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GREGORY TOO POWERFUL FOR BATTLING OUTLAWS
Outlaws fight back after big three flop again with the batAn unbroken 6th stand of 96 in 10 overs between Somerset captain Lewis Gregory and Ben Green saw Somerset to a tight 5 wicket victory with three balls to spare in the Blast quarter final at Taunton last night.
Notts won the toss and elected to bat on a glorious sunny evening in front of a full house. In came Munro, Mullaney, Patel and Fletcher for James, Hameed, Afridi and Carter. In what was a bit of a gamble, Munro and Patel came back after a 17 day lay off following injuries sustained at Grace Road.
Overton (River End) bowled the opening over and with his fourth delivery he bowled Hales for a two ball duck, 1 for 1. Hales having an extremely poor run with the bat in the second half of the competition. Three off the first over. Four came off the 2nd over bowled by Henry. Munro (10) hit Overton for 6 over mid wicket but three balls later he was caught by Henry running backwards from mid off as Overton picked up his second scalp, 13 for 2. Montgomery guided the last delivery of the over to the backward point boundary, 10 off the 3rd over. Clarke (2 off 12 balls) fell tamely caught at mid wicket by Overton off Henry, 17 for 3. All three of the big guns gone and it looked like Notts were heading for a trouncing. Two off the 4th over.
Montgomery hit Overton for four through extra cover. Overton conceded 5 off the 5th over. Montgomery hit Jack Brooks, who had played 2 matches on loan to Notts earlier in the competition, for successive boundaries behind the wicket. Off the 4th delivery Patel flicked him for a legside boundary, 13 off the Brooks sole over. Notts 37 for 3 off 6 overs.
Overton (4 0 23 2) conceded five off his last over including a no ball. Ish Sodhi went for three singles in the 8th over. Patel hit Gregory for 6 over square leg and then a 4 through extra cover, 14 off the 9th over. Montgomery swept Sodhi for 4. Notts 68 for 3 off 10 overs, Notts were fighting back.
Montgomery hit Green to the point ropes, 10 off the 11th over. Five singles were accrued off the 12th over bowled by Sodhi. Gregory returned and bowled Patel for 30 (off 26 balls, 2x4, 1x6), 86 for 4. The 4th wicket partnership between Montgomery and Patel had added 69 in 9 overs. Six runs off the 13th over. Montgomery switched hit Sodhi (4 0 22 0) for four towards third man, 5 off the 14th over. The former Notts leg spinner being the only slow bowler on show for the cider men.
A full toss from Green was hit for four through mid wicket by Montgomery, Abell missing a possible catch as Montgomery brought up his 50. He fell next ball, well caught by Overton running from long on and diving full length as Green picked up his first wicket,. Montgomery out for a joint T20 best of 51 (off 38 balls, 8x4), 102 for 5 in the 15th over.
Moores on 7 was dropped by Green at extra cover off Gregory but he fell later in the same over scooping Gregory to Sodhi at short fine leg. Moores out for 8, 108 for 6 off 16 overs. Imad provided some late impetus to the innings as he hit his Notts best 31 not out off 15 balls(2x4, 1x6) adding an unbroken 49 in 4 overs with Mullaney.
Mullaney hit Henry for 4 through third man, 10 off the 17th over. Imad hit Green for 6 over wide long on. Off the last ball of an over which cost 19, Imad hit Green (3 0 38 1) for 4 through extra cover. Mullaney smashed Henry for a straight six. Henry bowled a beamer to Mullaney which was deemed a no ball. Imad was dropped on 23 by Banton behind the stumps off Henry (4 0 27 1) 12 off the 19th over. Imad inside edged a boundary off Gregory (4 0 33 2), eight off the last over. Notts 157 for 6 off 20 overs with Mullaney on 18. It did not look a competitive total, but we later found that the Notts attack with much more pace off options were better suited to the pitch conditions.
Fletcher (River End) bowled the first over and Banton cover drove him for 4 in an over which cost 9 runs. Banton (6) was given out following a review caught off his glove by Moores off Imad attempting a reverse sweep, 9 for 1. Off the last delivery of the same over, Imad knocked back Kohler-Cadmore's off stump. Imad had bowled the first maiden in the 2023 Blast for Notts, 9 for 2. The extremely partisan home crowd fell silent.
Abell cover drove Ball for 4 and then later in the over pulled him for 4, 8 plus a leg bye off the 3rd over. Smeed hit three successive boundaries off Imad, sweeping him for 4 through fine leg and backward square leg and in-between hitting him through the covers, 13 off the 4th over. Abell guided Ball to the third man boundary, 7 off the 5th over. Fletcher conceded six off 6th over. Somerset 44 for 2 off 6 overs.
Patel conceded 7 off the 7th over. Abell went for a two but Smeed (22) was run out following a smart throw from Hales at wide long on, 54 for 3, 5 off the 8th over. Patel conceded 5 off the 9th over. Dickson (4) was out lbw to a reverse sweep to Harrison, 61 for 4 in the 10th over. Two balls later, Abell (26) tickled Harrison and Moores took the catch, 62 for 5. Two off the 10th over, Somerset needed 95 off the last 10 overs and Notts were, against all the odds, well in the game as the crowd were stunned into silence.
Gregory, the hero of the 2018 quarter final triumph over Notts in August 2018 played the situation perfectly, playing himself in and then targeting the short straight Taunton boundaries.
Gregory hoisted Patel for a straight six, 10 off the 11th over. Green hit Harrison for 4 through backward point, 8 off the 12th over. Gregory hit Imad for a straight six, nine off the 13th over. Mullaney conceded 7 off the 14th over, his solitary over. Gregory hit Patel (4 0 34 0) for 6 over long on. Gregory hit a beamer from Patel straight to Montgomery on the mid wicket ropes, but it was a no ball and he ran two, 12 off 15th over. Green hit Harrison (4 0 26 2) for 6 over mid wicket, 11 off the 16th over. Somerset 120 for 5 building momentum and were now clear favourites.
Mullaney resisted the temptation of either bring himself back or bowling Montgomery on a pitch where pace off was the desired option. Ball (4 0 37 0) not quite himself in last 3 T20 games was summoned back but disappointed going for 22 in his last 2 overs and not being able to take the crucial wicket.
Green slashed Ball for 4 through backward point, 8 off the 17th over. After four singles off Imad (4 1 33 2), Gregory hit him for 6 over square, 11 off the over. Gregory smashed Ball (4 0 37 0) for a straight boundary and then a six over long off to reach his 50, 14 off the 19th over. Ball offering Gregory too much width.
Somerset needed five off the last over bowled by Fletcher (2.3 0 20 0) in his first T20 game of the season. Green and Gregory took singles off the first two balls. Green was then dropped by Imad in the covers, however the delivery was belatedly called a no ball by third umpire Neil Bainton. Somerset now needed one to win off a free hit, Green lofted the ball to the square leg ropes where it was *caught" with the required single was run. Somerset 168 for 5 off 19.3 overs with man of the match Gregory 57 not out (off 34 balls, 5x6, 1x4) and Green 35 not out off 29 balls(2x4, 1x6). All 4 teams from the much stronger South group making it through to Edgbaston.
After losing their three main batsmen in the opening four overs, Notts had fought back well and had made a real contest of it. Much rebuilding work needs to be performed to their T20 line up for 2024 with the average age of the team being brought down considerably. MAG
Notts won the toss and elected to bat on a glorious sunny evening in front of a full house. In came Munro, Mullaney, Patel and Fletcher for James, Hameed, Afridi and Carter. In what was a bit of a gamble, Munro and Patel came back after a 17 day lay off following injuries sustained at Grace Road.
Overton (River End) bowled the opening over and with his fourth delivery he bowled Hales for a two ball duck, 1 for 1. Hales having an extremely poor run with the bat in the second half of the competition. Three off the first over. Four came off the 2nd over bowled by Henry. Munro (10) hit Overton for 6 over mid wicket but three balls later he was caught by Henry running backwards from mid off as Overton picked up his second scalp, 13 for 2. Montgomery guided the last delivery of the over to the backward point boundary, 10 off the 3rd over. Clarke (2 off 12 balls) fell tamely caught at mid wicket by Overton off Henry, 17 for 3. All three of the big guns gone and it looked like Notts were heading for a trouncing. Two off the 4th over.
Montgomery hit Overton for four through extra cover. Overton conceded 5 off the 5th over. Montgomery hit Jack Brooks, who had played 2 matches on loan to Notts earlier in the competition, for successive boundaries behind the wicket. Off the 4th delivery Patel flicked him for a legside boundary, 13 off the Brooks sole over. Notts 37 for 3 off 6 overs.
Overton (4 0 23 2) conceded five off his last over including a no ball. Ish Sodhi went for three singles in the 8th over. Patel hit Gregory for 6 over square leg and then a 4 through extra cover, 14 off the 9th over. Montgomery swept Sodhi for 4. Notts 68 for 3 off 10 overs, Notts were fighting back.
Montgomery hit Green to the point ropes, 10 off the 11th over. Five singles were accrued off the 12th over bowled by Sodhi. Gregory returned and bowled Patel for 30 (off 26 balls, 2x4, 1x6), 86 for 4. The 4th wicket partnership between Montgomery and Patel had added 69 in 9 overs. Six runs off the 13th over. Montgomery switched hit Sodhi (4 0 22 0) for four towards third man, 5 off the 14th over. The former Notts leg spinner being the only slow bowler on show for the cider men.
A full toss from Green was hit for four through mid wicket by Montgomery, Abell missing a possible catch as Montgomery brought up his 50. He fell next ball, well caught by Overton running from long on and diving full length as Green picked up his first wicket,. Montgomery out for a joint T20 best of 51 (off 38 balls, 8x4), 102 for 5 in the 15th over.
Moores on 7 was dropped by Green at extra cover off Gregory but he fell later in the same over scooping Gregory to Sodhi at short fine leg. Moores out for 8, 108 for 6 off 16 overs. Imad provided some late impetus to the innings as he hit his Notts best 31 not out off 15 balls(2x4, 1x6) adding an unbroken 49 in 4 overs with Mullaney.
Mullaney hit Henry for 4 through third man, 10 off the 17th over. Imad hit Green for 6 over wide long on. Off the last ball of an over which cost 19, Imad hit Green (3 0 38 1) for 4 through extra cover. Mullaney smashed Henry for a straight six. Henry bowled a beamer to Mullaney which was deemed a no ball. Imad was dropped on 23 by Banton behind the stumps off Henry (4 0 27 1) 12 off the 19th over. Imad inside edged a boundary off Gregory (4 0 33 2), eight off the last over. Notts 157 for 6 off 20 overs with Mullaney on 18. It did not look a competitive total, but we later found that the Notts attack with much more pace off options were better suited to the pitch conditions.
Fletcher (River End) bowled the first over and Banton cover drove him for 4 in an over which cost 9 runs. Banton (6) was given out following a review caught off his glove by Moores off Imad attempting a reverse sweep, 9 for 1. Off the last delivery of the same over, Imad knocked back Kohler-Cadmore's off stump. Imad had bowled the first maiden in the 2023 Blast for Notts, 9 for 2. The extremely partisan home crowd fell silent.
Abell cover drove Ball for 4 and then later in the over pulled him for 4, 8 plus a leg bye off the 3rd over. Smeed hit three successive boundaries off Imad, sweeping him for 4 through fine leg and backward square leg and in-between hitting him through the covers, 13 off the 4th over. Abell guided Ball to the third man boundary, 7 off the 5th over. Fletcher conceded six off 6th over. Somerset 44 for 2 off 6 overs.
Patel conceded 7 off the 7th over. Abell went for a two but Smeed (22) was run out following a smart throw from Hales at wide long on, 54 for 3, 5 off the 8th over. Patel conceded 5 off the 9th over. Dickson (4) was out lbw to a reverse sweep to Harrison, 61 for 4 in the 10th over. Two balls later, Abell (26) tickled Harrison and Moores took the catch, 62 for 5. Two off the 10th over, Somerset needed 95 off the last 10 overs and Notts were, against all the odds, well in the game as the crowd were stunned into silence.
Gregory, the hero of the 2018 quarter final triumph over Notts in August 2018 played the situation perfectly, playing himself in and then targeting the short straight Taunton boundaries.
Gregory hoisted Patel for a straight six, 10 off the 11th over. Green hit Harrison for 4 through backward point, 8 off the 12th over. Gregory hit Imad for a straight six, nine off the 13th over. Mullaney conceded 7 off the 14th over, his solitary over. Gregory hit Patel (4 0 34 0) for 6 over long on. Gregory hit a beamer from Patel straight to Montgomery on the mid wicket ropes, but it was a no ball and he ran two, 12 off 15th over. Green hit Harrison (4 0 26 2) for 6 over mid wicket, 11 off the 16th over. Somerset 120 for 5 building momentum and were now clear favourites.
Mullaney resisted the temptation of either bring himself back or bowling Montgomery on a pitch where pace off was the desired option. Ball (4 0 37 0) not quite himself in last 3 T20 games was summoned back but disappointed going for 22 in his last 2 overs and not being able to take the crucial wicket.
Green slashed Ball for 4 through backward point, 8 off the 17th over. After four singles off Imad (4 1 33 2), Gregory hit him for 6 over square, 11 off the over. Gregory smashed Ball (4 0 37 0) for a straight boundary and then a six over long off to reach his 50, 14 off the 19th over. Ball offering Gregory too much width.
Somerset needed five off the last over bowled by Fletcher (2.3 0 20 0) in his first T20 game of the season. Green and Gregory took singles off the first two balls. Green was then dropped by Imad in the covers, however the delivery was belatedly called a no ball by third umpire Neil Bainton. Somerset now needed one to win off a free hit, Green lofted the ball to the square leg ropes where it was *caught" with the required single was run. Somerset 168 for 5 off 19.3 overs with man of the match Gregory 57 not out (off 34 balls, 5x6, 1x4) and Green 35 not out off 29 balls(2x4, 1x6). All 4 teams from the much stronger South group making it through to Edgbaston.
After losing their three main batsmen in the opening four overs, Notts had fought back well and had made a real contest of it. Much rebuilding work needs to be performed to their T20 line up for 2024 with the average age of the team being brought down considerably. MAG
07/07
Ref last night's match: Not sure I agree with overturning the on field umpire when the DRS is found not to be working and therefore not providing evidence that he got his decision wrong.
06/07
The squad has been announced including the odd surprise
Joe Clarke
Alex Hales
Matt Montgomery
Lyndon James
Haseeb Hameed
Alex Hales
Matt Montgomery
Lyndon James
Haseeb Hameed
Tom Moores
Steven Mullaney
Imad Wasim
Calvin Harrison
Matt Carter
Conor McKerr
Jake Ball
Luke Fletcher
05/07
Overton - taking wickets
04/07
Somerset record breaking 12/14 wins in the group stages, are odds on favourites to make light work of Notts Outlaws on Friday.
Notts could be without more first choice players than that they we will have in the XI potentially.
The postage stamp boundaries at Taunton will suit Notts' batsmen, however our bowlers my struggle to contain the battery of Somerset long hitters.
Under dogs we are, but it only takes one or two batsmen to really come-off good and then anyone can win a game of T20 cricket. In Hales and Clarke, Notts Outlaws do have two of the most devastating batsmen in World cricket on their days; so yes we're a long shot but you can visualise it happening (if you squint, turn sideways and look out the corner of your left eye). Nothing has gone right in the group stages for Notts. We've only qualified because the rest of the group haven't been particularly outstanding either.
The loss of Shaheen Shah Afridi will be massive, as we were just starting to see the very best of a world class performer. Youhave to assume Conor McKerr will come into the XI to replace him.
On paper it’s a complete miss match(not in our favour) but as we know the game isn’t played on paper, so we obviously have a chance still
ReplyDeleteThe batting is a huge worry, especially on a ground where 200 would appear to be the minimum
Matt. Montgomery looks shot to bits. Would the ultra cautious Head Coach not be better playing Ben Slater in this game a more proven player even in this slogfest format
And would Fateh Singh or even Sammy King not offer at least what the unsuited Hameed can offer in pushing it around for 20odd at a run a ball. They’re both certainly better boundary hitting options and I think we’re now pretty desperate with all the injuries and absentees
Guess, it will be largely the same and we’ve probably got 2 hopes in that case, Bob Hope and No Hope
But stranger things happen in cricket
From Dr. Peregrine Soper (of Wimpole Street)
After watching Somerset pile up over 200 against Kent the only thing that kept them remotely quiet was spin or the slower bowlers, Pace looks very much a nono which given Notts somewhat threadbare pace attack is probably no bad thing, That being said there is not much else on offer in the bowling stakes, So its very much a case of we go with what we have got,
ReplyDeleteSomerset are obviously on a high what with their performance against us in the CC and their steamrolling of the south group
,All Notts can do is stay positive and remember we have beat them before down at Taunton Notts at 15-2 and Somerset at 4-1 show you what the bookies think might happen , But lets not forget this is a two horse race and sometimes the outsider comes through on the rails and wins.
Somerset's biggest weakness ? Probably over confidence, Their strength is clearly their batting, They bat deep so even if you get early wickets they can like Birmingham Bears recover
Notts just have to go for it and leave nothing in the dressing room it's a one off match and in those situations one magical performance can change not only a match but sometimes the season as well
Zanga
Yes, Zanga I agree over confidence can always be an issue. We have been guilty of it at certain times in previous years, when we had a much, much stronger team than what we can field on Friday night
ReplyDeleteI note Tom Loten has scored back to back centuries for the stiffs and Sammy King has also been in the runs this year. Surely they have to be putting pressure on certain underperforming batsmen at least in the championship side, in any event ?
I just hope we don’t get a ‘Mullering’ along the lines of Derby Falcons at this stage against them last season. I don’t think we will as weve still a handful(perhaps) of match winning performers on the field but it’s not like in football where an inferior team(on paper) can be organised, get 10 men behind the ball and make it hard for the opposing team to score a goal, it’s a batsman versus bowler skillset and through a variety of reasons this will be the weakest team we have ever fielded in a t20 qtr final I would suggest
But, we can still beat them in a one off game as professional sport can be very unpredictable so I am not writing off the Notts Outlaws
Dr. Peregrine Soper (of Wimpole Street)
80 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteNotts have been pretty unlucky with injuries to key players this season . It’s quite a longish list . Someone is surely overdo a match winning innings ? A rapid 100 from Hales or Clarke is quite possible. So , come on lads , perform some magic when the chips are down !
Not confident at all about this game but hoping for an Essex 2017 repeat performance.
ReplyDeleteWell, just when the game was looking more shocking than a Quentin Tarrantino box set, do my mince pies deceive me or do we now have Samit and Munro back in the squad ?
DeleteI assumed they both had been ruled out for the entire competition so that’s potentially a huge bonus for us. Hope it’s not another gaffe on Notts Pravda
A message for arrogant Stokes and McCullum, if you’re going to play this new fangled Bazball against the World Test Champions, it may have been an idea to wait until your fastest bowler Mark Wood was actually fit to provide a spearhead to your bowling attack as opposed to lads bowling around 82mph, on good pitches, not exactly troubling their top6 batsmen
Also, you could always play your best wicket keeper but then you’ve a problem accommodating Jonny B. who is essential to play Bazball
From Dr. Peregrine Soper (of Wimpole Street)
https://www.trentbridge.co.uk/news/2023/july/clarke-relishing-knockout-nature-of-somerset-showdown.html
DeleteI looked about 3pm and it definitely said a squad of 15 had been announced and Munro and Patel were listed, so what’s going on Notts Pravda, hence my surprise above
DeleteSurely we can’t be that desperate for good news spin that now we have to have a provisional, pre-squad announcement before the actual squad which includes names of injured players not actually making the proper squad ?
That would be on a totally different level of good news desperation so I assume it was just an ordinary, bog standard, gaffe from Notts Pravda again
Did anybody else witness the pre-squad, squad given out earlier ?
Yes I saw the squad of 15 this morning that included Munro and Patel so you were definitely not imagining things. I was surprised the squad had been announced so early. Sounds like someone pushed the publish button on what was a draft article at the time.
DeleteSaw it too,
ReplyDeleteNotts media staff need to up their game
80 NOT OUT .
ReplyDeleteSometimes you wonder if the Right Hand knows what the Left Hand is doing at NOTTS HQ!?
Was the “selection” of Samit and Munro an attempt to influence the Somerset team selection in some way !
Tonight is a make or break game for NOTTS ccc 2023 season .
Somerset are over due a poor game and team performance . Is tonight the night when it actually happens ?
Be nice if NOTTS bay first and set a total of 200+ . Even with short boundaries a score of 200 makes a real challenge
Fingers crossed for one or two NOTTS players to come good tonight!?
Pravda left and right hands are now in default positions. That is say, after the blindfold was applied and the ear defenders were put on, the right hand was tied behind the back of their publisher. The left hand remains free to scratch his/hers/theirs backside, if they can find it.
DeleteI believe after tonight major changes in all formats will take place and with the 2 bowlers already signed up its started. Notts need to be ruthless and not sentimental.
ReplyDelete"will take place" or should take place? Peter Moores finds it difficult to change a team but Newell has forced his hand with his cheque book signings.
DeleteFeel utterly sick after that, really thought we'd got them at 62/5 GUTTED.
ReplyDeleteyou weren't on the Edgbaston website looking up ticket availability were you?
DeleteAdmirable attempt by the bowlers again but at the end of the day didn't score enough runs due to top order not firing again.Maybe Hales should spend more time in the nets and less time on holiday?
ReplyDeleteJake Ball needs to work on his game. He's been poor at the death.
DeleteIn the last 10 innings Alex Hales has averaged 12.7, been out out for a duck on three occasions and only made double figures 4 times. We waited for the big knock to come, but it never arrived.
Both are/were Internationals and are rewarded accordingly but we haven't had value for money this season, IMHO.
Notts need to reset that may have already started but you need to be ruthless
ReplyDeleteIn sport it's time to clear the decks & say good buy to some great servants to the club
Bowling a mixed bag really. Thought ball and Patel awful others a really good effort
ReplyDeleteAll 4 semi finalists from the much stronger south group.
ReplyDeleteMost of the South Group are no better than the North Group average IMHO. Take Somerset away from Taunton, take Harmer out of Essex and put Hampshire on a flat track, then you're left with Surrey and their vast resources.
Delete80 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteIs an aging Hales now an expensive luxury that NOTTS can now do without? Living on past deeds and reputation is not good for NOTTS .
Looks like behind the scenes one or two decisions have been made and now NOTTS will part with some old favourites.
Well tonight has saved us a lot of future grief . Finals day would have found NOTTS out pretty quickly and egos bruised . R
Even at 62 - 5 Somerset were within a stones throw of the required run rate, All it needed was some sensible batting which Gregory and Green supplied, Notts needed a score of at least 20 more, As it was with the score set Notts were never able to generate enough pressure to try and force mistakes.
ReplyDelete80 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteIN BLAST 20 at 62-5 , chasing a moderate 150+ you will win most games when bowling . The Bookies certainly thought so . At 17-3 NOTTS were about 10-1,to win the game . But with Somerset at 62-5 the odds swung dramatically and NOTTS went odds on at 2-5. Faithful old warrior Fletch . Perhaps not fully fit last night and certainly ring rusty . Was he the right man to bowl the final over last night? With two overs to go , we still had a fighting chance with Somerset still needing 19 runs to win it . Notts top three only probably had to score another 20 odd between them for us to get to the lucrative finals day . Alex and Co - you let NOTTS down - again .
On reflection it's probably better we haven't reached finals day.Been papering over the cracks most of the campaign.On the plus side Harrison impressed when they decided to pick him.
ReplyDeleteOne theory has it that Mullaney sees a threat from Harrison, drops him at any opportunity, restricts the number of overs he bowls, etc. But yesterday I think Mullaney saw the light or is it the writing on the wall? Dad's Army are on their way out. There's a changing of the guard gonna happen ready for 2025. 2024 could be a proper mess as Moores acts too slowly. We might need a specialist T20 head coach to start the ball rolling.
DeleteI've heard that too. Strike-up the band, there's a changing of the guard.
DeleteExtended loyalty can be misplaced.
ReplyDeleteMullaney and Samit have been great servants to Notts, but realistically, the captain is struggling with his batting now in all competitions, and Samit is surely in his final year for Notts.
In T20, Hales only turns up,when batting conditions suit the way he plays, requiring minimal foot movement.
If Harrison can develop his batting, then he would be an asset in all formats for Notts, with his other attributes. I hope Newell is wise enough to offer him a new contract.
Unfortunately for Notts, they didn't possess a finisher in their batting line up, such as Gregory, who showed the way for Somerset.
Well, credit to Matt Montgomery and Samit for at least getting us to a score, when we could have been rolled for about 130
ReplyDeleteGame was effectively over after 4 overs. I thought the top3 batted like plonkers. After Hales went early just reign it in a bit. I realise teams go hard in the PP but we haven’t got a middle order like Somerset’s and our only chance was one of the top3 going big and the others pushing it around, like they did.
Hopefully Montgomery will add some range hitting to his game over the next few seasons to become like Lewis Gregory who was able to clear the ropes when the asking rate was getting to 10s
One more wicket shortly after Calvin’s brilliant over and possibly could have got over the line but I thought they were still always in control and able to up the ante when they needed to.
At least we gave it a real good go and showed some bottle and character after posting an under par score. You can’t ask any more. They’re a better team this year than we are. Plain and Seemples.
I’ve always stood up for Baz(Hales) after the many brilliant innings he’s played for us down all those years, but he’s had a pretty average Blast campaign and doesn’t often deliver when it’s most needed theses days.To me, the Baz of 5 years ago gets a 70 odd last night in the big pressure game and when it’s most needed. The only thing you can say is there’s only been him and 1 or 2 others that are capable of firing us up to a big score and that pressure must weigh heavily in the end I guess
Has to be the end of the road for Patel and Mull. Both great servants but obviously no longer the consistent match winners they once were.
Shaheen Afridi may have got us over the line but every team can quote ifs and buts
Dr. Peregrine Soper(of Wimpole Street)
Very good comments Dr Soper.
Delete80 NOT OUT
DeleteIt could well be that we are losing the regular comments of Dr Soper . I understand he has applied for the soon to be vacant post of Senior Cricket Correspondent at the Sunday Times - and is in fact the current favourite to occupy the esteemed role , previously penned by the likes of E. W Swanton and John Arlott. Enjoy Dr Sopers comments while you can .