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Bob Willis Northants Away - "Madcap"


By Grockle et al
August 14 2020

Second Farmer White report on a Bob Willis Trophy game at an unusual 4 day venue for Somerset of Northampton's Wantage Road.   Tom Banton returns - Lewis Gregory comes back and immediately picks up a niggle while Jack Leach sits in red ball limbo neither allowed to come back to Taunton or leave the England Test bubble though he is not playing. Will the Overton's continue their excellent start to a shortened Championship season.  Enjoy it while it lasts.  Thanks 'Farmer'

All Willis Trophy matches are being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions in place. This report was therefore written following a day watching Northamptonshire CCC’s live stream of the match. The stream was watched with the commentary muted and with notes being taken to enable the author to replicate as far as possible his experience of watching matches live.

Bob Willis Trophy. Central Group. Northamptonshire v Somerset. 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th August 2020. Northampton.

Northamptonshire. E.N. Gay, B.J. Curran, R. Vasconcelos, R.I Keogh, C.O. Thurston, L.A Procter, A.M. Rossington (c) (w), G.K. Berg, Blessing Muzarabani, B.D. Glover, B.W. Sanderson.

Somerset. E.J. Byrom, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), J.C. Hildreth, T. Banton, S.M. Davies (w), C. Overton, R.E. van der Merwe, J.Overton, J.H. Davey, J.A. Brooks.

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

First day. 8th August – A madcap day at the cricket

The journey to my armchair is somewhat shorter than the one from home or a hotel to the cricket used to be, but the anticipation builds up just the same as the early part of the morning wears on. There is nothing quite like the first morning of a first-class cricket match. I was once asked if I would be travelling to a particular match. “Yes,” I answered, “but I can only get the time to go to one day. I will probably gauge which day to go to from the score.” The questioner looked at me in horror. “First day!” he said, almost ordering me to comply. He had a point. By the start of the subsequent days the match is part shaped. On the first morning the anticipation is boundless. After that, it is bounded by what has gone before. The only time I have had a feeling quite like the one I have on the morning of a four-day match was on the mornings of those great set-piece battles that were those acutely anticipated quarter and semi-finals of the Gillette Cup in its heyday. The prospect of glory or elimination, so near the prize, concentrated the mind wonderfully.

For all the anticipation you cannot predict what a day of cricket might hold, and no-one predicted what the first day of this match held. The ball was inclined to move off the pitch all day, but not excessively, and not every ball. Perhaps it was that variability of movement, and some steep lift at times that unsettled the batsmen and resulted in 21 wickets in the day. That, and the paralysing malaise that seemed to afflict the Northamptonshire batsmen after the fall of their second wicket. Until then, they, or at least Ben Curran, were beginning to power towards Somerset’s first innings 166 after Somerset had been all out before tea. Then, a jarring moment of misunderstanding between the batsmen upended the day. Curran pushed a ball half a dozen yards into the on side and stood his ground; Ricardo Vascencelos the non-striker, charged halfway up the pitch, shuddered to a halt, turned, and ran for his crease. Jack Brooks closed on the ball from midwicket and threw the stumps down with Vascencelos still short of his crease.

46 for 1 had become 46 for 2. “That could be a huge turnaround moment,” said the instant incoming text. It felt like it too, although the mind tried to temper the suddenly hopeful beating of the Somerset heart, for wickets are taken by bowlers, not supporters’ hearts. But turn around the day did, from that moment, as if on a sixpence. And, having turned, Somerset never looked back, whilst Northamptonshire seemed to spend the rest of their looking straight into the headlights of the oncoming Somerset bowling.

The writing for a day of mayhem was on the wall, or at least on the scoreboard, by the first ball of the sixth over. Somerset were 7 for 3, and Abell had just departed to his trademark caught-down-the-leg-side-by-the-keeper dismissal. I have no statistics on this, but my memory tells me he has been dismissed in this way over the years somewhat more than the average. And although it was not so prevalent in 2019, it still doesn’t come as a surprise when it happens. Eddie Byrom had already departed, caught behind off Glover trying an expansive cut having just clipped the same bowler behind square for four. He was followed by Tom Lammonby who raised his bat to a full ball, angled in from around the wicket by Ben Sanderson, which cut in just enough off the pitch to send the off stump cartwheeling.

Familiar Somerset days in these strange times would have been in the conversation had there been any Somerset supporters at the match to converse. Although the bowling of Glover and Sanderson, sharp and persistently on the mark, and Glover trading on sharp lift, would have had much to do with Somerset’s woes. It did not take Tom Banton long to announce himself. He faced just three balls before he drove square through the off side with no apparent effort at all. Timing was all, so much so that as he ambled to the other end, with the online view only three or four pitches wide, my mind added one to the score. The umpire thought otherwise and signalled four in a nonchalant reflection of the stroke. It was the precise antithesis of the power with which Banton’s bat imparted energy into the ball.

It settled the mind for an instant, but the threat of the Northamptonshire bowling soon reasserted itself and Banton never looked secure. An edge just evaded third slip and ran to the boundary for four. An edged pull just evaded the keeper diving down the leg side and also ran away for four, Sanderson and Berg the unlucky bowlers. When Banton, with barely any foot movement, tried to pull Berg, the ball cut in off the pitch, took the inside edge of an already cramped stroke and detached the leg stump from its moorings. Somerset were 36 for 4, Banton 18, and the anticipation of the morning was turning into apprehension, at least in the pit of Somerset stomachs.

James Hildreth meanwhile had been playing a very un-Hildreth like innings, a sure sign that the ball is inclined to do the bowlers’ bidding. Northamptonshire, deploying four slips as often as not, the fourth being at the outer extremity of the live stream fixed camera angle, was another indicator. So was Hildreth having taken 42 balls to reach 12 when Steven Davis joined him, although a boundary square of the wicket on the onside off the six and a half foot tall Muzarabani was every bit as well timed as Banton’s square drive had been.

Without the injured Gregory Somerset’s tail is longer than is comfortable and so much seemed to depend on Hildreth and Davies if a defensible total was to be approached. A partnership between them can be a magical affair of deft, impossibly easy-looking stroke play. And for three-quarters of an hour, against the run of the bowling, that is what we had. A drive, straight of mid-off for four off Muzarabani, a pull behind square off Berg which had the umpire signalling four before the batsman had left his crease, both from Hildreth; and a cut, square off Glover by Davies for which the ball was signalled four almost as the ball left the bat, were perhaps the pick of the offerings laid before us. As the score moved into the 70s the Somerset run rate had moved from the barely two an over it had been when Davies came to the wicket to nearly three. Hope of a Somerset recovery began to peek over the parapet.

And then, just as hope raised its head, it was crushed. On the stroke of lunch Davis played straight, but around a ball angled in from around the wicket by Sanderson. It perhaps deviated in a shade more and hit the off stump. Lunch eaten, Rossington came up to the stumps to Sanderson, Hildreth, kept to the crease, tried to steer wide of the slips and edged behind. Somerset were 77 for 6 with their lower order exposed to a rampant Northamptonshire attack.

The Somerset lower order is renowned for its ability to fight back from such situations and it set about attempting a recovery here. Craig Overton has often been to the fore of such recoveries. Here he struck three fours in an over from Glover. One came off the edge, but the second was driven with ease through mid-off and the third beautifully clipped off his legs as he leaned over the ball. But the Northamptonshire bowlers kept coming at Somerset and Overton was restricted to a cameo and no more. He was beaten by a straight ball from Sanderson which lifted, hurried his defensive stroke, took the edge and flew straight into the waiting, knee-high hands of Berg at fourth slip. Overton, in a stand with Roelof van der Merwe which realised 19 runs, had scored 16 and Somerset were 97 for 7. Jamie Overton’s innings was more quixotic than Craig’s. Twice in succession he drove hard at Sanderson, and twice in succession the ball flew over the slips for four. When he tried to clip Sanderson off his legs a lifting ball forced a leading edge and ballooned to mid-off. 110 for 8. 114 for 9 when Davey drove at Procter and edged him to Berg, now at third slip, and was caught in identical fashion to Craig Overton.

Disarray was the word that sprang to mind about the Somerset innings, tempered only by the knowledge that this Somerset team, if nothing else, have fight and an inability to lie down when apparently beaten as part of their DNA. Van der Merwe, with not the best of records against the red ball in recent times, was still fighting, with nine runs from nearly 12 overs of determined, if occasionally idiosyncratic defence. He was joined by Jack Brooks who had scored 72 helter-skelter runs batting at 11 in the last match. There would have been Somerset supporters the country over willing him to repeat the performance in this match, for a score of 114 might be beyond even this Somerset team to overcome with the ball.

Within three balls of his arrival Brooks had driven Berg through the covers for four as if he had walked straight from his last innings to this. And then he did it again, straight down the ground, off Procter. Singles he swapped with van der Merwe who seemed to feed him the strike, rather as Davies had done in the last match. The Somerset score began to climb at a rate which pressurises the opposition in a low-scoring match. When Muzarabani bounced Brooks hard, Brooks simply, and he did make it look simple, chipped the ball over the slips’ heads for four. A drive through the covers took the score to 153 for 9, which looked, and felt an awful lot better than 114 for 9. When, finally, Brooks was caught behind, he and van der Merwe, whose hour and a half at the crease was worth a lot more than the 20 not out he scored while he was there, had added 52 for the last wicket in seven overs. Brooks had 36 of those. His innings had set Somerset on a winning course against Glamorgan. Was there enough still in this pitch for him to have given the Somerset bowlers enough leeway to bowl Somerset back into this match? The heart hoped, but the head doubted, for 166 is a long way short of the 296 that sank Glamorgan.

At Northampton, Craig Overton got Somerset off to an excellent start when, in the fifth over, he found some of the lift in the pitch which the Northamptonshire bowlers had in part traded on. Emilio Gay attempted to leave the ball by lifting his bat to the horizontal. The ball followed the bat, found the under edge and Davies does not miss balls that come straight to him. 9 for 1. “Yes!” the exclamation that left my lips, for here was hope. “Whip ‘em out for 80!” said the incoming text. Could Somerset again carry forward the rushing momentum created by Brooks as they had against Glamorgan? And then, before that question could be answered, a reminder of the times as a mask-wearing drinks-carrier brought refreshment to Ben Curran, the other Northamptonshire opener.

Curran now took the game to Somerset, pulling and driving Davey square for fours on either side of the wicket. They were not the best of balls from the normally reliable Davey. Such balls hurt when a side is defending a small total, for the scope for offering leeway to opposition batsmen is minimal. Jamie Overton started with a wide which bounced a long way outside off stump, followed it with a ball which only narrowly missed the same fate and then repeated the ball later in the over, but this time wide enough to evade a diving second slip and run down to the boundary for five wides.  When Brooks replaced Overton after two overs, Somerset were down to two slips at a stage in the innings when Northamptonshire had had four. When Brooks bowled too full and too wide to Ricardo Vasconcelos, Vasconcelos reached and drove backward of point for four. “We won’t bowl them out form 80 bowling dross,” said the text from the bowler watching online. Northamptonshire were 44 for 1, scoring at four an over, just 122 behind and the match was fast threatening to slip from Somerset’s grasp.

And then came that fateful run out. Until that moment Northamptonshire had ridden the tide of the match like a surfer rides the crest of wave. Now the wave turned on them and enveloped them. Until then, Craig Overton, beating heart of the Somerset attack this season, alone had stood firm against that Northamptonshire tide. Now, as the tide turned, the others were standing with him. Davey forced an edge from Curran. It went through the empty third slip position for four. Immediately, Abell moved Craig Overton to third slip. Davey repeated the ball, Curran repeated the stroke, Overton dived low to his left and Northamptonshire were 50 for 3. Curran 35.

Two balls later Keogh turned Brooks quietly into the off side and Thurston hurtled halfway up the pitch just as Vasconcelos had done. This time the throw missed the stumps, but a thought occurred, “Are Northamptonshire feeling the pressure, the sort of pressure that first division counties apply as a matter of course?” There were four slips now, and even through a computer screen you could feel the confidence oozing back into the Somerset attack. When Keogh middled a straight dive off Davey, Davey dived like lightning to his left and stopped the ball. “Are Somerset clicking?” says my note. Saves like that crank up the pressure another notch. Off the last ball of the over Davey bowled one of the balls of the day. Keogh shaped as if to leave, then tried desperately to get his bat down as the ball jagged in, there is no other word, and clipped the pad en route to the off stump. 53 for 4. Off the first ball of the next over, Thurston was perilously close to being lbw to Brooks. Three balls later Brooks angled a ball in, it swung very late, and sufficiently to straighten and take Thurston’s pad right in front of the stumps. He had no chance of getting a bat behind it. It was a ball to match that of Davey. 53 for 5.

The Northamptonshire captain, Rossington walked into the midst of the mayhem and, with Procter, tried to bring some calm to the Northamptonshire innings. For a moment, as he pulled Brooks for four and Procter drove Davey through the covers for four more, it looked as if they might have some success. Davey, now on fire, bowled around the wicket and put that thought to rest with a ball angled into the left-handed Procter. It cut in further off the pitch and hit the pad before the bat could intercept. 65 for 6.

And then the tide of the match turned into a flood and swept the remains of Northamptonshire innings away. They lost their last four wickets for no runs when Craig Overton, bowling like the giant of Somerset cricket that he is becoming, returned. He was assisted by a ball from a rejuvenated Jamie Overton from which Berg tried to withdraw his bat. It both moved away off the seam and bounced, was caught brilliantly by Hildreth at first slip as he swivelled round to his right like a man catching a suddenly passing missile. Rossington meanwhile had been beaten by some piercing, steep bounce from Craig Overton and was caught behind. Sanderson, rushed into a drive, returned the ball low to Overton’s right where he dived to take an excellent catch. And finally, a full ball homed in unrelentingly on leg stump and bowled Glover to end the Northamptonshire innings on 67, 99 runs behind Somerset.

Given the nature of the day it was perhaps not a surprise that Somerset lost Lammonby for the second time before the close. He was lbw to Glover without scoring, after which Abell and Byrom guided Somerset to 15 for 1, a lead of 114 runs, while a multitude of breathless supporters spread across the country and around the world awaited the morrow.

Close. Somerset 166 (B.W. Sanderson 5-28) and 15 for 1. Northamptonshire 67 (C. Overton 4-12, J.H. Davey 3-23). Somerset lead by 114 runs with nine seconding innings wickets standing.

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Bob Willis Northants Away - "Madcap"
Discussion started by Grockles.com , 14/08/2020 11:01
Grockles.com
14/08/2020 11:01
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:14:11:06:37 by Grockle.

cricketjerry-mouse
07/08/2020 14:27
Tom Banton returns from England ODI duty to play against Northamptonshire (away) in the second Willis Trophy match, beginning tomorrow. He takes over from George Bartlett, who has not fully recovered from concussion received during the victory over Glamorgan

Quickie Kasey Aldridge, the 19-year-old former Millfield School student, is included in the 13 for the first time, and there is also a place in the squad for Ben Green, who hit his maiden 50 substituting for Bartlett in the week.

Squad: Abell, Aldridge, Banton, Brooks, Byrom, Davey, Davies, Green, Hildreth, Lammonby, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, van der Merwe.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:11:13:21:07 by Grockle.

hantssabre
07/08/2020 14:34
Where’s Lewis?

Shepton Paul 2
07/08/2020 14:51
Picked up a niggle in training yesterday, apparently. 🙁

Grockle
07/08/2020 14:54
Probably because he isn't getting regular cricket. Difficult to keep your 'core' when you aren't playing regularly.

(Sm72)

AGod
07/08/2020 16:57
Bloody typical. Damn you, England.

nelliec
07/08/2020 23:32
On a similar note Jack could go the whole season stuck in a bubble with no white ball cricket at all.

AGod
08/08/2020 07:01
red ball.

AGod
08/08/2020 10:40
Northants (comments from David Ripley below) are certainly not alone in looking at this Bob Willis Trophy as an opportunity to get a look at some extra players, rather than just defaulting to the strongest possible XI that they can pick each game. Should Somerset be following suit?


--------------

“We want to be competitive but we’re definitely viewing it as a squad competition,” said Ripley. “I’m excited about seeing the lads who haven’t had much opportunity given a go.

“We’ve got that big picture of next year and the chance to do much better and compete much harder than last time we were in division one. That’s why we’ll have a squad mentality for this season.

“I hope we’re celebrating some hundreds and five-fors, we’re competitive and we’ll see how far that can take us this season. If we manage to get some wins we might have a different view of game five than of game one.

“I’m pleased we have this template rather than a scenario where we could have been bombed out of division one in a short format that would have left you really disappointed. We’ve looked forward to being back in division one and planned for it all winter so it’s better to wait.”

AGod
08/08/2020 10:43
I don't know exactly which page it will be on, but it seems that the game will feature live coverage somewhere on the Northants website (it says all games will be live):

[nccc.co.uk]

AGod
08/08/2020 10:50
Somerset have won the toss and elected to bat.

AGod
08/08/2020 10:52
Former Northants man and dodgy (in the sense of decision-making quality, rather than probity) umpire, Nick Cook will be preside with fellow former Northants man, Rob Bailey.

Farmer White
08/08/2020 10:54
The live stream will also be available via the Somerset CCC Match Centre.

I may even be there on time.

Farmer

Farmer White
08/08/2020 11:08
Well, I was there ...

Farmer

Grockle
08/08/2020 11:17
Live stream is up just as Eddie goes swinging at 1. You'll have to look elsewhere for commentary though so Tune In BBC Live Events is probably thr best option.

The live stream is on SCCC s Match Centre. There's a link in the Grockles left hand menu on the main site and via Forum Navigation on the mobile one.

Once it's up it should be available on your Youtube history

(Sm72)

Grockle
08/08/2020 11:18
I lied... there is a sort of commentary on the feed. But unfortunately it a lagging behind the pictures.

Tom Lammonby has just been bowled on commentary as James Hildreth is taking guard on screen.

(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:08:11:21:00 by Grockle.

Bobstan
08/08/2020 11:19
Way behind the action though.

Grockle
08/08/2020 11:22
Yes sorry I just updated. It is woefully out of synch

(Sm72)

Nailsea_Fizz
08/08/2020 11:28
So is our batting in the sunshine it seems

AGod
08/08/2020 11:29
Anyone found any live stream of the (so far) unfolding horror show?

AGod
08/08/2020 11:37
Found it. Can't exactly say that the track looks like a green terror!!!

In which case, a hell of a lot of rebuilding potentially to be done..

AGod
08/08/2020 11:40
Then again, there is this:

"Both (sic) James Hildreth and Tom Banton not looking in any comfort."

AGod
08/08/2020 11:53
An uncahracteristcally ill-judged shot from Eddie Byrom.

Tom A falls, caught down the leg-side, quite often.... this one looked like an action replay of various others.

Grockle
08/08/2020 12:13
The commentary is 3 balls behind the video for those trying to get their heads around it.

I wonder if the techies at Northants are rushing around trying to sort this or whether they''ve just gone 'it'll be OK'

Somerset would be working hard to get this right and may even take the commentary off until they did but that commitment to the watching listening public isn't always apparent elsewhere - especially in the case of Championship cricket.

Hopefully that attitude will disappear as the clubs have to go to streaming and realise how big the audience is.

Good start for Brandon Glover the 'Dutch' Saffer on debut. Normal start from the Somerset batting front end.

There is a twitter stink wafting up from Worcestershire who seem to have restricted their streaming to 'members only' via their website I am assuming. Other supporters NOT impressed it seems and it may change for the second tranche of games.

Something positive happening because of the pandemic

(Sm72)

Grockle
08/08/2020 12:14
I'll judged 'chop on' by Banton and 36 for 4. Oh dear.

(Sm72)

Grockle
08/08/2020 12:24
Not sure whether others are seeing this as well but it seems the 'live' stream needs restarting about every 40-45 minutes.

Presently not hugely impressed with 'Steelbacks TV' I have to say

(Sm72)

Bagpuss
08/08/2020 12:36
Lancashire stream last week v Leicestershire was members only but after a lot of complaints this is changing. The match was at New Road.

Grockle
08/08/2020 12:47
Yes - the indications of the demand for CC1 streams has been given a huge lift when it is all there is.

They can ignore it when they are playing in front of crowds but Ben's info about the hundred's of thousands of views is now reality for a lot of counties and they seem to be starting to take a serious look at it.

The kit they usually use has always been geared to giving lip service to the odd non local supporter if the bits of kit are hanging about and a non paid techie can cobble something together. That tended to be the way Somerset used to do the supporter ball by ball commentary.

The tech now is much more capable and the demand is a little more than they expected it to be so it all looks better for this aspect - and as a soon to be non UK resident again I am really happy to see that.

If the counties could raise revenue from it and all had to charge I'd be happy to subscribe to a service like SCCC's - not so sure I'd want something like this.

(Sm72)

AGod
08/08/2020 13:03
Yet another game where the bowlers are going to have to absolutely carry this club, then..

AGod
08/08/2020 13:06
The pitch looks fairly harmless to me.

So the lower order may be able to hit some lusty blows etc..

But still, one doubts that we'll get more than, perhaps, 220 or so unless somebody can stay with Hildreth for a long time.

And this track seems to have little of the pace and bounce of our track from the Glamorgan game. So we may have to sit in and win mainly with attrition vs the Northants batting..

Grockle
08/08/2020 13:06
Another famous Somerset 5fer - 74 for 5 at lunch. Oh dear oh dear oh dear

As you say AG - it's never a decent assessment until both sides have batted - but it does look like the county will be looking to their bowling AGAIN to pull their sphericals out of the fire after another poor front end first innings batting performance in a 4 day game.

(Sm72)

Grockle
08/08/2020 13:09
The Northants commentator said that you have to used the new ball on the first morning at Wantage, you can't waste it because it may be all you get. Well they haven't wasted it but if it flattens it could be a long middle section of this game for the Somerset side in the field because our variation is being underused or not used at all in international bubbles.

Ho Hum.....

(Sm72)

AGod
08/08/2020 13:13
And may miss LG with the bat*, thanks to wonderful England, too.

*In a middle session, today, which should heavily favour the bat, pitch wise.

Grockle
08/08/2020 13:16
I was including him - if they don't keep 'em in the bubble they injure 'em just before they leave it!!

(Sm72)

Somerset LaLaLa
08/08/2020 13:43
There was me thinking this match could be a draw, after Northants last game against Warks and their record in CC2 in 2019. Somerset conspire to think otherwise..

Grockle
08/08/2020 13:58
Whooppee!! Last of recognised batsmen goes just after lunch. Anyone putting money on Somerset reaching 3 figures?

(Sm72)

Grockle
08/08/2020 14:04
To give 'Steelbacks TV' credit where it is due they are tweeting that they are trying to fix the audio lag but the things they tried before lunch haven't worked.

At least they are working on it.

(Sm72)

AGod
08/08/2020 14:15
That last one seemed to really pop at Craig, to me?

It might be that this track is excessively dry in which case, Roelof might have some fun on it when he bowls?

Loyal of Lhasa
08/08/2020 14:27
I know you like to blame the ECB for everything, AGod, but I think Gregory picked up his injury after he returned to Somerset, Apologies if I am wrong.

LoL

Seventy-five Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Grockle
08/08/2020 14:42
114 for 9 and Jack Brooks won't die wondering. What price a batting point? :-)

(Sm72)

Rod1883
08/08/2020 15:10
....just over half way there now at 158-9, could they....

Rod1883
08/08/2020 15:19
No.
But 166 is a lot more than it looked like we would get at most points beforehand.
Something to bowl at - even a small lead on 1st innings?

Grizzers
08/08/2020 15:27
I do wish we could cure our allergy to batting points.

Grizzers

Bobstan
08/08/2020 16:12
I wonder whether anyone from Surrey watched Jamie O's first over.

Grockle
08/08/2020 17:42
67 for 7? What the hell is happening at Wantage Road?

(Sm72)

mikeindex
08/08/2020 17:47
Think we need Jack B at 3 when the T20 starts.

Grockle
08/08/2020 17:49
Quote:
Loyal of Lhasa
I know you like to blame the ECB for everything, AGod, but I think Gregory picked up his injury after he returned to Somerset, Apologies if I am wrong.

I think it was my error LoL. I thought he'd picked it up with England but had it confirmed it was with the county.

Is that a change of intensity one wonders? Sorry people

(Sm72)

Scrumper
08/08/2020 18:00
67-9 (Sm8) Must be something up with this pitch (not watching BTW).

Grizzers
08/08/2020 18:01
Goodness.......

Grizzers

Grockle
08/08/2020 18:07
So 3 wickets without a run? Another awful batting performance and a first innings lead. Whst is going on at Wantage Road? Dom may have to bat to win a Test. It's all fun this afternoon!!

(Sm72)

AGod
08/08/2020 18:43
Cripes.

I don't know about you folks but, if the England scouts are doing their jobs, then I don't think Craig Overton will be long for the Somerset bowling attack, do you?

He was irresistible today. And Josh's second spell was excellent.

And yet I still can't see that this track is some kind of unplayable minefield.. I mean Northants looked okay (apart from vs Craig) at 46 for 1, prior to the dumb run out.

If it IS an unplayable minefield?

Will Northants thus be joining us on minus 12 points at the bottom of the initial 2021 CC1 table?

But, please, nobody try to claim that the SCCC batting performance was somehow, in hindsight, quite good. I mean, certainly credit to Brooks and VDM but the rest of it was, largely, a dog's dinner - with at least 3 of the top six - Eddie, Tom and Steve out to balls that didn't particularly merit wickets.

The problem with having your bowlers bail you out almost all the time is that it will only be *almost* all the time.... for example last year, this attack had one bad game (Yorks away) and one bad session - the opening one at Chelmsford where only Jamie bowled well (and Essex scored the number of runs that would go on to be the winning margin in the game).... but when your batting is so consistently indifferent .. then even one bad match + one bad session with the ball will end up costing you the CC.

So very satisfying to see the bowlers steamroll another opponent and yet Mr Hurry is still going to need to recruit some new ones because we're light on squad numbers, Jamie is off and Craig will get picked for England, if the scouts have been paying attention (they may not have been).

The overseas player slots are also going to be a quandary.... we may be short of bowling numbers, and so need overseas bowlers, yet we seem to have been short of batting every season since about 2012!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:08:18:56:25 by AGod.

AGod
08/08/2020 19:51
Now that I think about it, Olly Stone was in the "LG," role with the Test squad, I think?

And OS, as is his wont, is now injured... So won't England be calling a new bowler into the Test bubble?

If so, Craig must surely have a great chance.

AGod
08/08/2020 20:04
Then again, perhaps Craig's case will be undermined by his batting team-mates?

If the selectors keep seeing match scores that say:

Somerset naff all.

Opposition? Not even nearly that many..

.. then they may lazily conclude that the wickets must be coming on minefields?

Grockle
08/08/2020 20:05
Josh and Craig were simply just too good this afternoon.

(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:08:21:31:30 by Grockle.

Owain Glyndwr
08/08/2020 20:13
Sounds like a fun day in the middle England sun. In hindsight I'd say our batsmen did quite well, which thankfully, our bowlers matched. Bring on day two.

Grockle
08/08/2020 21:33
Great. If the selection committees don't do their jobs and just assume things from scorecards then they'll leave Craig with us and stop wasting his time and our reseources having players sit on their @#$%& when there are games to win!!

(Sm72)

Grizzers
08/08/2020 21:44
We’ve done superbly with the ball, but can’t overlook the fact that we’ve already given up eight batting points in our first two games.

With only two teams to qualify from the three divisions, we need to find some decent first innings batting partnerships. (Preferably from the top order !).

Grizzers

Somerset LaLaLa
08/08/2020 21:46
Did not see that coming. 21 wickets in a day with Lammonby out twice for 1 run.

Northants made 507-6 in their 2nd innings last time, how much of a lead does Craig need now?

cricketjerry-mouse
08/08/2020 22:55
Craig Overton is free of England`s Test clutches for little while longer. The selectors have added Sussex`s Ollie Robinson, the second leading wicket-taken in the country last summer (albeit in Division Two), to the squad for Friday`s Second Test at Southampton.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:08:22:57:11 by cricketjerry-mouse.

Farmer White
09/08/2020 05:12
Here is the link to my report on the First Day of this match.

[farmerwhite.co.uk]

Farmer

Rod1883
09/08/2020 10:43
Thank you Farmer.
I could only dip in and out yesterday, but I did "catch" the Hildreth catch - what a catch that was from the veteran!
Am I allowed to call him a veteran at nearly 36?

Nailsea_Fizz
09/08/2020 11:17
Some one seems to have upgraded the qualuty of tge stream overnight. Much improved

Nailsea_Fizz
09/08/2020 11:29
Not good viewing though, we seem in rather a hurry for a day off

Scrumper
09/08/2020 11:33
Let's not leave it to Brooks again...

hantssabre
09/08/2020 11:38
Two days off more like!

Nailsea_Fizz
09/08/2020 11:43
We should have stayed in bed

hantssabre
09/08/2020 11:44
Commentary still a bit ahead of the pictures

Streeter
09/08/2020 12:05
Re the video lag, it's a bit fiddly but I'm listening to the radio commentary alongside the pictures and by pusing astutely you can synch it.

Streeter
09/08/2020 12:06
Pausing

Grockle
09/08/2020 12:54
It started off in synch and has fallen behind as the session has gone on.

Better than yesterday but not by much. Excellent 50 from Cove and some useful runs from RvdM and Jove 269 ahead - 300 would be enough one would suggest on this pitch!!

Suprised that James H couldn't do more on this

(Sm72)

AGod
09/08/2020 13:39
Bowlers have had enough of having to bowl the side to victory.. and so decided to bat the side to victory as well!!

Grockle
09/08/2020 13:43
Story of more than 1 season. Thry are operating a little like some of the fantasy games with Overton's doing gheir stuff.

Bartlett Byrom, Abell and especially Hildreth made it a CC1 winning season because they provided runs to go with the wickets... if only

More than once it happened that they produced a moderatly poor first inning score and then murdered the opposition with the ball.

(Sm72)

Grockle
09/08/2020 13:52
The synch is the other way today. Commentary ahead of the visual by about a ball.

Not the way a commentator likes it because you can listen, then watch to see if you agree or disagree with their assessment.

(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:09:13:54:21 by Grockle.

Grockle
09/08/2020 14:13
Well that was a bit better!! Well played to the twins 100+ runs off well less than 100 balls!!

(Sm72)

AGod
09/08/2020 16:26
Splendid aggression!

AGod
09/08/2020 16:45
Josh Davey really has come on, leaps and bounds, under the current coaching staff.

We can see from the current Northants score that, but for the intervention - with the bat - of the Somerset bowlers, we would probably now be on course to lose this game.

AGod
09/08/2020 17:12
Young Mr Thurston has been rather impressive.

I'm afraid I really don't see Jack Brooks as a CC1 standard bowler any more - he lacks both pace and accuracy.

AGod
09/08/2020 17:22
A couple of strikes from Jamie and the end could be nigh for our hosts.

I thought Rossington was sawn off a bit by Nick Cook, with one that looked too high as well as probably having struck the batsman outside the line of off-stick.

Tumbles
09/08/2020 17:35
When Northants collapse they do it style.

Grizzers
09/08/2020 17:36
All looks rather easy right now.

But without the Overton brothers batting onslaught, it could well all have been very different.

Very happy with the overall impending result, but hopefully batting practice will feature for many of our line up this coming week !

Grizzers

Tumbles
09/08/2020 17:42
Quote:
Grizzers
All looks rather easy right now.
But without the Overton brothers batting onslaught, it could well all have been very different.

Very happy with the overall impending result, but hopefully batting practice will feature for many of our line up this coming week !

Grizzers

Craig, Jamie and Jacks runs totalled more than the margin of victory infact -183 I think

Grockle
09/08/2020 17:43
As long as the other side collapse harder than we do it will all be fine. Another win from relatively nothing.

(Sm72)

AGod
09/08/2020 17:47
Well that ended abruptly... a couple of slightly dodgy lbws, I think... and some kamikaze swinging at the end, once hope had been lost for them.

As I understand the winner of one group will *not* progress.

So, depending on results elsewhere, we might need to figure out a way to get some batting bonus points, if we are to make the final? It would also be a good habit to get into for *next year*!

Re: Jamie

Gibson keeps saying he might be off to Surrey at any moment. Supposedly J I D Kerr told Gibson that they will "take it week-by-week."

I would assume that what Kerr means is that, so long as we're in with a chance of winning the comp, we'll keep playing Jamie but that, should we be eliminated at any stage, we will let him go because it would then make more sense to look at Gilchrist or Aldridge... but, IF that's what Jason means, why not say it? And if that's not what he means, why would we be "taking it week-to-week" ?

Mr Gibson said that Jamie told him he doesn't want to leave early.... and, to be honest, the side that Surrey are playing this season looks rather weak, to put it mildly.... so Jamie might have to carry the whole lot if he did go down there.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:09:17:53:17 by AGod.

AGod
09/08/2020 17:49
Bowlers to play golf for two days?

Batsmen? I hope not. Nets for them (Guys like Gilchrist and Aldridge can do some bowling)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:09:17:50:15 by AGod.

Roger ivanhoe
09/08/2020 17:51
Well the guys running the live feed obviously wanted to get home early.

AGod
09/08/2020 17:57
Last 4 wickets added 169. Won by 167.

So it would probably have been a most unwelcome nail-biter, had our bowlers taken their cue, batting-wise, from the "batsmen."

Grockle
09/08/2020 18:06
I will miss the twin batting of the Overton's "on song"

(Sm72)

sfwithers
09/08/2020 18:20
Well, this is my first post of the season, possibly the year and I've been saving it for a virtually unalloyed positive post* (recent life story below).

Okay, in an ideal world it would be great to get batting bonus points and yes, there is a possibility that a lack of these could stop us qualifying for the final, especially if it's one we 'missed' from our first game. That is indeed true. But if we win four (or all five) of our games as convincingly as this that may be an irrelevance. I understand it may not, of course.

For whatever reason our bowling line-up – missing Leach, Bess and Gregory – is performing magnificently, even the earlier-criticised Brooks delivered the goods at the end. The batsmen do at least have a chance for two days in the nets now as they look like they need it!

I didn't watch any of the Northants match on the live stream but hugely enjoyed the coverage from the Glamorgan game, which I thought was excellent. I know this has come up in an earlier post but I was bemused by the commentators' inability to distinguish between the Overtons, in this case while they were batting together without numbered shirts, with even their differing gaits discussed at one point. But, and this is crucial, ONE OF THEM HAD A SHORT-SLEEVE SHIRT. Even with my dodgy eyes I reckon I could spot that at 75 yards!!

Frankly, I don't think this season could have started much better for us. I'm hoping that Worcs-Glamorgan will be a high-scoring draw (possible at the moment), which would reduce their chances of progressing and I'm praying for rain for Gloms-Warks, though that may lead to bad karma for me, so I take that back.

I haven't checked the other groups' scores or tables but if we keep on winning, well, I hope and reckon that would probably be enough. We'll see.

Regards to all of you out there in Grockles land.

S



* It's been an interesting year for me (as it has for a lot of people). I was furloughed in April from my job as a bike and kit tester/reviewer for a magazine and website. I used the initial length of the furlough to get really fit – I had planned to ride 1000 miles in seven weeks but managed 1400, achieving the sort of fitness I haven't had in a while (and a killer cycling tan!).

However, as the furlough stretched out I realised that redundancy was a pretty likely outcome and so it has come to pass. Theoretically I'm now 20 days into a 30-day consultation period but I'm not even bothering to come up with a counter-proposal; I know a done-deal when I see one.

This will be my fourth redundancy in 25 years, three of them in the last ten years during my time as a cycling journalist, including twice from the same job! I'm the most experienced person in my division and one of the most experienced in the country (admittedly it's a pretty specialist area so it's a very small field!) with even greater expertise in the areas that are likely to be required in the near future – bikes for older riders and those new to cycling. Hey ho.

I'm taking my skills elsewhere and as we've got no kids, no debts, mortgage is paid (age not super wealth!) and my wife's still working, we'll be okay.

Grockle
09/08/2020 18:31
Sorry to hear about the job stuff sir. Hope that gets better. In your cycling writing work have you come across an old school friend of mine Chris Sidwells? Bit of a Tour de France specialist because of a schoolboy love of Eddie Mercxx and an uncle (I think) called Tommy Simpson?

(Sm72)

AGod
09/08/2020 18:46
I'm a bit non-plussed as to why a magazine/website should have needed to furlough people?

I assume that cycling became more popular during lockdown, not less? I know that more people had more time to spend on the internet - which should have been good for the website. Was the magazine print only and newsagents were closed? Was that the issue?

Anyway, good luck to you.

Grizzers
09/08/2020 18:46
Good uplifting summary Sfw.

Hope all works out well. Sounds like you have things pretty well sorted, at least as far as is possible in these crazy days.

Grizzers

Clarence Parker
09/08/2020 19:18
Why AGod do you find it necessary to analyse and attempt to doubt Mr Withers' misfortunes concerning his redundancy?

It surely isn't necessary.

I wish you and your family all the very best, Sir.

wsm fan
09/08/2020 19:24
How does Lewis get into the side Saturday if he is fit?
Or does he even get in.....?

Craig 4 Jamie 5 Josh 5 JackB 5 in this match.
Plus Craig & Jamie top scored with the bat 👍

Never ever a need for 5 seamers in my opinion.
We had 6 in this match if we include Tom & Tom!

AGod
09/08/2020 19:47
Puzzled by the logic of the company rather than doubting the veracity of the story, Clarence, but thank you for your interjection, all the same.

AGod
09/08/2020 19:53
IF he's fit, WSM, then LG should replace Brooks - who, wickets at the end notwithstanding, has not really bowled very well in either match, IMO.

Then again, at this rate, perhaps we should pick 11 bowlers, purely for batting purposes? Certainly, we've needed Brooks' batting in the first two games of this season.

Edgbaston varied between being a bunsen and a flat-track last season. I don't think Warks have Jeetan Patel anymore so presumably it won't be the former next week. Maybe it will be bland - as per the Northants track, on which the same Northants side that we've just seen be rushed out twice in next to no time, batted for no fewer than 175 overs, for only 6 down in Brummieland.

sfwithers
09/08/2020 20:12
I think I know what AGod means (and I didn't read it as a criticism in any way) and I'll do a further dull update/explanation later but at the moment life is good.

I went out on the bike for a couple of hours in blistering sunshine, stopped to watch Hampset's Sunday team play cricket for a while. I've enjoyed a good dinner, I'm drinking wine (chardonnay – I'm showing my age) and listening to Lloyd Cole. And Somerset, the team to watch, won at a canter. Though when Northants were just over 100 for three I was a little tense; I shouldn't have been.

Thanks for your kind and positive words. During the furlough I'd worked out there were three options: return to work full time; return part time; redundancy. I actually put the part-time work suggestion to my employer in writing months ago, but redundancy is my second favourite outcome of the three and not a surprise (not with my experience of it).

Right, I want to see Somerset's batsmen in the nest on livestream tomorrow and Tuesday while the bowlers down goblets of cider while smoking Havana cigars, or something like that...

Somerset LaLaLa
09/08/2020 20:25
Great win Somerset. They clearly thought the hotel was a load of cobblers, kept the score low and let the Overtons work their magic. Unfortunately the plan almost fell apart, on realising we hadn't enough runs on the board but it was bowlers to the rescue again. The risk is that the result will be declared null and void if we top the division, from the pitch report

Grizzers
09/08/2020 20:27
Reverting to wsm’s question, Lewis can bat, so he comes in for me, even if at the expense of Tom L.

Any reason why SD cant open the batting with Eddie ?

1) EB
2) SD
3) TA
4) JH
5) TB
6) LG
7) CO
8) RvdM
9) JO
10) JD
11) JB

Gets even more complicated if George Bartlett is fit to play !

Grizzers

AGod
09/08/2020 20:32
George has a mandatory time to spend on the sidelines. I think he will be thus barred from taking part, regardless of how he feels?

LaLaLa - what do you mean?

Are the umpires planning to penalise Northants for the pitch?

I've never heard of the result of a match on a penalised pitch being declared null and void?

Grockle
09/08/2020 20:58
I think there is a question about whether Brooks is fully fit. There was quite a lot of question about whether he should continue just before he took 3. He has looked a little lethargic at times during the last couple of days.

(Sm72)

Somerset LaLaLa
09/08/2020 21:11
AG - Perish the thought of the ECB letting us get to Lords, that spectators could be let in and Harrison gets a nice boo in front the cameras. How else will they stop us?

wsm fan
09/08/2020 21:28
There is NEVER a scenario we need 5 seamers plus Abell surely?
To play Lewis at 6 we are saying all 5 seamers are better batting options than another batting option we have, Green i assume.
Lewis has had no cricket at all since a "proper" match all summer.
If our batting is a worry im not sure playing 6 bowlers is the answer.

mikeindex
09/08/2020 21:48
Quote:
Rod1883
Am I allowed to call him a veteran at nearly 36?
Mohammad Amir - potentially the rich man's Wasim Akram - has retired from Test cricket aged 28.
In answer to your question - probably, yes.
[en.wikipedia.org]
[en.wikipedia.org]

hantssabre
09/08/2020 22:25
Just a thought but shouldn’t there be more points on offer if you win a match with days to spare?

cricketjerry-mouse
09/08/2020 22:31
In normal non-Covid-19 circumstances, hantssabre, there should be less rather than more points. Thinks of all the bar taking etc you are denying the club.

Grizzers
09/08/2020 22:39
Can’t argue with your logic wsm.

But what is the answer to the batting situation ? Is Ben really likely to score more runs than Lewis ?

Grizzers

Loyal of Lhasa
09/08/2020 22:40
Sorry to hear your news, sfw, but you seem to be taking a very philosophical approach and I hope a new opportunity will soon come your way.

It was indeed a fine win, demonstrating what a splendid set of bowlers (who can also bat) we are blessed with. I think we have probably played the two weakest teams in the group and I hope, as I mentioned earlier, we shall not regret failing to score four more runs in our first innings against Glamorgan.

I like the suggestion that the hotel might be a load of cobblers - was that a deliberate reference to the trade for which Northampton was once famed?

LoL

Seventy-five Seasons a Somerset Supporter

AGod
09/08/2020 22:41
Grizzly - nope.. no reason to suppose that he is.

wsm fan
09/08/2020 22:51
Well Green has batted in top 4 most of 2nd games last year and scored a maiden 50 v Glamorgan.
As things stand he is the next (only) batter we have in reserve so guess he needs a run for us to find out.

JK said Friday George should be ok for Warwicks, i understood concussion rest was a mandatory 7 days but i may be wrong there.

AGod
09/08/2020 22:52
Oh, okay.. I thought it was longer than 7 days.

Regardless of the length of the compulsory period of being out, it's very good to hear that he seems to be okay, anyway. Nobody wants a repeat of the Leachy post Morkel situation.

Grockle
10/08/2020 00:18
Anthony Gibson reporting that Jamie is not off to Surrey just yet and will be available for Warwickshire. You don't think he's keen for a four day trophy before he goes do you?

(Sm72)

AGod
10/08/2020 06:40
I assume that Andy and Jason intend to keep him for so long as we're in the running for this trophy.

Surrey would appear to have next to no chance of winning this trophy, based on the sides that they have been picking so far.

Without a significant rebuild - or, perhaps, some of Surrey's England players falling from favour, it's not at all obvious that Jamie will be better placed to challenge for domestic trophies with his new county, moving forward.

Still, Jamie has presumably gone there mainly for international reasons .. thinking, rightly, that having the word "Surrey," next to his name will automatically inflate the perceived worth of his performances in the minds of simpleton selectors.

If Jamie were to go there this season, it looks like it would be him, Rikki Clarke and a bunch of novices........ so he'd have an awful lot of bowling to do.

cricketjerry-mouse
10/08/2020 12:43
Surrey must surely be pressing for Jamie Overon`s arrival. With six players injured already, and six on various England duties, they have been forced to borrow Laurie Evans (Sussex) and Adam Finch (Worcestershire) to field a full 11 for their current match in the Willis Trophy.

AGod
10/08/2020 12:52
I'm sure they will be.

But perhaps a contract decision from Nathan Gilchrist was what Jason and Andy were waiting on (with Jason having told Mr Gibson, that they'd take the Jamie situation, game-by-game)

Somerset LaLaLa
10/08/2020 19:06
Bonus points. Note to our batsmen, again

Last year we finished 5th in CC1 on bonus points, above Yorkshire, Warks and truly dreadful Notts. Warks had more batting points than us.

This season we are not faring any better, Kent after there batfest have a total of 15 compared to our 8. Even lowly Durham, losing both their games, have 6.

It's conceivable the 3 sides who finish top of their divisions will have the same number of win/draw/losses and we won't go to the party. The Overtons will not be amused

Grizzers
10/08/2020 19:30
Succinctly put LLL.

Grizzers

AGod
10/08/2020 20:50
Bowlers have decided to take batting bonus point matters into their own hands.

I wouldn't be particularly surprised if the last 5 wickets outscore the first 5 in the majority of our remanining innings this season.

Farmer White
11/08/2020 00:16
Apologies for the late arrival of the report from Northampton but ...

What a performance by the bowlers, with bat and ball. And what a performance by Craig and Jamie Overton, with bat, ball and in the slips. I think I saw every ball. The match was over in two days, not even quite that. The frenetic pace of the action makes it feels like four.

For ease of access I will put links to both of my daily reports below together with their titles:

First Day:

A madcap day at the cricket

[farmerwhite.co.uk]


Final Day:

Making a difference ~ Craig and Jamie Overton

[farmerwhite.co.uk]


And in making a difference one brother passed 300 first-class wickets. The other achieved his highest first-class score. I know we all know that but it just seemed worth saying again. And did they do it in style.

Roll on Saturday.

Farmer

Scrumper
11/08/2020 00:33
Proposed batting order...

Jamie Overton
Craig Overton
Jack Brooks
James Hildreth OBE
Steve Davies
Roelof van der Merwe
Edward Byrom
Tom Abell
Tom Lammonby
Tom Banton

AGod
11/08/2020 07:16
Looks good to me, Scrumper!

Grockle
11/08/2020 09:38
Jack to open if he is released

(Sm72)

Somerset LaLaLa
11/08/2020 09:44
Craig and Jamie to bowl to whoever gives them a bouncer

cricketharris
11/08/2020 12:12
Quite a season for the Overton brothers but also for our no.1 poster AGod who is only 41 away from 38000 posts in his 13 year career with us. Should reach it by tea.

Loyal of Lhasa
11/08/2020 12:15
Does anybody think he might declare at tea and give the rest of us a chance to catch up?

LoL

Seventy-five Seasons a Somerset Supporter

Grockle
11/08/2020 13:11
You have some way to go LoL You also have to remember that total is on this version so doesn't take unto account the other half of Grockles' life before 2007 stretching back to "94

(Sm72)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:11:13:19:33 by Grockle.

Somerset LaLaLa
11/08/2020 13:14
Plenty of tight finishes this afternoon. Will Peter Trego get the winning runs for Notts?

Surrey need 251 more, so it should be plain sailing for a side of that calibre...

AGod
11/08/2020 14:07
hahahahahah - Surrey will, almost certainly, be rolled out by Simon Harmer.

Will Yorks avoid the indignity of being the first side to lose to Notts in a CC game in living memory?

Watch this space...

AGod
11/08/2020 14:10
With no relegation, how to explain Worcs not declaring to try and force a win vs Glamorgan - I mean they're 333 ahead and it's already past 2pm - how many do they think they need vs the might of Glamorgan!?

[www.bbc.co.uk]

AGod
11/08/2020 14:12
Looks like Essex and Kent are the reasonably strong sides in the Southern group?

What about the Northern? Lancashire? Looks like Yorks are going to roll over Notts in the end, unless Pete and Samit can come to the rescue.

hantssabre
11/08/2020 14:38
Trego now out so not long before Notts collapse completely to give the Yorkies 2 wins



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:11:14:39:34 by hantssabre.

hantssabre
11/08/2020 15:54
See Harmer took 14 wickets in the Chelmsford dust bowl but don’t suppose the Cricket Liaison Officer will have any cause for concern!

Wickham
11/08/2020 17:01
Per Andrew Samson:

"Twins both scoring a fifty and taking 4 wickets in an innings in a first-class match:

A Bedser 73 & 4-14 & E Bedser 60 & 6-56
Surrey v Glamorgan Cardiff 1951

C Overton 53 & 4-12 and J Overton 68 & 4-26
Somerset v Northamptonshire Northampton 2020"

AGod
11/08/2020 18:17
I'm sure Northants were heartily sick of the sight of the Overtons by match's end..

AGod
11/08/2020 18:19
Quote:
AGod
With no relegation, how to explain Worcs not declaring to try and force a win vs Glamorgan - I mean they're 333 ahead and it's already past 2pm - how many do they think they need vs the might of Glamorgan!?
[www.bbc.co.uk]

Glamorgan now hanging on at 141-7, so still looks a fairly major misjudgement by Worcs, unless they can force the final three out in the blink of an eye?

AGod
11/08/2020 18:38
That's it - drawn. Had they declared, say, 20 overs and 60 runs earlier they would, presumably, have had an excellent chance of victory.

With neither promotion nor relegation at stake, I find it hard to understand a defensive mindset like that.

wsm fan
11/08/2020 18:43
Whilst winning the group is the aim of course i really dont think the other 5 teams in our group are our competition.

It is the top 2 points scorers from the 3 divisions so we need to keep an eye on Essex Yorkshire Derbyshire currently.
No great glory winning our group if it doesnt bring enough points to make the final.

Looks very much like we will need 5 wins given our aversion to gaining batting points.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:08:11:19:19:56 by wsm fan.

Somerset LaLaLa
11/08/2020 20:42
Worcestershire are on the radar now, 8 points for a draw and several batsman on form for bonus points, they're only 3 points in the table behind us. Will we have a full squad for the last match against them? No England duties?

Essex haven't lost since April 2019. Also that guy Higgins had 11 wickets for Gloucestershire. Just saying

AGod
11/08/2020 20:53
At the moment an Essex vs Somerset final would be no surprise. However, as WSM implies we may not be able to afford to have any rain affected draws, given we don't score batting points.

The forecast for the next round of games is unpromising.

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