Somerset
Panther party or Somerset Celebration?
Big Hitter
By Grockle
June 5 2011
Middlesex come to Taunton for the only visit of the summer and find themselves facing an anticipated onslaught from our newest boy RvdM. After outscoring The Boss 2 to 1 at Tunbridge Wells on Friday the home suport have donned their hard hats and hope to watch the ball leaving the ground on a regular basis. The Panthers have won the toss and have decided to field.
v Middlesex FLT20 @ Taunton Sunday 5 June 2011
Back to Taunton and welcome to the Panthers who have won the toss and decided to field. Craig is back in for this one and Nick steps down. Alf has a hamstring strain and Gemaal comes in for his first T20 appearance on home soil.
Trescothick, Kieswetter, van der Meuwe, Trego, Hildreth, Buttler, Supiah, Gregory, Kartik, Hussain and Kirby
The weather is overcast but bright and there seems to be little reason why there should be any rain today though it has threatened. Middlesex punters are here is quite a number but don't seem to have much faith that we will have too much trouble giving them a good hiding...always worries me when people say that. But we are here to put a score on and it could feel a little better at the change around after 20. A few yellow hard hats about the place and a lot of 'Batsmen on Fire' posters plastered about the ground...let's hope it doesn't have the damp squib feel to it after the first home game of last season.
Marcus and Craig come out to start and Time Murtagh bowls the first. A confident single from the skipper brings CK on strike and carnage ensues. The first ball is fired to the boundary followed by the next. The fourth is smacked very hard into mid-off's hands on the bounce before the 5th is absolutely demolished to the Caddick where a confident Crook pouches it and steps back over the boundary rope that he did not seem to know was there. First six in the first over. The last goes to the Somerset stand and 19 comes off the over with 18 to the returnee.
Crook comes apologetically in for the first from the OP and Craig hugely top edges to the Botham off ball 2...add to that the two sublime off driven fours from MT and its 33 after 2. McLaren takes over the River bowling and is attacked in the same way. A huge straight six from CK brings up the 50 before the end of the third - 51 off 3!! Crook is on the end of a massive Marcus six to the Somerset but he tries to go over the midwicket field with the next ball but is cuaght above his head by Dalrymple and we lose our first wicket for 61 after 22 balls - Marcus caught for 20.
Peter Trego is the next man in and Ireland is on from the River for number 5. We pass 70 halfway through. Craig goes to 50 at 73just before the end of the 5th and he finishes it with another boundary. 18 balls 2 sixes and 9 fours!! Mayhem.
77 after 5 and the blows continue. Craig is "dropped" by Smith as the ball flies between his hands at full stretch but he then tries a reverse 'flip', misses it and is bowled for 55! But Pete sixes Crook to take it to 90 for 2 and in comes RvdM. The smacking continues as Roelof sixes Smith, takes the dot and then straight drives him for four to bring the 100 up at the end of the 7th. It's 'nelson' at the end of the 8th and Dalrymple is on - the seventh bowler in 9 overs. According to the Chief Exec we'd sold 5000 tickets in advance for this one and they reckon there's 5 and a half here on a pretty dull day. They are getting their money's worth though as Roelof sends Jamie into the Botham with his second ball. Dexter takes the 10th and Roelof takes the proverbial by sixing him twice to take us to 139 at half time.
It gets no better in the second hal as bal number one is deposited into the MT stand by Trigger before the RvdM show continues bringing up the 150 off a cover drive and then a six into the Pegasus flats. 158 for 2 after 11 and Roelof to 50 off the next ball off 19 balls with 2 fours and 5 sixes a strike rate of 272%. He then flays at a wide one which many would call a "beaming no ball" and is caught in front of the Cow Shed by McLaren 163 for 3 after 12!! Their best over with only 5 runs and a wicket (RdvM is not best pleased) but in comes Jos. They take a single off the first of the 13th but Dexter is sharp and fires the stumps down at the non striker's end to send Pete back to the hutch for 31 and introduce Hildreth into the fray at 164 for 4. Will sanity return to the middle now that we have two new men in and time to build towards a 5 over climax?
The score continues to mount but not at the same rate and just as Jos starts to look to put bat to ball he gets a huge top edge and is caught in the covers for 8 (the ball before was belted to the OP boundary with aplomb) by Smith and we are 182 for 5 at the end of the 14th. The next man in is Arul Suppiah.
With 5 to go Somerset have 188 on the board at 12.5 an over. Ireland bowls the 16th and does well keeping the batsmen down to 2 until he bowls a beamer and then nearly does the same next ball which Arul disatches for 4 to take us to 196 with 4 to go to the double hundred. Smith takes over 17 and the 200 is on by ball 3 but only 204 by the end.
Murtagh is back for the 18th and Arul drives the first for four and they take 9 from it. It's gone rather 'quiet' in terms of the rest of the game. McLaren has the penultimate over and they only take 6 off it to go to 219. Murtagh - ball 1 four from Hilda. Ball 2 to Johnno lookalike Newman on the bounce for a single. Ball three is a swing and a miss and a quick run single. Ball 4 one bounce four to the Ondaatje. Ball 5 another very full semi-beamer flipped for four and the last gives them 2 235 for 5 after 20...great score Arul 23 and Hilda 35.
The Reply
It's Kirby versus Sterling and Rogers for the start of Middlesex's attempt to get these at 11.75 an over. After three balls it is looking good but Sterling finishes with 2 consecutive sixes before he almost goes to a semi-beamer which just flips off Kartik's fingers. 16 off the first and this game is NOT over by any means.
Hussain takes the first from the River and after one ball edged into the infield Rogers looks to pile into one and gives the ball to Reolof at cover and we say Thanks and bye bye to the first one. 20 for 1. They are 22 after 2. Newman replaces his team mate and Lewis is given the third which both Sex men take apart. 4, 6, dot, 4 and that's yer lot! 32 after 3! Sterling takes it to 45 for 2 before he becomes Hussain's second victim caught at cover by MK. Dexter arrives as Sterling departs with 34 off 14 balls.
4 runs later and Newman top edges one into the stratosphere off Lewis. It takes an age to plop into Craig's gloves and 49 for 3 brings in Dalrymple and the 50 arrives just before Gregory totals him and he wanders back off after facing one ball with Lewis pretending to be a plane as he runs into the offside. 50 for 4 and in comes McLaren
Somerset seem to be planning to bowl Gemaal out and he is providing lots of fire. The next ball to Dexter is a beamer and the umpire has a word with GH - the first bowler to be warned after at least 5 beamers from the OP for the opposition. As someone says...inconsistent umpiring!! 56 after 6 - Somerset were 90 for 2 at the same stage.
Karty is on at the OP for the 6th and he goes for 3. RvdM is introduced at the River and the press is on. By the 10th over they have reached 79 needing 122 to be up with the rate. Murali is firing them up and saying "take me on". McLaren does and sixes him to the Ondaatje before he fires the next one down the throat of Jos at long off 90 for 5. In comes Simpson with a hell of a job to do and no time at all to get his head in gear as the catcher takes over the bowling for the 12th and it ends at 93. They need 156 by the end of the 13th.
Dexter gets up MK's nose a little. He fires his first to the Ondaatje for 6 mto bring up the opposition hundred, misses the next and is nearly bowled but steps to off to fire the third MK sees him and straightens it to CK who stumps him. The usually mild mannered Indian then exresses how Mr Dexter should leave the field in 'unmeasured' tones. He enjoyed that one a lot. 100 for 6.
With the slow men done and Kirby back on for the 15th this does seem to be beyond the men in pink (still find that difficult to say with a straight face). But Simpson is not finished and sixes the redhead on ball one!! He tries to do the same to the second but it is batted down on the boundary by Kartik. With 5 to go the Middlesex men need 107 to win off 36. Gemaal takes the 16th and goes for 10 off his first 2 from Crook. A six to the end of the Botham is followed by a hard driven four to the scoreboard. But he misses ball three and G doesn't. Goodbye Crooky 139 for 7. Hello Smithy nice of you to pop out for a bit.
Gregory takes the 17th and they go to 150 off his second ball. 165 with 3 to go. 71 off 18 with Peter on from the River and Middlesex still going for it. Simpson goes to a fighting 50 (22 balls 2 sixes 7 fours) off ball 3 and they get 180 with 12 balls to go. Simpson puts one into the atmosphere off Kirbs at the start of the next. Arul sets himself and then at the last minute resets himself, gets out of line and drops it. They take a single before Simpsn is then dropped by Trego...another sitter. It isn't until ball four that Lewis takes the hardest catch of all, running back and taking it over his shoulder to send Smith back and reduce the visitors to 186 for 8. 187 for 8 after 19 needing 49 off Lewis' last 6 balls. They take two off a poor throw first up. Ball 2 is snicked to Craig by Murtagh who walks. 189 for 9 and Ireland to the crease. Gregs bounces the new man with ball 3 but he doesn't get any bat on it. He drives the fourth which is kicked away from the boundary by Trigger but he doesn't get to the 5th whcih goes to almost the same place by the aerial route. The last ball bouncer is not touched and Somerset win by 40 runs as Middlesex end on 195 for 5.
Simpson ends on a very good 60 with Ireland on 6. Big scoring day with our bowlers coming out on top Hussain taking 3 for 40, Gregory taking 3 for 44 but the slow men going for 29 each with the master MK taking 2 wickets in his spell. Kirbs got a bit of stick and took 1 for his 37 off 3. While Trigger just got one over which went for 15.
The batting was majestic. The bowling was what it needed to be. Good to see a solid spell from both the young men , especially without Alf in attendance. Good day overall.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:10:17:26:32 by Grockle.
Been very busy this week so only catching up on stuff so far but as for Sunday
1) Kieswetter is back according to the Western Daily Press
2) Malan out for Middlesex
The weather forecast according to the BBC looks dreadful though
So Craig to open?
Surely RVDM will stay at 3?
So Pete down the order again?
Their second overseas T20 player is Ryan McLaren, who played for Kent as a Kopak, but lost this registraion when he was selected for South Africa.
Squad: Dexter, Crook, Dalrymple, Davey, Ireland, McLaren, Murtagh, Newman, Rogers, Scollay, Simpson, Smith and Stirling.
Quote:nelliec
Is KP injured? Was not playing for WI against India in the 2020 match yesterday!!
As posted by Bagpuss, yesterday.
"KP wasn't named in the squad for the T20 against India because he didn't play on the caribbean T20 tournament - a requirement for selection."
He returns to the West Indies squad for the ODI internationals starting tomorrow.
At least Pollard now has four ODIs against formidable opponents - India - to find his form.
Getting the train down in couple of hours.. fingers crossed!
Dibble or Hussain in? Surely dangerous to just replace him with CK?
pouring over london by 1.30pm which was not predicted.
test match will be hit this afternoon!
Although if the rain gets here all that is irrelevant.
Devastating first 6 overs from the boys.
Wow - according to cricinfo, that's the highest ever score in the competition !
[stats.espncricinfo.com]
Must have been sensational to watch.
Grizzzly
P.S. How's the weather holding up over there ?
Found it [news.bbc.co.uk]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:05:16:24:11 by Botham.
Any commentary for any game can be found by simply clicking on CHARL WILLOUGHBY in the picture on every page of the messageboard.
If you want SCCC commentary (CC1's and India) then click on MURALI KARTIK
I think we hold the record in this country 250?
Wurz
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:05:16:54:08 by WaresWurzel.
Sri Lanka scored 260 against Kenya in the T20 world cup in South Africa but that was at the Wanderers so considerably higher altitude than TA1!
Grizzzly
Going well, lads, keep it up.
Kirbs to be rested? Makes sense to me.
Gemaal better than Kirby in one dayers? He hasn't played much so maybe is improving with experience?
RvdM has certainly justified BR's efforts to get him over here.
On the batting side how can one criticise but Craig's brilliant hitting was spoilt when he decided for no apparent sensible reason, to go way outside his off stump and virtually allow the bowler a free shot at all three stumps. I only make the point because he deserved a hundred and like some of the old days he suddenly felt he could actually walk on water. It appears the adrenalin took him over and he self-destructed. Very very sorry for him as he deserved a ton.
The bowling (at least the quickies) seemed pretty easy to pick off. I am a firm believer in using the slow men to take the pace off the ball.
In a tighter game where we had set the normal 150-180 we could have been in trouble.
Quote:Grockle
fair few beamers from the Sex - RvdM definitely taken off a no ball. Some thing Jos as well but not quite from here.
I thought Jos as well, but I was sat at the top of the Trescothick so you probably had a better view than me.
But I will say that the beamers were disgraceful and Somerset's score would have been even higher if the opposition had not lowered themselves to such tactics. I have not seen such bowling since children at school got frustrated at being hit around the ground. That is what I was most reminded of today.
But a stunning knock by Somerset, and particularly from Kieswetter who clearly hasn't lost it during his break. And well done to the bowlers too - nearly dismissed a side in 20 overs.
Definitely glad I ignored the weathermen and went to that one!
Those high pitched ball, the umpires were not on the ball (excuse the pun) today I also think a wide should have been given when Arul Suppiah was batting.
Photos soon.
As some others have already said, if the umpires had stopped the rather crude bowling tactics we could have had 250+
I thought we bowled well for 10-12 overs and then lacked concentration. I'm sure BR & MT will have made sure that point was made at the end of the game to the rest.
Roll on Friday, for my Birthday and hopefully another 200+ score.. and this time I'll get on the train in time
Does anyone have any info on how long Alf is out? Would be huge blow if not back for CC?
Delighted Arul kept place.
Also glad to see the retention of Arul and the resting of Nick.
Not overly critical of bowlers, with a 235 target Middlesex HAD to swing the entire innings, we were never going to restrict them to less than 180 unless they were all out.
They had plenty of streaky shots (as did we on occasions), we could have bowled a bit better but with Alfie back that will help.
2 spinners i though were excellent.
2 wins out of 3, things looking much brighter now...
Arul Suppiah at the receiving end of a no ball high full toss.
Arul Suppiah. This was the wide ball I mentioned that was not given.
You can’t fault Lewis Gregory for enthusiasm after he bowl J Dairymple he run all the way over to Marcus, he always seem able to take wickets.
This was one of the high full tosses to Jos Buttler that was not given as a no ball, look at the position of the wicketkeepers gloves and don’t forget the ball would be coming down.
N Dexter st Craig Kieswetter bld M Kartik off a wide ball.
S Crook bld Hussain, I thought he bowled ok today.
Towards the end of the 20-20 games about 8 or 10 stewards (green team men) climb over the boundary onto the pitch and crouch next to the boundary boards.
I personally think the chance of a mass pitch invasion highly unlikely but accept this is some sort of safety feature for the players etc.
However, as our majority of our boundary is the actual advertising boards these stewards are actually on the field of play.
I am sure that at some point a ball is going to be hit near one of these men, and a fielder is very likely to be obstructed by one of these stewards in attempting to stop a boundary or potentially even going for a catch.
There is the potential for some very unhappy players and umpires surely if such an instance happens???
(imagine it happened off Kirbys bowling!!!)
Am i missing something simple in this concern???
Did you hear another mistake by the announcer today they said Van Der Merwe caught McLaren it was Jos Buttler, the match report on Cricinfo also have it wrong but their scorecard is correct.
Edit to add – who is correct this is the second time I have disagree with the official report the last time I was correct, on the Somerset site they also say Van Der Merwe caught McLaren.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:05:22:21:29 by Mike BOS.
He took the ball without any any problems and took a step back to steady himself...over the boundary rope. He looked down in absolute surprise. How can you be a boundary fielder and not check where the boundary is? It is so fundamental a mistake it beggars belief.
It got worse though becase at the end of the first over he had to come in because he was the bowler for the second over. Spent the whole run in apologising to his team mates...real morale booster that was!
[twitpic.com]
And we are even more in need of Kartik's bowling now that Alf is out.
It is probably no great paradox that a high scoring first innings in a T20 match is often followed by high scoring second one, especially at a relatively small ground. In chasing such a mammoth target Middlesex had to try to hit a lot of boundaries and this they succeeded in doing. Had the target been, say, only 180, I suspect they would have batted less frenetically, scored fewer than they did and thus still have lost the match.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Quote:Mike BOS
I watched the ball all the way until it hit the OP behind me and bounced back disappearing under the covers.
Who was the OP, poor chap?
That said, he is now the real deal and would be a shoe in for most county sides.
Also a jolly good bloke....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:06:12:32:22 by beeamazed.
How about he comes in for Hussain or Kirby, and George replaces van der wotsit.
Do you mean not in the final playing XI (his inclusion in the squad was a bit of a surprise), or kicked out of the squad for some reason?
Was going to start a thread on the subject of Pollard, then spotted he'd already been mentioned here. After seeing him play for Somerset last year (including *that* shot at Lords), I'd been hugely looking forward to seeing him play again in this year's 20:20. But it does look like he's just not in great form at the moment, and that van der Merwe might be a better bet this year at least.
Keep posting.
Unless something befell KP I'm not sure we'd have any chance of keeping RvdM on the rolls.
Quote:LordHester
I hate my first post to be that of a pedant, but there's no apostrophe in "pedants", Big Jim.
Was going to start a thread on the subject of Pollard, then spotted he'd already been mentioned here. After seeing him play for Somerset last year (including *that* shot at Lords), I'd been hugely looking forward to seeing him play again in this year's 20:20. But it does look like he's just not in great form at the moment, and that van der Merwe might be a better bet this year at least.
Pollard seems to be a better bowler to me (certainly against the strong batting line ups).
Riaz has played in seven international 20/20 matches and seven Tests, returning 5-63 against England on his maiden appearance.
Kent could certainly use him, for following their mauling by us at Tunbridge Wells on Friday, they were hit for an amazing 78 by Hampshire in a rain-affected five-over slog on Sunday, after Hants had barely reached double figures in the opening two-over power play.
One good thing about Pollard being here, even if not in very good form, is that his presence would, presumably, increase the chance of getting either Dockrell or Waller into the side? I say this for the simple reason that, unless they are going to use Arul, which they have not been, we would only have one spinner in the side (Kartik) once Pollard replaces Van Der Merwe.
The question for Friday is - will Alf be fit? Plus...if he is will they rest Kirby or put Gemaal back on ice?
RvdM only has to be consistent for eight games...... Let's hope his replacement is as consistent in his first three games because they may be vitallu important ones for this competition.
I have an awful feeling that Pollard may be a busted flush now - they have certainly got his number in the IPL.
I hope not, but he seems to be suffering because he has chased the money as opposed to increasing his all round skills base. Probably still worth his place as a fielder, but it could be disappointing.
The fact he got dropped by WI yesterday too suggests they are also concerned at his form if thats the reason he wasn't playing.
No pressure then KP.
He might have been left out because he criticised the choice of toothpaste of the Chairman of selectors, for all we know.
Still, it seems fair to suggest that Pollard will probably be somewhat underdone when he arrives.
Might come in for Kirby or Hussain Friday??
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:07:12:00:02 by nelliec.
Take your point re WI board AG. Who knows what is happening there!!!
Wahab Riaz playing IF he gets flight in time and IF his visa arrives...
Is that a reference to the Lowndes County Freedom Organisation, brother? Or more Eldrige Pope than Eldrige Cleaver?
I see Docks and Waller were getting wickets recently in the seconds T20 so they might come into the frame.
VDM good on him. Bit of a left field signing but looks good so hats of to BR and co.
As for the WICB, as said above, they are always having problems with contracts and who plays where and when, very political like the PCB. Shame as KP would be a star for them unless he wants to focus on winning us the title in which case hats off to him. I wouldn't take his dropping as an indication of form unless backed up by stats
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Is that WI speak for 'can't make up our minds'??!
He'd probably make more here than he is making at this moment in time yet he's put us second and bravo to him for that.
Just think someone also ought to mention that RvdM didn't exactly set the IPL alight either. He seems to be doing OK over here. :-)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:08:21:03:25 by nelliec.
I am sorry if you feel I'm being harsh. I actually like Pollard very much and just hope that he can find time in his busy shedule to learn and play some real cricket, so that we can have the pleasure of watching him perform over a long game, rather than the 'smash & grab' version we are familiar with.
Not sure what your point is Ron ref Pollard. Does the amount of games you play in an alien environment determine how you will play in different conditions is that it?
Although he did play all Mumbai's games He did not bat or was the last man facing no balls and 1 ball in his first 6 games. In that time his bowling was a significant aspect more than once but a lot of the time he only bowled 2 overs and overall got pushed into conceding over 30 only twice (in about 17 matches) and took 9 wickets (Best of 2 for 25)
In the other games he was Man of the Match once and coming in at about 5 after Tendulkar and a couple of others hit 24 off 13, 20 and 17 off 11 and one score of 28.
His last two scores were 3. It isn't wham bam stuff but it isn't all appalling either and it certainly wasn't helped by being part of a side that either hit big and long up front or fell apart a bit and asked the middle order to pick up the pieces.
He certainly hasn't been an integral part of a side for 17 matches and failed if that was what was being suggested. In the first half his batting importance was almost totally marginal.
He only played 4 games for DD was not out with the bat in them all and took 5 wickets in the 4 games. I dont think thats that bad and it probably highlights maybe they should have used him more in the tournament. Maybe then he would have set it alight and they would have done better!!
Ref Pollard he played in all the games and did okay at best but as you say he had a role to fill for Mumbai which certainly doesn't help him IMO
I don't think the ref between the two is comparing apples with apples thats all.
I like "Polly" too and hope he succeeds here which he may well do but his current form to me is a worry. I think like OB he needs to think about what he does going forward re his cricket.
As a bowler, I think he gets the most out of his ability and is quite effective, but I don't feel he's fantastically talented.
As a batsman, I feel he has boundless natural ability to strike a cricket ball but I think he has underachieved, somewhat, with the bat and become a bit of a caricature of a cameo at times.
If you can play the sort of innings that some of us saw him play at Lord's last season then I think that, if you put your mind to it, you can bat for a longer period of time with greater frequency.
I hope that we can let him go in earlier(as they have done with RDVM) to give him a better platform to show what he can do.
I agree he has a lot ability its just not getting used properly IMO.
Get him in, give him time and then when he has a feel cut him loose. The question is then - whether he can take time and build something. Does he have the technique to stay if he's not blasting at everything?
Craig
Marcus
PT
Van or KP
Jos
Hildy
Arul
Gregory
Murali
Alf
Plus any 1 other ?
I would tend to agree though!!
Remember though we DO have a second spinner in the side...we just aren't using him at the moment.
We MUST MUST avenge the Warks humiliation.
Probably won't need to water runner beans this weekend!
Best hope?
Trust that Duckworth Lewis is able to kick in!
Ah well, that counts as one loss and one defeat over the two games.
a real shame that we will have two washouts for two very winnable home games before going to play Essex and Sussex away on back-to-back evenings
let alone the loss of revenue to the club this rain could damage our long term prospects in the competition as well
After that lovely hot April weather, we've been unlucky at Taunton. All three CB40 games were affected either by cool winds or rain, as was last weeks T20 runfest.
The weather didn't really have an effect on the T20 because they'd sold 5000 tickets in advance for that first one.
Presently it is 'biblical' (as the Middlesex people were calling it last week) in North Devon at 2:15
Not sure what it it like in Taunton though because it has been like this here before and no play has been lost at all 17 miles up the motorway.
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