Somerset
Metrobank Game 4 The Lankeys come South West
By Grockle
August 2 2024
Back home after the success in Durham to welcome Lancashire to the County Ground in Taunton for a floodlit Friday fixture. Despite speculation about changes to the personnel in the squad with the end of the Third Test and the lack of activity of some of our franchise Draftees in the other competition there seems to be no change in the squad for today. The side on the scorecard looks remarkably like the one from Chester le Street - and why change a winning formula one may ask.
Metrobank Cup Game 4 v Lancashire @ Taunton Friday 2 August 2024
At present there seem to be no changes to the side playing today from the one on Wednesday;
Umeed, Thomas G, Goldsworthy, Rew, Dickson, Thomas J, Aldridge, Davey (Leaonard replaces him), Leach, Cassell, Ogborne
Somerset have won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Questions about the location and status of our erstwhile players seem to come to very little. Riley Meredith is back in the county but his involvement in things between now and a possible quarter final appearance seem to be in some flux between the county and his provincial management in Tasmania. How much we'll get of him in this if it affects his presence in the Blast knockout is your to predict. The status of Green, Baker, RvdM and Ball also seems to be in the same state of flux. There are rumours that Sonny has picked up an slight injury (not confirmed) but the position of the others is as clear as mud so your guess is as good as mine. There are rumours that injury in the Metrobank would put their franchise contracts at risk, insurance liability also seems to be STILL a problem after it being the same problem last year. Fact of the matter is that franchises and the ECB don't give a toss and we should probably take it at that.
Rocky Flintoff makes his first trip to the County Ground. Unfotunately Paul Tweddle didn't get the memo and so he didn't pick Archie Vaughan to face him!! The announcement is that Josh Davey seems to be broken again so Ned Leonard is in for him.
We will start on time but it is warm and overcast so hopefully the ball will do things for our attack including Charlie Cassell making his home debut in Somerset colours.
The Vertu car carrying the ball is getting more an more intersting each time they pick someone to drive the thing. It's an event in itself.
The game starts with Alfie from the MT bowling to George Bell taking the first ball with his partner Harry Singh at the non striker's end. They take 4 off the first. His partner with the new ball is Charlie Cassell who has been allocated James Hildreth's number to some grumbles. Bell hits the first boundary from the 4th ball of his over and it ends with another to the Trade Nation as the score moves to 15.
Alfie comes back with a maiden for the third and Charlie only goes for 3 in the fourth. Ogborne bowls another maiden and the score moves to 23 for 0 after Cassell's third. The score goes up by 1 after the over as the bowler finishes it with figures of 4 overs 2 maidens 0 for 4.
Lancashire start to open up a bit in the 9th as Bell reaches 20 and Singh starts to look for runs The run rate takes a significant upward slant as they move to 4.2 runs an over!! However by the end Alfie has pulled it back to 4 with 36 from 9. The batting pair don't look in too much trouble but they are finding it hard to get the innings going against these two.
Jack Leach comes into the attack from the MT taking over from Alfie whose first 5 have gone for a mere 11 runs. Lancashire have 37 after the first 'Powerplay'. The 'Nut' goes for 2 off his first. Ned Leonard comes on at the River for the 11th. He nearly has Bell caught spectacularly by Lewis square of the wicket but he could not hold on to a ball that went off him and flew to the rope even though he got a lot of it. The score moves on to 44.
Leach breaks through as Singh plays all around one and is bowled for 14 at 46 for 1. So he starts his account in his third home 50 over game in 9 years!! In comes Bohannon and Lancashire pass 50 with a wide from Ned at the end of the 14th. Jack continues to bowl tightly giving away only 3 in his third and frustrating the batting pair which results in Bell firing to the Somerset stand off Leaonard from the other end to try and get the scoring rate moving back above 4. Bohannon has 4 runs from 13 balls and Bell's 35 has come from 48. It's not exactly 'belting' along out there.
George Thomas comes on from the River at 64 for 1 in the 18th. Bohannon goes aerial for the first six in anger to the Botham to move the score to 75 and is then a little excited and nearly run out from the next ball. The over ends with 77 on the board. Bohannon plays down the wrong line with the first ball of a new over and is bowled by George at 79 for 18. In comes Balderson to see off the rest of the 20th as the total doesn't move from the 79 for 2.
It's 80 after the 21st and the 'press' is still on with tight bowling from both ends and ferocious fielding when the ball breaks through the inner ring. It is hard work out there for the men with the willow as we move towards the halfway point. As the 25th over ends with Jack moving to figures of 8 overs 0 maidens 1 for 20 the score staggers towards 100 at 95 for 2 with Bell on 47 from 67 and Balderson on 8 from 21. They are on for a par T20 score of 190.
The 100 arrives in the next Leach over and then he goes for his first boundary, a six into the car park from Balderson but he ties them down for the rest of the 27th as Bell still remains below 50. Lewis starts his afternoon from the River with the 28th and is straight driven ball one by Balderson to the Botham boundary. Bell finally reaches 50 from 72 balls with 5 fours at 115 for 2 and so ends the 28th.
Jack bowls out at the MT taking 1 wicket for a sparse 30 runs - excellent work sir!! Lewis has just started at the other end as he continues to hopefully keep the 'press' on as the over start to run out and the pressure starts to build. He increases it by holding on to a full throated drive from Balderson fired straight back into his gut at 121 for 3. In comes Venkatesh Iyer who is not known for hanging around and his first ball goes for four to the Ondaatje. The 30th over ends with the score on 125 for 3 as Kasey Aldridge is introduced from the MT end. He hasn't had a great competition with the ball so far and didn't bowl a ball in the Durham game.
His luck is in today though as Iyer fires one and Sean Dickson takes a phenomenal diving catch to send him on his way. 126 for 4. In comes Rocky Flintoff to the theme from the movie FFS!! Bell is caught by Andy Umeed off Kasey at the start of his next over with the score on 129 for a fighting 56 and in comes Green. He gets started with an aggressive drive for 4 and the over ends at 136 for 5.
Lancashire start to look for 150 during the next Kasey over but they struggle to get through the infield though Green gets there in the end and holds the pose of a dead straight drive for four. However they still only reach 147 with 15 overs to go.
Lewis does it again as he fools Flintoff with a ball to which he gets a leading edge and pops it back to the bowler to leave with 8 at 147 for 6. Goldworthy's second C&B of the match. The Visitor's 150 finally arrives with a pulled boundary to the Ondaatje from Green at the end of the 37th. The score moves on to 153 for 6.
The new man Jack Blatherwick (great Lancastrian name!!) is not intending to wait around as he looks to move the score on but as with the whole game, the in-ring fielding is very good in all areas of the ground. Thge frustration gets to Blatherwick who skies one into the stratosphere and Jack waits for an age before catching it to send him back off Aldridge for 8 at 162 for 7. In comes Aspinwall and out goes Aspinwall for 0 as he is completely fooled by Kasey's slow ball and pops it straight to Umeed at mid on and the 'hat trick ball to Stanley is defended away. 162 for 8 and they need someone to bat with Green.
An absolute skier from Stanley looks to be falling in between fielders as Jack Leach comes streaking into the mix and takes a diving pearler one handed to give Kasey a five-fer at 167 for 9. Mad batting by the visitors with a guy in at the other end and little in the pitch to give them worries to be honest. They should just be getting Green on strike. Kasey has his best 50 over figures at 5 for 25.
The job should now be for the last two to get as much as they can from the 8 and a half overs left to them trying to push the score towards 200. Kasey helps them by trying to bounce Green and is swatted into the Caddyshack for six. He tries to give him another one but a fielder stops the 10 from two shots. The over ends with 177 on the board.
Alfie is re-introduced to try and break this stubborn last wicket partnership as it moves into the 180s He doesn't get them in the 45th but he does only go for 3 as it moves to 185. Ned returns at the other end replacing the excellent spell from Lewis G who is left with one. Leonard produces a good one going for only 3 and it is 188 for 9 with 4 to go.
Green goes to 40 with a smashed four through the covers and takes his side into the 190s. They bring up the 200 in the 48th and it takes Green to 49. He then sixes Ned to bring up his 50 off 47 balls - excellent rearguard innings not helped by the brainfarts of his colleagues. With 2 overs to go the score has moved to 209. Ogborne will take 49th and is received by a six on to the roof of the Ondaatje. The second is a bad ball that might have been just above waist hieght. Green is convinced it was and the bat goes on the ground and the 'teapot' comes out as he remonstrates with the square leg umpire but there's no decision.
The last ball is a peach and Alfie ends with 8 overs for 31. Good work. Kasey takes the last at 218 for 9. He has Green out for 65 off the first ball caught by Umeed in the deep in front of the Caddyshack. 218 all out
Kasey - 7.1 overs 6 wickets for 33 runs. Career best figures. That'll make him happier
The Reply
Having braved the Park n Ride and the Taunton Flower show crowd mid game I did not see Andy Umeed "throw the kitchen sink at it" and die for 5 caught by Bell off Blatherwick at 10 for 1. Since then George Thomas and Lewis Goldsworthy have looked to set a base and it is 56 for 1 when I finaslly get back to the ground with Thomas on 26 and his partner on 23.
The 50 partnership arrives at 60 off 38 balls and Thomas gets one in the bails straight afterward and is lying on the floor 'poleaxed' 2 balls into the 9th from Balderson. At the end of the over Somerset have 61.
Aspinwall is introduced for the 10th from the River. A one ball duck is all he has done up to now but he has to wait as a 'streaker' in a wedding dress does the run around the outfield before the security guy who has kept his shades on takes him out. Gosh he was 'hard' :-)
The 10th over ends at 64 for 1 after the excitement with the media people a little worried it might have played the death knell for the 'Beer and Cider Festival' - if it makes money it's doubtful. In relation to the game the Somerset total is presently almost double the Lancs one with DLS presently standing at 37.
Barnard comes on with left arm offbreaks for the 14th at 73 for 1. He bowls Goldsworthy with an excellent ball that goes right through him. 38 runs off 34 balls at 73 for 2 and in comes James Rew in need of a decent stay at the wicket.
The two new boys put their minds to the game and take the score on without taking risks. George Thomas passes 50 at 123 for 2 from 79 with 7 fours and a six. It also brought up the 50 partnership with James Rew.
By the 25th over courtesy of a six into the Trade Nation stand the two had taken the score into the 130s while DLS was still below 3 figures so no problems with the scoring as long as the guys do nothing stupid.
As we move towards 150 in the 28th Geroge Thomas is 'bossing' this innings with 73 from 96 while James is much more circumspect with a more sedate 22 from 29, happy to let his partner take the lead. They need 73 from 23 overs so they are well in control of this one at the moment but it still needs to be won so concentration is the necessary skill at the moment.
Stanley returns to the MT end for the 28th and the 150 duly arrives with his second ball wide. He has a decent claim for LBW turned down (bit high) and as is usual George then lofts him back over his head for a one bounce four to the MT. Green changes ends for the 30th and has Rew in a lot of trouble. He was probably out trying a reverse sweep and then top edges one which gives him the opportunity to get off strike. A place he ought to stay. Straight after that Thomas is put down on the boundary after 2 tries by Mitch Stanley. 157 for 2 at the 30th with Thomas on 78 (102) and Rew 26 (38) both lucky to be there.
The 100 partnership arrives at 170 with an elegant four from GT to the Ondaatje taking him to 90 with Rew on 31. Barnard bowls out for 49 runs and 1 wicket as we move to 178 with George looking at a hundred at 93 but he isn't there yet!! Green is still putting them on the spot from the River end even though Somerset need only 38 from 15 overs. George moves to 98 with a four over the Lanky bowler's head.
185 for 2 brings Blatherwick back on to bowl... the Lancashire guys in the press box are not holding out much hope that it will change the shape of things. He does however provide the delivery that moves the young Somerset bat to within 1 run of his maiden first team century. But before that Rew adds 8 to his own total murdering the last two balls of the over to move himself to 43 and the score to 196.
Green takes the 38th and makes Thomas work for it. He gets it with the 4th ball. Well played George 134 balls 14 fours and 2 sixes. 197 for 2. 22 needed.
200 is up in the 39th. A masterful four to the Ondaatje brings up the Rew fifty from 56 balls and 6 fours at 206. A really good partnership to put this game away.
Aspinwall takes the 40th defending 12 runs in 66 balls. James Rew is facing. Ball 1 beats him. The second is a scrambled two. The third is another single. The fourth is a dot. The fifth is a flashed single and the sixth is also a dot.
We need 8 from 9 overs with Blatherwick from the MT. The first is a single. The second is a pulled four off a poor bouncer. Somerset need 3. Rew faces a dot on 56. He is kept in place by another dot followed by a beautiful four to the Caddyshack to move him to 60 while Thomas finishes undefeated on an excellent 106 and 220 for 2 means a victory by 8 wickets.
Well played guys that was pretty emphatic.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:04:20:48:16 by Grockle.
Lancashire squad: Bohannon (c), Aspinwall, Bailey, Balderson, Barnard, Bell, Blatherwick, Boyden, Flintoff, Green, Iyer, Lavelle, Morley, Singh, Williams.
Somerset will give a first home match to their new signing - Scotland international pace bowler Charlie Cassell. They have added Archie Vaughan, Ned Leonard and Joe Heyward to the 11 who beat Durham in mid-week.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:01:18:04:49 by cricketjerry-mouse.
There are not the queues there were last week for the first game of the series and although it is bleeding warm, it is very overcast and could get a bit humid later on.
News of Riley Meredith is that he is back in town but there are negotiations going on between the county and his provincial guys in Tasmania about how much we might use him before his possible involvement in the Quarter Final Blast match in early September. Paul Tweddle hopes he may have some involvement next week but it's all a bit up in the air.
No sign of any of the franchise benchwarmers however - Quelle surpris
Those of you who were impressed by Blatherwick at Taunton in 2022 have the chance to see how far he has gone backwards today. He seems to get picked for every match ; must know where the skeletons are. Several spectators at a local game the other day including one who has been very close to the Lancashire structure were saying that the same happens to all the promising young players at OT. The general agreement is that the club is rotten to the core.
Green could be in disciplinary trouble though for throwing his bat away in protest when not awarded what he considered to be a `no ball` in the penultimate over.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:02:17:27:53 by cricketjerry-mouse.
Great effort by Kasey, but hats off to George Thomas, who is developing suerbly.
The future is looking good (as long as there is a future).
Grizzers
Wickham will be reminded of the warm response of Chris Nash when Buttler scored his first century...
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Quite simply they aren't our players for 4 weeks.
We don't pay them.
To get them back would incur Mr Hurry a cost, the current kids are "free" in effect.
Plus if they got injured playing for us that would have a cost.
The hundred holds all the cards for this window.
Don't be shocked off GT gets a call up any day, we have no say in any of this.
Sonny has got injured NOT playing for the Manchester Muppets, wonderful! the club hasn't said a word about that.
And because these Hundred teams have no voice, website, twitter etc there is nowhere this has been properly reported.
Does anyone think Lewis missing the Notts & Warwicks red ball games had nothing at all to do with ensuring he was fit fit the Trent Turkey's role 🤔
And anybody who seriously though Riley was ever playing a 50 over game needs to give their head a little shake.
He was a replacement at Trent for Root, yet hasn't played a single game.
We were told last week to expect him back yet no sign of him at Durham or yesterday.....
Again a cost impact. I assume/hope we aren't paying him since the blast. Should he play a 50 that would incur a fee.....
If we are paying him through August to NOT play then our management needs their heads more than a little shaking......
As ever the lack of information from our hierarchy leads to such speculation and incorrect assumptions.....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:08:03:08:25:21 by wsm fan.
We've no updates unfortunately. Things changing on an hourly basis and several pieces in the jigsaw. Apologies its not more clear
A good match for Somerset, I like it better when we bat second, anybody have the stats on how many we win batting second against first!
George Balderson was caught and bowled by Lewis Goldsworthy
Jack Blatherwick ct Jack Leach bld Kasey Aldridge.
Jack Blatherwick ct Jack Leach bld Kasey Aldridge. Jack catching the ball.
I wish I had Jack's other catch.
One of Chris Green 6 runs.
Andy Umeed love playing big shots, but sometime it can his downfall, caught by George Bell bowled by Jack Blatherwick.
A great straight drive by George Thomas for 4 runs.
Josh Bohannon out to a good ball from George Thomas.
On to the next match.
None if it bothers me presently tbh... happy for the Metro guys to write their own records and demand their names are on lists when the 'elsewhere employed' return assuming nothing has changed while they've been away 😂👍🏼
Absolutely enjoyed every moment at Taunton yesterday and would urge everyone, who is able, to go tomorrow/Friday. You will not be disappointed whoever plays. Better than getting stuck in the 40mph roadworks on the Severn Bridge
Somerset essentially lost a whole team (and a 12th man) to the Walkers Crisps Cup but the present squad is getting some excellent results, three out of four to date.
But yes, it's fair to say that the future is looking good... if there is a future. The ECB would be happy for Somerset to go to the wall, but frankly, as I commented in a Guardian thread the other day, the ECB can 'do one'. Which is the clean way of expressing my feelings.
Fingers crossed for the rest of the competition.
The last Somerset cup victory I watched with my late dad (albeit on TV, as getting him to Lords would have been tricky given his mobility issues) was the 2019 RLODC, featuring Trego, Hildreth (69 off 68 balls) and a couple of Overtons.
Happy days.
It was actually much funnier than it sounds written down!
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