v Northants 20/20 @ Taunton Wednesday 5 July 2006

Scorecard

Nothing important about the side for tonight on the official site or the scorecard so we may have to speculate.  It is doubtful that Andy Caddick will be making his second appearance in the competition this year tonight and we all hope for the return of Keith Parsons at least in that spot.  Thwe other question is whether Peter Trego did enough in the loss on Sunday to suggest he should remain and, if that is the case, whether Richard Johnson will replace Gareth Andrew who seemed under-used in the last match.

No-one expects too much cricket tonight with the thunder and rain storms that have been precdicted.  It is significantly darker than in past days here in Tauntn at the moment and there are reports of rain sweeping in from the Bristol Channel.  The ground should be dry and the groundstaff should be prepared so let's hope it stays off long enough for us to get 10 overs in a piece.  I don't think we have floodlights so, looking out at 2:00pm, expect the game to be played in dodgy light...lots of spin perhaps?

Anyway. more to come later...if there is anything to report.

I'd forgotten how many players to worry about Northants had - Klusener, Ganguly and Panesar better scotre some big runs seeing as they have won the toss and put us in! Monty is in action early in a fielding capacity as Woody keeps guiding the ball down to the River stand.The score has moved along to 26 by the end of the 3rd.

I'd forgotten how many players to worry about Northants had - Klusener, Ganguly and Panesar better scotre some big runs seeing as they have won the toss and put us in! Monty is in action early in a fielding capacity as Woody keeps guiding the ball down to the River stand.The score has moved along to 26 by the end of the 3rd.

46 runs at 5 overs and the 50 arrives 3 balls later. Still a bit slow but the light isn't brilliant and there's rain in the air. Matt Wood is stroking the ball really well but he holes out at the Old pavilion with 71 up in the 9th for 43. Monty is on for the tenth and we've reached 83 at the halfway point. Whitey doesn't do it today when he misjudges one coming up the wicket and is stumped for 10. Down to the rest then to make the runs today. In comes KP and he helps our Australian visitor take the score to 100 at the end of the 12th.

Now we come to an interesting passage of play as the top English spinner faces the Aussie opener - a mini "Ashes"? Hope not because Justin Langer absolutely murders him. We lose Keith caught at midwicket at 125 but two balls later we are at 135 as Monty gets some more tapping. Hilda isn't long for this game as he is totalled by Phillips and we don't pass 150 until 17 overs have come and gone. Wes tries for a CA boundary but doesn't quite make it as he is caught well in front. But while Justin is in we have a chance and we are facing 172 with 6 balls to go. Peter Trego is on strike and keeping the Aussie from his hundred (97) smacking stuff. But, just when we think it's gone, the last ball is a wide. They run one and Justin has the chance to hit a four. Off comes the helmet and down the wicket he comes...and it flies....unfortunately into the hands of a fielder in front of the CA. Great innings but out for 97 and we have to defend 188 against Klusener and the rest...need early wickets!

There's a lot to get past to win this one. Ganguly and Afzaal start the Northants innings and Johnno starts strongly going for 5 off the first. Charl Willoughby is the man at the other end but they are going for the first 5 and although the Swarthy One has Gangupy cuaght in his second thay have 21 and pass 36 off 4 - we have to suut the rate down and we're not good at doing that this year. Where Smith always kept the batsman wondering by rotating his bowlers as well as spin with seam, Whitey is a different kettle of fish. He may vary his seamers and then his spinners but the variations are much less complex. I wondwer why he keeps his seam attack on so long - then later think maybe he was right to keep them out of the way!

White (theirs) has joined Afzaal and they are going for it! 50 comes up in 5 overs (including 6 extras that we cannot afford to give) and poor old Peter Trego is takern to the cleaners in the 6th as he goes for 16!! OUr captain finally turns to spin, himself, in the next over and Afzaal welcomes him by banging the ball off the indoor school roof. But our man keeps to the task and Uzman tries one too many and snicks a catch behind. Well played Mr White. The problem is that they now have 74 off 6.3 overs and we don't have neough runs to play with.

In comes David Sales and out goes White as we introduce Keith at the River and Whitey smacks one to Hildreth (a long long time is this one in the air) 83 for 3 brings Lance Klusener to the crease and our biggest challenge. If we can get "Zulu" cheaply then we have a hope, if he gets going then we are hung drawn and quartered before the 15th!

By the 10th they are belting alng at 9.1 an over and pass 100 1 ball before the end of the 11th. Arul Suppiah is given a go and Lance belts one to the EBC, he then tries again and the pivotal moment of the innings arrives, as the all spears towards the Brewhouse boundary, Matt Wood is in the way but the ball is high and it slips through his outstretched hands for a second six....if only. We needed that one but instead they have 130 with 36 balls remaining. White returns to try and hold the South African. He doesn't as the batsman puts his first away for six and then repeats the stroke for the second. But our Aussie again keeps to the plan and bowls the big man with his third for a very quick 28. We now need lots of wickets because we don't have the runs to put the pressure on. Sales has taken over and 143 for 4 becomes 157 for 4 by the end of the next 6 balls - they are scoring too freely and have too many wickets in hand to be in real trouble. Nevertheless it isn't over yet and the return of Willow for the 17th is welcomed, especially when he gets Phillips (I think) at 163. They need 26 off 3 and get 10 off the next with the Northants captain passing 50 (33 balls, 3 sixes and 3 fours). It comes down to 10 off 7 balls when the next boundary arrives. 4 off 6 is a losing position and although we keep them down to 2 singles, the third goes to the boundary and we lose another. No Fnals for us this year. We don't hit big enough totals and don't surprise opposing batsmen enough with our bowling, it isn't tight enough or difficult enough for the long handle merchants.

I'm afraid we just aren't pushing the envelope this year. If the Aussies don't fire, we don't get to push the total along fast enough. 200's become 170's and we haven't enough in the bag when the bowlers get to do their stuff. Except for our South African, we aren't asking enough of the batters and they get established and destroy our totals without breaking into too much of a sweat. We've been in the game but we've never really looked likely to win, it's been a job for the opponents, but never one they looked like being unable to get through. So we are an "also ran" in this year's 20/20 and need to look elsewhere for any silver this season I am afraid.

What is more this whole report has been done without reference to the "Numpty Boys" sat next to me (only kidding lads), the two novices I was sitting with who needed quite a lot explaining to them or any real reference to the astonishing physical attributes of our Vice Captain who is very closely watched by certain members of the Stragglers faithful - not a word should be said about the Mighty Matt without fear of one's physical well being!! Survived another one then!

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