Cricket

[BigMick]

I'm going for a lie down.

 

[arminisgod]

Now rain dancing for plenty of it in the Birmingham area tomorrow!

Forecast looks brilliant unfortunately

 

[Eggs]

….if Somerset bat out for a draw tomorrow, I’ll drink cider in the pub on Saturday even though I don’t like it.

 

[Alan Whittle]

Well done Lancs.
In truth, over the course of the season Hants didn’t deserve to be CC. Only just qualified for Division 1 so did well since then. Bowling attack pretty potent but very inconsistent batting. Vince is a good captain but struggles to find consistent form with the bat as a result of his responsibilities. A pity because on his day he is excellent. Sharp fielder as well.
Oh well, always next summer (as I have said at this time since 1974).

 

[Eggs]

….nice interest tomorrow. I imagine the Warwickshire captain will say to his Somerset counterpart that he’ll leave them a very gettable target on the premise that they go for it rather than play out for the draw.

My scenario is; Sometime before lunch, Warwickshire will declare leaving Somerset around 200 to win in over 2 sessions.

 

[Alan Whittle]

….nice interest tomorrow. I imagine the Warwickshire captain will say to his Somerset counterpart that he’ll leave them a very gettable target on the premise that they go for it rather than play out for the draw.

My scenario is; Sometime before lunch, Warwickshire will declare leaving Somerset around 200 to win in over 2 sessions.

You would hope so but Somerset have a history with shenanigans.

 

[BigMick]

….nice interest tomorrow. I imagine the Warwickshire captain will say to his Somerset counterpart that he’ll leave them a very gettable target on the premise that they go for it rather than play out for the draw.

My scenario is; Sometime before lunch, Warwickshire will declare leaving Somerset around 200 to win in over 2 sessions.

Warwickshire's plan of a short boundary on one side could well backfire on them and certainly makes judging a declaration more difficult.

 

[BigMick]

Well done Lancs.
In truth, over the course of the season Hants didn’t deserve to be CC. Only just qualified for Division 1 so did well since then. Bowling attack pretty potent but very inconsistent batting. Vince is a good captain but struggles to find consistent form with the bat as a result of his responsibilities. A pity because on his day he is excellent. Sharp fielder as well.
Oh well, always next summer (as I have said at this time since 1974).

I'd agree with that - I feel Hampshire are a quality batsman, sorry, batter, short.

Lancs have been good all season so I think they'd be worthy champions. Well balanced team and they've coped with the injuries and international calls ok. Notts and Warwick could maybe claim the same.

 

[Toast]

Bbc south TV news just had a really good report on the game.
Had a reporter up there surprisingly.

Felt nice to tell my kids how many times I’ve played there as well !!

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Lancs fell over the line in the end with a late clatter of wickets all but winning the title for Hampshire. Particularly notable was Captain Courageous Dane Vilas' match winning knock keeping his head while everyone else were losing theirs.

Number ten Jack Blatherwick showed just how stupid he is, when with only three needed he took a single of the last ball of the over to get off the mark and keep the strike away from the main man Vilas. Blithering idiot then got himself out off the fourth ball to leave Hampshire two balls at number eleven - 'can't bat and too late to learn now' - Matt Psrkinson, two balls to win the title against a completely incompetent batsman.

Blatherwick almost won the title for Hampshire but Vilas swept a boundary off Dawson's next over to keep it alive for Lancs. All eyes on the weather in Birmingham tomorrow - Warwicks will declare around lunchtime and Somerset will need to bat two sessions to draw the game and Lancs to be declared champions - hopefully the weather intervenes to win it for Lancs. (Pity it wasn't in the rain forest climate of Manchester)

Lancs last won the title ten years ago when Old Trafford was undergoing redevelopment and virtually all their home games were at Aigburth or other outgrounds. Fitting then that their final game in what could be another title winning season was again at Aigburth, away from the the pouring rain of Manchester that has so plagued their title winning prospects most years they've had a good side in the past. - a lesson there - play far less at Old Trafford and far more where the weather's better.

 

[Eggs]

Bbc south TV news just had a really good report on the game.
Had a reporter up there surprisingly.

Felt nice to tell my kids how many times I’ve played there as well !!

…thought the Hampshire commentator on the live stream was very good. He didn’t try to hide his bias but was actually quite amusing. No idea who he was.

(Edit; could be Kevan James).

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Aftermatch interview with Lancashire's captain Dane Vilas.

A good local accent there....local to Johannesburg lol

 

[Alan Whittle]

(Edit; could be Kevan James).

The only player in first class cricket to take 4 wickets from 4 balls and get a century in the same match. Hants v India at Southampton in 1996.

 

[Eggs]

The only player in first class cricket to take 4 wickets from 4 balls and get a century in the same match. Hants v India at Southampton in 1996.

…great bit of trivia, he also comes over as a really good bloke.

 

[BigMick]

…thought the Hampshire commentator on the live stream was very good. He didn’t try to hide his bias but was actually quite amusing. No idea who he was.

(Edit; could be Kevan James).

One of my favourite commentators - there are a few other good ones covering the counties as well.

A few years ago the BBC asked for feedback on their coverage of county cricket - online commentaries mainly - so I sent my thoughts in and also complimented several of the commentators, including Kevan James. Much to my surprise, a few weeks later I received an email from James thanking me for praising him and giving his thoughts on what I had written about where the coverage could be improved. Not too many would take the trouble to do that!

He was a very decent county all-rounder in his day.