerset captain, swooping around the boundary in front of the CA.  Harrison becomes his fourth as he tamely chips the ball to Hildreth for 1 at 110.  Then Andrew weighs in himself by working on the old theory "if you miss I hit".  Davies misses and is bowled by the young man at 113.  They need 33 per over and although Powell suggests he might get close with a six of Hildreth's first ball of the 17th, it is all over when he deposits the next ball into Smith's hands annd the game is all over -we win by 89 runs!!

Good solid team effort topped off by an excellent individual performance by Man of the Match Ian Blackwell  with 22 off 9 and 4 for 26 off 4.  On to the weekend and more money in the coffers.  But first a little trip to Northants on Wednesday and Bristol on Friday..  Let's hope we can keep this momentum going and arrive at Taunton on the weekend with a realistic chance of bringing a Quarter Final to the County Ground as winners of our region!!

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