The T20 Final
Could've been better!
By Grockle
August 17 2009
So...against the odds of the pundits and with the massive help of a world class batsmen in brilliant form, we line up in the 2009 Final against our nemesis in one day competitions and possibly the best overall short format unit in the country. How did we fare?
The T20 Final v Sussex @ Edgbaston Saturday 15 August 2009
This is as I wrote it at the time. Don't see the point in altering it because it was the way it was. I have pictures so there are some little additions around them.
Justin wins toss and chooses to bowl in the Final. Meanwhile we’ve got a drunk guy in a chicken suit singing ‘Delilah’ on the pitch through a Karaoke machine. Followed by ‘Michael Jackson’ singing ‘Viva Las Vegas’…..HmmmThere's also the mascot race - I think the picture says most of it. Not even sure who won because a couple were disqualified fr removing their footwear. Needless to say - 'Stumpy' didn't.
Yardy doesn’t expect there to be much wind or moisture in the later part of this game. It’s been dry all day but there might still be something in this pitch as the temprature falls. We’ll have to see. The team remains the same and the umpires are Kettleborough and Illingworth with Bailey as the third. Out comes the cup and the fireworks and the teams. They are introduced one by one. Huge cheer for Marcus, mixed reaction to Justin (possibly because he’s an Aussie do you think)? Then the game is on. Murray Goodwin and Luke Wright will open for the Sharks. Alf will take the City end and Charl will take the Pavilion. There’s a bit of wind getting up but the light is good and off we go at 7:15. A single off the first. A wide off the second. The first boundary comes off the 5th ball but it is just over James Hildreth’s hands. 9 off the first one. Charl to Wright for the second. His first ball is a wide loosener and gets what it deserves (though it doesn’t actually get to the boundary). Then Charl pounces and Goodwin is GONE at 16 with 1.5 overs gone. A waft, a snick and a catch. Rory Hamilton-Brown replaces him and is quickly off the mark with a boundary to the Priory Stand. 20 for 1 after 2. There doesn’t seem to be the same intensity in the opening pair either that or these two Sussex men are a very different pair to their Kent counterparts. Hamilton-Brown looks to come up the wicket and gets one around his ears and some choice words from Alfonso but the batsman comes back to crack the next ball to the boundary and take his side to 29 at the end of the 3rd. Willow comes back with a tighter second over 2 off it. 31 for 4. Same tactics apply and Ben Phillips is on at the City for the 5th. A good first has Hamilton-Brown coming up the wicket and nearly running Wright out at the non striker’s end but the throw is poor and he gets back. Then he is nearly caught behind. A difficult chance that falls just short of Craig’s gloves. But he isn’t afraid to come up the wicket and go for it. The next ball he goes outside his stumps and hits it over the top to take Sussex to 42 off 5. Phillips goes for 11 off his first.
Once more we seem to be bowling Charl through at the Pavilion. The dark clouds are skimming around us and we are getting the last of the sunshine of the day. Charl holds them in check until the last ball but that is chipped over the infield and they move to 47 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay. Ben is still on at the City but needs to do better and Justin has a word as he comes back for his next ball. This time Wright drops it down, is flumoxxed by an LBW shout and stands in the middle of the wicket while Kieswetter runs him out. Second one down at 48. Smith is in
.
Trego v Wright as International one day prospect? No Contest IMHO 50 off 43 deliveries and 7 fours in the 7th followed by more as Ben serves up a lovely half volley for Smith to murder into the Priory Stand. Ben has gone for 18 and it is time for the skipper to have a chat with Charl before this gets silly. Whatever he says doesn’t change it much and Smith puts the next one into the stand as well. But he ends with 1 for 27 off his four and Sussex move to 63 for 2 off 8. Pete is introduced at the City and we put on the worry beads again. This is another vital spell from the young man as we need someone to stem the tide and tie these men down with straight and full stuff. And that is what we get as he goes for 2 off his first with some very good deliveries. Max takes over at the Pavilion – big ask for the boy – this was Arul Suppiah’s time in the semi. He delivers though with his second. Hamilton-Brown LBW for 25 and it’s 67 for 3 (but it was going down the leg side I’m afraid). But never mind aye? Ed Joyce has arrived at the crease but it is Smith who belts it into the Stand for six. 76 for 3 at the halfway point. It’s looking like a big total here and we cannot rely on Marcus Trescothick all the time. Joyce is walking to leg and then flipping Pete away….so he bowls one straight and bowls him for 4 trying to swing across the line..
80 for 4 off the last ball of the eleventh. Pete has presently bowled 2 overs for 5 runs and Joyce’s wicket. Well done that man. Ben has changed ends after Max’s first and he’ll bowl to Smith with Yardy, his captain. Coming in at the other end. His first ball is cut for four by Dwayne Smith who looks strong and aggressive and is possibly taking this game away from us with deft touches and big shots. He takes 18 off Phillips (the 12th) and he has taken 28 runs off his last 10 balls. The hundred arrives with a deft flip over the keeper from Smith 4 balls into the 13th and by the end of it he’s helped to push the score on to 106. Max is back at the Pavilion (no sign of Arul yet). Smith hits 50 in 23 minutes off 23 balls 5 fours and 3 sixes and he adds a four straight after it. Whatever Marcus can do this guy can do! But Max keeps at him and has him stumped as he tries to reverse sweep.
The Bad and The Good - but it was mostly excellent from Smith
122 for 5 but an excellent innings from Smith. We’ve seen some immense batting today. Smith hit 49 off 16 balls before he went!! In comes Nash and Arul comes on at the City and 123 for 5 becomes 126 for 6 as Yardy looks to cut the ball and is bowled by the man. 5 overs to go. Nash and Arafat at the wicket and spin at both ends. 132 with 4 to go. Alf is back at the City but Arafat clips him off his toes for four. The next one clipped out there bounces and spins past Phillips for another four. Followed by another four through the vacant slips….we can’t afford these.
145 for 6 with 3 to go after this one culd put this into the 180’s!! Big total. It’s 146 for 6 with 18 to go and Arul changes ends for the 18th. 155 for 6 with 12 balls to go. Peter Trego for the 19th. 167 for 6 after his 4 overs for 26 with one wicket. Alfonso Thomas gets the last one this time and it needs to be a good one. Arafat gets the first and takes a single – 168. Nash gets the second and a Waller misfield takes them to 170. So Nash gets the next and it’s 171. Arafat moves away from a bouncer and can’t reach it – 171. Alf organises his field and gives Arafat a drive opportunity – 172. Last ball inswinger gets Nash for 28 and they finish 172 for 7.
The general view here is that this is too many without a full team batting performance worthy of Champions. Having said that, the ONLY side that could chase this target down is US!
Marcus and Justin return to the middle with a big hill to climb needing 173 in 120 balls 8.63 runs per over). BIG ask. Banger faces Luke Wright and puts the first back to him. But it’s Langer who goes to the boundary first and we are behind the rate with 6 off the first. Langer faces the first ball of the second over from Arafat. He takes the single and Marcus hits 8 off the next two and in the over passes 1000 runs in 20/20. Wright faces him for the next over and he hits a big six off his first and then nearly kills the umpire with a four straigh back past him off his second. Wright nearly gets Langer but he pushes a single and is nearly run out looking at whether he is being given out LBW. He isn’t and meanwhile Tresco has put Wright into the Hollies. 18 off the over and 34 for 0 after 3. Langer on 6 and Marcus on 27. Kirtley is on at the Pavilion for the fourth. But Marcus hits him for six as well.
Six after Six from the Master.....
But a shot too far....
and how pleased is Kirtley - the Trophy in the bag?
Unfortunately he doesn’t get enough bat on the next one and is caught at 43 with 3.5 overs gone. 33 off 15 but they send in Zander! The right man to keep this going? Not enough from the big man and it is now down to the rest of the team to show they don’t need Mr Trescothick. I would have been happier to see one of the big hitters coming in next and the ‘anchor men’ become the guys who push the ball about and keep the score ticking and let the big men smack boundaries. This is an error in my view. After 5 it’s 47 for 1.
Langer hits a 4 off and takes his side past 50 off 32 balls with 5 four and 3 sixes, But he is bowled next ball by Arafat swinging across the line and losing his middle peg. 51 for 2 and in comes James Hildreth. If there was ever a time for James to do something in front of the TV…….this is it!! Yardy brings himself on earlier from the City than he did in the semi. Slow ball stuff is working in his opinion so he’s going to probably use all his slow men…and he has a few. Sussex are pressing and we are wilting under it. They can let us push the singles because we need 119 runs off 70 odd and that isn’t going to get us there. Beer is introduced from the Pavilion – a leg break man. If this is how they are going to do it then the next man we should put in front of them is Arul Suppiah and as I have that thought, James skies one and it’s 57 for 3.
Bye Bye James - Will Beer shows how much it means
In comes Craig Kieswetter. It all looks inevitable I’m afraid. The start of Trescothick wasn’t enough and we seem a little lost by having to work without him. 58 for 3 after 8 and we are now behind the rate required. Yardy is still on at the City End and Hodd misses a stumping chance off his first ball but he gets him quite soon after and at the halfway point they are 65 for 4 with no boundary for 4 overs. Pete Trego is the next man in and really the last option to go big with this game. 71 for 4 after 11. Just over 100 off 9. 75 for 4 after the 12th leaves about the same off 6 less. 98 off 8 is really hard to envisage and as they aren’t piercing the field one expects the two guys to fall on their swords quite soon trying to get out of this straitjacket. I would personally rather see us go down swinging that limply accept the inevitable but they need almost 2 a ball and big runs do not look at all probable. Yardy bowls his four for 17 with no wickets….but he doesn’t need them. 80 for 4 with 7 to go and they are still running singles. Peter starts to wind it up by sending two balls from Beer into the Hollies and then a four. Trego takes 16 off Beer’s last three balls and spoils Beer’s very good figures. 99 for 4. While Pete is there it is possible but there are only 6 overs left and 74 needed. The 100 is up off 84 deliveries and the bowling of Hamilton Brown but PT dies trying and loses his wicket to the safe hands of Smith at 104. 27 runs off 14 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes.
In comes Arul and our last real hope? It must be too late now needing 69 off 33. 107 on the board and 66 needed from 30 balls. Yardy brings Luke Wright back at the Pavilion and Arul knocks the first back to him. 108 for 6 and Zander goes caught to a one handed leaping catch from the Sussex skipper off Wright. Ben Phillips is in but this has gone. Zander made 22 and was the wrong man in at the wrong time. With 4 to go they need 64 and it is almost a boundary per ball.
Then it falls apart entirely. It's almost like the dam that Somerset have been holding back through sheer will finally fails. Phillips lasts 4 balls, scores one and then gives Kirtley another wicket via the hands of Hamilton Brown. Suppiah follows trying to push it on and Kirtley has 3. Max Waller is run out without facing as we lose the plot before Aarafat wins the cup for his county by forcing Alfonso to push one to the Sussex captain. All out for 109. We lose our last 5 wickets for 1 run but the job had already been done and the last men wuldn't have got us there.
The dream ends in chaos and we have been beaten by a better side. Congratulations to Sussex but we need to take the positives from this. We competed until the middle of the last game. We were finalists in a competition we were also rans in last season. We've shown in all cricket formats this season and we have the chance to reset the record on monday when we meet this lot again in the 40 over version!!
A good day all in all. Some really good performances by our boys - just a match to far perhaps.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:19:11:43:03 by Grockle.
Perhaps they got nervous or perhaps there was an element of the Champions League sub-consciously having been the biggest prize in their minds.
Sussex are grouped with New South Wales Blues and Diamond Eagles from South Africa.
There are four groups, with the top two teams in each qualifying for the second round, played in two groups of four. The top two teams from this stage then go through to the semi-finals, and there will be 23 matches in all in the competition.
The fee for each of the 12 teams for just turning up is £305,000, with prize money on top of that.
They can barely organise a tour to Isleworth.
Scyld Berry of the Telegraph writes
Enormous benefits and potential troubles: it is ever thus when the lid of Pandora's Box is lifted.
Full Story
He has put me right off going.
Whilst disappointed about the final, I feel very proud our county has qualified for this flagship competition.
Well done boys - revenge is Monday night!!!
ps Botham I expect a rise in our membership, with more younger members joining. You should write to JL and Rosey to thank them and the team for their efforts.
I honestly don't know what more these people can do to win over some fans.
Langer gets slammed regardless what he does,if I was him I'd be half tempted to stay on just to pee off some of the moaners.
He however is far more professional than I could ever be.
Say what you like about him he is the main reason for our success in the past 3 seasons compared to the dire seasons of 2005+2006.
Sincerely hope he goes to India as captain and leads us again next summer (before handing over to Ricky for 2011)
Hope the lads get a good reception tomorrow evening and a good crowd is in.
I assume the dancing cowgirls will be there too?!
I had the pleasure of meeting the Justin a while back and came away thinking how fortunate we were to have him as skipper. Personally I think his performance in that alone is worth 500 runs a season.
Somerset - sign him on again!!
You know what happened to me when I said that.
Hold on to your hat.
It could be like Rorke's Drift here soon.
And we all know what happened there.
In Goth we trust.
Tempting....
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
[www.telegraph.co.uk]
and it would appear that 'match - fixing' is back.
[www.telegraph.co.uk]
The squad will be reduced early next month from 20 to the 15 who will travel. Younger players in the 20 include Jos Buttler, Michael Munday, Adam Dibble, David Stiff and Robin Lett. Perhaps Buttler is the most likely of these to go, as reserve wicket-keeper/batsman.
I suspect that the inclusion of Steffan and Wes at this stage means little about their long-term prospects with us; just as well include them at this stage in case we need them, irrespective of where they'll be in 2010.
Granted Tres becoming full time Somerset player again has helped considerably but he can only do so much himself.
As good as Tres in i dont see him as a great leader of players, ie giving them a kick when needed. A great team man and expeienced pro but not an inspirational leader.
Langer however i think is someone who leads the team superbly. Defends his players to the hilt publicly yet i'm sure lets them know standards expected when needed.
I may be in the minority judging from comments on various Grockle threads but i have nothing but praise for JL. I struggle to see the logic in certain things he does but i dont think any can question his commmitent, loyalty, fight for our club and to lead us in the right direction.
If he is to leave this season i hope that he gets the send off he deserves on Sept 27 by lifting the Pro 40 cup infront of a packed house......
The squad will be reduced early next month from 20 to the 15 who will travel. Younger players in the 20 include Jos Buttler, Michael Munday, Adam Dibble, David Stiff and Robin Lett. Perhaps Buttler is the most likely of these to go, as reserve wicket-keeper/batsman."
I understand where SP is coming from with his comments on the possible significance (or lack thereof) of the inclusion of Wes and Jonah.
But..... we'll struggle to find 15 players that are worth taking if we don't take those two?
Can't imagine Stiff or Munday going? Gazzard was in the squad for Edgbaston, but is not in the 20 for this. No point at all in taking Caddy?
And if we have to finalise our squad early next month that, presumably, means we cannot then change the squad to take account of new signings etc?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:19:11:24:52 by AGod.
Quote:wsm fan
I may be in the minority judging from comments on various Grockle threads but i have nothing but praise for JL.
I'm with you WSM. As soon as Langer leaves, we may well be reminded of how it is to be a rudderless ship. Anyone recall the whole string of captains we had a handful of years ago, which seemed to suggest that no-one wanted the job?
I think we need to remember that it was not the case that we were rubbish for 5,000 years before Langer came here. A few years before Langer came here, we were a good side under Jamie Cox. We have been a good side, in the past, under other captains, such as Brian Close, too. At other periods -in between the Close and Cox eras, we were variously below average, average or above average.
The period immediately before Langer came - in which we were execrable - was the worst, probably, since the 1950s.
But we should not get carried away, IMO, with nighmarish visions of a return to being 18th out of 18 CC counties, the moment Langer leaves.
We have to try and have some faith in the likes of Andy Hurry, Brian Rose and, indeed, the set of players that have been getting results under Langer.
Otherwise, we'll have to keep Langer until he dies.
The other point I'd like to make is that if Langer is a hard task-master who considers athletic professionalism and devotion to the county as priority number 1, then I think that is a good thing.
For instance, under Nasser Hussain, England became tough and hard to beat. Whilst Nasser may not necessarily have been a stickler for fitness, he was certainly regarded as a hard task-master?
Then, under Michael Vaughan, we seemed to do even better for a time. MV was regarded as much more relaxed than Hussain and, doubtless, he's more relaxed than Langer.
Perhaps there's something to the theory that a hapless team needs the shock of a Hussain or a Langer. But a team that is already doing well can actually be improved when the torch passes to somebody more relaxed? *
* provided, of course, that the more relaxed person is also astute.
Crikey, did I really dare type that?
Or, merely, that he was a hard task master?
However, they may differ in their opinion (relative to that of our former player) as to whether, or not, the approach was good for them and good for the club.
Physically and mentally.
Now we're lean,agile,energised and winning.
Physically and mentally.
Whilst winning isn't everything I know which one I prefer.
Interesting to note that some players,no names of course,chose to lose a lot of weight when they join a new county and then play more consistently is rather telling.
Langer has been a huge success.
Like him or loathe him he has been succssful.
And the history books will tell us that forever more.
Wasnt impressed today with the ironic cheering when max came on belatedly today.
Everyone in the stand are always brilliant captain. JL knows more than all of us put together, if he didnt bowl max earlier then he had a reason (as he's stated on the other site)
Whilst all supporters are welcome to voice their opinion i really think our captain deserves more respect
I'd simply ignore them,just like Mr Langer does.
From a bowling point of view, you don't think that having a rampant pace attack has been a major help to IDB then?
{Not to mention a highly conductive track in Manchester}
Recently i went to a book launch for JL and had the pleasure of having a chat with him. The guy talked about having to change attitudes and produce a team of warriors. He also wanted the supporters to be more demanding in terms of the standards they witness. JL spoke about hard work, commitment and sacrifice. He saw it in Kieswetter and talked positively about Trego (who he wished was a few years younger). His hunger for successs was undeniable and he badly wants a trophy for us. I detected his frustration at the state of our wicket and felt that its that what is holding the team back from making a real challenge to Durham. He summed up his personality by talking about the baggy green cap and why he it was such an important part of an an Aussie's equipment, (I will try and find an extract from his book). Interestingly its great to see that we have now returned to wearing proper cricket jumpers and county caps at Taunton.
Get behind him and recognise his efforts in taking our club forward. I have been damming in the past about the direction we were heading, but since 2007 i have seen things improve dramatically. A few years ago we were a sham, both JL, Rosey and Andy Hurry have put the juice back into the cider county!!
It truly confirms that despite our sometimes differing takes on things in the past, we really do want the same thing; success for Somerset.
Personally, I have the same opinion as Shane Warne and (according to Warne) Mark Waugh about the {cough} "importance," of wearing certain caps and jumpers.
{Warne told a story during the third Test, in response to Atherton's ribbing about how 'they had all sat at the tennis in their caps}
Warne said;
"No we did not. The likes of Waugh, Gilchrist and Langer sat there in their caps. The likes of me and Mark Waugh said 'Look guys, this is the tennis, there's no way in hell we're sitting there in our cricket caps.'
Warne left the impression that this did not go down well with the powers-that-be at the time. Indeed, Warne gave the impression that the team had been ordered to wear their caps to the tennis and he and M E Waugh had flat-out refused.
In response, M A Atherton claimed that former Aussie players, such as R L Benaud, never bothered to even so much as keep their 'Baggy Greens.'
The feeling was that this was an artificial device which Steve Waugh made a fuss about in a bid to try to forge some kind of extra 'team-bond.'
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:20:14:04:25 by AGod.
Sadly we have a group of supporters who'd criticise whoever was in charge.
It's the way they are made.
Quote:Re: B C Rose - a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Posted by: FTRE (IP Logged)
Date: 28 July, 2006 17:47
2009?!
If that is the strategy then it is a dangerous one to state publicly and in my view seriously flawed.
To say that this team will be a good one in 2009 is negative in the extreme, Brian should be looking at 2009 being the year when Somerset have a set up where several young players are banging on the door with performances that are putting the pressure on those already in the first eleven.
He should not be giving the impression that it will take 3 years for this team to become a good team because that is simply unacceptable in terms of value to the membership/support and damaging physcologically to a team that started in 2005.
After all four years of indifferent performances with the same individuals is not exactly going to boost morale so how come in 2009 they will be able to evolve into a team that can challenge and become a 'good team'. What will that say about the progress of Wood, Hildreth, Durston, Andrew etc?
Of course some will accept anything, but I for one am now looking at club that has gone backwards since Sept 2001 and a comment that we may well be good after eight years of Mr Clarke's reign is one I don't buy.
I hope you don't mind me digging this one up, FTRE (the bold text was emphasised by me, rather than in the original).
Should your post above be taken as acknowledgment that the plan, even if less ambitious than you hoped back in 2006, has at least come to fruition?
Perhaps you might also like to conceed that the faith of "folk like FE and TGB who will carrying on defending the club year after year" has been rewarded.
Without wishing to open up old wounds, I think we started the turnaround in our performances in 2007. We helped do this by bringing in some Kolpak players and raise the standards of our performances. This is in turn allowed us to be succesful while giving the younger talents time to develop their skills. My point about 2009 was valid and thankfully what we are seeing is continued improvement rather than a plan suddenly bearing fruit. Basically you have had to earn your place in this team rather than be given three years to see if you can make it!!
Back in those old days I championed the cause for us to have a Director of Cricket and an overseas player that was around for more than a few weeks. On the old site i had a pretty heated exchange with a couple club officials about it.
It's great to see the club have got it right although it took a long time to get to that point.
That did make me chuckle when Grockle said that a late member here was dubbed as such by Peter Anderson.
Just trying to emphasise that the fact that Brian had said 2009, and that we are seeing success "on schedule" (in fact second in 2008 was probably ahead of schedule) shows that his plan (much of which necessarily go far deeper than any press release would ever reveal) was realistic, and is close to being acheived.
But as FTRE has suggested above, that's water under the bridge.
I'm glad that we had radical elements back then. The club was a complete mess. I have to admit, my posting style was deliberate to provoke Mr Hothead and Mr Arrogant (my pet names for our former officials)!!
FE,
I think the post you pulled up wass more about me criticising Brian's comments which lacked positives. Telling your members to wait three years isn't good PR. I hold the fella in the highest regard, luckily the turnaround started in 2007!!
I'm not that interested in his PR skills, but I can see that we may have been somewhat at crossed purposes all those years ago.
Since 'radical,' is often a euphemism for being able to think for oneself, I'm always glad of having 'radicalism,' anywhere.
The problem is that there is invariably more than one opinion on what that root is.
Also some people seem to prefer the original problem to the solution that has been found.
And one or two people just seem to enjoy being Eeyore in disguise.
So, plainly, it will be a level playing field as far as team selection goes. They will, however, be without Murray Goodwin, because of his previous ICL links.
One of their Kolpak players, Dwayne Smith, who plays in the IPL for Deccan Chargers, one of Somerset`s group opponents in October, has opted to represent Sussex rather than revert to his IPL team. After his batting in the 20/20 final at Edgbaston, this could be good news for Somerset.