Wales, Women and Warmth
Welcome Back Man!!
By Grockles
June 26 2011
Brilliant sunshine in Taunton!! It's warm and clear and beautiful - seems summer has finally got to the West. Maybe it's the return of the women that has brought the sun. We open up today with an international T20 between England and India before the Somerset boys take on Glamorgan. A good crowd at 11:10 for the start of the first game.
England v India Natwest Quad T20 @ Taunton Sunday 26 June 2011
Charlotte Edwards has won the toss and decided to put a score up first. No Somerset girls (Wilson and Shrubsole) in the side. the iside is;
Edwards, Marsh, Wyatt, SC Taylor, SJ Taylor(w), Brindle, Gunn, Greenway, Colvin, Hazell and Brunt.
I can't say I'm a great expert on the players in the women's game but the first impression is how much their game has changed since the last time I watched a game (England v South Africa in the early noughties). This being India one expects the bowling to be spin mostly but the first couple of overs show that fast female bowling has come on in spades in the last decade. The two English openers have a pretty torrid time, especially against the tall Snehal Pradhan who has Charlotte Edwards playing on 4 balls into the second over after showing her class with an excelelnt first boundary of an earlier second over ball. It doesn't get any better when Laura Marsh the other opener goes caught behind in the same over and England finish 8 for 2 12 balls into the game.
It's left to Danielle Wyatt and Claire Taylor to re-start the game which they start to do immediately. The quality of the English ground shots is excellent and Wyatt in particular is not afraid of hitting over the infield (and some of these Indian girls are very tall. After 6 overs the momentum has been re-established and the English pair are moving the score along at 7.5 an over and nearing 50. The chance of huge sixes is slim even on the small boundaries of Taunton. The Indian field placings suggest catches come about 15 meters in from the boundary.
50 arrives 4 balls into the 7th and is followed immdiately by Wyatt misreading a slow ball and lobbing it straight back to the bowler Sharma for 23 off 16 balls. She seemed to be in two minds as to whether to cut it or drive it over the bowler and she did neither. Lydia Greenway is the next in...and the next out as she is caught behind chasing a very wide one first ball!! 50 for 4 and Sharma has 2 in 2. Sultana (small spinner in a headband) takes the 8th over and gives it a lot of air to Taylor and goes for 4 in her first.
We have both Taylors at the crease now as Sarah joins Claire and they look to sort out the damage before the halfway stage of the innings. They push the score to 665 partly with excellent driving and partly through lazy Indian fielding but then Sarah T seems to have a head fit, guides the ball down the leg side to the placed fielder and starts to run!! There is NO way Claire is going to come and she turns to see the ball in teh hand of the keeper and is run out (she isn't even in the shot on the TV replay). Totally daft and she knows it, kicks the turf and trudges off 65 for 5.
At the halfway stage Taylor and the new bat Arran Brindle have moved on to 70 but it is up to these two to take hold of this game if they want a score over 100 because they are losing wickets too regularly. The Indian fielding is pretty variable, especially in the outfield. The girls are the taller ones and although they seem to have the arm to get the ball in quickly, they aren't as adept at picking it up cleanly in the first place.
Brindle seems a good partner for Taylor, she's picking the holes and pushing the and getting her partner on strike. By the start of the 13th England are 12 from the three figure target and Taylor is moving towards a half century. However Diana David is keeping it tight at the OP for her side and they only manage 3 runs in the 13th over.
100 is achieved 2 balls into the 15th while Taylor's 50 arrives just after that off 25 balls with 6 fours. At the three quarter stage England are 106 and looking to push on. I'm not sure what a par score for the women's game is on a pitch like Taunton in briliant sunshine. The crowd has certainly built up though. It's obviously a much better idea to play these games BEFORE the men's game because it becomes an extra event for spectators who are more likely to come a little earlier rather than stay behind.
In the 17th Brindle gives a delivery the long handle and holes out to a good low catch at mid on for 12 (120 for 6) but she has done her job of getting Taylor in front of the ball. Jenny Gunn is the next in but 2 runs later Claire Taylor is the next woman out as she is bowled by Goswami for 66 off 46. Excellent innings at an important time. Katherine Brunt replaces her. But the wickets keep falling at this vital time as Gunn is out LBW to Goswami halfway through the 18th for 1 - 123 for 8. Will England manage to reach the 20 overs as Holly Colvin takes gaurd and then falls victim to an excellent low diving catch in the covers first ball. Goswami has three in this over for 1 run but the hat-trick ball is knocked for a single by Danielle Hazell and the Indian bowler ends her 4 overs with 3 for 20 and England have 126 with one wicket remaining.
With one over to go and 129 on the board it doesn't look like Brunt and Hazell will be looking for big boundary shots. They look to get 6 off the over and if anything else happens then fine. Pradhan is bowling full length and the England pair are dong well to get the ball away as they are having to dig every ball out. It ends when Hazell top edges one and is caught in the covers with one ball left. England end on 134. They did well in the middle but lost too many wickets at the front and the back end to establish a hold on the innings. Is it defendable? We shall see won't we.
The Reply
A very quick turnaround and India need 135 from 120. Katherine Brunt (Right fast) will open from the OP and nearly has Deshpande playing on first ball. She does get something on the 4th ball but Sarah Taylor puts the one handed catch down. It's in but bounces out when her hand hits the ground. Nevertheless a maiden starts the innnings. Tanwar will face Laura Marsh (Right Offy) from the River for the second. She also gives it lots of air on a full length and the Indian can't get her away either though there is a run off a wide as Marsh tries to angle one across the batsman. 1 for 0 after 2.
The first run off the bat comes after another wide from Brunt with a single into the offside from Deshpande. There is a problem with the Indian's shirts in that they all have their FIRST names on them and so it isn't easy to work out who is who. Sarah Taylor is having a nightmare start. After putting down a fairly normal chance she then lets the 5th ball of Brunt's next one through her legs and the Indians take another run and reach 10 by the end of the third.
Arran Brindle (Right medium) is on for the 4th. She also gives it a lot of air for a medium bowler but does her job and it's 14 after her 6. Katherine Brunt does look like the dangerous bowler though and after being terribly unlucky she finally makes the breakthrough with ball two of the 5th when Deshpande flips the ball into the infield where she is caught by Colvin. 14 for 1 and the new batsman is Mithali Raj (the number one bat in women's cricket). Danielle Wyatt takes the 10th over with the Indian pair getting down to it. However with the last ball before the halfway point Raj looks for 2 on a drive into the outfield which was never on and is run out with 38 on the board. Harman Kaur is the new batswoman but the English are fielding like terriers and the Indian pair are finding it hard to get anything but singles. At the start of the 11th with the rate at 4 needing to be at 10.11, Tanwar comes up the pitch to Wyatt and top edges. 44 for 3 and England on top wit Sharma striding out for her batting duties.
Holly Colvin takes the 13th and has Kaur caught by Claire Taylor from her second ball to take the Indian side to 46 for 4 bringing Krishnmurthy out to bat. She isn't long for the game though as she tries for a second on a flat throw from Marsh straight into Taylor's gloves and off came the bails with her well out. 47 for 5 and the next bat in is Roy who nearly holes out with her first ball but Wyatt did not hold it.
The 50 arrives in the 14th off a skied shot that drops into "no woman's land" but the rate required is rising quickly and the Indian scoring rate is not doing the same (there's a diffference of some 9.5 runs an over at the moment). Halfway through the 15th, there is a close run out shout which the umpires do not refer...the replay shows the Indian was out but it's too late. Colvin ends her spell with 18 for 1 and at 15 India are on 62 needind another 73 off the remaining 30 balls...doesn't look too lightly unless they call in Dravinda Trescothick and Kali Pollard!
After a welcome boundary, the first for some time from Sharma, Wyatt gives the next one air and length and bowls her for 11 at 67 for 6 David is the next woman in with a pretty hopeless task. Their target must be simply to make it to 20 overs without losing all their wickets. The winning total looks impossible as Wyatt finishes with 2 for 20 - excellent and very tight spell.
Danielle Hazell takes the 17th from the OP (she is in as a replacement for Somerset's Anya Shrubsole who played against the Aussies yesterday) and she gets a wicket with her third as David cross bats the ball to Brindle at midwicket adn returns to the hutch with her side on 70 for 7. Goswami is next in needing a boundary a ball to win by one run!!
Brindle (Right medium ...just) takes the 18th and is lucky to only go for a one bounce four off her last ball. 79 on the total with 12 balls to go and the Indian girls have decided to have a go - no reason why no to be honest. 86 after the 19th and in the 20th Brunt takes Goswami and reduces them to 88 for 8 needing 48 off 2 balls and that is how they finish with England winning by 46 runs.
A good game with some excellent cricket - enjoyed that a lot.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:29:16:04:39 by Grockle.
The Welsh county add former Glo`shire all-rounder David Brown and seamer Will Owen to the side that defeated Sussex by two runs in a low-scoring match at Cardiff on Thursday.
Squad: Petersen (c), Cosgrove, Allenby, Cooke, Rees, Wallace, Wagg, Brown, Croft, Cosker, Owen, Alex Jones and Simon Jones.
Never mind Jim perhaps one day when your famous!!
At the moment it is misty I can just see the hills, once the mist has lifted it is going to be a lovely day, we haven’t been able to say that recently on a cricket day at Taunton.
There are people waiting outside the gates at 8.30 I expect it is the same ones that are always there early.
We welcome the women today to their headquarters for a game of women’s cricket. (I can’t remember seeing them any other time at Taunton the year)
It is in the SE.
If it is really humid in TA1, I intend to put a spread bet on Pete for today's game as he should wobble it around if humid.
Bat first and get going in first 6 overs and could be a very enjoyable day.....
I hope Jos gets a knock and gets a score.
It promises to be a run laden day - lets give the watching nation a treat!
Still at the ground then Grockle.
Slightly different way of accessing the report for this game. As the England match report is already up, rather than making a huge frontpage and splitting the thread, I've put a link to the Glamorgan game at the bottom of the England story so you can go to the on-going report on the T20 game from there.
Beautiful day and a full house for this one.
Mike Atherton says 'That one was short and wide'.
Now was he talking about the ball, or the batsman?
Unfortunately Trigger is going for a lot off the 4th
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:26:15:41:36 by AGod.
Hope Tres and co take note.
First time I've been able to see SCCC on TV this year - disappointed that the outfield seems so rutted and uneven. I recall this being a worry in the winter (I think Mike had some photos?). Anyway, it clearly affects the fielders' confidence in running to pick up balls hit to the deep, and detracts from the spectacle of usually-impressive outfielding.
However, if somebody like Dean Cosker can come in and slam the ball around like that? Well, it really does look like another plum batting surface
Avoid losing early wickets and it should be very comfortable
Gloucs having smashed 254 have Middx 57-5 in 8.5 overs!!
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Now top of table on run rate.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
No KP today as well. This was done by our lot adn although SKY kept going on about us doing it here with the small boundaries and the flat pitch etc etc...we are there on net run rate having lost 4 games to get those runs!!
Big game tomorrow between Hampshire and Sussex. What price a tie?
Photos maybe late I am going to cook a meal.
I will post some from the women's match tomorrow.
I think we can expect to see many more worn pitches for our away games because it's no fun at all bowling at our threshing machines on plum batting tracks!
Well played today, one and all.
they've now rectified this, nice to see the boys on top lieterally, albeit for one day only!
(or is there something badly wrong with my maths?)
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Save KP for when we need him!!!!
As others have said, Gregory (at least until his final over) and, particularly, Waller bowled well - he completely deceived Wallace with the googly which bowled him.
Quote:RobboG
We're currently top, so if it's a tie, we'll go back to 3rd, otherwise we'll drop to 2nd
Surely we are third at this stage of the competition, because Hampshire and Sussex have played one fewer match than we have. To demonstrate my point: if every match involving every side was rained off for the rest of the competition, leading to the awarding of one point to each side whose match was abandoned, we would end with one point fewer than the other two. Net run rate would not help us in such circumstances.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:26:20:01:37 by Loyal of Lhasa..
Hey we've been seen on TV 2 days running! Not going to that Nevil Road place again, what a dump, got lost in a building site trying to get out, cost £1 an over
It went over/through the gap between long room and botham stand, i saw it bounce up having hit the wall/path and ended up in the river
Well done all.
Grizzzly
Kieran Pollard’s bowling seems hard to pick, D Cosker was deceived by this ball from Pollard
Why we are all asking doesn’t Lewis Gregory bowl in the CC when he is bowling at 87mph, this delivery made G Wagg jump off the ground?
And this ball from Lewis again bowled to G Wagg missing the outside edge.
Pete Trego was a bit expensive today but he appreciated Jos Buttler catching this edge from M Cosgrove.
Man of the match Marcus Trescothick batted another brilliant innings today backed by good batting from the rest of the team. It took a good Yorker from J Allenby to get him out.
Then the batting - Trigger stating the intent from ball one - how demoralising was that? He was unlucky to play on. The skipper was once more immense. But once he'd covered Craig to allow him to settle, Meschede didn't need any cover. Those straight hits were less than 12 feet apart and to then do it again off another bowler! His performance was as significant as his captains.
Giving Jos the opportunity to finish the game so emphatically gives him confidence and showed a real level of professionalism.
Although Atherton struggles sometimes to be positive about us at home even he was impressed by this destruction of the Welsh. Where would we be in this tournament if we had actually played the four games at home? How far ahead would we be?
I know we can fall apart at any time and the same side can lose by huge amounts of runsas win by the same margin.
But we are SO good when we are good that no-one in this tournament can stay with us and any total set against us can be passed.
Sangakkara and Jayawardene made it look so easy.
Anyway, what do you think of Treg's catch today? Sometime he'll drop it and look really stupid.
We have our off days but as a batting unit we are totally unrivalled, we have been spoilt this season by our captain, is its possible i think he is actually getting better.
Especially in T20, he's always been destructive but he now seems to be being more resposible and making more 50-60+ rather than quick 25-30's.
I actually feel quite sirry for our opponents sometimes as it must be daunting facing us when in that form.
Big test coming up now on the road, 6 of our last 7 being away from Taunton, 4/5 wins should be enough to qualify 6/7 for a top 2 spot???
They were sitting on the steps on the Gimblett's Hill that is not normally allowed.
The club should have made up some of the money lost from the other rained-off matches.
Edit - spelling error.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:27:11:21:12 by Mike BOS.
As a bowler, how the hell do you deal with Trescothick in this mood. Unless he makes a mistake of his own making, he has every shot in the book for every delivery in every area of the wicket. Wherever you put the ball, whatever length you bowl, however fast you send it down, he will either make space or improvise something from his arsenal which will see your delivery heading for a boundary.
The shots into the Caddyshack car park area are the most impressive. They rarely bounce this side of the rope and they look soooo effortless.
Quote:Bowl a yorker.Grockle
As a bowler, how the hell do you deal with Trescothick in this mood.
Along comes 'JOBSWORTH' 'Move along Sir! (me a Sir? AND 72!) you can't stand there' - there were several others with me as well. Why do you say I have to move? Because I say so Sir!
I suspect that his bizarre instructions were handed down by the infamous head of ground security - Ex Police Inspector Knacker! - you know the one! Couldn't the force have him back, with knobs on!
Delighted with the performances of Craig M, Max W, Joss B and in part Lewis G. Craig appeared very comfortable, and although it probably won't register with the selectors Max once again has come up trumps. I don't recall him ever being taken apart by any of his first class batting opponents. Such a pity that he will never be considered for our CC side. Lets hope he has the determination to demonstrate his art with another county in future.
I wonder if that is the largest crowd we have had at Taunton!
I wonder why they are not saying in that report how many were in the ground, I would have thought that is the first thing they would have said.
I don’t know if the figure of ten thousand was an estimate or the official figure.
I think we are now saying that if we employ all the temporary seating in the place we would be at 9000.
I think we've had more than 8K but I'm not sure.
Slow bowling is often more economical than pace/seam. And Max is a superb fielder too.
I think we only have a couple of Taunton games left?
So much will depend on what kind of surfaces we encounter away from Taunton and how well we adjust. I hope, for their sakes as much as anything, that the folks at Bath manage to produce a good batting track because we will surely not thank them if it's some kind of slow and stodgy track?
In theory, other than the venues of games, the remaining fixture list should be in our favour, with two games against Gloucs and another one against Middx still to come.
I hope we take zero chances with rushing Alf back if qualification looks tight, though. Cannot afford any more set-backs with his fitness.
Assuming we do go through and get Alf back for the Quarter-Finals, then we ought to be able to get to a position where there are absolutely no non-batsman in the team? Alf, Lewis, Pete and Pollard would look like enough seam/swing/pace for T20...and with Kartik too you then have the flexibility to fill the other places with batting and/or spin bowling options. Kirby can be rested for the CC.
Tonight's game at Southampton will, presumably, be washed away in the thunderstorms?
His first over was the third of the game was it not? Hopefully we will be seeing a lot more of him. I only watched on telly bits of the game but I got the impression that the Sky pundits were very impressed with him.
Very effective - but I have not seen SLA deliveries like that before! Wonderful control.
Craig M struck the ball cleanly and played pleasingly straight but perhaps the most pleasing thing of all was that, at no point, did he get carried away and try something stupid.. they were absolutely no hoicks to cow-corner, no switch-hits or "Dil scoops," or any of that sort of stuff... it was good, orthodox batsmanship that was executed to a very high standard. I don't think he tried any shots yesterday that a Tendulkar or a Kallis would not have played.
Max and Craig deserve another game and we have plenty of time for Alf to get himself ready. The next four dayer is a fortnight away.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:27:14:38:20 by Grockle.
A few points.
Firstly what a magnificent crowd. waiting patiently and expectantly in the drizzle. A great atmosphere even before we had a game.
Of course all the plaudits were for the boss and KP but I was very impressed by James innings the perfect foil to Marcus but with clean hitting and sublety. Didn't look much like a batsman out of touch. Maybe needs to re-find his concentration in the longer game ( which may have been a big factor in last seasons success.
Very nice moment as KP was welcomed onto the field. It was of course in sad circumstances that we last saw him. Seems like a nice guy with a big heart to go with his big bat.
On balance I think they may be favourites to retain their title - they have a better side now than last season.
If the umpires had any guts they would report tonight`s wicket as unfit for play and Hampshire would be deducted another two points - but of course they won`t.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Although the English batters found scoring difficult on that tatty wicket the Aus did even worse with Holly Colvin bowling with beautiful drift and significant turn.
They turned the screws on their opponents and the scoring rate went up to 12 an over which the women found impossible to sustain.
I ask because I was struck by two poor scores (made by England and then India) in the games at Taunton on Sunday. I didn't see the game but know that it was the same surface as for the Glamorgan game... and it looked a flat-track belter to me.
They know they can't belt the ball to the boundary regularly so look to place in the positions where fielders are absent.
The skill levels seem really good to me. And they use relay fielding which the men are now using more and more on the boundary.
Fielding was variable but the keeping was clean (most of the time) and over the wicket returns were the norm (not something common when I last saw a women's match at the start of the millennium).
Generally most impressive.