Somerset
Vitality Nine - the Big Boys in Brown hats come to Taunton
By Grockle
June 23 2023
Surrey and Jamie Overton return to Taunton - JOve as a batsman only as well as Sam Curran who also is unable to bowl. This is the 'top of the table' clash with both of us running away from the rest of the sides in 2023. "There can be only one!!" Fiingers crossed it is us after a spell of four day which didn't go particularly well one has to say. A tribute to the Barnaby Webber - the young local cricketer tragically murdered in Nottingham takes place before the game.
V Surrey @Taunton Friday 16 June 2023
Shoaib Bashir gives up his place after an exciting week of T20 and 4 day action for him and we are back up to a full seam attack with Overton Davey and Henry present. The rest of the side is that from the dismantling of Gloucestershire in Bristol the week before. The Essex 4 day was not exactly a resounding success and so there is some apprehension that we are taking on the other strong side in the Blast so soon after coming back down to earth from the wins in the T20.
Surrey and Somerset stand for a minutes applause for the tragic victims of the Nottingham knife attacks during the week, especially the Bishops Hull cricketer Barnaby Webber who was known by a fair few in the ground tonight.
We won the toss and once again take the chasing option so we field first. Craig opens against Jacks (in some form) and Evans. Tentative is the way you would descibe the first 6 balls so we look to Henry from the River to get things moving. The first boundary arrives from his second ball as Evans pulls a wide ball around to the CA that moves the score to 8
Jacks, the Surrey man to watch, opens his shoulders in the 3rd with a six to the CA scoreboard to move the visitors to 19 before he plants a boundary off Matt and the score moves to 29 after 4
Josh takes the 5th and Jacks dismisses him from the playing area with ball 1. The over goes for 15 and ends at 44 for no loss. So Somerset turn to their skipper Lewis who also sees his first ball disappear via a 'ramp' to the MT and Surrey reach 50 by the completion of the Powerplay.
To hold the momentum, we introduce spin from RvdM for the 7th runs come but no wickets. Ben Green takes the 8th and as is the way this year, he makes the breakthrough as he gets Evans caught Abell for 28 at 71 for 1. But Jacks is still there - ominously
Nothing much happens in the next 2 overs (RvdM and Gregory) and the second half of the innings arrives with Surrey moving towards the high 80s. Green takes the 9th 92 for 1 and Davey looks after the 12th where the irrepressable Jacks brings the 100 up with a CA Boundary. In the fourth ball of this over however, Sam Curran moves the game on by smacking Josh straight to Abell for 15 and the batting side lose their second at 104. In comes Jamie Overton to join Jacks presently on 52 off 40.
Roelof is the first to feel the JOve batting machine as he hits him into the crowd... he looks a bit 'chunky which probably comes from not running in to bowl all that much this season. Doesn't seem to be affecting his long handle though as he hits the spinner for another ball 3. RvdM fights back - not against his old teammate but by tempting Jacks to sky a full toss to Matt Henry. Tom Curran strides out at 121 for 3
The catcher then removes the second Curran in his 15th as he smacks the ball to the other Overton and it is 123 for 4 - Somerset are exerting some control on the game again as Abbot arrives. He isn't there long as Josh and Henry combine 4 balls in the 16th to take him out at 133. In comes Jordan - the other problem we have and need to see the back of.
138 for 5 is the score as Green takes the 17th and courtesy of an absolutely brilliant catch by Tom Abell Jamie stalks off at 140 and Smith replaces him. It is 146 for 6 after 17. Another skier removes Smith for 5 as Sean Dickson catches a Josh Davey delivery 3 runs before the 150.
In comes Narine - who also has a reputation for late innings runs in these games and he sends a poor half volley over the rope without bouncing first up. It would have happened again except for some excellent outfielding from Dickson which allows Davey to finish with 3 for 32 off his 4 and Surrey face the 19th at 155 for 7.
We know that Green will take the 20th so there is a question about whether Craig will take the 19th - however, the four day may have taken something out of him because Lewis throws Matt Henry the ball with Chris Jordan facing. This does not go well!! A six off the first is followed by a loose ball six to the Gimblett off the second, another 6 and a 4 plus some little bits means Surrey move from 155 to 180 with 25 off the over. Not what we needed at all.
Ben does take the 20th with Jordan on 34 off 10. He takes Narine with a catch to Abell off the first ball to bring in Atrkinson. He then goes ball 3 at 192 and the over finishes at 195 with Green having 20 wickets (4 for 33 in this one) and on top of the bowling averages but with us needing 196.... big ask.
The Somerset Reply
Smeed and Banton versus Abbot in the late evening sunshine. Banton has the ramp out early with a 6 to the Gimblett and then does it again for 12 for 0. Sam Curran opens from the MT and gets immediate swing which is not good news. Will flashes hard for four but top edges to Tom Lawes quite soon after and is dismissed for 8. 20 for 1 after 11 balls.
Surrey hols the score down and halfway through the next Curran over TKC goes for 9 to an excellent one handed catch from Atkinson. Tom Abell arrives at 30 for 2 to face Jordan's 5th over from the River End.
By the end of the Powerplay Surrey have held Somerset to 51 and the increase the pressure with the introduction of Narine in the 7th. Banton hits him for 6, he is going well, while Abell produces an audacious 'ramp' in the same over followed by a beautiful angled four. Tom is going crazy with 36 off 16 and during Jordan's 10th over the Somerset men reach a 28 ball 50 partnership whhich sees Somerset at 99 for 2 at the halfway point. Needing 97 it is unfortunate that Abell snicks one and goes to Atkinson's catch for 39 off 23.
In comes Dickson and the 100 arrives off the first ball he faces and he puts on 19 with Banton before the latter is caught by Jacks off Sam Curran in the 14th after passing 50 off 33. At this moment we need the push towards 197 after stalling a little but the choice of staying with the batting line-up means that Lewis is the next man in at 119 with 6 and a bit overs left. All he manages to do is be indecisive in calling Dickson late for a second run and getting him run out and then flapping one to Atkinson off Curran for 1 2 balls later. So Ben and Roelof both arrive, neither have scored and there is no time to get a feel at 120 for 6
Anyway they get on with the task and need 69 off 30 when Narine returns. Green immediately goes after him taking two sixes from him and moving the need down to 55 off 4 overs. We need RvdM to also come to the party but he has had little batting up until now in this T20 season and Jordan bowls him at 143 for 7. Craig is in so there is still hope but when Ben is caught in the same Jordan over it is pretty much finished.
Not only has Chris Jordan won the game with the bat he is now putting it to bed with the ball. In the 18th Craig skies to his brother at 148 for 9 and though Matt takes the score past 150 with a the ask is too much. Sam Curran finishes with 5 for 26 but it is Jordan who has been decisive. He takes the 19th and goes for 6. Lawes takes the 20th little hope of a Somerset victory and we lose the game by 28 runs.
Ahh well it can turn on the roll of a dice. Craig not taking the 19th and Lewis not changing the batting line-up gave the impetus to Surrey and they didn't falter.
On we go back to Essex!!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:26:13:46:04 by Grockle.
No Peter Siddle and a crocked Josh Davey will ask questions of the bowling attack. Tom Banton, Will Smeed Ben Green and RvdM will return to the line up
Is the form of Tom Lammonby a concern that will affect his presence? How is Lewis Senior's back issue? Will Shoaib Bashir continue his presence in a first team shirt (or shirts) and what of Lewis Junior? Is he fit? Is he worth a punt in white ball?
All questions for tomorrow
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:19:11:07:43 by Grockle.
Temp. stand being rebuilt yesterday, so supporter will have somewhere to sit.
The heat-lamps were on again last night, what area, I do not know.
Edit – just an update, the temp. seating is in place, all that was left to do is placing the green plastic covering on the back of a small part of the stand. (finished by now)
The heat lamps were on during the day at the pond area. (that was).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:15:19:32:00 by Mike TA1.
Quote:Grockle
Is the form of Tom Lammonby a concern that will affect his presence? How is Lewis Senior's back issue? Will Shoaib Bashir continue his presence in a first team shirt (or shirts) and what of Lewis Junior? Is he fit? Is he worth a punt in white ball?
According to the preview on the SCCC website, Lewis Goldsworthy picked up a rib injury in the recent Second XI T20 game against Gloucestershire, so is not available for selection.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:16:13:27:58 by cjbowyer.
We've produced them, this season, whenever we've had two straight home games, for the first of those two.
But it's just the one game in this "home stand," unless we count Gloucs next Friday.
So maybe we try to re-use (for the third time) the pitch from the last home game? Hope not, though, as probably wouldn't be smart with Sunil Narine in their team.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:16:16:31:22 by AGod.
I haven't seen the track yet, but it sounds as though Peter thinks it's another fresh green one.... if so, will be win the toss for the third time out of three on such tracks.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:16:18:27:27 by Grockle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:16:20:03:44 by Grockle.
I'm aware some have been rather concerned about his role in the team in recent weeks 😜
The 4th time in recent games he has batted at number 4 too.
Just a shame we never made use of his batting ability better.
In one of the recent games, their top order batted long enough that batting at 4 was not incompatible with that description.
Last night? It was too early for the “finisher.”
Sadly, they had Jordan to do that.
Off the back of a good start he came in earlier to keep the rate at 10s or thereabouts.
You don't really need a finisher as such batting first but a fluid line up to maximise the position you are in at the time.
We could have done with a few 20 off 9s from our 5678.
Think the forecast for Monday evening is okay.
We presently have that issue with an in form Ben Green and an out of form Lewis Gregory, who last night came in too early when we needed to kick on only to have a think and then call Dickson who he should have been supporting through for a silly second and then hole out himself. RvdM looks rusty because we aren't using him enough in these close games. Lewis is struggling though but, to his credit, seems to think it is his job to lead. He's doing that more with the ball than the bat. We don't use our resources flexibly enough and we haven't for years. Far too predictable as a T20 side.
Dickson hasn’t done badly, but isn’t, generally, explosive.
My views on Gregory’s long-term T20 batting issues are well-known.
Surrey 53/6 off 12 thus far..
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:06:18:15:24:52 by AGod.
Glad to see Curran, T, given a deserved demotion down the order.
I live on the weather path to the Oval and the weather is closing in rapidly so I don't think any of it will matter in the end.
Hants only getting one point vs the two they might get if it goes the distance, ought to help SCCC.
It was declared a certain washout an hour ago I thought!
5 overs done so a result assured.
Looking like......
Somerset 9-14
Surrey 10-14
Essex 9-14
Hamps 10-12
The equivalent of losing by 288 runs in the John Player League.
Or by 360 runs in a 50-over game
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
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