v Warwickshire TSL2 @ Taunton (Floodlights) Monday 5 September 2005

Scorecard

Warwickshire haven't had a good weekend, they lost a high scoring C&G Final on Saturday and now arrive at Taunton for a floodlit game with a victory the minimum both sides require.  They stand 2 point ahead of us and have two games in hand so the onus is on us to get this game in the bag but they probably need the win to restore their confidence.  Nick Knight played a captain's role at Lords, we don't want him doing the same here.  They bat a long long way down but their bowling is a bit less solid...bit like us actually.

The usual suspects will be available for the batting line-up.  One would expect Matt Wood, John Francis, Arul Suppiah, James Hildreth and Cap'n Blackwell to be the front 5.  Keith Parsons and Carl Gazzard will also be there.  The last three?

Charl Langeveldt is most probable. Richard Johnson is expected to be close to being available and will play if fit.  The others will come from Rob Woodman, Simon Francis, Wes Durston and the recovered Gareth Andrew. Will we go with three pacemen?  If so, who will we go with?  Rob W has shown good economy at Taunton but is inexperienced against a big hitting opposition.  He'll probably play if Johnno fails to make it.  Francis or Andrew? Frank hasn't been effective but GA hasn't played for quite a while and this is a big game.  We could go with 2 pacemen and the reliable Wes Durston instead and then rely on slow bowling to keep Warwickshire in check.  We'll have to wait and see.

Knight, Brown, Troughton, Carter and Penny...oh yes and Ntini.  Looks like one to be at people.

I didn't get in until we had already provided the Warwickshire openers with enough overs to reach 50 (about 8). They look hungry to forget about the C&G Final and use us as batting punchbags.

Keith Parsons came on before 10 overs were bowled replacing Langreveldt at the OP and Blackie is on by the 15th at the River. But not before Johnson gets the first wicket as Carter skies one and KP takes a really good diving catch running towards the Old Pavilion.

Nick Knight is sweeping and fiddling runs , although he doesn't really score quickly does he? John Francis stops him scoring at all with a wonderful direct hit, although it took the third umpire a long time to decide.

They have over 100 in the first 15 and are standing at 133 for 2 at the end of the 22nd. It looks like Blackie will bowl KP out and then turn to our slows to keep the pressure on. He has only bowled Rob Woodman for 2 so he either got some welly or he is letting him play the fifth seamer role. A second spell from him at the end will be very interesting. In fact Wes is on for the 23rd to replace his captain

Keith Parsons confirms the faith of his boss in the 27th by firstly having Troughton caught by Richard Johnson and then skittling Loudon out, both at 160 in the first three balls. Trevor Penny nearly offers a third wicket in the over when he loops the last ball just past the diving Blackwell.

Aru replaces Wes at the River as IB varies the spin at one end and brings Charl back at the OP as KP is bowled out. Trott passes 50 (54 balls and 3 fours) at 169 but the rate has slowed in the second 15 overs. We then start to have trouble keeping him in check as he pushes his side to 187 at 30. Still slower but we need him out.

Johno returns for the 33rd at the OP after a good spell from Charl. Ian certanly is following the variation tactic of Smith with short sharp spells from the bowlers designed to keep the batsmen from settling. Unfortunately, Trott seems pretty damn settled. But they still haven't passed the 200 mark. They manage that 2 balls into the 34th. So, Ian offers something slow from the OP for the 35th by bringing himself back.

208 for 4 with 10 to go and 300 is still on. We seem to have lost our impetus at a time when the Warwickshire batsmen seem to have settled into their rhythm. Trott takes them past 250 and clocks up his own ton from 94 balls with 10 fours (his second half coming in 40 and mostly towards the end).Langeveldt comes on to finish at the OP and they stand at 267 with 12 balls to go. RJ is back at the River and only concedes 6 for the penultimate one. Charl plays the 'you miss I hit' game and Penney misses ball 2. 273 for 5 - bowled middle stump. Excellent last over and 279 to win.

After Andy Caddick is presented with the ball he took his thousanth with and he promises 2000 by the end of the 2007 season, we get down to the second phase.

Wood & Gazzard take on Ntini & Brown under lights and make their intentions clear from ball 6 as Gazzard pulls the South African. Wood then drives the Scot for 4 off his first and we plunder 9 an over off the first 5. Magnificent placement and straight driving from Wood takes us past 50 The mayhem finally gets to Carl and he skies one for 16. 62 for 1 with MW in the 40's. It calms down with the arrival of Arul Suppiah but it was loadsa fun!! Can we keep it coming? Well it's 72 at 10 overs and Trott comes on to keep Wood from his 50. But Matt smacks his first for 4 and passes the half ton. Not to last though (37 balls, 9 fours) and he's bowled for 53. 78 for 2 - enter Hildreth!

James doesn't last is bowled for 5 at 87. This brings in KP and a more subdued mood in the crowd...until Parsons gets off the mark with four. But it does get slower and we take a lot longer to get the next 60plus. We've 125 on the board at 20 overs but we lose Keith in a calling mix up which allows Brown to run him out for 24.

Blackwell doesn't go at this like a bull at a gate. The 150 strolls up in the 25th and we need 128 off 20. It doesn't seem much but progress is flaming slow and neither looks well set. In fact when Suppiah is stumped at 160, it comes as no surprise, even though he wasn't really giving it the charge! This brings in John Francis , he isn't known for getting the pace moving in a one day game.

The first ball he faces fools him, but also does the keeper and goes to the boundary!  Ian does have a go, a six into the Botham stand takes us into the 170's. We're under 100 needed with 11 to go and we need some Blackwell magic.

No magic though as Blackwell 'under-wellies' one straight to Ntini and possibly gives the game to the visitors with 187 up and 91 needed off 14 and a bit. It's only 6 an over but can John F marshall our guys through it? Wes is the first to take up the challenge.

To the constant chatter (at full volume) of Ntini, in front of the OP, Warwickshire put the pressure on and we rumble towards 200, but not fast enough! 200 up with a Francis boundary in the 35th. Frank and Wes are making a game of it with a 50 partnership leaving 42 off 5.

Then 33 off 24, 250 up and then 4 more.

21 off 3.

14 off 2. A six from Wes and 50 for him. 6 off 8 and Wes smacks another 4.

Then a six to win it - 58 runs off 35 balls for the Mighty Wesley Durston and these two guys hit 94 to give us 4 points and a glorious win.

Once again we've shown a backbone I thought we'd forgotten we had.  At 5 down we seemed lost and then two players got down to the job and beought us home.  This is a very good win and although a lot of this is coming too late to have an effect, it doesn't half invigorate the spirit.  On to Northants and Durham and woe betide anyone who gets in our way!! 

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