Somerset
Race for Fourth T20
By Grockle et al
July 25 2014
Will this be the end of Dirk's time with us? The winner takes, well something. game at Taunton v us and Middlesex. The winner has to wait to see what happens in the Gloucestershire v Glamorgan game to see if they have scraped in as the fourth qualifier. Should Somerset win here AND Glos beat Glamorgan then we qualify and Dirk continues. Beautiful evening... wonder how the end of it will be.
v MIDDLESEX T20 @ Taunton Friday 25 July 2014
Alfonso has won the toss and decided to bat first' His side is;
Trescothick, Compton, Trego, Ingram, Hildreth, Gregory, Overton C, Thomas, Groenewald, Dockrell, Nannes
No Max Waller (torn quad), No Craig Kieswetter (broken face) and no Craig Meschede (side strain). So Banger will keep and George gets to worry the Middlesex batsmen.
A sell out match, though it rarely fills up before about 5:45, on a beautiful evening in the South West. We don't usually want the Bristolians to win but tonight it is vital if we want to progress.
Nick Compton takes the first, blocks it and sends the second to the boundary, tries it again after Banger has got off the mark and is dropped off Roland Jones. Marcus, dispenses Podmore's first ball to the boundary but gets little more out of the second over and we are 12 without loss after 12 balls.
And so it seems to go, four off the first ball and then 5 dots. 16 after 3 before Christian is introduced for the fourth and Marcus takes 2 off him before chipping the infield and adding another 4 to his own stand. Then through the square leg fielder's hands for another to move us to 26.
Podmore changes ends and then immediately wishes he hadn't as Compo hits him for 2 consecutive fours and then a longer six before he takes a single and let's him off the hook. It's 41 after 5. 4 balls later the two men are moving it on and we reach 50 followed by another Trescothick boundary to finish the over 54 after 6.
Dexter and Rayner come on to push the pressin overs 7 and 8 and we only move to 62 over the next 2. Compo goes big and high at the start of the 9th and is dropped by Higgins coming in from the boundary. Malan early on and then another life for our aggressive T20 opening specialist. Unfortunately, Gloucestershire are 40 for 4 so this improvement in form may all be in vain in relation to this campaign. But 72 after 9 is fine.
At halfway the two men are neck and neck and we have 79 on the board. 87 by the end of the 11th and then Nick decided to get to a 33 ball 50 first with a six into the CA before he hits another 4 to pre-empt the 100 4 balls into the 12th. Who is this man and why is he wearing Nick's shirt?
All we need to do with him is teach him NOT to atttempt the reverse sweep. The moment he tries it off Patel, he is caught by Dexter and we are 105 for 1 with NC stupidly out for an attacking 58. It starts the usual as Patel gets his second in the lver when Marcus is stumped on 106 for 46 (7x4). Ingram takes his place and we have two new men at the crease in over 13. They survive and the over ends at 110 for 2.
Colin Ingramis out to get something moving and takes on Patel in the 15th moving us on to 128 in the process, the momentum starts to ratchet up as singles become twos and the batsmen look for the gaps every ball. It's good to see, if a little late for 2014. This pressure adds 11 without a boundary. But Ingram remedies that with a slog sweep off Patel at the start of the 17th and comes up the wicket for a straight six before the end of it, moving Somerset on to 152. Unfortunately, he hits the next one off the edge and is caught in the deep by Denley. Fast and furious but it kept us moving. James is in with 3 overs to get things cracking on.
Roland Jones takes the 18th and starts with a wide but after that he only goes for a run a ball so he has done his job for his side. 158 for 3 with 12 balls to go and Podmore takes the 19th. They need to go after him but they seem to be happy to take the singles and Middlesex seem happy to let them. James finally snaps and sixes Podmore into the scoreboard car park. To finish the over he then clears the OP!! 175 for 3 with 6 to go.
Roland Jones v Trego.
Ball 1 four to the Gimblett
Ball 2 dot
Ball 3 dot (excellent yorker)
Ball 4 single
Ball 5 single
Ball 6 two
183 for 3
Biggest score at Tauton this season everyone. NOW can they defend it?
The Reply. Middlesex need 184.
Denley and Malan come out. Denley faces Gregory first from the OP. Malan hits the first boundary however and the second next ball before the third to finish the over. 14 off the first.
Tim takes the second (?) (Glamorgan 19 for 0 off the first needing less than 110) and again Malan takes the first boundary of the over, and the second off the next ball. 23 after 2 and Malan has only scored boundaries up to now.
Lewis is rested and the skipper takes the third. Malan sends another one to the boundary before finally running a single!! 30 after 3. Groenewald gets Denley to play early and the catch is taken by Gregory for 4. Morgan is in and a poor piece of fielding communication gives him a boundary to get him off the mark as Thommo leaves a ball for Hilda to stop when he had a better chance and was closer to it.
Dirk takes the 5th and has Malan in considerable trouble with his first two. Nick then drops him off the 4th, fast moving but in the air and he did get a hand on it. Worse still the ball staggers for a four. Good over goes for 4 - 43 for 0 after 5.
The 50 arrives with the 5th ball of the next over (we were a ball earlier) and then finally Nannes gets his man, Malan, as he feathers one to the keeper. 55 for 2 and in comes Mr Christian. Marcus calls for the helmet and on comes Pete T from the River and he goes for 4. Good start for 'The Tree'. Dirk stays on for the 9th (bit of a surprise) then Morgan tries to guide one over the keeper and is plucked out of the air by the Somerset opening batsman!! Who then goes for a bit of a celebratory run. 60 for 3. Then a low yorker does for Higgins first ball as he is pouched by a diving Trescothick, both Nannes and Tresco on a hat-trick. Simpson will face, misses the ball but it goes leg side and for 4 byes. There was an excellent crowd build-up though. A hostile over from one end and tremendous keeping at the other with the batsmen all over the place in the middle. 65 for 4 after 9.
Dockers is introduced in the 11th and almost immediately (3rd ball) gets Christian to send a leading edge down Cove's throat. 73 for 5 at the end of the 11th. They bring Tim back on for the 12th. Gloucestershire have lost in 12 overs and our T20 is over but the chance to win this one is still there. Tim goes for 6 and we are pressing them as our total moves away from theirs and George wheels away.
By the beginning of the 15th we have moved 25 runs ahead of Middlesex. Dexter and Simpson have gone into their shell and there isn't a lot happening and they still haven't hit 100 by the end of the 15th. 95 to the visitors plays 128 from us. Groenewald is on to finish with the 16th. Simpson puts him into the river to bring up the 'Sex 100. It's 110 by the end as they start to look to push it on. This continues as George finishes his stint at the OP and gets some excessive tap (providing some breakfast balls to be honest which ought to have gone). He buys a wicket with his last ball as Hildreth takes a running boundary catch to send Dexter back but they've moved the score on to 128.
Lewis takes the 17th and Rayner starts with an excellent cover driven four. But Gregory comes back well and only gives away 6 in his over. Dirk is back for his final over of this tournament with Middlesex needing 49 to win. He gets some tap also, some by accident as Simpson gets his feet out of the way and his bat snicks it for 4. But he then sixes him to the OP. He also brings up the 150 with a 5th ball four before skying the last into no man's land.
32 off the last from Lewis.
Ball 1 Six to the Botham
Ball 2 Dot
Ball 3 Wide
Ball 4 Wicket, skied behind MT Rayner caught by Groenewald 159 for 7
Ball 5 Single
Ball 6 Dot
Ball 7 Single
161 for 7 we win by 22 runs.
That's T20 over. On to the 50 over competition.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:27:10:13:25 by Grockle.
Middlesex squad for tomorrow
Eoin Morgan (c)
Dan Christian
Joe Denly
Neil Dexter
Steven Finn
Ryan Higgins
Dawid Malan
Ravi Patel
Harry Podmore
Ollie Rayner
Toby Roland-Jones
Gurjit Sandhu
John Simpson
Paul Stirling
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:25:13:48:42 by Grockle.
Middlesex lack the firepower to be a threat in T20- so all things being equal, I would expect Somerset to win.
On the bowling front, you need to worry about Ravi Patel.
On the batting front, you don't need to worry about anyone.
No Max Waller. Anybody know if he is still injured, or is Jack Leach being tried.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:25:09:13:10 by Roger ivanhoe.
I think I better contact "confused.com"
Tres wants to play T20. Where is he least worse in the field? Keeping!!
Tres
Compton
Trego
Ingram
Hildreth
Gregory
Groenewald
Coverton
Thomas
Leach
Nannes
I know Max is injured, but surprised there's no Meschede?
Strangely enough I have been more worried about him keeping than fielding anywhere else.
Doing the wicket keeping job involves a lot of sideways movement on his ankle, leg side and off side. Wouldn't it be stupid if doing the wicketkeeping job ended his career if his ankle went again, he must know what he is doing.
It also wouldn't be so bad if he was scoring runs.
But I feel that he is to good to go for long without a major contribution runs wise, and tonight is the night!
Mesch played in the 2nds yesterday........hes not really got back to form following the side injury he picked up at Durham, and hes prob been left out as he completly out of form.
It continues to boggle my mind.
Chunky - to be honest, with Morgan, Malan and Christian, your squad as at least as much batting firepower as ours, probably more. It would also appear to have the same level as when you thrashed us at the Oval a few weeks ago!
IF Somerset prevail then I think it's most likely to be due to us 'wanting,' it more, what with the game being a dead rubber for Middx.
I'd think his presence with the ball should also be helpful tonight.
I'd suggest that big performances from Alf, Nannes and Lewis will be needed to win. IF those three bowl at their best it could off-set our lack of explosiveness with the bat.
Botham, yes, Andy is available to give you a lift, by chopper, from Dorchester if that's what you mean. Please let me know exactly where you wish to be collected from and I will pass the message along.
I'm personally not sure whether continuing in the T20 programme is not a distraction.
Unless we have fundamentally redesigned our way of playing this format this year since our last game we do not deserve to progress and if other counties allow us to I'm not sure a possible away game against Lancs is in our interest given the one day demands that are coming up and our focus on the CC1 towards the end of the season.
As the side I've seen at home this year couldn't beat most sides with a 50 run start and I see no way they will reach the finals day under their own steam I would rather they managed to come out on top tonight and then were consigned to the 'also ran' list for 2014, where they richly deserve to be, by other sides NOT giving us results that allow us to progress.
Still going to watch it though.
Yes, my posting alias has been hijacked by AG!!! But that's how I see the T20 2014.
Sorry I always think a side that gets to the finals under their own steam by their victories has deserved it more. You don't, I'm OK with that.
Can you honestly say that Somerset's performances in this year's tournament justify a qualification? It's not just what you win, it's how dramatically you lose and we have been woeful in the matches we have lost.
Yeah we may qualify. I personally don't think we deserve to and if luck runs against us then I'm entirely happy with that. I did say it's my opinion I didn't ask anyone to agree with it.
I would like to see Somerset win the Championship by winning every game they now have in front of them. We're lucky we play Yorkshire last, I hope that will be a decider. It simply isn't the same when you fail to be in front at the end and have to wait for another county to cock up in order to put you in the lead. Just isn't the same IMHO.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I've done no research. I just think it *sounds* unusual.
By definition, in losing more games than we have won, we have clearly shown ourselves to be a below average T20 outfit in 2014.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:25:14:38:57 by AGod.
If we get to the finals this year it will be because we're one of the "least poor" rather than because we are one of the best and I hope another county shows us that before we get there.
We'll probably win it, we were in something like this position in 2005 but at least in the Finals then we did pull our collective finger out and win from losing positions.
I'm not jaded LoL I just think our 2014 T20 performances have been sub standard and deserve to be graded accordingly. I'd like to see us win because we are good and not because we are less@#$%&than someone else. But, as others point out, a win is a win. It's just a less satisfying one.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Quote:AGod
Local pride and all that, SP!?
Botham, yes, Andy is available to give you a lift, by chopper, from Dorchester if that's what you mean. Please let me know exactly where you wish to be collected from and I will pass the message along.
Very kind, AG, but my first revenue visit to the CG will be on Sunday via cycle and canal towpath.
Now if I was going to those swish new flats again, arrival by ARC would be ideal.
I haven't ever worked for Gove. You have to remember I've been an absentee teacher to the UK system for the last 3 years. I was working at one of the first 35 Academies but got out before the Head could assume the executive powers they now seem to have over the life and livelihoods of their teaching staff.
Am I sad.... nah not really.
Good to hear, actually, as I will be training it to the SW this evening anyway.
We won the toss and will bat.
Quote:Grockle
40 for 4 from the Bristolians.
Now 55/5.
Glos letting us down.
Finally (104/0) appear to be playing well, but too little too late - it would seem, but let us hope.
Quote:Phrench PhilQuote:Grockle
40 for 4 from the Bristolians.
Now 55/5.
Glos letting us down.
Finally (104/0) appear to be playing well, but too little too late - it would seem, but let us hope.
Sorry. My fault.
Shame that the new Glos bowler appears a bit lacking.
Nice debut - 50 runs from 3 overs!
If I did not know better....
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I've no idea Germiston. Hit the bloody thing straight! Compo keeps trying it and gets out almost immediately. If he wants to try it fine. BUT don't use it in a game until you can play it!
The first thing to learn is HIT THE BALL INTO THE GROUND!!
Well bye bye T20, can't say I'm sorry this year.
Still, positive momentum, alongside a lack of T20 distraction, may not be a bad thing in the wider context.
Grizzzly
This is what happens when all eleven players take part.
Marcus kept well enough, no big diving stops needed but the catches he took were good, one was a nick behind an even better one was a low catch not far off the ground and an even better one (for Marcus) was the one he had to reach for. (it did look odd how he took it (photo down the page)).
It doesn't matter how Marcus got his runs it's the runs we have been waiting for all of the t20 matches.
I thought Lewis Gregory bowled much too short.
John Simpson getting a top edge lucky for him it landed between fielders.
Why Neil Dexter wasn't given out the umpire can only say, George Dockrell thought he had him.
This was Marcus's hardest catch to dismiss Eoin Morgan off the bowling of Dirk Nannes.
And this was Marcus's easiest catch Dawid Malan got a fine edge off Dirk Nannes.
A short ball from Lewis Gregory dispatched to the boundary by Eoin Morgan.
Joe Denly didn't look in any sort of form, he made it hard for himself by not using the wide part of the bat.
Peter Trego had better watch his back, he is not getting any younger.
We will not need the third umpires (if we had one) for this stumping of Marcus Trescothick by John Simpson off Ravi Patel and to make matters worse it was a leg side wide.
Nick Compton must have been asking himself who did I play the sweep shot, he was caught by Neil Dexter off a top edge bowled by Ravi Patel.
But before that happened he had the crowd in a panic when he just cleared the boundary for a six.
Marcus was still not looking his old self but the runs he scored was appreciated by the team and spectators, Nick Compton was going down the pitch at one point to say something to Marcus before each ball he received.
Marcus's RR is a bit more respectable after this match.
Interesting tactical switch with relatively little of either him or DNann in the power-play.
Club treasurer will be pleased as sounded like a good win to send the fans away with decent memories for next year's comp.
What they actually mean is they had sold all the tickets they could sell for this last game assuming everyone would turn up.
I am sure if the club thought that they could have put another 500/1000 seats on sale they would have done.
I cannot see how the club ever get accurate attendance figures, the ticket scanners are poor, I have attended every day of Cricket at Taunton this year, and I would say that only 50% of the times has the scanner accepted my card.
Unless you ask group discount ticket holders to identify which matches they expect to come to there is always going to be that issue.
It's part of the reason why the members shot themselves in the foot a few years ago when the Aussies were coming down and the managers tried to work out how many members were going to attend (a one dayer I think) by getting members to collect their ticket in advance.
Members did, whether or not they were going to attend and on a day when the ground could have been full there were well nover 500 seats not used because members did not turn up. This prompted a re-structuring of the membership to decrease the number who might do this by decreasing access to the international fixtures and adding a premium for having the right to attend such fixtures to maximise the seating that could be sold.
It's a knotty problem
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
He was also remarking that the atmosphere was really friendly. Well if you have the game at that time on a Friday, you aren't going to get the drinking fraternity of Bristol getting to Taunton for the game unless they take at least half a day off so most of the crowd were either Somerset supporters or Glos cricket supporters who will have planned ahead to go and watch the derby. The 'on spec' Bristol footy supporter won't have made the trip.
Most places appear to have such nowadays.
We have a sea\ted capacity currently of 7100.
Clearly there were an awful lot standing, but equally at any point lots of small pockets of empty seats. These I guess were no shows ot rpeople walking around, in the shop, bars, food stalls, toilets etc.
For many 1h15m is too long to sit still and watch something, hence my fear that tomorrows crowd will be nowhere near, patience of your new generation 1 day supporter will not cope with a 7h45m match with no music, blast breaks or tribute hat decks!!!
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