One of the advantages of running your own agency is (thanks to a useful assistant to fill in) being able to see as much cricket as possible. I do try and take in as much Second X1 cricket as I can.  Last season I managed about 12 days of Trophy and Championship.  Here is my report.

v ESSEX @ Uxbridge SECC

The first thing to get used to is the fact that teams are allowed to select 12 players for each match, although only 11 can bat & bowl. Essex batted first and thanks to 83 from Napier made 242. The most disappointing thing was that our bowlers conceded 52 extras, 38 of these were no balls, the main culprit being Chris Whelan with 9. I saw both of the first innings and Middx's reply was lead by a brilliant 107 off 104 balls from Paul Weekes, getting used to the fact that JE didn’t rate him any more. This knock included 14 x 4’s and 3 x 6’s and it was like rolling back the years to watch him. 18 yr old left hander Shaun Levy scored a flashing 99 from 77 deliveries in a total of 420.

However, in the second inns Essex comfortably avoided defeat scoring 442 with Jefferson and Grant Flower putting on 291 for the 1^st wkt. Middx 110-4 at the close.

v NORTHANTS @ Ealing SET

We made an under par 243 ( Peploe batting at 3 top scored with 51). It was never enough and Northants won by 5 wkts with over 4 to spare.

v NOTTINGHAMSHIRE @ Richmond SET

Only takes me ten minutes to walk to the ground but sadly we went down again. Notts batted first and totalled 260-3 with Du Plessis (the South African that Notts had hoped would sign next season on a Kolpak) scored an impressive 114 finding the short boundary regularly. Although Ben Scott made a good 68 we were all out for 226

v SUSSEX @ Horsham SEC

I have a client who lives near the ground so we both went to watch Day 1. Alan Richardson played as he tried to regain fitness, but it was a hard day in the field with Sussex totaling 379 with Nash scoring 110. Alan R finishing with 0-50 and not looking happy. In reply Middx made 224 thanks to 110 from Scottie and Richardson enjoying himself with the bat with 37. But we had to follow on and although Shaun Levy should his promise again with 106 we were all out for 265, leaving the home side just 114 to win which they got from just 16.3 overs

v DERBY @ Southgate SEC

Derby all out 153 with 18 yrs old SLA spinner Sunil Tailor taking 4-46, getting some turn on the first day. We made 400 in reply with a welcome 165no from the returning Ben Hutton, putting on 289 for the 4^th wkt with young Daniel Housego before a major collapse ( proving it is not only the first team that does it). But the rain intervened and Derby batted out a draw at 384-9.

v YORKSHIRE @ Uxbridge SLC

I was lucky enough to see the last 2 days of this match and what a finish! Due to the weather the captains went for a positive finish. A fairly strong Yorks side made 313-7 with Chris Wright sadly getting some stick, conceding 91 from 15 overs for just 2 wkts. Middx then declared at 250-9 (Levy 80) and then we bowled the visitors out for 229 with 18 yr old Robert Williams (RMF) taking 5-58. That left us 293 from max 60overs to win. Billy Godleman got 59, Levy 43 and Scott 41 from 33 balls but we witnessed a breathtaking innings from 19 yr old Dawid Malan, who after a slow start, smashed 15 x 4’s and 5 x 6’s on his way to a match winning 141 not out winning the game with 7 balls to spare.

To Summarise

Most of us know about Godleman but Shaun Levy took my eye (he also shares my birthday!) he looks one of real promise. Dawid Malan, and Daniel Housego both looked confident against Second X1 bowling and hopefully will go on. Although Tailor (who I believe might be offered a Summer contract) and Williams bowled well when I saw them they were not consistant in other games, although this is to be expected in young players, So summing up it looks as though we have talent a plenty in the batting dept but slightly worrying as far as the bowling is concerned

Comebackgatt  Oct 2006