Cricket

Everyone knows it's always the butler that 'done' it and England's Buttler keeps doing it.

No total is safe when Jos is about. In the form of his life atm, he's now starting and finishing the innings.

Despite England beating Australia in their last few meetings in T20 and 9 out of their last 10 white ball meetings in both formats in this country, it's only the Aussies who are better than us at T20 according to the rankings. If England beat them yet again on Tuesday they'll eventually go ahead of them even in the rankings
 
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Rain at (in) Aigburth so probably an early lunch.

Derby in disarray at 17- 4 in reply to Lancs' 219. Three wickets in his first two overs for Danny Lamb, on his 25th birthday - although he looks about 35! George Balderson then dismissed Madsen - a reward for a couple of good overs after his first two were loose. Seemed to struggle bowling to left-handers.
Also a first catch for George Lavell, keeping wicket instead of Davies. He's also done well to take a few wide balls.

Bohannon's 94 yesterday now looking even more impressive.
 
Jos Buttler was granted time away from the biosecure bubble to see his family and will miss the last T20 of the series. Joe Denly and Sam Billings could both come in to seriously weaken the side with captain Eoin Morgan also possibly missing.

So much for fielding the strongest XI in the final game, much nearer the pathetically weak side that played Ireland in the 'reserve side' series, and without Morgan arguably weaker. Bairstow may be accompanied by Tom Banton or Dawid Malan up front but this already looks a hopeless cause - no idea who will captain if Morgan sits it out either, possibly Bairstow?

It didn't even look as though rain may save them last time I looked.
 
It was the right thing to do without doubt and if Morgan has any qualms whatsoever about his hand he should sit it out too. Meaningless games which mean nothing other than the dubious T20 rankings aren't worth it, far better to take no risks and also exactly the right time to release any players where necessary, having to live in that environment without your family and closest friends for such a long time is a massive sacrifice, meaningless games need to be taken advantage of.
 
Derby stagger to 71-7 at tea. Talking point of the afternoon was the extraordinary dismissal of Matt Critchley, LBW to George Burrows for 14. He ducked into a full toss, clearly losing sight of the ball, and I can only presume the umpire did as well as it wouldn't have hit another set of stumps! A lucky wicket for Burrows but he bowled a lot better than on his debut without looking particularly threatening.

That was the first wicket to fall after the restart and then George Balderson returned to the attack and picked up two more wickets, both outswingers nicked to slip, one of them a brilliant diving one-handed catch by Tom Hartley. Balderson is improving with every game - he looks a real prospect.
 
BigMick said:
Derby stagger to 71-7 at tea. Talking point of the afternoon was the extraordinary dismissal of Matt Critchley, LBW to George Burrows for 14. He ducked into a full toss, clearly losing sight of the ball, and I can only presume the umpire did as well as it wouldn't have hit another set of stumps! A lucky wicket for Burrows but he bowled a lot better than on his debut without looking particularly threatening.

That was the first wicket to fall after the restart and then George Balderson returned to the attack and picked up two more wickets, both outswingers nicked to slip, one of them a brilliant diving one-handed catch by Tom Hartley. Balderson is improving with every game - he looks a real prospect.
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...been listening to the commentary via BBC website and they have been very impressed with Balderson with the bat and ball.
 
Light rain causes an early finish with Derby battling to 120-7 with Harvey Hosein on 44. Always pleased to see him do well as he's a fine keeper and a neat if unspectacular batsman. The two slow left-armers bowled in tandem for a spell, both very tidy and if anything debutant Morley looked the more threatening. Bit surprised Jennings wasn't given a bowl by Vilas - his medium pacers could have been dangerous on this pitch. Predictably, overall the best two bowlers were medium pacers Lamb and Balderson.
 
Eggs said:
...been listening to the commentary via BBC website and they have been very impressed with Balderson with the bat and ball.
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Yes he bowls right arm, bats left. Medium pace but may get slightly quicker as he fills out. Struggled early on today bowling to the left-handers - kept getting his line wrong, but once they'd gone he bowled beautifully. Every time I've seen him bat he's had a few swishes at balls going across him before settling down and playing with discipline. Of all the youngsters we've seen in this competition he's probably the one who has most chance of playing in a full strength or near full strength team.
 
Derby all out for 195 just before lunch to end their hopes of qualifying for the final - they needed to reach 200 for a bonus point and then go on to win.

It was an enthralling morning's cricket as they edged closer to their target. They had some luck early on with edges off Balderson not going to hand, but then Burrows came on and quickly trapped McKiernan, lbw for 31 - a much better decision than the one he got yesterday. Hosein took his score to 84 but his fine innings was ended by Jack Morley with a wonderful ball that turned and found the edge and Lavelle took a neat catch - Morley's first 1st class wicket. Derby were still 22 short at that stage and the last two batsmen decided to swing the bat as Lancs took the new ball. Melton slogged Lamb for 6 but the bowler had his revenge when another heave ended up with the ball knocking his stumps back.
 
BigMick said:
Derby all out for 195 just before lunch to end their hopes of qualifying for the final - they needed to reach 200 for a bonus point and then go on to win.

It was an enthralling morning's cricket as they edged closer to their target. They had some luck early on with edges off Balderson not going to hand, but then Burrows came on and quickly trapped McKiernan, lbw for 31 - a much better decision than the one he got yesterday. Hosein took his score to 84 but his fine innings was ended by Jack Morley with a wonderful ball that turned and found the edge and Lavelle took a neat catch - Morley's first 1st class wicket. Derby were still 22 short at that stage and the last two batsmen decided to swing the bat as Lancs took the new ball. Melton slogged Lamb for 6 but the bowler had his revenge when another heave ended up with the ball knocking his stumps back.
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Is anybody from the North group in contention for the finals ?
 
Lancs 47-0, so 71 ahead after 12 overs.

Not much chance of getting enough ahead quickly enough but they're giving it a go, especially Alex Davies. Nice weather too and has been for much of the day tbh. The BBC weather app is probably looking at an Aigburth somewhere else in the world.
 

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