Metrobank Game 8 Beat Lancs or Bust
By Grockle
August 11 2026
The last of the first phase games in thios year's 50 over competition. We face Lancashire and have the position of still being able to qualify IF we win AND Warks win AND Glos win AND neither of them do it with a better NRR than us. Winning is our only priority today. if the rest falls into place then we will cntinue. If they don't we'll assess a 4:4 record with all the wins at home and all the losses away. That is IF we win. Lewis has won the toss and put Lancashire in. Sav Perera returns in the battnf and Migael Pretorius returns to the bowling. Let battle commence.
Metrobank Game 8 v Lancashire @ Taunton Wednesday 11 August 2026
Lewis Goldsworthy wins another toss and decides to bowl first at Taunton. We go into this one in a 'must win position' the rest of what must happen for us to continue in this competition is in the match introduction.
The side for today is;
Vaughan, Perera, Lammonby, Goldsworthy (c), Thomas, Connell, Church (w), Pretorius, Theedom, Shaw, Langridge
We go back to the earlier opening partneship and see Sav Perera return to the batting line-up we also rest Jake and Jack (probably for Essex next week? Though do they need over a week?) Kian Roberts and Theo Lamey also miss out. It's a gorgeous day and there were lotsof people in the queues at just before 10 this morning.
If you are watching on the livestream, the wicket is almost in the foyer of the Caddyshack today with a rope boundary on the Somerset side of the ground today. Very very short East side boundary.
Josh Shaw opens from the MT to Jennings and Hurst (after Jennings takes a single) 3 for 0 after 1. At the River Miggy P. The first boundary comes in the third and it is 16 after 4 overs. It's 35 after 6 as the Lancs guys open their shoulders a little. The 50 arrives during the 9th with a bottom edge cut to the CA from Hurst who moves to 28 from 27 while his partner is 20 from 25. A better straight drive over the bowler's head comes in the same over and they finish it at 56 for no loss thanks to a good boundary save by Pretorius
At the end of the 'Powerplay' Lancashire do not look in all that much trouble as they complete it at 6 runs per over moving to 62 for 0. Hurst is leading but both opening bats seem to have found their way in this game and could make us pay for deciding to bowl first.
JT Langridge is introduced from the MT for the 11th with his side desperate for a wicket. Finally the breakthrough comes as Hurst drives off Archie Vaughan (who has come on at the River to replace Pretorius) in the 14th over and goes to a very very good diving catch from Migael. 83 for 1 as Bohannon take his place and gets off the mark with a single. Jennings is still looking ominous and the visitors are still moving alone at just over 6 and over. Their highest List A score against us is 310 (in a 45 over version of this format) so that is most definitely on today.
After 15 overs the score has moved to 93 for 1. The 100 arrives in the 16th off Langridge but Vaughan gets Bonannon for 8 in at the start of the 17th stumped by Ben Church coming up the wicket to the wrong ball. 101 for 2 with Marcus Harris replacing him.
Theedom comes on to bowl from the MT for the 19th but his first goes for 12 so he needs to tighten up to be effective in this one. Jennings goes past 50 from 54 balls (8 fours) in the next over at 117 for 2. Harris is not wasting time as he moves into double figures in the same over and they reach 20 overs with 121 for 2 on the board
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
We are back to the 15 man squad for this one;
Vaughan, Perera, Lammonby, Goldsworthy, Thomas, Connell, Church, Lamey, Theedom, Pretorius, Shaw, Leach, Roberts, Ball, Langridge
Given the success of the Surrey game with this squad and then the pretty disappointing game in Northants with the smaller version it will be interesting who will be in the elven tomorrow. Some of the guys will be hoping it is the start of the next stage of their career.
The Surey win probably geve them a little bit of false confidence and so they went with much the same for Northants and got their backsides handed to them without Pretorius to help Ball - I think Shaw has made progress but not enough to be honest.
The Perera situation will probably progress one way or the other depending on tomorrow'a batting choices. Not sure what the hell is happening there.
Whether we win or not tomorrow I think we are pretty much cooked at 50 ovver level for 2026.
If Craigo’s wife is due to give birth soon it is even more important that management recruit second overseas bowler. This is our best chance of winning the County Championship since 2019. Do whatever it takes to get Matt Henry to stay on after the Hundred even if it is for 4 of the 6 matches.
Simon you are correct we haven’t replaced Ben Green or Kasey Aldridge. Josh Shaw is essentially replacement for Josh Davey.
There will be an injury update on the website sometime in the next couple of days.
The stuff I can glean so far is that Thomas Rew has 'done something' to his ankle - no infor about how serious that is.
There will be an update on the Alfie Ogborne injury but it won't say he is going to bowl agian this season
On another point - it looks like Sav Parera will play today but don't quote me on that until 11am.
The Team
Vaughan, Perera, Lammonby, Goldsworthy (c), Thomas, Connell, Church (w), Theedom, Pretorius, Shaw, Langridge
No Jake Ball no Jack Leach no Kian Robertsor Theo Lamey
The merits of giving him a three year contract remain well disguised.
Grizzers