Fabulous catching

By London Leprechaun
June 23 2016

London Leprechaun gives us an instant description of part of a very truncated match. Read on for what to do when waiting for rain and the perils of relying on recordings. And a few twinges of controversey to spice things up. 

My slightly strange evening went something like this:

• Left home in pouring rain and end of the world grey skies with my phone predicting thunderstorms, 
• Met friends at Marble Arch and It was still pouring with rain
• Went to the M@S café (other cafes are available) and kept an eye on Twitter and ear on Lord’s prospect of play.
• Decided to give up as the rain kept coming and going
• By the time play was announced we had lost the will to watch
• Left Oxford Street and it was raining again
• Came home surprised to hear from beeps on my phone that we were actually playing
• Though OK I can watch the recording of the first innings
• Turned on the TV and the recording to be greeted by the ominous words: recording interrupted by loss of signal.  So have no real idea of what happened in the first innings and will probably have to wait for the match replay at some odd time in the morning to find out.  May be watching some other national event then so I know no more then the scorecard.  Mala strikes again by the look of it.

But I am in time to watch the Somerset innings which went something like.

Of Steve Fiinn’s first ball there is an almighty heave which bisects mid on and mid off and by Finny’s reaction should possibly have been taken by one of them

Somerset then go like a train for a couple of overs until we get:

• A fabulous catch diving forward by Stirling;
• A fabulous catch in the deep by Finny to get Myburg with a spectacular dive and slide, Though we get a bit of controversory when the Somerset bench claim that there were not the proper number of fielders in the circle. Thought that was up to the umpires to decide, which in the end they duly say is OK;
• Another fabulous catch by Stirlo flying to his right.
• This is swiftly followed by Sowter picking up the dangerous Trego.
• Somerset keep going though and are helped by harsh wide called which results in another four. 

But then a grand over from TRJ – a dot ball, a catch which McCullum was not going to drop; another dot ball; a single and just two twos.  Almost a maiden in T20 or T9 terms.

Two overs 24 runs.   It’s a tense finish watching in Sunny Woodford.

A six of a ball that would have been a wide takes some pressure off, but two good balls from Fuller and it is 15 from 5 with yet another harsh wide call. But only one from the extra ball.

13 of 6.  At least the people who made the effort to stick around are getting something worth watching.  All down to Finny

• 1^st ball – two with a desperate dive from Jamie Overton
• 2^nd ball – a slower ball bouncer not called a no ball.  Evens on the wide calls.
• 3^rd ball – huge hoick to Brendam McCullum – he will not drop those. But yet again umpires checking no balls – why only when wickets fall.  No worries and it is 11 from 3.
• Please no more no balls or wides
• 4^th ball caught ajnd bowled Finny – is it a no ball for height? . Looks marginal on replay.   Given as a no ball. With a free hit.  This is tough.
• Free ball gives them a two.
• 5th ball – a great slow straight ball.
• 6 of the last ball.  Another perfect ball and we are home by 4 runs.

That was good to watch here or at home.   And doesn’t it proves that catches win matches.