Bathtime once again!
Who is out? He is in!
By Grockle
May 23 2010
Craig Kieswetter returns from his triumphant appearance in the World T20 as a champion and will put on his maroon and grey today at the Bath Festival. The question is; "who will make way for him"? After the heroics against Yorkshire on Thursday it probably won't be Jos Buttler, who will play in a batting role. So........? Have to wait and see won't we? See you there. Say "hello" if you see me
v Worcestershire CB40 @ Bath Sunday 23 May 2010
The Austerity Festival is how it has been portrayed to me this morning. Bath with a couple of tents, no temporary stands, lots of chairs, little parking. The Friends awning is about the only thing that looks unchanged – civilisation in a temporary vagrant camp. Arul Suppiah is not playing so the ‘Kieswetter Conundrum’ has been settled and the team should be;
Trescothick, Kieswetter, Compton, de Bruyn, Hildreth, Trego, Buttler, Kartik, Thomas, Phillips and Turner for his first start of the year.
We bat first and Marcus is joined on the walk from the ‘pavilion’ by some new boy called Craig something or other. They seem to be keen to get the score moving along against Shantry and
Big hitting seems to be the order of the day but while CK is keeping it on the ground his captain goes aerial and is caught on the boundary by Kervezee off the bowling of Shantry for 7 it’s 17 for 1. Compton at the crease, his first ball is a rising ball off a length which he moves out of the way of, fools the keeper and we get 4 byes from it. He finally gets off the mark with a snicked four to the pavilion boundary.
But he doesn’t stay long. After that boundary he is LBW to Arif towards the end of the 4th over. 25 for 2 and it’s not looking great for Nick, a situation he reflects in his face as he trudges off the pitch. Zander de Bruyn is the next man in. There is some debate about the nature of the dismissal – lbw seems to be the main opinion but it would explain Nick’s visage if he was adjudged caught and didn’t hit it. I suppose it will all come out in the wash.
Anyway back to the play on the field. 6 overs gone and the third partnership already together. Zander is operating in the same aggressive manner as we saw on Thursday in the Championship game. He is keen to run for everything and seems to have a willing partner in Craig. Let’s hope it doesn’t end in tears. Well not if the next ball is anything to go by. Asif gives him a fair length ball which ZdB flips off his toes into the croquet club on the left hand side of the ground for a mighty six created purely by timing the ball, he then drives the next one for 3 and we end over 7 on 42 for 2 with 18 to CK and 9 to ZdB.
Gareth is on at the North Parade end for the 9th and Zander takes a single off the first but they can only manage singles off most of the innings and bring up the 50 off the 5th of the over with a single to the left hand side of the ground. 50 for 2 after 9 and Cameron coming on at the Pavilion end. Craig treats himself at the end of his over to a six to the Old Pavilion and he is followed by Zander who then gives the same treatment to Gareth over his head to the North Parade. 63 for 2 after 11 overs with 7 taken off Andrew’s second over, mostly in one massive hit.
It’s interesting watching the administration of a match like this from the inside. “Headley” is running the one man operated scoreboard at the North Parade end of the ground but with no real contact with the scorers in the normal manner has to keep his wits about him and is kept in touch with things by walkie-talkie from the scorer’s tent (it’s not easy to operate a one man scoreboard AND keep score yourself at the same time). Just before the start of play, all hell breaks loose as power fails in the members’ bar! Not only can they not pump up the liquid, they can’t open the till to give change – nightmare!!
Moeen Ali is on with spin for the first time in the 14th with 75 on the board, mostly to Zander who has passed his partner to go to 34. Moeen always looks strange with his very short cropped hair and his IMMENSE beard of ‘biblical’ proportions (or “Koranian” I suppose – if there is such a word). This prompts a change at the North Parade as well as Mitchell replaces Andrew with his military medium.
These two seem to be pressing the batsmen because at the end of the 15th the score has only moved on to 80. So it continues until Craig decides to see what Moeen is made of and shuttles up the wicket to deposit him into the rugby ground for six to move his side to 96 and himself to 40 along with his partner. The 100 up comes off a sloppy drive from Zander that would have been a chance had Mitchell veered the opposite way in his follow through. As it was he didn’t and three figures came up instead.
Kieswetter goes to 50 with a six into the Pavilion off 58 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes. But he then gets fooled by a slower ball from Ali and he simply lobs the ball to the close field and is out for 52 at ‘Nelson’. James Hildreth comes out to very warm applause which continues as Craig comes back into the hutch. So at halfway we are 111 for 3 with Zander on 43. This brings Arif back into the attack but the batsmen crossed so he is bowling to the established man first. But the change works as Hildreth flat bats one straight up in the air and is caught by Scott for nothing at all. 112 for 4 – not the innings we wanted from the man supposedly in great form – a daft shot I’m afraid. Jos enters the fray – not to bat with his keeping partner though unfortunately.
Worcestershire then make a comeback and wickets fall regularly as Buttler, Trego and Kartik go for a few but not enough. Some of it is heaving to keep the score moving and some of it is being deceived by balls that did a bit but at 32 overs we have 150 and when Trigger goes it is 157 for 7 and it’s looking a bit dismal. However, we forget Ben Phillips and Alfonso Thomas. Together they hit us to 200 by the 37th and take 4 consecutive fours, a single and another boundary off the 38th before Alf is caught by Arif off Andrew (Kartik went in this flurry of runs for 5 at 189). By the time the Vice captain goes at 231 he has hit 19 off 11 balls but that is nothing to the not out batsmen Phillips who at the end of the 40 overs has hit 51 (first ever one day 50 – well done sir) off 34 with 7 fours and 1 six and taken Somerset well past the predicted 215 at the end of the innings to a much better 235 for 9.
It’s a defendable total but we need to show that we are a better bowling unit than the ‘Pears’. The ball deceived more than one batsman but it depends on whether that was the pitch doing strange things or the bowler using guile. If it was the latter then this could be a game where Mr Kartik may earn his corn.
At 4:40 we take the team to do the job we really should do. I doubt I will say many times this season that we have the better bowling attack but I do feel we have in this specific game and we should be able to do this. But we have to get past Solanki and Jaques. The fact that they have given Turner the new ball is interesting and puts the onus firmly on him. Mark’s first one is vicious, short, fast and rising. The Worcestershire captain can’t get out of the way of it and it snicks off the top of his bat and is caught in the gully!! Solanki out for a golden duck and it is 0 for 1!
Moeen is next in for ball two and negotiates it better than his boss did with ball one! Ball 5 beats the edge convincingly and Moeen pulls a bouncer over CK’s head for a boundary to end the over. Not a bad start Mr Turner! With 4 for 1 the score, Ben Phillips does the honours at the pavilion end. Ball six takes an inside edge and nearly goes into the diving hand of Craig but it falls just short. 6 after 2 overs and it’s looking promising.
Turner is getting real dangerous bounce off a length here, Moeen nearly gets enough bat on one he has to jump at to give us a second wicket but fails. Craig’s appeal is not convincing enough. Later in the over he flat bats one that Mark manages to get a hand on to but can only deflect it – would have been a brilliant reaction catch had he got more on it.
After 5 we have had very aggressive bowling from Turner at the North Parade and tight stuff from Phillips at the Pavilion. It’s 19 for 1 – exciting stuff – with the good thing being that the visiting side are taking the bowling on. This is shown in the 6th over when Jacques dispatches the first three balls to the boundary only to be nearly caught toe in front with ball four. Ball five goes to the boundary through the hands of a diving Compton and it is 38 for 1 after 6. They seem to be getting their eye in but there is still something in this wicket. However the 50 comes up in the 7th off a Kieswetter misfield and four byes. We may get wickets but they are definitely getting runs at a worrying rate.
Craig stands up to Phillips Jacques moves across, misses the ball but deceives CK and the ball bounces over the wicket to go straight to the North Parade boundary – a schoolboy error and a problem strike rate! After a skied boundary and a six off ball three there is a conference between the bowler and his captain. A slower ball gets the bottom of Moeen’s bat but the ball spins high n the air out of reach of the keeper’s flailing hands to drop harmlessly in front of first slip. 63 for 1 after 8
Trescothick continues with Turner and although Jacques seems to have his measure he belts one at pace to the covers and is pouched very impressively by Kartik, as if it was hardly travelling, and it is 63 for 2 in the 9th. However Phil Jacques did make 29 so there is no complacency in this game. Mark still goes for runs but he is taking wickets at the moment. Kervezee replaces Jacques and manages to keep a rearing first delivery down from the young paceman. Turner has pace there is no doubt in that, he is getting prodigious bounce here and that is good but can he utilise it without being too expensive? That is the question that is still being asked as we reach the end of the 9th with Worcestershire at 65 with two men back in the dressing room.
Alfonso Thomas takes over from Ben for the 10th from the pavilion and Moeen slices the first ball for four past a diving fielder (Hildreth) on the rugby club boundary. But that is it really as the last ball of the over goes through Moeen and he is bowled for 26 to take them to 69 for 3. Ben Smith is the next man in while Kervezee faces Turner for the 11th. The Somerset man varies his deliveries (although the bouncer is given as a wide) and ends the over with only 2 runs conceded. But the 12th is the best over so far, he goes for one but passes the Smith and Kervezee.
Turner bowls the 13th and gets an arm around his shoulders from the skip at the end. Trigger is on at the pavilion and we should expect Kartik or de Bruyn at the North Parade next over – it really is their pitch and the position related to wickets is a bonus one has to say. Trigger is on the money immediately, take the pace off and pull the batsman forward. Dry up the runs and make them play for their scoring shots. Craig is standing up and is not looking particularly good at the moment, he’s missing lot of stuff and seems to have reversed his ability over the winter rather than enhanced it.
Kartik is on at the North Parade for the 15th with 85 on the board. He ends with 88 up there. Good tight first over. Trigger bowls a great ball which goes through the batsman and everyone agrees that Kieswetter drops it!! The fourth ball of the over is hit straight back and there is a brilliant effort from the all rounder to take a return catch going the wrong way. He got his fingers to it but not enough to clutch it in. So an excellent over sees the opposition on 93 but still with 3 down when it ought to have been 4 down and could have been 5 down!!
Kartik’s first is edged and we know it goes into the boundary board when we hear Compo follow it at great pace. Luckily he gets up and trots back. Worcestershire’s three figure score arrives in the 18th and this game is well balanced at the end of it.
Then Trigger provides a full slower ball which completely fools Smith and instead of sending it flying to the boundary, instead it yorks him and we are 106 for 4 as Pete does a Caddick-like lap of the field and Smith leave his stumps splayed all over the place. Mitchell is the next man in and he helps his side to ‘Nelson’ at the end of the 19th and by halfway they are almost exactly where we were on 116 (5 more than we had). We still have a lot to do!
The last quarter of the game then and Kartik starts this part by bowling Kervezee with his fifth ball of the 21st. Alexie stands there and looks at the wicket but the bails are on the floor so he has to go! He was deceived by one that seemed to go on and it is 118 for 5 with Cameron striding to the wicket. He survives the sixth ball. The 22nd sees the return of Phillips from the Pavilion end. Mitchell drives the first three to Hildreth for nothing before swiping at the fourth and nearly running himself out going for 2 off the fifth. The “press” is on and nothing about these two batsmen suggests that if we bowl well they will have the skill to break out of it.
The pressure starts to tell and a daft run to Trego sees Cameron well out of his ground and Kieswetter doesn’t have anything to do but watch the stumps broken. 127 for 6 and Scott is faced with a job that is just getting harder and harder. It gets harder when Mitchell goes for 14 (at 129 for 7) LBW to Kartik early in the 25th. Although they could be predicted to get the total they are struggling to keep in this game and running out of options as the close men gather around the Royals’ tailend batsmen to put this game away early.
However, Andrew is having none of it and is willing to take on the Somerset spinner despite the men in close proximity. This prompts Marcus to re-introduce Thomas from the Pavilion and he starts firing in the full deliveries aimed at the batsmen’s toes. Nevertheless, Scott and Andrew are not going to be panicked and look to push the score along – but not at the rate that Thomas and Phillips did for the home side.
Kartik is off for the 27th and Zander comes into the attack from the North Parade, a little later than many expected one has to say – though we seem to have coped without him. However, ball number two sees Andrew snicking one to Kieswetter for 9 and it is 141 for 8. The announcement is that, at the end of the match, please stay off the pitch (why? It isn’t going to be used for anything is it?). But there are still thirteen overs to go and Scott refuses to give up easily. At the end of the 28th it is 147 for 8 with the young keeper and his partner Shantry still resisting the inevitable. Together they move the score past 150 in Zander’s next (off a front foot no ball) but score nothing off the free hit as Shantry swipes at air.
Trigger is back on at the Pavilion for the 30th but both batsmen hold their line and keep their wickets. Worcestershire need 85 off 10 overs with 2 wickets in hand. 6 balls later they need 79 same number of wickets! Turner returns at the North Parade with 77 needed. Long hop off the first and a well pulled boundary from Shantry. But he does his job with the next ball as Shantry tries to do something with the next and is caught behind - 163 for 9. Mark has done what was required but please don’t think it was a display that would happen against a better batting line-up – he still has a way to go. But he does get the last man as Scott belts one into the deep. Mark 4 for 36. A revelation? Not really but a good performance nevertheless and he won us the game with Solanki’s wicket early and the removal of the tail at the end.
Good solid work – but against a second level side I have to say. Worcestershire are not contenders in this on their performance at Bath I am afraid.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:05:24:11:58:15 by Grockle.
OLDBOYBA!
Alfonso seems to have been rested.
Team: Trescothick, Kieswetter, Compton, de Bruyn, Hildreth, Buttler, Trego, Phillips, Thomas, Kartik, Turner. 12th man Waller.
Compton was we thought unlucky with the LBW decision. We are at square and he was a LONG way forward and hit high on the pad.
A few comedy misfields and overthrows due to the rather uneven outfield here at Bath.
At the risk of causing a wicket, both Kieswetter and de Bruyn are looking good at the crease. Have to pay attention as all there is between me and the batsmen is a rope, no boundary boards this far round!
OLDBOYBA!
Good stuff.
Grizzzly
Have to be completely honest, though, and say I am rather more excited by events in Arundel.
The GREAT Wesley Durston accounted for the purported international cricketer that is Luke Wright and then absolutely dismantled the Sussex attack with a score of 117. "Were you watching, Mr Rose," etc etc.
Wes has fallen before the job of chasing down a score of 326 was completed, but who better to come in in that situation than a certain K A Parsons?
30 or so needed off 25 balls - COME ON THOSE UNICORNS!!!
p.s. has anyone noticed that Surrey have quietly won every game. They still seem to be miles off being competitive in the CC, but maybe Chris Adams is getting their one day side turned around though they've yet to play us, of course, and I do not believe they have played Sussex.
If Parsie can finish Sussex off that would be a great result for Somerset - in more ways than one!
Cracking performance !
Grizzzly
It was an absolute scorcher at the Recreation Ground, with not a cloud in the sky and precious little breeze. The unrelenting sun was loved by some, but I'd have struggled being fully padded up and batting in it for very long.
This was one of those matches where things seemed to be going Somerset's way for most of the match, but only just, and I wouldn't have bet much on a West Country win until Trego's splendid run out to end Worcestershire's middle order. It was not always the walkover the final result may imply.
Somerset's batting was on the whole pretty good, and the total was big enough to bowl at and certainly against one day strugglers Worcester. Special mention to Ben Phillips, scoring his maiden one day 50 at exactly the time we needed it. The match could have been rather different without it. Zander de Bruyn once again came in and steadied the ship, a role he is proving himself invaluable in.
On to the bowling - an absolute vicious first delivery from Turner claimed a wicket at the earliest opportunity. The remainder of his spell was on the whole superb, albeit with a few too many wides, but 4 wickets cannot be argued with. I hope to see more of him in future matches.
Trego also seemed to be bowling much better than I have seen in recent matches, and this cheered me up no end. ZdB took a wicket soon after starting his spell, which seems to be a useful habit he has fallen into. Kartik also proved himself in the one day side and bowled some crucial overs.
I thought that Somerset were taking wickets at "the last safe moment" for most of the top order. Just as it looked like Worcester were starting to run away with it, another wicket would fall and peg them back. The game looked to me in the balance until the Trego run out, and from then on Worcester struggled until it was clear there was only going to be one result.
A fabulous day in the sun in the Georgian city, with a great turnout for this very well organised event. A final well done to Tractor, who was in full flow today and making himself heard.
I award today five cricket bats out of a possible five.
[Edited for typo]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:05:23:20:21:19 by PaddedUp.
I hope it cools down for the game this week.
Good win for us too - well done Big Ben esp and to Mark Grockle (he can only show his worth when picked).
What a contrast to Taunton where batsmen dominate and the pace of Turner etc is neutered.
Paddedups account speaks of a really intriguing competitive game. More please!
You read what you want to into anything KT - wasn't the way it was and I'm sure when I read the Taunton thread or any comments on the Yorkshire game you'll have done the same.
The rugby side of the ground seemed to be newly seeded, but as we weren't allowed on the outfield, the only way to access the seats on that side was to walk on the seeded bits, so the request over the tannoy to keep off them was ridiculous.
There were no facilities for Long Room members, but why couldn't we share the committee facilities, so no tea, coffee, scorecards, biscuits or cake, though that nice Mr Daw gave me a slice from the cttee surplus.
No-one was allowed on the outfield at any time during the day. What was that all about and do the club have the authority to enforce it. Perhaps someone should have informed the groundstaff, who were roping off the square when I arrived.
Tractor and the beer tent crowd were in fine voice. Why the security staff needed to have their radios on so loud is beyond me.
They're lovely people at Bath and the cttee work so hard, but the facilities and infrastructure just aren't there.
I just see a post reading far too much into a performance and crediting a strip with this revalation of bowling skill.
There is the possibility that some will go "yes we've found the new one day Caddick".
Mark isn't (maybe not yet) but he did show something. It may not be enough to keep him in a first class side but it got us four wickets with more than a little help from a poor Worcestershire side.
Is that negative? Well that's your interpretation. But I don't read you claiming it's wrong.
I was very pleased with the bowling performance, if not all the fielding, because I didn't think we had a bowling attack capable of bowling so tightly.
Now I'll be relying on the media for my cricket, as apart from the odd 20/20, I shall be absent until August - so plenty of coffee and walnut cake will be spare!
Good win against mediocre oppostion. This was certainly one where our bowling attack was better than theirs and our batting significantly so.
Not at all impressed with Craig behind the sticks though with a bat in his hand...whew!
Was impressed with Kartik in the field and with the ball and thought Trigger bowled a good line and was unlucky, especially when his keeper dropped a sitter.
Professional dispatch of a game by a better side.
They were not very impressed with the state of the ground and said most club cricket grounds were in better condition and the heavy roller should have been used more, I expect they were referring to the outfield. I for one don’t like seeing cricketers give runs away because of an uneven outfield.
Are the boundaries much bigger than Taunton? I don’t think they are.
Both team had to play in the same conditions so Somerset winning goes to show how good they are at one day cricket, the lower order helping again in making it a good total. They are playing well as a team and we are top of the table.
The link to my Photos on Photobucket - [s1152.photobucket.com]A number of balls 'popped' for them.
The boundaries are shorter into the corners - there were some big hits from Craig and Zander.
It's a car park for heaven's sake!
Andrew slid for a ball infront of me, the grass was full of stones and grit, he then had to leave the field to get his cuts cleaned up.
also a point on the boundary rope, i'm not sure what the answer is but the rope was set around the boundary, fine, but the seating was put all around the perimeter, so several balls rolled over boundary but flicked up when hitting the rope, very dangerous, especially for older people in seats with pretty slow reactions.
usual shambles of a entrance procedue, single file through main gate, alcohol confiscation huge due to cals not being up to speed with clubs money making ploy of not allowing it into the ground but charging £3+ for as many as you like when you enter...
all in all a grat day otherwise!
Out grounds cricket,jumpers for goalposts,small boys in the park,vicars on bicycles,stones on the outfield,laughing policemen,cream teas.
Those were the days,eh?
Grockle has got it spot-on in his summary of the match so I won't dwell overly on that other than to say how well Zander and Ben Phillips batted and that Mark Turner looked a real handful. I got the impression that batting was more difficult than people imagined, but nevertheless, there were some definite concerns over whether we had scored enough runs. Worcester were most certainly in the hunt until about the 20 over mark when things swung decidedly back our way.
It was my first cricketing visit to this lovely Georgian city and I will surely return. Having said that, I thought that for £18 they could have provided more than the one scoreboard. For those patrons close to the scoreboard at the North Parade End it was extremely difficult to follow the match detail. I also thought that the atmosphere was a little subdued, although this could have been down to the heat? The pitch (and particularly the outfield) was also not really up to it in my view as others have already mentioned.
All in all however an extremely pleasant day, fabulous weather, beautiful surroundings, plus we met some very nice people - and of course we won!
View across to Rugby ground from the North Parade End
Pavilion from North Parade End
Final view of ground from North Parade
The pavilion at Bath
Think this was Nick Compton - does he use a Newbery bat? Please feel free to correct me if I've got this wrong
This may have been Craig - unfortunately my note taking was somewhat lacking!
This one is definitely Pete Trego
Young Mr. Buttler of whom I have heard so much
Ben Phillips smacking one of his sixes
Floating serenely towards the city at close of play
KB
There use to be two large stands one each side of the pavilion and smaller stands else where around the ground.
The link to my Photos on Photobucket - [s1152.photobucket.com]Ohhhh wait a minute. Have I got that right? Yorkshire seems to have lost there.... Warwickshire were bowled out for 127 in their first innings against our "neutered" pace attack on the home soil.....oooops. Something is not right!
All Taunton has is a wonderful cricket ground and a train station.
It just won't do you know.
Not good for the old image.
Atmospheric pictures, although the highlight is the sunhat of the little girl in your top picture.
Taunton has a Costa,Jim.
KB
St James, St Mary's, St John's and either/both Trinity or St George's RC
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:05:25:21:34:58 by Grockle.
The link to my Photos on Photobucket - [s1152.photobucket.com]My wife rang the Abbey bells on a previous occasion. Bath is a lovely city.
I couldn't go this year, but I think the negativity of wsm, Grockle and others is very disappointing. Taking the game to other parts of the county is exactly what the club should be doing to promote both itself and the game.
I'm sure the pitch and the outfield were not up to Taunton standards but given our problems of getting positive results there I'm not sure that's a bad thing.
If the club need to do more work on the ground and the facilities then that's what they should do. We need to see more cricket at Bath, especially 20/20 as people in that part of the county. Somerset is not Taunton!
Grizzzly
Thanks for the photo's guys - very atmospheric !
It is truly rich and very amusing to be accused by the absolute king of the negative comment of 'negativity'.
As I said to Botham earlier. I say what I see (please note that I see the games. First hand primary evidence)KT.
I think I referred to the poor Worcestershire performance - and it was. I think I referred favourably to Mark's first excellent ball and the fact that he tidied up the tail.
The only negative thing I think (please correct me if I am wrong) was your statement that Taunton had 'neutered' Turner's pace in some way and the implication that picking the man at Bath had somehow vindicated that premis because of the result.
What actual evidence do you have for this?
Mark has played 5 first class games at the County Ground since the 14th of April 2007. He's never been on the losing side.
He has played 7 first class matches at the Ground since the same rough date. He's been on the losing side twice.
I've seen him take wickets by surprising the batsman with pace at HQ so I fail to understand your reasoning - not for the first time I have to admit.
Injury, poor radar and too much emphasis on the short ball have kept him out of the side. Certainly NOT the fact that the pitch does not allow him to bowl at pace!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:05:25:22:59:32 by Grockle.
Because it only gets used once a year it probably isnt the greatest pitch but it does make interesting cricket. No one really knew what the par score should be so we didn't really know how good Somersets score really was. In hindsight I think it was a good one. Although we seem to let sides get away from us we have managed to reel them back (so far)
I think the turning point was the brilliant catch by Kartik off Jaques. Worth his money alone.
As an exile it was good to hear the local accents and see some old (and getting older) familiar faces. Other highlights were Exmoor Gold at the bar though driving curtailed excessive (or usual) consumption. The brilliant sitting catch made by a spectator 3 rows in front of us off a Somerset 6 and the opportunity to use my membership Its only working out at £99 at day now hopefully I can get it down to £49.50 Which I consider well worth it. (Even without free biscuits)
Surprised we couldnt go and look at the pitch at the end of the game but a cracking day out overall.
I'm local and love the games at Bath but appreciate, especially after recent developments at Taunton, that it's utterly uneconomic to play more game there, particularly CC or 40 over.
Twenty20 with an increased capacity might offer a different opportunity.
I believe that there's a game to be staged on the new pitch at The Rec on July 12th. Let's see what happens after that.
The link to my Photos on Photobucket - [s1152.photobucket.com]Kartik's catch was simply stunning and turned the match as Jaques and Moeen were looking dangerous at that point and were ahead of the required run rate.
So, as were 5 out of 5 in this competition and could win it, remember Kartik's contribution in this match in case he doesn't take the shed load of wickets that everyone would expect this season.
I particularly like the sound of KB's brother's canal boat:
...having journeyed to within walking distance of the Rec up the Kennet & Avon from Avoncliff on my brother's canal boat. There was plenty of seating available and a crowd of around 3000 I believe
Maybe we should hire the boat and moor it on the Tone on big match days.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
The link to my Photos on Photobucket - [s1152.photobucket.com]