Somerset
Blast Number 12 Hampshire Away To win or not to win
By Grockle
July 14 2024
A Sunday afternoon jaunt to Southampton to build on the Friday win against Surrey and in search of that home Quarter final or any quarter final. The side is the same except that Craig Overton does not play and Migael Pretorius makes his T20 Blast debut for the county. George Thomas keeps his place so Tom Lammonby misses out.
Blast Number 12 v Hampshire @ Southampton Sunday 14 July 2024
Hampshire have won the toss and will bat first. The Somerset side is roughly the same as Friday's but Overton is not in while Migael Pretorius is appearing for his T20 debut for the county.
The side is;
Thomas, Banton, TKC, Abell, Dickson, Gregory, Green, Pretorius, Meredith, Leach, Ball
Lewis Gregory opens the bowling against McDermott and James Vince in his 200th T20 for his county. He gets off the mark with a boundary and after 5 the other end starts with Meredith and its 15 after 2. Pretorius takes the third (23 for 0 at the end of it) and Ball takes the fourth where a misfield by Thomas is followed by a massive boundary by McDermott. The home side are getting off to a start but not without some misbehaviour from the ball giving the visitors some hope of wickets.
By the end of the over with an attempted scoop off the last ball Hampshire are 33 without loss. The fifth sees Meredith changing ends but McDermott uses the pace to fling the ball over the rope ball one. Aussie knowing Aussie it seems. Seems that James Vince has scored the most runs in domestic 20/20 of anyone else presently. The over ends with the Hawks moving towards 50 at 45 for 0.
Pretorius looks to finish off the Powerplay with over number 6 and he bowls Vince as the ball nips back Vince looks to force the ball. Clips the top of middle and it's 45 for 1. In comes Tom Prest. He may have got a little inside edge but it was a peach of a ball for your first T2 wicket.
The end of the Powerplay sees Hampshire being pulled back but still getting just over 50 with 52 for 1. Ben Green then starts his afternoon with that nagging medium pace he provides at differing paces but the last goes for a flick from Prest to move his team to 62 for 1.
Jack is introduced for the 8th as a hopeful start of the 'Press' between here and about the 14th with luck in conjunction with Green (although he hasn't been a frugal as he was last year). Prest is not hanging about however as he takes a boundary and takes the score to 70 for 1.
Gregory returns to keep the home bats guessing as he rotates his bowlers. They could do with another wicket to try and push during the second half of this innings. Some good outfield work from Sean Dickson keeps the boundaries in some kind of check. The 9th ends at 76 for 1 a good over from the skipper.
Leach takes the 10th to try and keep the pressure on after conceding 8 from his first. He goes for 2 singles and with the fourth ball he has frustrated McDermott who goes after him, misses the ball and is bowled by the England man. 78 for 2 and some clever bowling in the 'Press'. In comes Weatherley who tops the Hampshire aerages in this competition. He doesn't get a run and at the halfway stage the score is 78 for 2.
Ball is back for the eleventh and he nearly has Weatherley with his second ball but it is going down. With a boundaryy off the first he only goes for 6 moing the score to 84 for 2. The pitch looks a little slow, it is a used pitch. They continue with the spinner for the next. Prest is looking to get on with things moving the score into the 90s. With 8 to go its 93 for 2. Jack has gone for 18 off 3 as Lewis keeps ringing the changes with the next. Weatherley looks to push on but finds Dickson on the boundary and goes for 3 halfway through the 13th for 3 at 94 for 3. The order changes as Benny Howell is the next man in ahead of Liam Dawson after his innings against Gloucestershire. The over ends with Howell and Prest looking for the 100 at 97 for 3 with 7 to go. Lewis has worked the 'Press' well with Leach with 15 off his 3. Jack starts the next by bowling Howell who makes room and then misses it. 97 for 4. In comes another ex Gloucestershire man as Fuller joins Prest. Jack is bowling well and finishes his four with Hampshire passing 100 and he has 2 for 23. His second best figures in the Blast.
Gregory looks to finish the pressure before the attack ramps up as we move into the last 5. Somerset have pushed Prest back into his box a little and Fuller is not accelerating much yet. The Somerset captain ends his spell with a six from Fuller messing up his figures 1 for 25 is still not too shabby though. Hampshire have 112 for 4 with 5 left.
Meredith is back into the attack after an expensive first couple earlier on (for 22). A hard flashed top edge from Prest adds another boundary over Tom Banton's head but it's a beeteroer from the Aussie which goes for only 7. 120 for 4 as Ball takes the next one. He went for 15 off his first 2. Fuller goes to 20 off 13 but is caught by Green in the deep at 129 for 5 to introduce Dawson to the fight. Ball ends his third at 1 for 25 with 3 overs to go. Pretorius takes the next and Prest takes his individual score to 51 at 133 but he goes no further as he skies one to Abell and goes. With 6 down in comes Toby Albert. Somerset keep taking nagging wickets and holding Hampshire in check. Some more good bounday fielding from Ball keeps the boundaries down. They are picking up the twos but not the boundaries at 140 for 6 with 12 balls to go.
Ball continues with the penultimate over a job he seems to do in this side. The objective is to keep them under 170 and Jake's variation is causing them problems. A mistimed hook goes down the throat of Dickson with 8 balls to go the score is 142 for 7 and another wicket for Ball. Albert leaves and Wood is the new man as Jake ends with 2 for 32 with a final Wood boundary straight off a poor half volley delivery.
With 6 balls to go from Meredith Hampshire have 147 which then goes to 151 with a swung four off the first. The second is a swing and a miss for a dot. The third ball is into Dawson's body which is swing out for two more. The fourth is a single. The fifth is squeezed single even though Banton hits the wickets with Dawson diving in. The last is in the air but they only get 2 moving to 157 for 7 in their 20.
Somerset need 158 after a very good 'Press' from Gregory and Leach and decent figures particularly from Pretorius and Ball.
The Reply
Wood bowls the first to Banton who whips it to the boundary to start the scoring but the second beats him to remind him to take it easy. Wood has also represented Hampshire a lot. This is his 183rd T20 game. Thomas gets off the mark with a single and the over ends with the visitors on 9 for 0. Wheal takes the second over to Banton, who is pushing the singles as they come back for a sharp double. There is some question about the Hampshire bowler's line as it all seems easy for the Somerset men who hae moved the score on to 18 at the end of the second.
New boy fast bowler Eddie Jack comes on for the third. Banton takes a single to bring Jack's U19 England team-mate Thomas in to face. He flashes a four and the over ends with a better four from a ball in the slot. 27 for and Jack goes for 9. Fuller takes the fourth. Banton starts by pulling him for six. He then gets clipped on the helmet, is checked, then Fuller bowls another bouncer and is called for a no ball which creates a 'free hit' situation all a bit messy but not a lot of pressurefor the batting side. The over ends with 40 on the board at 10 an over, more than is required.
Wood is back for the 5th and he does better going for only 4 and Wheal finishes the Powerplay. Banton goes over the infield to the boundary early and Thomas does the same in the middle of the over to bring up the 50. The Powerplay ends with Somerset ahead at 56 for the loss of none.
Hampshire look for difference by introducing the spin of Dawson. Thomas treats him with respect before trying to sweep him and taking a single. Banton quietly takes another single. They may just play DDawson out of the attack and work the other bowlers as there has been little in the pitch for the faster bowlers. The score needed moves to less than 100 as the go into the next with 59 for 0.
Howell takes the next with his slow stuff as well and the bats will nurdle, it is all they really need to do most of the time. The reverse sweep is attempted but not all that successfully. Thomas pulls the last for four and it is 67 for 0 after 8... exactly what is needed. Dawson takes the 9th. It is treated sensibily until there is a loose on and then Banton fires him into the stands followed by a four as the bowler gets a little loose. 79 after 9. Howell takes the game to the halfway stage. Just before the halftime break, Thomas is caught behind for 29 at 81 for 1, one ball before the 1th over ends. He had been injured and was hobbling so it might hae been a good thing. In comes TKC and doesn't add anything before the halfway point arrives.
Somerset need 77 off 6 balls with Dawson taking the 11th. Banton is nearing a 50 as TKC gets off the mark with a single. A four from Banton is saved on the rope and he moves to 49 before taking a single to bring it up off 34 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Has played well once again. TKC gets moving with a massive six into the seats to end the 11th at 92 for 1. 66 from 54 balls as Jack returns. The century arrives after a legside boundary via a wide. The 12th ends with a straight four from TKC 14 for 1. 54 off 8 overs required. This is a workmanlike performance with little problems or chances being taken because they aren't required.
Wood comes over the wicket for the start of the 13th. They are taking runs off most deliveries and sending loose stuff to the boundary. That presently is Tom Banton as he moves to 57 off 38 balls and we go to 'Nelson'. 112 for 1 after 13. Dawson bowls out with the 13th with Somerset needing 46 from 42. Banton takes him for a four, making room and showing his form by picking his spot. TKC puts the ball into the Warne Stand to show how on top the batting side are. 124 for 1 after 14. The run rate is below 6. Dawson finishes with 0 for 38.
Wheal is back and Banton starts with a four needing 30 from 35. This is being very professionally done as TKC drives another four to bring up the 50 partnership moving him on to 30 from 17. With 5 to go we need 22 to win this one. Howell is next up at 136 for 1. Howell is simply legside and the bats take singles off every ball. 15 required from 24. Hampshire have no real ideas on how to deal with Somerset and they have looked in control from ball one. Fuller takes the 16th and again we simply take singles and move the score on because we need do nothing else. Before the end of the over we put the score under 10 needed requiring 9 from 18. 149 for 1
Jack takes the 18th Banton takes 2 to go to 77. He then takes a single off a mistimed shot. TKC also takes 2 from the next 2 balls and a single levels the scores with TB facing the last ball. He turns the ball calmly to equal his best score this season and we win by 9 wickets with 12 balls to spare.
Won without really breaking a sweat to be honest. We move on and put Hampshire out of the quarters. A really professional win that.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:07:16:12:48:49 by Grockle.
Hampshire, who took 14 runs off David Payne`s last over yesterday to beat Glo`shire, are currently four points off the qualifying spot. Squad: Vince (c), Albert, Dawson, Fuller, Howell, Jack, McDermott, Middleton, Prest, Turner, Weatherley, Wheal, Wood.
Somerset name the same 13 on duty for yesterday`s key win over Surrey, with Tom Lammonby and Migael Pretorius joining the 11 who played.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:07:14:10:57:15 by Grockle.
Not sure the naming of these two will have any effect at all on the side turning out though I personally would have played both of them against Surrey 😂
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:07:14:21:09:17 by Grockle.
Grizzers
RVDM is not classed as overseas.
Numerous occasions in recent years since Brexit he has played with our main 2 overseas players.
Last summer for example we started the blast campaign with Henry Siddle & RVDM.
More likely that we got it wrong, Pretorious-wise, assuming that we wouldn’t need him or that he wouldn’t be good in the format, hence - perhaps - the wording of that original contract extension announcement, where they said something like “He will also be available for the T20 if needed,” (the if needed,” implying that they were hoping he wouldn’t be).
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