By Grockle
May 24 2003

Buzz puts the boot in with the help of Dutchy then the bowlers get their teeth into Hampshires batsmen....Loverly!! Will, our East Coast Somersetian saw it all!

v HAMPSHIRE CC2 @ The Rosebowl 22 May 2003

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

DAY FOUR

Thanks to Will the Exile for the Day 2 info - sorry it's taken a day to get sorted.   Computer in one county, Grockle in another!

Somerset had by far the best of a day curtailed by bad light.

Resuming at 224 – 6, Cox and Dutch progressed slowly but surely through the morning session, successfully negotiating the opening onslaught, closely followed by the new ball. Dutch, occasionally playing and missing outside the off stump kept the score ticking along by peppering the cover boundary. Buzz progressed at a more sedate rate although the scoring often seemed slow he never looked in trouble and was a model of classical defence in difficult batting conditions when the ball continuously moved in an erratic way. Mullally in particular getting the ball to rise steeply off a full length while the occasional ball was keeping low. Dutch reached a well deserved and patent 50 before being out to a regulation slip catch for 61.

This bought in young Andrew for his first class debut. He is a very solid citizen, for one so young, who can certainly hit the ball, dispatching a loose ball from Katich to the boundary. However Katich had his revenge trapping the youngster lbw. I guess they don’t see many chinaman bowlers in Keynsham.

McLean blocked his first ball then seemingly attempted to knock the rest out of the ground. He quickly bought up the 300 and a vital batting point but gave a sharp return catch to Mascahrenhas, Francis didn’t last long popping his second ball to short mid off. This left Cox on 127 not out. There were times when I thought progress was too slow but in the context of the game and the unpredictability of the pitch this was a patient innings of epic proportions.

I had a minor disagreement with Tractor. I liked the Rose Bowl. OK its not finished but the amphitheatre of seats gives good viewing in a pleasant setting. Lack of people in 90% of the ground didn’t help. The food was good, the beer was good (Courage Best), though a tad expensive (£2.65 per pint) (Almost glad I’m driving on Sunday). Tractor did admit it was better than Bristol.

Cracking good start when the home side batted. McLean bowled with pace and aggression, which was lacking from the Hants’ attack. In his first over, after conceding a single he trapped Crawley lbw first ball. In his second over Kenway goes the same way and in his third Smith plays on. 6 for 3. McLean and Francis were both getting pace and movement and beating the bat on numerous occasions. Katich who had stayed clear of trouble by playing McLean from the non strikers end started to increase the tempo and bat the home side out of trouble however Francis got rewarded for his efforts trapping him lbw, the ball hitting pad before bat. 38 - 4

Andrew started his first bowl and bowled a tidy spell of very brisk medium pace plenty of movement and variation. Not afraid to mix it up either. Reminds me of another young all rounder some 30 years ago. (one nice thing about being old you can say things like that). Very unlucky not to get a wicket. Kendall and Pothas (now he is a Greek) started to consolidate against the second string attack Burns bowled a few Blackie had quite a long spell with little luck. During this period Tractor tried to make it look like there were more Somerset supporters in the ground by wandering around the ground giving vocal support from various places on the terraces. As in most case it was obviously only him in 80% of the ground the ruse may not have been as successful as desired.

Andrew returned for his second spell after tea. The first 4 balls were not scored off and it looked like we might get his first maiden over when Kendall cracked a slower full pitch ball for four. Next ball he gets a bit more lift and Dutch pulls off a diving slip catch to give the lad his first wicket. He didn’t wait long for his second first ball of his next over Pothas smashes one towards the cover boundary and as the spectators eyes are drawn to see where it will cross the sharper eyed notice that Bowler, at deep cover, is throwing up a catch and the batsman is on his way to the pavilion. Mascahrenhas attempts to hit Andrew over McLean who rises to the occasion and takes an amazing catch high above his head. No one else in the team could have caught that.

Udal, Tremlett and his runner are still there when bad light brings a premature end to the day, still behind the follow on.

Could be a good match this, weather permitting!!!

 Will the Exile