Somerset
A Corking Good Time
Here but not.....
By Grockle
July 9 2010
Dominic Cork and the Hampshire boys arrive for the next interminable group match in the T20 competition that seems to be endless! Hampshire have won the toss and will bat first. No Cameron White for this game or possibly any game this year but there's a good crowd in and at least it is cricket!
v Hampshire T20 @ Taunton Friday 9th July 2010
The largest crowd of the season it seems is here to watch our men look to book their place in the quarters with a win against Hampshire tonight. No Cameron White because of a registration cock up that may put paid to any involvement by the Aussie if we fail to make the top four in our group.
The side tonight is;
Trescothick, Suppiah, de Bruyn, Hildreth, Pollard, Trego, Buttler, Phillips, Kartik, Thomas and Turner
Hampshire have won the toss and elected to bat first so we start with Alfonso bowling to Adams with Carberry at the other end. It all starts sedately enough as Adams racks up 2 sets of couples before driving the ball to the skipper in the covers and taking the obligatory run. Unfortunately Banger hasn't read the script, scoops up the ball and throws down the stumps from 25 to 30 yards to send Carberry back to the hutch. Excellent fielding and a great start. Vince is the next man in and takes a four from the first ball of the second from Ben at the River. The Hampshire men continue to get things sorted and it's 18 after 2.
Turner is on for the third (following the usual plan) but tonight we get the other Mark and after three we are another 19 in arrears after an over with one dot ball, one huge six over the Long Room and a wide. Ben regains something by comprehensively skittling Vince halfway through the fourth at 42. However, the captain keeps faith with his young paceman and he takes the 5th.
It doesn't start well and gets worse as Hampshire's 50 comes up off a triple of wides from Mark. Before and after that Adams lays into him and the score has reached 57 on the last ball when Adams smacks a high ball straight down Pollard's throat to leave it at 57 for 3 after 5.
Ervine is the next man in and he faces Pollard for the 6th. He takes the score to 62 before Kartik replaces Turner at the OP for over number 7. This one is tighter and it is only 68 at the end of it. Peter is welcomed back for his first with the 8th and he frees Mckenzie and Irvine a little and goes for 11 without looking too threatening. But the spinner (who should have been de-registered for this game had things gone right) is tying them down a little and manages to keep them down to 83 off his second. At the other end the skipper keeps ringing the changes and he introduces Zander who uncharacteristically is very leg side and is milked by Mckenzie on that Caddyshack side. He simply flips him over the inner fielder to the vacant boundary.
At the halfway point the opposition have 97 which is turned into 3 figures during Kartik's third of his spell. But again he goes for a creditable 6. Unfortunately though, except for him the runs are coming too damn thick and too damn fast with too little worry for the batsmen. Kieron does not change this by going for 14 to take Hampshire to 117 and these two over 50 for their partnership. McKenzie is looking very very dangerous s he launches Kartik over the Old Pavilion into the car park off ball one of the 13th. The spinmeister does come back and has Ervine worried but they still have 126 by the end of the over. Nevertheless he bowls an excellent 4 for 24 - well done sir.
Ben is back for the 14th and with a few long hops he presides over Neil McKenzie's 36 ball 50 with 6 fours and a six. It isn't going well and the boundary boards are resounding to balls hitting them, especially Cow Corner. 139 after 14 and Marcus turns to Alf to do something at the OP. He isn't helped by no balls being called because the fielders are not using the ring propoerly and either there's too many in or too many out. A good ball and some good fielding is all for naught, it's that kind of night I'm afraid. 151 for 3 with 30 balls to go.
Trigger is set for the 16th and Ervine goes to his 50 off 31 balls before whapping one to Ben Phillips at 169. Alf continues at the OP and the captain nearly gets another excellent straight hit run out at the end of the over but the Hampshire man just makes it. The rate is still going though and few bowlers have gone for less than 10 an over. It's 188 after the 17th while Pollard cannot stem the tide in the 18th because Razzaq is definitely out there to make runs in any way possible. they will go over 200 as the 18th ends on 193 for 4.
Alf takes the penultimate and the 200 does come with its 4th ball. But the VC has McKenzie LBW with the very next full straight delivery. An excellent 73 and a good ovation from the crowd. It's 201 with 6 balls to go.#
Kieron takes the last and long hops the first ball to move Hampshire on by four!! It's a mixture of slow balls and faster stuff which keeps the batsmen guessing. Unfortunately they guess right more than once and a six and a four dents his figures and takes them to 216. BIIIGGG score and we need to be straight on the money to get near this. Hampshire's best away from the Rosebowl and the highest we've conceded this season. Not great but it isn't over yet.
The Reply
Marcus has a new opening partner in Peter Trego but it is the captain who faces his opposite number Dominic Cork's opener and strokes it over the infield for 4. The second goes the same way but to a different part of the ground. Peter treats him a little less harshly but takes a four off the last full toss to take Somerset ot 13 after the first.
Razzaq is on for the first at the River. This time Pete is looking for runs, snicking his second to the OP boundary, while his boss is waiting until later in the over when he puts him into the St John's car park without a bounce - with consecutive balls. 31 after 2 and up with the rate.
Wood replaces Cork but Trigger doesn't seem to have noticed as he drives him to the Somerset stand boundary. He only goes for five but more by luck, excellent fielding and the batsman not connecting than by quality of deliveries. 36 after 3.
Razzaq continues, and so does the skipper taking 14 off the second, third and fourth deliveries to put his side past 50. Ball 5 goes into the scoreboard and ball six is a boundary to the CA. 61 for 0, 24 from Marcus one from Pete.
Christian bowls a beamer to PT ball one - 'unchristian' delivery. His first legal is put down by a diving Cork - a very difficult chance which the man did well to get his hand on. Marcus comes on strike and there is a good long discussion which results in a huge six over the pavilion, a 13 balls 50 with 5 of each. The quickest ever? Seems not - Yuvraj Singh got there in 12! Awesome. We forget how brilliant this man is. It is the fastest domestic 50 in T20 though and it continues as we go to 80 off 5!!
92 after 6 as the Hampshire bowlers insist on bowling short to the Somerset behemoth that is Trescothick. They try spin as Briggs is on and the 100 comes up in 6.3 (39 balls) with the captain outscoring his opening partner by a factor of 3 and operating presently on a strike rate of 355.55.
Cork is back on at the other end for the 8th looking for some way to stem the tide. We all know that the only way to do that is get rid of the Boss but he has calmed down to a 342 strike rate now and is not taking daft chances. There are enough bad balls to hit and he can also split boundary fielders 10 yards apart as he does with his next delivery from the hampshire skipper. He "mistimes" the next one into the second tier of the Long Room. 116 after 8 as the captain goes to 78 before being caught and bowled by Briggs. 27 balls with 7 of each - Immense!
Now!! What are YOU gong to do about that Mr Pollard? Well he puts the ball straight down Ervine's throat in front of the Cowshed for no score!! Ho Hum and we are back into a Somerset situation as Briggs takes two in his over and we could still lose this one from here. In comes James Hildreth and the excellent Briggs over ends with the home side at 117 for 2.
Christian takes over at the River in a new game where we hope to see Hilda take charge. He does seems keen to as he gets Trigger running quick twos to take the score past 120. 124 for 2 at halfway. It is ours to throw away from here.
James seems keen to keep up the momentum as he starts to slog sweep Briggs and takes him for a maximum and two other boundaries to the Caddyshack side to take his side to 141 after the 11th. Wood is still favoured to stem the tide from the River but he can't have many left and Trigger is starting to get the feel back after becomeing a little reserved after his captain went. JH is only 5 runs behind him at the start of the 12th. Personally, although I know why KP has come in during the lasty couple of games I do think he is wasted at 3. Presently James is the man for number 3 and Kieron should be used later.
The 150 is up at the start of the 13th and Razzaq is recalled after the mauling Trescothick gave him in his second. This is a different game and he is on at a different end so he does a job for his captain. Hildreth hits the ball to Cow Corner and plans to run two. Unfortunately Ervine has the ball at the start of the second and although James runs it there was never a run and Trigger quite rightly stands and watches his partner run out by about 20 yards at the strikers end. 154 for 3 and in comes Zander.
Cork returns for the 14th with us needing 62 off 7 and this game is still in the 'undecided' camp. He keeps them down to a run a ball and puts the pressure back on the batsmen. The magic 50 needed hasn't been broken though his last ball is stroked for 4 to ease it a bit. 164 after 14 leaving us needing 63 off 36 balls. Christian takes the next and he gets ZdB with ball 2 going for a six into the Ondaatje. It finds Jimmy Adams and it is 166 for 4. Jos is next to the crease.
It's 44 off 5 and the balance keeps shifting. it comes our round every time there is a boundary and goes back to them with every dot ball and wicket. Presently it's ours at 9 an over. Trigger goes to 50 off 37 balls with 8 fours and is being partnered by the cool Buttler to 182 after 16. 34 off 24 and the advantage is still with us. Improved no end by a six from Pete off Razzaq followed by a two off a misfield - much to the crowd's delight. A full toss has the cameramen running for cover as Pete bounces it off the OP roof. The third six is much more impressive to bring up the 200. Straight drive to the Gimblett.
64 off 4 for Razzaq!! Bad day at the Hampshire bowler's office. 14 runs off 3 overs is all we need. Then it's all over as Buttler smacks the last ball of the 18th into the Botham and we win with 220 for 4. Peter Trego leaves with 73 not out ably partnered by Mr Cool Jos Buttler with 18.
6 wicket win and a massive batting morale booster for all those who played.
Marcus got the Man of the Match but a special mention ought to go to Murali Kartik whose bowing figures are like a beacon in the night to both sides.
Twas a good night.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:11:14:52:06 by Grockle.
Somerset on air now.
Edited to get it right.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:09:17:38:30 by BristolRob .
I'm not sure T20 is a fast man's game anyway but when you are up against a good hitting side and you aren't particularly tight then you'll go a long long way. His wicket was a skier to the boundary. His three wides in a row suggest he is a bowler who the game is getting to.
Worrying times for Mr T and his captain as well.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Is the wicket a corker or are we bowling badly?
Only a Pollard special, with support, will suffice.
50 OFF 13 5 FOURS FIVE FOURS AND FIVE SIXES!! Fastest T20 50 in domestic cricket!!
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Some credit must go to Marcus for great batting, but you just wait till he hits form.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:09:20:23:13 by Loyal of Lhasa..
Wish I could have been over that side of the pond to see it.
You lucky people !
Grizzzly
Vwry well done to all esp the Somerset educated lads!!
Very good to see BoBo opening and batting through with a very responsible innings.
And that young Grockler delivers again.
Oh - and Tres wasn't bad either ;-)
I don't think Pollard should be sent in if the front end hits big. He needs to come in when the demoralisation is a little more complete and then he can do murder. I understand why they do it but it isn't his game.
It is great to see that 'light and shade' we have in our line-up. Trescothick, Pollard, Trego, White and then Hildreth, Zander, Buttler, Suppiah.
Pete yet again shows he's World class.
Take note please.
Probably KP's worst ever T20 game and yet we won easily!
Please can we open with Pete more often? I know it was a subject of contention when the Lions asked him to open but I felt he should relish it and I still do.
But IMO there are still some lessons. I thought Hants, on the whole bowled well, and to their field. Until the last 2/3 overs Cork didn't have deep third man or deep long leg because his bowlers were bowling to a full length and there was nothing to pull or cut. The fact that we got the runs was down to our batters skill. If they had bowled like we did we could probably have successfully chased 250+.
I'm sorry but young Mark Turner seems to have learnt little since the start of the season. three goodish balls followed by 3 rubbish is simply not good enough. Somebody should be coaching him to slow down to get good length and control. The quicker he bowls the quicker they go over the ropes.
The best time to try to get things right is when we think everything is OK, but there are flaws which will find us out.
Less speed and more control - at least Waller for Turner please!
OLDBOYBA!
I thought I better say something before I start.
Also well done to Tres and Pete for their outstanding knocks.
COACH
As BJ will tell you he is a well-known Welsh composer.
Congratulations to all concerned; just wonderful, especially as BO says Tres and Pete. Another good little cameo from Mr Buttler.
Glad he helped make it a historical night.....
The next match against Essex is important if we beat them we will be on the same points as Sussex and move clear of Essex.
Points table [www.cricinfo.com]
The 2 games against Hants must both go down in history as one we defended the lowest ever total and the other we chased the highest target. Hants must be pig sick
Trescothick looked like a competitive Dad hitting a quickfire 50 off the bowling of his 4 year old son. Could anybody have bowled "well" against him in that form? A wonder to behold. Some of those sixes looked so effortless.
Loved the way the announcer had to say "Marcus Trescothick's fifty came off ONE THREE balls" - it would have been impressive enough to score fifty off a misheard 30 balls, but 13???
Trego actually seemed to be scoring quite slowly at times, but only in comparison to Trescothick's staggering innings could 72 off 44 balls in any way appear off the pace. It was in fact the perfect innings for the match. Superbly well done.
And Buttler's six to finish off the match. Wow. That chap can really hit the ball!
A quite exceptional performance with the bat tonight. Really, really amazing.
Jos is just ice cold and technically very good. It was brilliant wasn't it?
Cardiff might as well be Ahmedabad in terms of help for spinners. Please can we pick Mr Waller for that one?
Photos, this has been very hard to pick the ones to post without leaving somebody out, I was going to leave Marcus out then I thought I can’t do that, so in the end I have had to leave somebody else out.
J Adams a good catch by Pollard on the boundary off Turner.
This shot by James Hildreth shows how dry every thing is.
Not many of these shots to take yesterday.
J Vince bld Phillips.
Although Marcus made one bad fielding mistake you can forgive him for that after he ran out M Carberry with a direct hit on the stumps.
I had to include one of Marcus’s six’s.
N McKenzie lbw Thomas.
I had to include one of Pete Trego; he showed it wasn’t all big hitting thou he did his share of that, this was four runs.
I did spot it Rob it's those N & M keys again I said they are to close together.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:10:10:48:42 by Mike BOS.
Having said that, I note that TA1 may see quite a bit of rain this week. I hope it won't be enough to make that much difference, though.
I really do think the second-half of the season is going to be all about spin, as well, with those teams that have good spin attacks thriving and those without doing the opposite. And since Marcus is the country's foremost player of spin, him being in good form is likely to prove of priceless value.
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