Just the one game tonight, in the CB40 competition, and heavily rain affected.
CB40
Derbyshire v Kent - Kent win by 9 wickets (D/L)
Kent won the toss and decided to field
Der - 62-5 (14o)
Ken - 68-1
Rain ruined most of the evening leaving a 14 over per side game in Derby. Kent made full use of the difficult conditions and prevent Derbyshire from making a quick start. Two early wickets removed both of the openers for 11 each. Durston took the hosts to 41 before he was caught behind for 11, causing a small collapse that left Derbyshire on 47-5. Clare managed to hit 11 from 3 balls in the closing stages with a 6 and a 4, but Stevens finished with 2 for 3 from 2 overs, which in a 14 over thrash was incredible.
Kent however wasted no time in getting to 20, insdie the first three overs. Key was caught for 17 from 10 balls, but Billings (28*) batted more carefully to make sure no upset would happen. He and Northeast (22*) took Kent to their required 68, in 10.5 overs.
Star Player: Stevens, for his brilliant bowling performance
Tuesday 31 July 2012
Monday 30 July 2012
County Championship Day 4 & Tables and CB40 Cricket
The final day for the County Championship matches, and sadly rain and flat wickets seems to have led to a spate of draws, still with the end of the season drawing closer, we may start to see more set up matches and a few more results!
County Championship
Day 4
Warwickshire v Surrey - Match drawn
War - 571
Sur - 286 & 202-3 (f/o)
More rain in Birmingham skittled most of Warwickshire's chances, while Surrey batted better throughout the day to take the game to a draw.
In the morning Burns went on to 42 before being bowled by Rankin, and was soon followed by Harinath for 0. With the score on 113 Patel had du Bruyn caught and Surrey were in some trouble, still 172 behind. Opener Ansari was hanging on however and he went to an excellent half century and then batted steadily with Roy (42*) throughout the rest of the day to save the match. Ansari finished on 83 not out from 257 balls.
Points: Warwickshire 10, Surrey 7
Nottinghamshire v Sussex - Match drawn
Sus - 171 & 385-5
Not - 520-4d
It was going to take something special to take a wicket on this Trent Bridge pitch, which even the rain had failed to spice up. Sure enough a superb catch finally broke the deadlock, after more than 112 overs without a wicket.
Sussex's openers Joyce and Nash still had a job to do this morning to prevent Nottinghamshire from claiming the win. They picked up where they left off last night however taking their partnership past 150 and then 200 as Nash went to his century. Joyce though couldn't emulate his team mate as Lumb cut off a certain four with a wonderful catch that also dismissed the opener for 98.
If the hosts were hoping it might produce a flurry of wickets however they were disappointed as Wells (59) came in a eased to half century. Nash was finally caught by Taylor for 162, with the score on 314-2, and the draw almost certain.
Wessels had been brought on to bowl, which shows how little the seamers were getting out of the pitch, and induced Wells to flick the ball back at him for a caught and bowled, his first wicket in first class cricket. Yardy was then caught by Adams and with Sussex's lead only at 6 Nottinghamshire still maintained a glimmer of hope. 31 from Goodwin though made sure of the draw, despite him being bowled by Patel shortly before the end.
Points: Nottinghamshire 11, Sussex 4
Hampshire v Kent - Match drawn
Ham - 292 & 186-9
Ken - 438-8
A thrilling finish on the south coast saw the host hold on at the last to save the match.
The day began badly for Hampshire who needed to bat all day, or score at least 250 if they were to avoid defeat. Vince was bowled for 0 and quickly followed by Shafayat (2) to leave themeselves on 8-2. Katich also made a duck and Kent were sensing an easy victory. Dawson managed to score 28 before he was caught and the hosts were 52-4.
Opener Adams was using up plenty of balls in a gutsy innings and was joined by Ervine who added 31 before he went lbw. Bates (2) didn't last long and the visitors were once again sensing the win was near.
Mascarnehas managed to take 52 balls to score 9 but when he went so did Balcombe and Tomlinson in quick succession and Hampshire were 144-9, still 31 behind and well over an hour's play left. Last man Briggs then produced the innings of his life to prevent Kent's victory charge. He scored 20* in 57 balls while Adams carried his bat for just 85 from 255 balls. Hampshire had batted for 91 overs and survived. With a lead now of 11 the game was called a draw.
Points: Hampshire 7, Kent 11
Leicestershire v Yorkshire - Match drawn
Lei - 320 & 157-7
Yor - 486
More rain meant play was reduced dramatically but Leicestershire held on to deprive Yorkshire of a win. The midlanders added 100 in the day for the loss of 5 wickets and took the draw. 44 from White stopped the Yorkshire bowlers, who were on top with the hosts on 78-5, and although he was caught late in the day the visitors couldn't wrap up the tail.
Points: Leicestershire 8, Yorkshire 11
CB40 Cricket
Lancashire v Gloucestershire - Lancashire win by 4 wickets
Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to bat
Glo - 184-7
Lan - 187-6
Early wickets prevent Gloucestershire from making a decent start as they slipped to 35-3. Housego (42) and Gidman (18) rebuilt somewhat but both were dismissed before the 30 over mark to leave the visitors on 111-5.
The runs continued to come slowly and a poor score seemed likely when Dent was caught for 27. Cockbain though left it late to make a surge as he hit four 6s in the dying moments of the innings to lift Gloucestershire past 180, still a below par total, before being stumped off the last ball. He made 58 in 49 balls and gave the visitors some hope.
Moore (37) and Prince (16) put on 43 to give Lancashire a good start, but Gloucestershire fought back, taking three wickets to slow the rate, leaving the hosts on 81-3. Brown and Horton though batted sensibly, knowing that the required rate was not high, and fended off the visitors' attack. Brown did hit one 6 as he went a much needed fifty and left Lancashire needing just 39 from the last 7 overs.
That was whittled down to 23 from the last 4, but after a single Brown was caught for 60, to send nerves around Old Trafford. Then with 2 overs and 2 balls remaining, and just 15 required Horton was trapped in front and given out lbw for 46. The pressure was getting to the home side despite them still being in the better position. Now though they had two new batsmen and Gloucestershire had their tails up. Shahzad was the newest man and after a couple of singles he bunted the boundary that Lancashire desparately wanted to bring the required runs down to 8.
Payne wasn't finished yet and he managed to clean bowl Shahzad (10), although with only now required the game was all but over. Captain Chapple then clipped 2 from the last ball of the penultimate over as Payne finished with 3 for 39, the best figures of the night. With the fielders up Cross then found the boundary to win the game for Lancashire in the final over.
Star Player: In a game where the wickets were shared and the stand out innings was on the losing side, this is difficult, but I give it to Shahzad for his 2 for 34 and 10 from 5 balls at the end, which restricted Gloucestershire and boosted Lancashire respectively.
County Championship Tables
Division 1
Division 2
County Championship
Day 4
Warwickshire v Surrey - Match drawn
War - 571
Sur - 286 & 202-3 (f/o)
More rain in Birmingham skittled most of Warwickshire's chances, while Surrey batted better throughout the day to take the game to a draw.
In the morning Burns went on to 42 before being bowled by Rankin, and was soon followed by Harinath for 0. With the score on 113 Patel had du Bruyn caught and Surrey were in some trouble, still 172 behind. Opener Ansari was hanging on however and he went to an excellent half century and then batted steadily with Roy (42*) throughout the rest of the day to save the match. Ansari finished on 83 not out from 257 balls.
Points: Warwickshire 10, Surrey 7
Nottinghamshire v Sussex - Match drawn
Sus - 171 & 385-5
Not - 520-4d
It was going to take something special to take a wicket on this Trent Bridge pitch, which even the rain had failed to spice up. Sure enough a superb catch finally broke the deadlock, after more than 112 overs without a wicket.
Sussex's openers Joyce and Nash still had a job to do this morning to prevent Nottinghamshire from claiming the win. They picked up where they left off last night however taking their partnership past 150 and then 200 as Nash went to his century. Joyce though couldn't emulate his team mate as Lumb cut off a certain four with a wonderful catch that also dismissed the opener for 98.
If the hosts were hoping it might produce a flurry of wickets however they were disappointed as Wells (59) came in a eased to half century. Nash was finally caught by Taylor for 162, with the score on 314-2, and the draw almost certain.
Wessels had been brought on to bowl, which shows how little the seamers were getting out of the pitch, and induced Wells to flick the ball back at him for a caught and bowled, his first wicket in first class cricket. Yardy was then caught by Adams and with Sussex's lead only at 6 Nottinghamshire still maintained a glimmer of hope. 31 from Goodwin though made sure of the draw, despite him being bowled by Patel shortly before the end.
Points: Nottinghamshire 11, Sussex 4
Hampshire v Kent - Match drawn
Ham - 292 & 186-9
Ken - 438-8
A thrilling finish on the south coast saw the host hold on at the last to save the match.
The day began badly for Hampshire who needed to bat all day, or score at least 250 if they were to avoid defeat. Vince was bowled for 0 and quickly followed by Shafayat (2) to leave themeselves on 8-2. Katich also made a duck and Kent were sensing an easy victory. Dawson managed to score 28 before he was caught and the hosts were 52-4.
Opener Adams was using up plenty of balls in a gutsy innings and was joined by Ervine who added 31 before he went lbw. Bates (2) didn't last long and the visitors were once again sensing the win was near.
Mascarnehas managed to take 52 balls to score 9 but when he went so did Balcombe and Tomlinson in quick succession and Hampshire were 144-9, still 31 behind and well over an hour's play left. Last man Briggs then produced the innings of his life to prevent Kent's victory charge. He scored 20* in 57 balls while Adams carried his bat for just 85 from 255 balls. Hampshire had batted for 91 overs and survived. With a lead now of 11 the game was called a draw.
Points: Hampshire 7, Kent 11
Leicestershire v Yorkshire - Match drawn
Lei - 320 & 157-7
Yor - 486
More rain meant play was reduced dramatically but Leicestershire held on to deprive Yorkshire of a win. The midlanders added 100 in the day for the loss of 5 wickets and took the draw. 44 from White stopped the Yorkshire bowlers, who were on top with the hosts on 78-5, and although he was caught late in the day the visitors couldn't wrap up the tail.
Points: Leicestershire 8, Yorkshire 11
CB40 Cricket
Lancashire v Gloucestershire - Lancashire win by 4 wickets
Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to bat
Glo - 184-7
Lan - 187-6
Early wickets prevent Gloucestershire from making a decent start as they slipped to 35-3. Housego (42) and Gidman (18) rebuilt somewhat but both were dismissed before the 30 over mark to leave the visitors on 111-5.
The runs continued to come slowly and a poor score seemed likely when Dent was caught for 27. Cockbain though left it late to make a surge as he hit four 6s in the dying moments of the innings to lift Gloucestershire past 180, still a below par total, before being stumped off the last ball. He made 58 in 49 balls and gave the visitors some hope.
Moore (37) and Prince (16) put on 43 to give Lancashire a good start, but Gloucestershire fought back, taking three wickets to slow the rate, leaving the hosts on 81-3. Brown and Horton though batted sensibly, knowing that the required rate was not high, and fended off the visitors' attack. Brown did hit one 6 as he went a much needed fifty and left Lancashire needing just 39 from the last 7 overs.
That was whittled down to 23 from the last 4, but after a single Brown was caught for 60, to send nerves around Old Trafford. Then with 2 overs and 2 balls remaining, and just 15 required Horton was trapped in front and given out lbw for 46. The pressure was getting to the home side despite them still being in the better position. Now though they had two new batsmen and Gloucestershire had their tails up. Shahzad was the newest man and after a couple of singles he bunted the boundary that Lancashire desparately wanted to bring the required runs down to 8.
Payne wasn't finished yet and he managed to clean bowl Shahzad (10), although with only now required the game was all but over. Captain Chapple then clipped 2 from the last ball of the penultimate over as Payne finished with 3 for 39, the best figures of the night. With the fielders up Cross then found the boundary to win the game for Lancashire in the final over.
Star Player: In a game where the wickets were shared and the stand out innings was on the losing side, this is difficult, but I give it to Shahzad for his 2 for 34 and 10 from 5 balls at the end, which restricted Gloucestershire and boosted Lancashire respectively.
County Championship Tables
Division 1
| Team | Played | Points | |
| 1 | Warwickshire | 10 | 135 |
| 2 | Nottinghamshire | 11 | 135 |
| 3 | Somerset | 10 | 117 |
| 4 | Sussex | 11 | 107 |
| 5 | Middlesex | 10 | 104 |
| 6 | Surrey | 11 | 81 |
| 7 | Lancashire | 11 | 75 |
| 8 | Worcestershire | 9 | 70 |
| 9 | Durham | 11 | 66 |
Division 2
| Team | Played | Points | |
| 1 | Derbyshire | 10 | 127 |
| 2 | Yorkshire | 11 | 113 |
| 3 | Hampshire | 11 | 112 |
| 4 | Kent | 10 | 110 |
| 5 | Northamptonshire | 10 | 86 |
| 6 | Gloucestershire | 10 | 84 |
| 7 | Essex | 10 | 75 |
| 8 | Leicestershire | 11 | 69 |
| 9 | Glamorgan | 11 | 66 |
Sunday 29 July 2012
County Championship Day 3 and CB40 Cricket
Three more CB40 games today to go with the continuing Championship matches. Rain interupted play in a few but the ground staff around the country continue to do an excellent job to make sure as much play was had as possible.
County Championship
Day 3
Durham v Middlesex - Durham win by 15 runs
Dur - 102 & 200
Mid - 185 & 102
Durham cleaned up Middlesex this morning as the Londoners fell short of their target. At 98-7 it looked as though the visitors had saved their blushes, but the end came quickly as Stokes picked up the last two wickets and Rushworth finished with 4 for 41 to claim Durham's first Championship win of the season.
Warwickshire v Surrey
War - 571
Sur - 286 & 38-0 (f/o)
Rain reduced the morning session but Surrey slipped from 109-1 overnight to 131-4 at lunch. In the afternoon Burns was caught for 77 and the visitors slowly lost wickets, and, despite some runs down the order, fell short of the follow-on target. Warwickshire had no hesitation in putting Surrey back in with a lead of 285, one less than Surrey had just made.
18 more overs were possible but the hosts failed to make any more inroads, although they have all of tomorrow to try and skittle Surrey and force another win.
Nottinghamshire v Sussex
Sus - 171 & 146-0
Not - 520-4d
After 11 wickets on the first day, but only 3 yesterday the trend seemed to suggest that the wicket was getting easier to bat on, and that proved true. Although time was lost to rain, no wickets fell all day.
Nottinghamshire batted on in the morning for just over an hour as Taylor went to a splendid 163*, which slightly surprisingly (given that it is his first hundred in the first division) has led to an England Test call up. Voges meanwhile finished 44* as the hosts declared on a huge 520-4, a lead of 349.
Sussex built slowly but the track was giving no help to the bowlers and even after a couple of rain breaks the hosts could only make the odd ball beat the bat as the visitors cruised to a hundred partnership with both Joyce (63*) and Nash (79*) finishing unbeaten.
Hampshire v Kent
Ham - 292
Ken - 438-8
Kent continued to dominate with the bat and some lower order runs as they extended their lead over Hampshire to 146. Stevens made 40 and Jones 36, although the game seems to be heading for a draw. Tomlinson now has 4 for 79 for the hosts, but it was another difficult day in the field.
Leicestershire v Yorkshire
Lei - 320 & 57-2
Yor - 486
Henderson finished with 4 for 126, but Yorkshire built a big lead over Leicestershire as Lyth carried his bat for one of the best innings of the season by any player. He finished on 248*, his first double hundred, beating his previous best score by 106. He hit twenty-eight 4s and three 6s.
The hosts went to 43 before two quick wickets gave Yorkshire hope of skittling them tomorrow.
CB40 Cricket
Glamorgan v Scotland - Glamorgan win by 8 wickets
Scotland won the toss and decided to bat
Sco - 151-9
Gla - 154-2
Scotland were rolled over in their innings, although Glamorgan couldn't bowl them out as the visitors finshed 9 down. Early wickets restricted Scotland and left them on 54-5. Mommsen hit 41 and Chalmers 38, but both were watchful as Glamorgan continued to press.
The score was never going to trouble the Welsh team either. Rees carried his bat for 60, while Allenby was there at the end with 39*, as Glamorgan won with 12 overs to spare.
Star Player: Allenby, for his 3 for 16 (from 8 overs) and 39 not out.
Unicorns v Northamptonshire - Northamptonshire win by 8 wickets
Unicorns won the toss and decided to bat
Uni - 163-8
Nor - 167-2
In a similar game to that in Wales, the Unicorns failed to set a decent total, although they did make a better start. 41 from Wadlan at the top of the order set the hosts on their way but 4 for 39 from Daggett prevented them from building to a bigger score. There were also 3 wickets for Middlebrook, while Ord hit 38 from 36 balls before being last man out.
In reply Northamptonshire lost Coetzer, bowled, for 16, but pressed on and were 83 before the second wicket fell, Newton (45) also bowled. From there Wakely (52*) and Sales (47*) took the visitors home in 26.2 overs for an easy win.
Star Player: Middlebrook, although he took fewer wickets his tight bowling only gave 14 runs from 7 overs to leave the Unicorns short.
Worcestershire v Essex - Essex win by 25 runs
Worcestershire won the toss and decided to field
Ess - 269-4
Wor - 244-8
In easily the most exciting game of the afternoon Essex built a strong, first wicket, partnership to set themselves up for a big score. 111 from Pettini and 62 from Westley lifted the visitors past 100 before a wicket fell. Later ten Doeschate finished 50 not out as he took Essex past 250. His innings lasted 24 balls and included four 6s.
Worcestershire couldn't match their opponent's start but 42 from Ali and 68 by Hughes gave the home side hope of chasing the above average score. Napier took 3 for 57 though as regular wickets fell throughout the innings and Worcestershire couldn't keep up with the rate. In the end they fell 25 runs short and 8 wickets down.
Star Player: Pettini, for a stand out knock of 111 that gave Essex a score beyond Worcestershire's reach.
County Championship
Day 3
Durham v Middlesex - Durham win by 15 runs
Dur - 102 & 200
Mid - 185 & 102
Durham cleaned up Middlesex this morning as the Londoners fell short of their target. At 98-7 it looked as though the visitors had saved their blushes, but the end came quickly as Stokes picked up the last two wickets and Rushworth finished with 4 for 41 to claim Durham's first Championship win of the season.
Warwickshire v Surrey
War - 571
Sur - 286 & 38-0 (f/o)
Rain reduced the morning session but Surrey slipped from 109-1 overnight to 131-4 at lunch. In the afternoon Burns was caught for 77 and the visitors slowly lost wickets, and, despite some runs down the order, fell short of the follow-on target. Warwickshire had no hesitation in putting Surrey back in with a lead of 285, one less than Surrey had just made.
18 more overs were possible but the hosts failed to make any more inroads, although they have all of tomorrow to try and skittle Surrey and force another win.
Nottinghamshire v Sussex
Sus - 171 & 146-0
Not - 520-4d
After 11 wickets on the first day, but only 3 yesterday the trend seemed to suggest that the wicket was getting easier to bat on, and that proved true. Although time was lost to rain, no wickets fell all day.
Nottinghamshire batted on in the morning for just over an hour as Taylor went to a splendid 163*, which slightly surprisingly (given that it is his first hundred in the first division) has led to an England Test call up. Voges meanwhile finished 44* as the hosts declared on a huge 520-4, a lead of 349.
Sussex built slowly but the track was giving no help to the bowlers and even after a couple of rain breaks the hosts could only make the odd ball beat the bat as the visitors cruised to a hundred partnership with both Joyce (63*) and Nash (79*) finishing unbeaten.
Hampshire v Kent
Ham - 292
Ken - 438-8
Kent continued to dominate with the bat and some lower order runs as they extended their lead over Hampshire to 146. Stevens made 40 and Jones 36, although the game seems to be heading for a draw. Tomlinson now has 4 for 79 for the hosts, but it was another difficult day in the field.
Leicestershire v Yorkshire
Lei - 320 & 57-2
Yor - 486
Henderson finished with 4 for 126, but Yorkshire built a big lead over Leicestershire as Lyth carried his bat for one of the best innings of the season by any player. He finished on 248*, his first double hundred, beating his previous best score by 106. He hit twenty-eight 4s and three 6s.
The hosts went to 43 before two quick wickets gave Yorkshire hope of skittling them tomorrow.
CB40 Cricket
Glamorgan v Scotland - Glamorgan win by 8 wickets
Scotland won the toss and decided to bat
Sco - 151-9
Gla - 154-2
Scotland were rolled over in their innings, although Glamorgan couldn't bowl them out as the visitors finshed 9 down. Early wickets restricted Scotland and left them on 54-5. Mommsen hit 41 and Chalmers 38, but both were watchful as Glamorgan continued to press.
The score was never going to trouble the Welsh team either. Rees carried his bat for 60, while Allenby was there at the end with 39*, as Glamorgan won with 12 overs to spare.
Star Player: Allenby, for his 3 for 16 (from 8 overs) and 39 not out.
Unicorns v Northamptonshire - Northamptonshire win by 8 wickets
Unicorns won the toss and decided to bat
Uni - 163-8
Nor - 167-2
In a similar game to that in Wales, the Unicorns failed to set a decent total, although they did make a better start. 41 from Wadlan at the top of the order set the hosts on their way but 4 for 39 from Daggett prevented them from building to a bigger score. There were also 3 wickets for Middlebrook, while Ord hit 38 from 36 balls before being last man out.
In reply Northamptonshire lost Coetzer, bowled, for 16, but pressed on and were 83 before the second wicket fell, Newton (45) also bowled. From there Wakely (52*) and Sales (47*) took the visitors home in 26.2 overs for an easy win.
Star Player: Middlebrook, although he took fewer wickets his tight bowling only gave 14 runs from 7 overs to leave the Unicorns short.
Worcestershire v Essex - Essex win by 25 runs
Worcestershire won the toss and decided to field
Ess - 269-4
Wor - 244-8
In easily the most exciting game of the afternoon Essex built a strong, first wicket, partnership to set themselves up for a big score. 111 from Pettini and 62 from Westley lifted the visitors past 100 before a wicket fell. Later ten Doeschate finished 50 not out as he took Essex past 250. His innings lasted 24 balls and included four 6s.
Worcestershire couldn't match their opponent's start but 42 from Ali and 68 by Hughes gave the home side hope of chasing the above average score. Napier took 3 for 57 though as regular wickets fell throughout the innings and Worcestershire couldn't keep up with the rate. In the end they fell 25 runs short and 8 wickets down.
Star Player: Pettini, for a stand out knock of 111 that gave Essex a score beyond Worcestershire's reach.
Saturday 28 July 2012
County Championship Day 2 & CB40 Cricket - 28th July
There were runs galore today, possibly inspired by the match at the opening ceremony of the Olympics last night, with several centurians across the five matches; six including the CB40 match in Taunton.
County Championship
Day 2
Warwickshire v Surrey
War - 571
Sur - 109-1
Warwickshire showed no sign of being rolled over this morning as the 7th wicket partnership went to 122, taking the hosts past 400, but not to a fifth batting point as they'd taken too many overs. Troughton was eventually caught for 119 but the innings continued as Warwickshire batted Surrey out of the game.
Woakes and Patel (76) put together 127 for the ninth wicket but the end came shortly before tea with last man Rankin, run out and Woakes left not out on 118. The last four wickets cost Surrey 264, and possibly the match. They then had to dig in and try to survive two days.
Ansari managed less than an hour but Burns (53*) and Harinath (44*) took Surrey to 100 and the close to give some hope to the Londoners.
Nottinghamshire v Sussex
Sus - 171
Not - 443-4
Wessels was clean bowled early in the day for 43, but Patel took over his quick scoring throughout the morning before he was also dismissed for 43, from 67 balls. Nottinghamshire passed Middlesex before lunch as Lumb went to a half century after having being dropped early in the day, then he and Taylor batted the whole of the afternoon to take the game away from Sussex, by which time Lumb had entered triple figures.
After tea the Nottinghamshire batsmen came out hitting as Lumb took 14 from the first over to go past 150 and then hit another 6 as Panesar came under attack. Magoffin soon came to the rescue by clean bowling Lumb for 171, but Taylor and new man Voges took Nottinghamshire past 400 and to a fifth batting point.
Late in the evening session Taylor went to his first Championship century for Nottinghamshire in measured fashion. He finished the day 106* in an beaten partnership of 71 with Voges (32*), as Nottinghamshire again took the day's honours.
Durham v Middlesex
Dur - 102 & 200
Mid - 185 & 58-5
Middlesex added another 41 runs this morning, with Berg making 37, but the end came quickly as Onions finished with 3 for 38. Durham needed to dig in and try to wipe out the 83 run defecit without losing too many wickets, but Finn didn't take long to get among the top order. Two wickets for him left Durham on 32-3 and staring at a possible two day defeat. Stokes made 23 but he too departed and was followed by Benkenstein, shortly after Durham had passed the score needed to make Middlesex bat again.
Rolland-Jones picked up two more wickets to leave Durham on 119-7, just 36 ahead, but then rain arrived and play was halted for about an hour. On returning however Borthwick (41*) and Thorp (36) added 60 to give a small boost to Durham and the Northerners edged to 200 before being all out, setting Middlesex 118 to win.
Robson was promtly caught to the third ball of the innings and victory didn't look so easy. It looked even harder when Rushworth removed Rogers, also for 0 and Middlesex still required 118.
Malan finally scored a run and then went on to add 15 and put Middlesex back in front, but he too was dismissed by Rushworth who followed up by having Morgan lbw for 2 leaving the visitors on 30-4 and the game in the ballance. It only took Thorp 8 balls to come to the party too, as he removed key man Denly for 16.
Rolland-Jones tried a different tack, attack. He hit 15* before the close but Middlesex have scored less than half the required runs and lost half of their wickets.
Hampshire v Kent
Ham - 292
Ken - 291-5
Hampshire couldn't add a run before Davies removed Briggs for his third wicket, and the last of the innings. Kent then began their reply and soon had the upper hand as Northeast and Key both went to fifties in a century opening partnership that took them past lunch.
In the afternoon the pair put Hampshire's bowlers to the sword, all seven of them, as none of them were able to break the partnership that built up to a double hundred and beyond.
Northeast was finally caught behind off the bowling of Ervine for a splendid 140, with Kent on 252. The visitors then collapsed dramatically at the end of the day, losing 5 wickets for 39, the last of which was Key for 119. Hampshire will hope to take more wickets in the morning to keep in touch.
Leicestershire v Yorkshire
Lei - 320
Yor - 336-5
Leicestershire added just two runs this morning before Boyce was caught and bowled for 107 but the hosts quickly picked up a wicket of their own, Buck cleaning bowling Root for 0. Lyth and Jaques (30) then added 68 before Buck removed the latter, caught by Boyce.
Henderson took a wicket to reduce Yorkshire to 112-3 but then Lyth and Bairstow combined to add 197 for the fourth wicket and all but wipe out the gap to Leicestershire's score. Both batsmen went to hundreds in the evening session but Bairstow was finally dismissed, also by Buck, for 118. Hoggard finally got going by having Ballance lbw for 1, but Yorkshire passed the hosts' score as Lyth reached 150 before the close.
CB40 Cricket
Somerset v Glamorgan - Somerset win by 3 wickets
Glamorgan won the toss and decided to bat
Gla - 250-9
Som - 251-7
Somerset's first match since their Twenty20 win on Tuesday saw them make a good start reducing Glamorgan to 7-1 and 33-2. The visitors built small partnerships but struggled to turn them into bigger scores as Somerset continued to pick up wickets. One man frustrated the home side however, third man, Cooke, who opened his shoulders later in the innings to crash four 6s in a magnificent century. He held the team together as more late wickets threatened to end Glamorgan's innings early. Cooke survived to the end of the 40 overs and finished with 137 to his name, a one-day career record score for him.
Somerset though wasted no time in putting bat to ball themselves as they raced to 50-0 inside 5 overs. Indeed 92 were on the board before a wicket fell but then Glamorgan fought back taking three for just 29 runs. Trescothick had made just 14 of the opening partnership while Trego hit 81 from 43 balls, but both were dismissed as Somerset were left to rebuild.
Buttler scored 22 but was bowled with the score on 154-4, before an excellent half-century from Compton took the home side past 200. Suppiah was run out with 28 still required and the game in the ballance with 6 overs to go. Gregory then became the third batsman to be bowled but Somerset pressed closer to the win. Meschede hit a 6 and Thomas finished 16 not out as Somerset won with 2 overs and a ball to spare.
Star Player: Cooke, for easily the stand out innings of the match (137*), despite it being on the losing side.
County Championship
Day 2
Warwickshire v Surrey
War - 571
Sur - 109-1
Warwickshire showed no sign of being rolled over this morning as the 7th wicket partnership went to 122, taking the hosts past 400, but not to a fifth batting point as they'd taken too many overs. Troughton was eventually caught for 119 but the innings continued as Warwickshire batted Surrey out of the game.
Woakes and Patel (76) put together 127 for the ninth wicket but the end came shortly before tea with last man Rankin, run out and Woakes left not out on 118. The last four wickets cost Surrey 264, and possibly the match. They then had to dig in and try to survive two days.
Ansari managed less than an hour but Burns (53*) and Harinath (44*) took Surrey to 100 and the close to give some hope to the Londoners.
Nottinghamshire v Sussex
Sus - 171
Not - 443-4
Wessels was clean bowled early in the day for 43, but Patel took over his quick scoring throughout the morning before he was also dismissed for 43, from 67 balls. Nottinghamshire passed Middlesex before lunch as Lumb went to a half century after having being dropped early in the day, then he and Taylor batted the whole of the afternoon to take the game away from Sussex, by which time Lumb had entered triple figures.
After tea the Nottinghamshire batsmen came out hitting as Lumb took 14 from the first over to go past 150 and then hit another 6 as Panesar came under attack. Magoffin soon came to the rescue by clean bowling Lumb for 171, but Taylor and new man Voges took Nottinghamshire past 400 and to a fifth batting point.
Late in the evening session Taylor went to his first Championship century for Nottinghamshire in measured fashion. He finished the day 106* in an beaten partnership of 71 with Voges (32*), as Nottinghamshire again took the day's honours.
Durham v Middlesex
Dur - 102 & 200
Mid - 185 & 58-5
Middlesex added another 41 runs this morning, with Berg making 37, but the end came quickly as Onions finished with 3 for 38. Durham needed to dig in and try to wipe out the 83 run defecit without losing too many wickets, but Finn didn't take long to get among the top order. Two wickets for him left Durham on 32-3 and staring at a possible two day defeat. Stokes made 23 but he too departed and was followed by Benkenstein, shortly after Durham had passed the score needed to make Middlesex bat again.
Rolland-Jones picked up two more wickets to leave Durham on 119-7, just 36 ahead, but then rain arrived and play was halted for about an hour. On returning however Borthwick (41*) and Thorp (36) added 60 to give a small boost to Durham and the Northerners edged to 200 before being all out, setting Middlesex 118 to win.
Robson was promtly caught to the third ball of the innings and victory didn't look so easy. It looked even harder when Rushworth removed Rogers, also for 0 and Middlesex still required 118.
Malan finally scored a run and then went on to add 15 and put Middlesex back in front, but he too was dismissed by Rushworth who followed up by having Morgan lbw for 2 leaving the visitors on 30-4 and the game in the ballance. It only took Thorp 8 balls to come to the party too, as he removed key man Denly for 16.
Rolland-Jones tried a different tack, attack. He hit 15* before the close but Middlesex have scored less than half the required runs and lost half of their wickets.
Hampshire v Kent
Ham - 292
Ken - 291-5
Hampshire couldn't add a run before Davies removed Briggs for his third wicket, and the last of the innings. Kent then began their reply and soon had the upper hand as Northeast and Key both went to fifties in a century opening partnership that took them past lunch.
In the afternoon the pair put Hampshire's bowlers to the sword, all seven of them, as none of them were able to break the partnership that built up to a double hundred and beyond.
Northeast was finally caught behind off the bowling of Ervine for a splendid 140, with Kent on 252. The visitors then collapsed dramatically at the end of the day, losing 5 wickets for 39, the last of which was Key for 119. Hampshire will hope to take more wickets in the morning to keep in touch.
Leicestershire v Yorkshire
Lei - 320
Yor - 336-5
Leicestershire added just two runs this morning before Boyce was caught and bowled for 107 but the hosts quickly picked up a wicket of their own, Buck cleaning bowling Root for 0. Lyth and Jaques (30) then added 68 before Buck removed the latter, caught by Boyce.
Henderson took a wicket to reduce Yorkshire to 112-3 but then Lyth and Bairstow combined to add 197 for the fourth wicket and all but wipe out the gap to Leicestershire's score. Both batsmen went to hundreds in the evening session but Bairstow was finally dismissed, also by Buck, for 118. Hoggard finally got going by having Ballance lbw for 1, but Yorkshire passed the hosts' score as Lyth reached 150 before the close.
CB40 Cricket
Somerset v Glamorgan - Somerset win by 3 wickets
Glamorgan won the toss and decided to bat
Gla - 250-9
Som - 251-7
Somerset's first match since their Twenty20 win on Tuesday saw them make a good start reducing Glamorgan to 7-1 and 33-2. The visitors built small partnerships but struggled to turn them into bigger scores as Somerset continued to pick up wickets. One man frustrated the home side however, third man, Cooke, who opened his shoulders later in the innings to crash four 6s in a magnificent century. He held the team together as more late wickets threatened to end Glamorgan's innings early. Cooke survived to the end of the 40 overs and finished with 137 to his name, a one-day career record score for him.
Somerset though wasted no time in putting bat to ball themselves as they raced to 50-0 inside 5 overs. Indeed 92 were on the board before a wicket fell but then Glamorgan fought back taking three for just 29 runs. Trescothick had made just 14 of the opening partnership while Trego hit 81 from 43 balls, but both were dismissed as Somerset were left to rebuild.
Buttler scored 22 but was bowled with the score on 154-4, before an excellent half-century from Compton took the home side past 200. Suppiah was run out with 28 still required and the game in the ballance with 6 overs to go. Gregory then became the third batsman to be bowled but Somerset pressed closer to the win. Meschede hit a 6 and Thomas finished 16 not out as Somerset won with 2 overs and a ball to spare.
Star Player: Cooke, for easily the stand out innings of the match (137*), despite it being on the losing side.
Friday 27 July 2012
County Championship and CB40 Cricket - 27th July
So a new round of Championship Cricket begins as we head into the final third of the competition. The tables are still tight and almost every team has something to play for, whether they're challenging for top spot, or trying to avoid relegation. Five games began today while across the channel there was a CB40 game as well.
County Championship
Day 1
Warwickshire v Surrey
Warwickshire won the toss and decided to bat
War - 322-6
Warwickshire showed no sign of relenting their top spot today as they batted themselves into a strong position against an increasingly worried Surrey side, who could easily be pulled towards one of the relegation spots this week. Chopra and Westwood gave the hosts the perfect start cruising past 100 before lunch and going in at the break without the loss of a wicket.
The Londoners did manage to pick up a few regular wickets throughout the afternoon session. Firstly Chopra for 60, and then new man Porterfield for 8. The big wicket though was Westwood (67) who went lbw with the score on 188. Warwickshire did lose a fourth wicket before tea but also passed 200 as they began collecting batting points.
Troughton and Johnson (49) put on 98 for the fifth wicket, and Warwickshire were soon past 300. One more wicket fell before the close but Troughton is still at the wicket on 74* and will hope to take the hosts a close to 400 as he can tomorrow.
Nottinghamshire v Sussex
Sussex won the toss and decided to bat
Sus - 171
Not - 88-1
These two had varying success in the Twenty20 earlier this week, but both were raring to go this morning. Sussex worked themselves to 22 before, inevitably, Adams got the home side going by having Joyce lbw. Nash followed soon after, caught behind off the bowling of Phillips, but the visitors made it to lunch on 69-2.
After the break they tried to up the run rate slightly but quickly lost Goodwin and Yardy, both of them falling with the score on 74, to put Nottinghamshire ahead. Things then got worse for Sussex when the returning Adams had Wright caught at slip by Voges. Wells became the key man and he added 41 with Brown, but, having reached his half-century, he was also caught behind off Gurney to leave the visitors on 130-6.
The former Leicestershire bowler then double his tally by removing Magoffin, also caught behind as Sussex struggled with Nottinghamshire's pace attack. After tea Carter, who had yet to take a wicket, cleaned up the tail, finishing with 3 for 41.
Nottinghamshire made a quick reply, with the help of several no-balls, but Hales went lbw for 8 as he continues to struggle this year. Wessels (38*) and Lumb (28*) then took the home side to the close with an unbeaten, 55 run, partnership, with Sussex left toiling and in trouble at the end of day 1.
Durham v Middlesex
Middlesex won the toss and decided to field
Dur - 102
Mid - 144-7
Durham's sorry season dragged on today as they faced some tricky conditions and good bowling in the morning. Three early wickets left the home side stunned on 18-3 and the innings went down hill from there. Murtagh was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 27, with Berg also collecting 3 and Finn 2. The highest scorer was Richardson (22) as Durham scratched around and just made it to triple figures before being all out.
To add insult to injury Middlesex then got on quickly with their innings; Rogers in particular hitting boundaries all round Chester-le-Street. Middlesex still have a chance on the title and they will want to pick up as many points as possible against the division's bottom club to stay in touch with those at the top.
Thorp managed to have Robson lbw but Rogers led the Londoners past 50 with ease. Not long later however, the tables turned as three wickets fell in the 80s, the first being Rogers for 59. Middlesex passed Durham's score but promtly lost their sixth wicket, Thorp's second.
Berg (14) and Rayner (30*) then showed some fight at the end of the day, adding 32 before the close of a crazy day in the north.
Hampshire v Kent
Hampshire won the toss and decided to bat
Ham - 292-9
Hampshire made a bad start to this match as Vince and Shafayat both went early leaving the South coasters on 9-2. Katich though added 32 before he became Shreck's second wicket with the score on 67-3. From then on however Hampshire applied themselves as Adams and Dawson put on 116 for the fourth wicket. Adams though was the man to go for 91, and Dawson followed him shortly for 51 as Kent fought back.
Two more wickets left Hampshire on 226-7, but Mascarenhas and Balcombe added 50 before they both departed with the score on 276. Briggs and Tomlinson though survived to the finish and will hope to take Hampshire past 300 in the morning for a third batting point.
Leicestershire v Yorkshire
Leicestershire won the toss and decided to bat
Lei - 318-9
Smith scored all 20 runs of the first wicket partnership but was then lbw to Patterson as Yorkshire drew first blood. Leicestershire then reached 50 before losing another wicket but the score quickly became 59-3 as Eckersley and Sarwan both went cheaply. Thornely made 31, before he became the fourth wicket with the score on 98.
Yorkshire, in third place, are chasing promotion back to the first division and were in a good position but 35 from Thakor once more leveled the sides. Leicestershire lie in bottom place and realistically have only pride to play for but continued to bat well in the afternoon session as Boyce went to a half century. The hosts passed 200 before tea as White cleared the ropes for the first maximum of the match, but otherwise scoring was steady and the game was evenly poised at tea with Leicestershire on 204-5.
Two wickets after the break cut the hosts to 239-7 but Boyce was still there and, with Henderson (26), took Leicestershire to 289 before the bowler was caught. One more wicket fell before the close, but Boyce is not out on 106 overnight, holding the innings together. Yorkshire have so far given 47 extras, including 21 no balls and 11 wides.
CB40 Cricket
Netherlands v Gloucestershire - Gloucestershire win by 90 runs (D/L)
Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to bat
Glo - 278-5
Net - 146
The Netherlands made a strong start in the CB40 competition this year but have fallen away in recent matches. Gloucestershire built a big first wicket partnership to leave the home side trailing in this match too.
Marshall (47) was the first wicket with the score already on 102, but the visitors continued to score at roughly a run-a-ball through the middle of the innings. Nicol was in a dominant mood and crashed the ball to all parts of the ground, and over the rope seven times in a magnificent one-day hundred. He was eventually caught for 133 with the score on 236-4.
Fuller (40) and Gidman (30*) took over the scoring and upped the run rate in the final overs with more sixes, taking Gloucestershire to 290 off their 40 overs.
The hosts knew they had to get a quick start to their innings if they could hope to keep up with the required rate (7.25 at the start of the innings). They did race to 14 inside the first two overs but then Fuller and Saxely both struck to remove the openers and leave the Netherlands on 22-2.
Borgas (30) and Cooper (51) then put on a rapid 81, with nine 4s and a 6 between them, both were dismissed in quick succession as Gloucestershire leveled the game again.
Sadly rain arrived with the Netherlands on 114-4 off 15.5 overs, although that meant there would be a result if no more play was possible.
Play though did get under way and almost immediately Gloucestershire picked up two more wickets, one to Fuller who now had three under his belt. The bowler was on a roll now and none of the batsmen had an answer as he ran through the tail, picking up 6 for 35, as the Netherlands were bowled out for 146.
Star Player: Nicol for his excellent 133 from 113 balls including seven 6s, that set the game up for Gloucestershire.
County Championship
Day 1
Warwickshire v Surrey
Warwickshire won the toss and decided to bat
War - 322-6
Warwickshire showed no sign of relenting their top spot today as they batted themselves into a strong position against an increasingly worried Surrey side, who could easily be pulled towards one of the relegation spots this week. Chopra and Westwood gave the hosts the perfect start cruising past 100 before lunch and going in at the break without the loss of a wicket.
The Londoners did manage to pick up a few regular wickets throughout the afternoon session. Firstly Chopra for 60, and then new man Porterfield for 8. The big wicket though was Westwood (67) who went lbw with the score on 188. Warwickshire did lose a fourth wicket before tea but also passed 200 as they began collecting batting points.
Troughton and Johnson (49) put on 98 for the fifth wicket, and Warwickshire were soon past 300. One more wicket fell before the close but Troughton is still at the wicket on 74* and will hope to take the hosts a close to 400 as he can tomorrow.
Nottinghamshire v Sussex
Sussex won the toss and decided to bat
Sus - 171
Not - 88-1
These two had varying success in the Twenty20 earlier this week, but both were raring to go this morning. Sussex worked themselves to 22 before, inevitably, Adams got the home side going by having Joyce lbw. Nash followed soon after, caught behind off the bowling of Phillips, but the visitors made it to lunch on 69-2.
After the break they tried to up the run rate slightly but quickly lost Goodwin and Yardy, both of them falling with the score on 74, to put Nottinghamshire ahead. Things then got worse for Sussex when the returning Adams had Wright caught at slip by Voges. Wells became the key man and he added 41 with Brown, but, having reached his half-century, he was also caught behind off Gurney to leave the visitors on 130-6.
The former Leicestershire bowler then double his tally by removing Magoffin, also caught behind as Sussex struggled with Nottinghamshire's pace attack. After tea Carter, who had yet to take a wicket, cleaned up the tail, finishing with 3 for 41.
Nottinghamshire made a quick reply, with the help of several no-balls, but Hales went lbw for 8 as he continues to struggle this year. Wessels (38*) and Lumb (28*) then took the home side to the close with an unbeaten, 55 run, partnership, with Sussex left toiling and in trouble at the end of day 1.
Durham v Middlesex
Middlesex won the toss and decided to field
Dur - 102
Mid - 144-7
Durham's sorry season dragged on today as they faced some tricky conditions and good bowling in the morning. Three early wickets left the home side stunned on 18-3 and the innings went down hill from there. Murtagh was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 27, with Berg also collecting 3 and Finn 2. The highest scorer was Richardson (22) as Durham scratched around and just made it to triple figures before being all out.
To add insult to injury Middlesex then got on quickly with their innings; Rogers in particular hitting boundaries all round Chester-le-Street. Middlesex still have a chance on the title and they will want to pick up as many points as possible against the division's bottom club to stay in touch with those at the top.
Thorp managed to have Robson lbw but Rogers led the Londoners past 50 with ease. Not long later however, the tables turned as three wickets fell in the 80s, the first being Rogers for 59. Middlesex passed Durham's score but promtly lost their sixth wicket, Thorp's second.
Berg (14) and Rayner (30*) then showed some fight at the end of the day, adding 32 before the close of a crazy day in the north.
Hampshire v Kent
Hampshire won the toss and decided to bat
Ham - 292-9
Hampshire made a bad start to this match as Vince and Shafayat both went early leaving the South coasters on 9-2. Katich though added 32 before he became Shreck's second wicket with the score on 67-3. From then on however Hampshire applied themselves as Adams and Dawson put on 116 for the fourth wicket. Adams though was the man to go for 91, and Dawson followed him shortly for 51 as Kent fought back.
Two more wickets left Hampshire on 226-7, but Mascarenhas and Balcombe added 50 before they both departed with the score on 276. Briggs and Tomlinson though survived to the finish and will hope to take Hampshire past 300 in the morning for a third batting point.
Leicestershire v Yorkshire
Leicestershire won the toss and decided to bat
Lei - 318-9
Smith scored all 20 runs of the first wicket partnership but was then lbw to Patterson as Yorkshire drew first blood. Leicestershire then reached 50 before losing another wicket but the score quickly became 59-3 as Eckersley and Sarwan both went cheaply. Thornely made 31, before he became the fourth wicket with the score on 98.
Yorkshire, in third place, are chasing promotion back to the first division and were in a good position but 35 from Thakor once more leveled the sides. Leicestershire lie in bottom place and realistically have only pride to play for but continued to bat well in the afternoon session as Boyce went to a half century. The hosts passed 200 before tea as White cleared the ropes for the first maximum of the match, but otherwise scoring was steady and the game was evenly poised at tea with Leicestershire on 204-5.
Two wickets after the break cut the hosts to 239-7 but Boyce was still there and, with Henderson (26), took Leicestershire to 289 before the bowler was caught. One more wicket fell before the close, but Boyce is not out on 106 overnight, holding the innings together. Yorkshire have so far given 47 extras, including 21 no balls and 11 wides.
CB40 Cricket
Netherlands v Gloucestershire - Gloucestershire win by 90 runs (D/L)
Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to bat
Glo - 278-5
Net - 146
The Netherlands made a strong start in the CB40 competition this year but have fallen away in recent matches. Gloucestershire built a big first wicket partnership to leave the home side trailing in this match too.
Marshall (47) was the first wicket with the score already on 102, but the visitors continued to score at roughly a run-a-ball through the middle of the innings. Nicol was in a dominant mood and crashed the ball to all parts of the ground, and over the rope seven times in a magnificent one-day hundred. He was eventually caught for 133 with the score on 236-4.
Fuller (40) and Gidman (30*) took over the scoring and upped the run rate in the final overs with more sixes, taking Gloucestershire to 290 off their 40 overs.
The hosts knew they had to get a quick start to their innings if they could hope to keep up with the required rate (7.25 at the start of the innings). They did race to 14 inside the first two overs but then Fuller and Saxely both struck to remove the openers and leave the Netherlands on 22-2.
Borgas (30) and Cooper (51) then put on a rapid 81, with nine 4s and a 6 between them, both were dismissed in quick succession as Gloucestershire leveled the game again.
Sadly rain arrived with the Netherlands on 114-4 off 15.5 overs, although that meant there would be a result if no more play was possible.
Play though did get under way and almost immediately Gloucestershire picked up two more wickets, one to Fuller who now had three under his belt. The bowler was on a roll now and none of the batsmen had an answer as he ran through the tail, picking up 6 for 35, as the Netherlands were bowled out for 146.
Star Player: Nicol for his excellent 133 from 113 balls including seven 6s, that set the game up for Gloucestershire.
Thursday 26 July 2012
4th Twenty20 Quarter-final - Nottinghamshire v Hampshire
So to the last quarter-final of this years Twenty20, Nottinghamshire v Hampshire. For both teams this was their 5th time in the quarters, and they have had similar success. Both have won two and lost two and both have lost in the semis. The difference comes at the final itself, as Nottinghamshire lost theirs on their home ground in still one of the most thrilling finals, back in 2006, whereas Hampshire went one better by beating Somerset, but also on their home turf, in 2010.
The sides are fairly evenly matched with good batters and bowlers. Nottinghamshire had the slight edge of playing in front of a large home crowd, but it was clearly going to be a thrilling match. Here's what happened.
Hampshire won the toss and decided to field
The main difference between these sides is their bowling. Hampshire use almost no pace bowlers at all, prefering spinners and medium-pacers. This seemed to work against the dangerous Hales as he was out to the first ball he faced. Wessels on the other hand took full advantage in the second over, taking 18 from the first 4 balls, before top edging another huge drive and being caught by Briggs.
Briggs became the third bowler for the visitors and his slow deliveries soon proved the best of the lot as Nottinghamshire tried to rebuild but continue to use the powerplay as best they could. Lumb managed to find the boundary several more times and so after 6 overs Nottinghamshire were slightly ahead on 58-2.
Taylor though was having a poor game and two balls into the seventh over was caught for 10 from 15 balls, having hit just the one boundary. He was replaced by captain Adam Voges, who immediately began to manouvre the ball around the field. However just after the half-way mark Lumb (39) was also caught as Hampshire pegged back their opponents once more.
Samit Patel joined Voges and together they managed to add 62 in 7 overs as the run rate rose, but just when it looked like Nottinghamshire might post a strong total Voges became the 5th man to be caught for 33. Patel then took charge and in the final few overs launched some big shots, including one six, and went to a sparkling fifty. Sadly he too couldn't reach the finish but left it to Read and Mullaney to get as many as possible from the final deliveries.
Maxwell proved the most successful bowler as he picked up the final wicket to take 3 for 36, but it was the containing bowling of Briggs and Dawson that really resticted the hosts to a reasonable 178.
Nottinghamshire chose to open with Patel but he went for 9 in the opening over and the hosts quickly switched to their three pronged pace attack. The ball was clearly swinging, which was what Nottinghamshire wanted, and Gurney made full use by having Adams caught behind for 5. Vince and Katich then knocked a few boundaries but with the score on 38 Carter deceived Vince as he drove the ball to Lumb.
The Hampshire innings then followed closely that of their rivals. They reached 61-2 after 6 overs but immediately lost a wicket, Katich (25) caught off the bowling of Mullaney. It was the reintroduction of Patel however that swung the match. With the fielders spread he slowed Hampshire almost to a standstill at times and then picked them off. In his third over, Ervine lofted the first ball to Hales on the boundary, then from the fifth Maxwell danced down the pitch but missed and Read had no trouble in completing the stumping. Hampshire were now 78-5 and the home side were on fire.
McKenzie, however was still there and with Dawson they managed to keep up with the rate. Dawson improvised to the best of his ability, and succeeded in pulling off some outrageous shots, mostly over the keeper's head. He raced to 30, while his partner built a slightly more sedate 50.
After 16 overs Hampshire were 4 ahead on 133-6, with Dawson being caught in the deep off, yes you've guessed it, Samit Patel. Mascarenhas then came to the crease and still managed to keep the runs ticking over. McKenzie put two balls over the rope to further help the visitors' cause, but they still required 22 from 2 overs, and then 12 from the last, to be bowled by Carter.
The first ball was a dot, and the huge home crowd roared as though it were a wicket. From the second the batsmen scampered a bye, but McKenzie then pulled up injured and called for a runner. Vince was the unlucky man, but wasn't required for two balls as McKenzie then launched two superb boundaries, presumably off one leg, to snatch the game away from Nottinghamshire.
There was still more drama to come, with 3 runs still required and the possibility of a super-over on the cards. The penultimate ball saw a push and run and a direct hit, but Vince was already in his ground. Carter then threw the ball to the other end to run out Mascarenhas but only succeeded in gifting a second run, meaning Nottinghamshire had to take a wicket to force a super-over. The fielders came in but McKenzie found a gap through the covers to send the ball for four and win a thrilling game.
Result
Nottinghamshire: 178-7 Patel 60, Maxwell 3 for 36
Hampshire: 182-6 McKenzie 79*, Patel 3 for 26
Hampshire win by 4 wickets
Star Player: McKenzie snatches it from Patel's great all-round effort. Hampshire needed someone to take them all the way, and Mckenzie did it with the highest score of the match.
For now then it's back to the Championship and CB40 cricket, but Finals day is only a month away and there will be full reports on the three matches right here.
The sides are fairly evenly matched with good batters and bowlers. Nottinghamshire had the slight edge of playing in front of a large home crowd, but it was clearly going to be a thrilling match. Here's what happened.
Hampshire won the toss and decided to field
The main difference between these sides is their bowling. Hampshire use almost no pace bowlers at all, prefering spinners and medium-pacers. This seemed to work against the dangerous Hales as he was out to the first ball he faced. Wessels on the other hand took full advantage in the second over, taking 18 from the first 4 balls, before top edging another huge drive and being caught by Briggs.
Briggs became the third bowler for the visitors and his slow deliveries soon proved the best of the lot as Nottinghamshire tried to rebuild but continue to use the powerplay as best they could. Lumb managed to find the boundary several more times and so after 6 overs Nottinghamshire were slightly ahead on 58-2.
Taylor though was having a poor game and two balls into the seventh over was caught for 10 from 15 balls, having hit just the one boundary. He was replaced by captain Adam Voges, who immediately began to manouvre the ball around the field. However just after the half-way mark Lumb (39) was also caught as Hampshire pegged back their opponents once more.
Samit Patel joined Voges and together they managed to add 62 in 7 overs as the run rate rose, but just when it looked like Nottinghamshire might post a strong total Voges became the 5th man to be caught for 33. Patel then took charge and in the final few overs launched some big shots, including one six, and went to a sparkling fifty. Sadly he too couldn't reach the finish but left it to Read and Mullaney to get as many as possible from the final deliveries.
Maxwell proved the most successful bowler as he picked up the final wicket to take 3 for 36, but it was the containing bowling of Briggs and Dawson that really resticted the hosts to a reasonable 178.
Nottinghamshire chose to open with Patel but he went for 9 in the opening over and the hosts quickly switched to their three pronged pace attack. The ball was clearly swinging, which was what Nottinghamshire wanted, and Gurney made full use by having Adams caught behind for 5. Vince and Katich then knocked a few boundaries but with the score on 38 Carter deceived Vince as he drove the ball to Lumb.
The Hampshire innings then followed closely that of their rivals. They reached 61-2 after 6 overs but immediately lost a wicket, Katich (25) caught off the bowling of Mullaney. It was the reintroduction of Patel however that swung the match. With the fielders spread he slowed Hampshire almost to a standstill at times and then picked them off. In his third over, Ervine lofted the first ball to Hales on the boundary, then from the fifth Maxwell danced down the pitch but missed and Read had no trouble in completing the stumping. Hampshire were now 78-5 and the home side were on fire.
McKenzie, however was still there and with Dawson they managed to keep up with the rate. Dawson improvised to the best of his ability, and succeeded in pulling off some outrageous shots, mostly over the keeper's head. He raced to 30, while his partner built a slightly more sedate 50.
After 16 overs Hampshire were 4 ahead on 133-6, with Dawson being caught in the deep off, yes you've guessed it, Samit Patel. Mascarenhas then came to the crease and still managed to keep the runs ticking over. McKenzie put two balls over the rope to further help the visitors' cause, but they still required 22 from 2 overs, and then 12 from the last, to be bowled by Carter.
The first ball was a dot, and the huge home crowd roared as though it were a wicket. From the second the batsmen scampered a bye, but McKenzie then pulled up injured and called for a runner. Vince was the unlucky man, but wasn't required for two balls as McKenzie then launched two superb boundaries, presumably off one leg, to snatch the game away from Nottinghamshire.
There was still more drama to come, with 3 runs still required and the possibility of a super-over on the cards. The penultimate ball saw a push and run and a direct hit, but Vince was already in his ground. Carter then threw the ball to the other end to run out Mascarenhas but only succeeded in gifting a second run, meaning Nottinghamshire had to take a wicket to force a super-over. The fielders came in but McKenzie found a gap through the covers to send the ball for four and win a thrilling game.
Result
Nottinghamshire: 178-7 Patel 60, Maxwell 3 for 36
Hampshire: 182-6 McKenzie 79*, Patel 3 for 26
Hampshire win by 4 wickets
Star Player: McKenzie snatches it from Patel's great all-round effort. Hampshire needed someone to take them all the way, and Mckenzie did it with the highest score of the match.
For now then it's back to the Championship and CB40 cricket, but Finals day is only a month away and there will be full reports on the three matches right here.
Wednesday 25 July 2012
3rd Twenty20 Quarter-final - Yorkshire v Worcestershire
Somerset and Sussex, both past winners of the Twenty20, made it through yesterday, but who will join them? First up tonight it was Yorkshire at home to Worcestershire. These two have almost the worst records in the T20 competition. Both of them have only reached the Quarters twice, and then lost both games, so for one team today saw them break new ground by entering finals day for the first time.
The favourites were indisputably Yorkshire. On paper their team was by far the stronger, and playing in front of a vocal local crowd was also going to give them the edge. Plus they had the best record of any side in the group stages, winning seven matches (more than any other) and finishing with 16 points. Worcestershire started well but tripped up towards the end and were lucky to sneak through as one of the best third placed teams.
So to the action.
Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bat
Yorkshire were the first team to choose to bat first, possibly based on the fact that the yesterday both matches were won by the side who set the score. Worcestershire made a good start however as Jaques was run out by miles in the first over with the score on 4-1.
Finally in the second over Root found the boundary, albeit between keeper and slip, but then opened up with a better shot for another 4. Boundaries started to come with regularity. The fourth over cost 13 runs and the fifth 16. By the end of the powerplay Yorkshire had 61-1 on the board and were in a very strong position.
Worcestershire though fought back through their captain, Mitchell, who brought himself on to bowl, applied some pressure and then had Gale (30) caught and bowled. The visitors immediately upped their game, fielding better and restricting Yorkshire's scoring chances. Bairstow then hit out but could only find Ali in the deep to add another low score (2) to a poor campaign, and leave the hosts on 74-3 after 9 overs.
Millar came to the crease and quickly took charge of the situation and with Joe Root started to rebuild. They brought up the hundred in the 12th over, but then chose to see Mitchell off as the bowler finished with 2 for 23 from his 4 overs.
Root brought up his half century from 36 balls, already his career best score. The 21 year old then tucked into Kapil's first over, taking 18 off the first 5 balls before going for one big shot too many and being caught eventually by the bowler for 65, which beat his previous best by 19.
After another slow over went by before Yorkshire began to find their rhythm again, with both batsmen hitting 6s, and the 17th over going for 26 to lift the home side to 166-4. Millar brought up his 50 from just 23 deliveries but was caught two balls later with adding any more. The pace didn't drop however as Pyrah opened up with a maximum.
Ballance kept the runs coming and finished strongly hitting four 6s in the final over to take Yorkshire past 200. He finished on 46* (from 20 balls with five 6s) and Yorkshire on 212, far more than they looked like getting after 13 overs.
Ali scored 17 at the top of the order but both he and Solanki were dismissed inside the first three overs as Yorkshire pressed their advantage. Cameron (29) and Hughes built quickly and when Cameron was caught they'd added 75 in 8 overs to even the game. Andrew hit two sixes in his 27 from 17 balls but was caught in fantastic fashion. Going for another six Root reached over the rope, caught the ball and threw it to Ballance before stepping over the boundary.
The rate had climbed significantly by now and the match was just about beyond Worcestershire. Hughes continued a fine innings and finished not out with 80 from 53 balls but the visitors fell well short in the end. Starc took 3 for 24 from his 4 overs as Yorkshire won by 29 runs.
Result
Yorkshire: 212-5. Root 60, Mitchell 2 for 23
Worcestershire: 183-6. Hughes 80, Starc 3 for 24
Yorkshire win by 29 runs
Star Player: Root steals it with an excellent innings of power an judgement.
The favourites were indisputably Yorkshire. On paper their team was by far the stronger, and playing in front of a vocal local crowd was also going to give them the edge. Plus they had the best record of any side in the group stages, winning seven matches (more than any other) and finishing with 16 points. Worcestershire started well but tripped up towards the end and were lucky to sneak through as one of the best third placed teams.
So to the action.
Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bat
Yorkshire were the first team to choose to bat first, possibly based on the fact that the yesterday both matches were won by the side who set the score. Worcestershire made a good start however as Jaques was run out by miles in the first over with the score on 4-1.
Finally in the second over Root found the boundary, albeit between keeper and slip, but then opened up with a better shot for another 4. Boundaries started to come with regularity. The fourth over cost 13 runs and the fifth 16. By the end of the powerplay Yorkshire had 61-1 on the board and were in a very strong position.
Worcestershire though fought back through their captain, Mitchell, who brought himself on to bowl, applied some pressure and then had Gale (30) caught and bowled. The visitors immediately upped their game, fielding better and restricting Yorkshire's scoring chances. Bairstow then hit out but could only find Ali in the deep to add another low score (2) to a poor campaign, and leave the hosts on 74-3 after 9 overs.
Millar came to the crease and quickly took charge of the situation and with Joe Root started to rebuild. They brought up the hundred in the 12th over, but then chose to see Mitchell off as the bowler finished with 2 for 23 from his 4 overs.
Root brought up his half century from 36 balls, already his career best score. The 21 year old then tucked into Kapil's first over, taking 18 off the first 5 balls before going for one big shot too many and being caught eventually by the bowler for 65, which beat his previous best by 19.
After another slow over went by before Yorkshire began to find their rhythm again, with both batsmen hitting 6s, and the 17th over going for 26 to lift the home side to 166-4. Millar brought up his 50 from just 23 deliveries but was caught two balls later with adding any more. The pace didn't drop however as Pyrah opened up with a maximum.
Ballance kept the runs coming and finished strongly hitting four 6s in the final over to take Yorkshire past 200. He finished on 46* (from 20 balls with five 6s) and Yorkshire on 212, far more than they looked like getting after 13 overs.
Ali scored 17 at the top of the order but both he and Solanki were dismissed inside the first three overs as Yorkshire pressed their advantage. Cameron (29) and Hughes built quickly and when Cameron was caught they'd added 75 in 8 overs to even the game. Andrew hit two sixes in his 27 from 17 balls but was caught in fantastic fashion. Going for another six Root reached over the rope, caught the ball and threw it to Ballance before stepping over the boundary.
The rate had climbed significantly by now and the match was just about beyond Worcestershire. Hughes continued a fine innings and finished not out with 80 from 53 balls but the visitors fell well short in the end. Starc took 3 for 24 from his 4 overs as Yorkshire won by 29 runs.
Result
Yorkshire: 212-5. Root 60, Mitchell 2 for 23
Worcestershire: 183-6. Hughes 80, Starc 3 for 24
Yorkshire win by 29 runs
Star Player: Root steals it with an excellent innings of power an judgement.
Tuesday 24 July 2012
2nd Twenty20 Quarter-final - Sussex v Gloucestershire
So Somerset took the first place at the Twenty20 Finals Day, but now to Hove where Sussex were taking on Gloucestershire. The home side were favourites after they topped their group winning six games and losing just one, while Gloucestershire sneaked through to only their fourth quarter-final, (their best finish being runners-up), with four wins and four no-results to their name.
Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to field.
Two early wickets silenced the home crowd as Gloucestershire made the perfect start. Norwell also bowled Prior but off a free-hit. Sussex finally started to find the boundary with some regularity as the run rate began to soar in the powerplay overs. The fight-back was complete by the end of the 6th over with the home side on 67-2 and firmly in the driving seat.
Prior and Goodwin built their partnership with skill and expertise, and the England keeper went to his 50 in the 8th over with a single off Muralitharan; it had taken him just 28 balls.
The partnership came to an abrubt end however as Prior was run out for 60, a superb innings that put Sussex in an excellent position. He and Goodwin had added 98 for the third wicket, but the job was only half done.
Styris joined Goodwin and together they continued to build. Styris launched one ball over the scoreboard, while Goodwin pressed on to his half century from 38 balls.
The muscular New Zealander then really opened up hitting two more 6s to accelerate the score once more. Styris soon caught and overtook his partner as he brought up his 50 (from 24 balls) with a 6. Gloucestershire's bowlers were struggling and the runs kept flowing. The 18th over began with a 6 no-balls, followed by another no ball that Styris hit for 4. The next two balls both went over the rope for maximums followed by another 4. The fourth ligitmate delivery was a dot, but the fifth was a 4 over the keepers head. The last ball Styris drove straight down the ground for yet another 6, meaning Sussex took 38 from the over!
The 200 came up in the 19th over as the home side continued to hit out. They sailed past the previous high score of this years T20 (213, which was made by Worcestershire, also against Gloucestershire), and Styris continued to bash 6s to lift him up to a century (only the second this year), which came off 37 balls with five 4s and nine 6s.
Sussex eventually finished on 230 with Goodwin caught off the last ball for 55. The fourth wicket cost the visitors 129. 98 runs came off the final five overs.
So Gloucestershire began their innings already requiring a run rate of 11.5. They began by taking just 4 from the first over and the only comfort they could take from that was that Sussex were 3-1 after their first over.
Styris bowled the second over and also managed to prevent any boundaries, but it was in his second over, the 4th of the innings, that the first wicket came as Howell tried to up Gloucestershire's scoring and was caught by Nash.
The match had sadly died with the lack of excitement as the visitors stuggled to work away the slow bowlers. The result was already clear and the crowd knew it. Finally the ball reached the rope in the fifth over as Housego moved to 5 and Gloucestershire 27-1.
Marshall finally found his rhythm against Styris and picked up 14 from the final over of the powerplay. A couple more slow overs followed before Marshall tucked into the bowling once more collecting 16 from the 9th over. It couldn't last however and next over he was caught behind for 42 from 29 balls.
Housego picked up the attack and put Rippon away for 20 from the 11th over, but he too perished shortly after, bowled for 47 from 24 balls. Cockbain tried to find the boundary but was bowled for 7 as the Gloucestershire innings stalled once more.
Ironically the visitors were still ahead of Sussex's score after 15 overs, but needed to match the home side's biltz scoring of the final overs if they were to pull off a stunning victory. Gidman clearly felt that was no problem as he launched three successive 6s in the 16th over to take Gloucestershire past 150. Sussex though finally got their man though when Gidman came back for a second run and was run out for 44 from 22 balls. This was immediately followed by another run out that was suicidal.
Fuller was bowled from the first ball of the 19th over, for 26 to effectively end the game, but at least their had been plenty of excitement for the crowd when the innings could have petered out much earlier.
Gloucestershire finished on 191, which would only most days be a winning score, perhaps their decision to bowl first could be questioned, but nothing can be taken away from a very stong Sussex performance.
Result
Sussex: 230-4. Styris 100*, Prior 60
Gloucestershire: 191-8. Housego 47, Liddle 1 for 24 from 4 overs
Sussex win by 39 runs
Star Player: Easily Styris. His huge hundred would have put the game beyond any team, and he followed it up with a wicket after opening the bowling.
Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to field.
Two early wickets silenced the home crowd as Gloucestershire made the perfect start. Norwell also bowled Prior but off a free-hit. Sussex finally started to find the boundary with some regularity as the run rate began to soar in the powerplay overs. The fight-back was complete by the end of the 6th over with the home side on 67-2 and firmly in the driving seat.
Prior and Goodwin built their partnership with skill and expertise, and the England keeper went to his 50 in the 8th over with a single off Muralitharan; it had taken him just 28 balls.
The partnership came to an abrubt end however as Prior was run out for 60, a superb innings that put Sussex in an excellent position. He and Goodwin had added 98 for the third wicket, but the job was only half done.
Styris joined Goodwin and together they continued to build. Styris launched one ball over the scoreboard, while Goodwin pressed on to his half century from 38 balls.
The muscular New Zealander then really opened up hitting two more 6s to accelerate the score once more. Styris soon caught and overtook his partner as he brought up his 50 (from 24 balls) with a 6. Gloucestershire's bowlers were struggling and the runs kept flowing. The 18th over began with a 6 no-balls, followed by another no ball that Styris hit for 4. The next two balls both went over the rope for maximums followed by another 4. The fourth ligitmate delivery was a dot, but the fifth was a 4 over the keepers head. The last ball Styris drove straight down the ground for yet another 6, meaning Sussex took 38 from the over!
The 200 came up in the 19th over as the home side continued to hit out. They sailed past the previous high score of this years T20 (213, which was made by Worcestershire, also against Gloucestershire), and Styris continued to bash 6s to lift him up to a century (only the second this year), which came off 37 balls with five 4s and nine 6s.
Sussex eventually finished on 230 with Goodwin caught off the last ball for 55. The fourth wicket cost the visitors 129. 98 runs came off the final five overs.
So Gloucestershire began their innings already requiring a run rate of 11.5. They began by taking just 4 from the first over and the only comfort they could take from that was that Sussex were 3-1 after their first over.
Styris bowled the second over and also managed to prevent any boundaries, but it was in his second over, the 4th of the innings, that the first wicket came as Howell tried to up Gloucestershire's scoring and was caught by Nash.
The match had sadly died with the lack of excitement as the visitors stuggled to work away the slow bowlers. The result was already clear and the crowd knew it. Finally the ball reached the rope in the fifth over as Housego moved to 5 and Gloucestershire 27-1.
Marshall finally found his rhythm against Styris and picked up 14 from the final over of the powerplay. A couple more slow overs followed before Marshall tucked into the bowling once more collecting 16 from the 9th over. It couldn't last however and next over he was caught behind for 42 from 29 balls.
Housego picked up the attack and put Rippon away for 20 from the 11th over, but he too perished shortly after, bowled for 47 from 24 balls. Cockbain tried to find the boundary but was bowled for 7 as the Gloucestershire innings stalled once more.
Ironically the visitors were still ahead of Sussex's score after 15 overs, but needed to match the home side's biltz scoring of the final overs if they were to pull off a stunning victory. Gidman clearly felt that was no problem as he launched three successive 6s in the 16th over to take Gloucestershire past 150. Sussex though finally got their man though when Gidman came back for a second run and was run out for 44 from 22 balls. This was immediately followed by another run out that was suicidal.
Fuller was bowled from the first ball of the 19th over, for 26 to effectively end the game, but at least their had been plenty of excitement for the crowd when the innings could have petered out much earlier.
Gloucestershire finished on 191, which would only most days be a winning score, perhaps their decision to bowl first could be questioned, but nothing can be taken away from a very stong Sussex performance.
Result
Sussex: 230-4. Styris 100*, Prior 60
Gloucestershire: 191-8. Housego 47, Liddle 1 for 24 from 4 overs
Sussex win by 39 runs
Star Player: Easily Styris. His huge hundred would have put the game beyond any team, and he followed it up with a wicket after opening the bowling.
1st Twenty20 Quarter-final - Somerset v Essex
Here we go then with the first quarter-final match of this years Twenty20 competition. Taunton was the venue; Somerset and Essex the opposing sides.
Somerset finished top of their group, somehow, having been way down with only a few games to go. In the end they won five of their games, with three no results and two losses. Essex scraped through as one of the two best third placed sides. They alson won five games, but lost four, having only one match rained off.
Both sides were strong, particularly in batting. Essex welcomed Bopara and Cook straight from the England camp, while Somerset fielded Trescothick in his first T20 of the season after injury kept him out of the group stage.
Essex won the toss and decided to field.
First delivery, bowled by Phillips, saw the mighty Kieswetter attempting to launch the ball out of the ground but only succeeding in holing out in the deep. The home crowd weren't quiet for long however as the wicket brought out Trescothick. It didn't take him long to settle in as he picked off two boundaries in the first two overs.
The first 6 came up in the third over as Somerset put the early loss behind them. Essex mixed up the bowlers during the powerplay but boundaries flowed with regularity until the fifth over when a stunning catch by Napier cut Trescothick's innings short. He went for 19 from 13 balls with three 4s, leaving Somerset on 39-2.
Six overs gone, Somerset were still scoring well on 54, but with the powerplay overs finished Somerset wanted to keep the runs coming. Instead Foster took an excellent catch, standing up to Topely, to dismiss Levi (20).
Hildreth and Buttler gave themselves an over to recover but then got straight back on the gas taking 15 from the 9th over and then attacking some poor bowling from Bopara to add another 11, helping the hosts onto 89-3 from 10 overs. Buttler had raced to 33 but then skied one in the 11th over and Cook took his second catch of the match; the third wicket for Topely.
Still the run rate was good and Somerset went past 100 in the 13th over, but then just as the 5th wicket partnership seemed to be gaining pace Morkel became Cook's third catch off the bowling of Masters. Hildreth became the key man, and having gone past 2000 career T20 runs, he built a big innings and accelerated in the 17th over hitting four consecutive boundaries to bring up his half century.
Essex's bowling began to fall apart with more boundaries and the odd wide, but just as Somerset looked like they might post a big total Hildreth was run out trying to take a second run. He'd made 58 from 36 balls but left it up to the long tail to add as many as they could in the final overs. In the end though Gregory led the home side to the finish with 17 not out to set up an exciting game.
Somerset made 175-6.
Essex made a steady start to their innigs scoring singles in the first over, while Somerset appealed unsuccessfully for a catch behind, which came off Pettini's pad. However in only the next over Petinni lifted one skywards and picked out Dockrell. Two balls later Bopara was also caught for 0 leaving Essex on 9-2. Shah took 10 from 2 balls in the third over but then became the third wicket, again caught by Dockrell, in the fourth.
The visitors tripped to 41 in the 8th over when a run out call came and the umpires went to the TV. The decision was a long time coming and most people seemed to think not out, but were surprised when Franklin was sent on his way.
Cook went to 28 at just above a run-a-ball but then, looking to lift the rate, lofted the ball between two players, and Levi was the man to tumble forward and take the catch. Essex were now 53-5 and the game was all but over with the required rate now above 11.
Foster smacked 26 from 16 balls to give the faintest glimmer of hope but he was caught and bowler again to Dockrell. Napier added 9 but he too perished with Essex still only on 93.
Somerset fielded excellently and the run rate rocketed upwards. Ten Doeschate though, with a lot of Twenty20 experience provided some late fireworks hitting 16 from the last three balls of the 18th over, leaving 29 required from the last 2. Masters was then bowled to bring in last man Topley. Everything rested on Doeschate and he had to throw the bat and unfortunately for him the 6s ran out as he was caught by Waller to end the match.
So Somerset's fantastic run of quarter-final results goes to 5 wins from 5, while Essex are still yet to reach the final, having also played in 5 quarter-finals.
Result
Somerset: 175-6. Hildreth 58, Topely 3 for 27
Essex: 148, ten Doeschate 47, Gregory 4 for 39
Somerset win by 27 runs
Star Player: Hildreth, for providing some much needed impetus late in the Somerset innings to help put on a score that Essex found hard to chase.
Somerset finished top of their group, somehow, having been way down with only a few games to go. In the end they won five of their games, with three no results and two losses. Essex scraped through as one of the two best third placed sides. They alson won five games, but lost four, having only one match rained off.
Both sides were strong, particularly in batting. Essex welcomed Bopara and Cook straight from the England camp, while Somerset fielded Trescothick in his first T20 of the season after injury kept him out of the group stage.
Essex won the toss and decided to field.
First delivery, bowled by Phillips, saw the mighty Kieswetter attempting to launch the ball out of the ground but only succeeding in holing out in the deep. The home crowd weren't quiet for long however as the wicket brought out Trescothick. It didn't take him long to settle in as he picked off two boundaries in the first two overs.
The first 6 came up in the third over as Somerset put the early loss behind them. Essex mixed up the bowlers during the powerplay but boundaries flowed with regularity until the fifth over when a stunning catch by Napier cut Trescothick's innings short. He went for 19 from 13 balls with three 4s, leaving Somerset on 39-2.
Six overs gone, Somerset were still scoring well on 54, but with the powerplay overs finished Somerset wanted to keep the runs coming. Instead Foster took an excellent catch, standing up to Topely, to dismiss Levi (20).
Hildreth and Buttler gave themselves an over to recover but then got straight back on the gas taking 15 from the 9th over and then attacking some poor bowling from Bopara to add another 11, helping the hosts onto 89-3 from 10 overs. Buttler had raced to 33 but then skied one in the 11th over and Cook took his second catch of the match; the third wicket for Topely.
Still the run rate was good and Somerset went past 100 in the 13th over, but then just as the 5th wicket partnership seemed to be gaining pace Morkel became Cook's third catch off the bowling of Masters. Hildreth became the key man, and having gone past 2000 career T20 runs, he built a big innings and accelerated in the 17th over hitting four consecutive boundaries to bring up his half century.
Essex's bowling began to fall apart with more boundaries and the odd wide, but just as Somerset looked like they might post a big total Hildreth was run out trying to take a second run. He'd made 58 from 36 balls but left it up to the long tail to add as many as they could in the final overs. In the end though Gregory led the home side to the finish with 17 not out to set up an exciting game.
Somerset made 175-6.
Essex made a steady start to their innigs scoring singles in the first over, while Somerset appealed unsuccessfully for a catch behind, which came off Pettini's pad. However in only the next over Petinni lifted one skywards and picked out Dockrell. Two balls later Bopara was also caught for 0 leaving Essex on 9-2. Shah took 10 from 2 balls in the third over but then became the third wicket, again caught by Dockrell, in the fourth.
The visitors tripped to 41 in the 8th over when a run out call came and the umpires went to the TV. The decision was a long time coming and most people seemed to think not out, but were surprised when Franklin was sent on his way.
Cook went to 28 at just above a run-a-ball but then, looking to lift the rate, lofted the ball between two players, and Levi was the man to tumble forward and take the catch. Essex were now 53-5 and the game was all but over with the required rate now above 11.
Foster smacked 26 from 16 balls to give the faintest glimmer of hope but he was caught and bowler again to Dockrell. Napier added 9 but he too perished with Essex still only on 93.
Somerset fielded excellently and the run rate rocketed upwards. Ten Doeschate though, with a lot of Twenty20 experience provided some late fireworks hitting 16 from the last three balls of the 18th over, leaving 29 required from the last 2. Masters was then bowled to bring in last man Topley. Everything rested on Doeschate and he had to throw the bat and unfortunately for him the 6s ran out as he was caught by Waller to end the match.
So Somerset's fantastic run of quarter-final results goes to 5 wins from 5, while Essex are still yet to reach the final, having also played in 5 quarter-finals.
Result
Somerset: 175-6. Hildreth 58, Topely 3 for 27
Essex: 148, ten Doeschate 47, Gregory 4 for 39
Somerset win by 27 runs
Star Player: Hildreth, for providing some much needed impetus late in the Somerset innings to help put on a score that Essex found hard to chase.
Monday 23 July 2012
Review of the best and worst teams in County Cricket so far in 2012
It's a little over half way through the season and I thought I'd take a look at which teams have performed the best and which ones the worst, so here we go.
The County Championship is a fairly open competition at the moment, and that applies to both divisions. In the first as many a five different teams could realistically still win it, while any two of the bottom four could go down. In the second division there's a similar story, with the top four teams split by just 27 points any of them could finish top and any two could be promoted.
However there have been a couple of teams that have stood out. In the second division Derbyshire are a big surprise currently top by 22 points, while in the first Warwickshire are firmly at the top with a game in hand, although Nottinghamshire are still undefeated after 10 matches.
Down at the bottom Durham are in a dreadful position having not yet won a match and at the moment look favourites to be one of the teams to be relegated. In the second division Essex, Glamorgan and Leicestershire are all having poor years in the long format, each of them having only won once.
To the CB40 Competition. This is an odd one, as only four teams can progress to the Semi-finals, which means the top team from each group, plus the best second placed side. This can leave many teams out of the running with several matches left, but that aside here are the top placed teams.
In Group A, it's Middlesex, the Netherlands and Lancashire, all having won 5. In Group B Hampshire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey lead the table; and in Group C Sussex and Warwickshire are dominant, although some teams lower down have played fewer matches.
Named and Shamed are Essex, Glamorgan, Scotland, the Unicorns, and worst of all Northamptonshire, all well and truly out of the reckoning.
Finally the Twenty20, about to head into the Quarter-finals. The top teams, it is clear, are: Somerset, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. Sussex, Hampshire and Essex. Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. Of those Yorkshire was the only side to win 7 games in the group stages, although, of those who progressed, they had the fewest rained of matches.
Lying low, some familiar names, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire (surprisingly as last years champions) and Surrey, all finished in last place.
So how does that put teams in an overall context?
Starting at the bottom, Northamptonshire have won just 3 matches all season, in 28 games, while Leicestershire and Glamorgan have won just 5 and 4 respectively. None of them has a realistic chance in any competition, making it a pretty sorry year for the trio. Maybe things will pick up!
At the top however three sides can still hope to win all three competitions. Hampshire are 2nd in the second division of the Championship, while being top of their CB40 group and in the quarter-finals of the T20. However they are playing Nottinghamshire, and both teams cannot progress. Nottinghamshire are 2nd in the first division of the Championship and also 2nd in their CB40 group. Finally Sussex, they finished top of their T20 group and are currently top of their CB40 group, while lying 4th, and not out of, the first division in four-day cricket.
To look at things another way, Nottinghamshire have won the most matches so far (14 from 27 games, which is 51.9%) with Warwickshire in second (13 wins from 26 games, 50%).
So then, who will come out victorious at the end? Have some teams peaked too soon, or are they on a charge that will see them dominate the second half of the season? We can only wait and find out.
The County Championship is a fairly open competition at the moment, and that applies to both divisions. In the first as many a five different teams could realistically still win it, while any two of the bottom four could go down. In the second division there's a similar story, with the top four teams split by just 27 points any of them could finish top and any two could be promoted.
However there have been a couple of teams that have stood out. In the second division Derbyshire are a big surprise currently top by 22 points, while in the first Warwickshire are firmly at the top with a game in hand, although Nottinghamshire are still undefeated after 10 matches.
Down at the bottom Durham are in a dreadful position having not yet won a match and at the moment look favourites to be one of the teams to be relegated. In the second division Essex, Glamorgan and Leicestershire are all having poor years in the long format, each of them having only won once.
To the CB40 Competition. This is an odd one, as only four teams can progress to the Semi-finals, which means the top team from each group, plus the best second placed side. This can leave many teams out of the running with several matches left, but that aside here are the top placed teams.
In Group A, it's Middlesex, the Netherlands and Lancashire, all having won 5. In Group B Hampshire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey lead the table; and in Group C Sussex and Warwickshire are dominant, although some teams lower down have played fewer matches.
Named and Shamed are Essex, Glamorgan, Scotland, the Unicorns, and worst of all Northamptonshire, all well and truly out of the reckoning.
Finally the Twenty20, about to head into the Quarter-finals. The top teams, it is clear, are: Somerset, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. Sussex, Hampshire and Essex. Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. Of those Yorkshire was the only side to win 7 games in the group stages, although, of those who progressed, they had the fewest rained of matches.
Lying low, some familiar names, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire (surprisingly as last years champions) and Surrey, all finished in last place.
So how does that put teams in an overall context?
Starting at the bottom, Northamptonshire have won just 3 matches all season, in 28 games, while Leicestershire and Glamorgan have won just 5 and 4 respectively. None of them has a realistic chance in any competition, making it a pretty sorry year for the trio. Maybe things will pick up!
At the top however three sides can still hope to win all three competitions. Hampshire are 2nd in the second division of the Championship, while being top of their CB40 group and in the quarter-finals of the T20. However they are playing Nottinghamshire, and both teams cannot progress. Nottinghamshire are 2nd in the first division of the Championship and also 2nd in their CB40 group. Finally Sussex, they finished top of their T20 group and are currently top of their CB40 group, while lying 4th, and not out of, the first division in four-day cricket.
To look at things another way, Nottinghamshire have won the most matches so far (14 from 27 games, which is 51.9%) with Warwickshire in second (13 wins from 26 games, 50%).
So then, who will come out victorious at the end? Have some teams peaked too soon, or are they on a charge that will see them dominate the second half of the season? We can only wait and find out.
Sunday 22 July 2012
County Champ D4 Tables and CB40 Cricket & Tables - 22nd July
A full round of CB40 games today, along with the final day of Championship cricket till Friday as we break again for the Twenty20 Quarter Finals on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. But back to today, runs and wickets for all and, given the past few weeks, a happy number of results.
County Championship
Day 4
Essex v Hampshire - Hampshire win by 2 runs
Hamp - 323 & 54-0d
Ess - 18-0d & 357
An incredible finish certainly made better watching than England at the Oval, as Essex came so near to defeating Hampshire. At 102-2 overnight the game was very much in the ballance after Essex had been set 360 to win. Pettini and Godleman departed early but 42s from ten Doeschate and Smith took the hosts past 200. Still, when Tomlinson dismissed both of them leaving Essex on 210-6, Hampshire were in the ascendancy. 12 runs later Tomlinson removed Napier and the game seemed all but over.
Wheater and Singh (40) had other ideas though and put on 68 for the 8th wicket. Masters made 6 but once again the match looked finished. Wheater was still there though and hadn't given up. He batted on to 98 from 111 balls with twelve 4s and four 6s, taking Essex to within 3 runs of victory, only for Tomlinson to nip him out at the last moment. The bowler finished with 5 for 86 as he salvaged what would have been an embarrassing defeat.
Points: Essex 3, Hampshire 19
Kent v Glamorgan - Match drawn
Ken - 456-9d & 168-2
Gla - 389
Glamorgan added an impressive 125 today, for only three wickets, as Wallace scored an excllent 111, before being last man out. The late runs meant Kent were unable to force the follow-on and the game was now heading for a draw. Northeast then used the lack of pressure to score an unbeaten 101, before the close.
Points: Kent 11, Glamorgan 10
CB40 Cricket
Derbyshire v Yorkshire - Deerbyshire win by 3 wickets
Derbyshire won the toss and decided to field
Yor - 238-7
Der - 239-7
Yorkshire made a solid start to their innings reaching 102-1 before losing regular wickets as Derbyshire fought back. Gale made 51 at the top of the order, but was the only batsman to pass 50 as the visitors set a par score.
Derbyshire, in contrast, made a poor start as they slipped to 56-4. Madsen steadied the ship with 40 from 43 balls, but two more wickets left the hosts on 141-6. Then the innings of the day from Johnson gave life the chase as he put on 80 with Hughes (37*). Johnson scored 79 from 74 balls including two 6s, but was out before the end to provide a few nerves to the home supporters.
Star Player: Johnson, for the innings of the day that set up the victory for Derbyshire
Gloucestershire v Middlesex - Middlesex win by 10 wickets
Middlesex won the toss and decided to field
Glo - 214-9
Mid - 218-0
An astonishing chase by Middlesex gave them an easy victory after Gloucestershire had set a below par total. 68 from Housego was the only score of note for the home side after they were put in, but even so most spectators would have expected a tighter contest when the second innings began.
Rogers (122*) and Malan (89*) though were in imperious form as between them they hit twenty-five 4s and five 6s. The win was completed in 30.3 overs as none of the Gloucestershire bowlers could find anything to dislodge the openers.
Star Player: Rogers, for dominating the match with a supreme hundred.
Leicestershire v Lancashire - Lancashire win by 6 wickets
Lancashire won the toss and decided to field
Lei - 218-8
Lan - 220-4
In a similar game to that at Gloucestershire, Leicestershire struggled to a below average score after being put in. Boyce (53) and Thakor (83*) rebuilt the innings after early wickets but couldn't lift them to a great score as Chapple picked up wickets towards the end to finish with 4 for 46.
Lancashire made a strong start to all but take the game away from the hosts. 60 from Moore and 85 from Prince helped the visitors to 108-1 and 205-2, with Croft adding an unbeaten 57. A clatter of wickets before the close gave the match some spice but it was too little too late as Lancashire strolled home.
Star Player: Chapple, for his bowling that set up the match, by restricting Leicestershire
Nottinghamshire v Scotland - Nottinghamshire win by 88 runs
Nottinghamshire won the toss and decided to bat
Not - 265-3
Sco - 177
Lumb was out first ball as Nottinghamshire made the worse possible start but they recoved to set a strong score with all the other batsmen chipping in. Hales made 37 in the powerplay, but it was the big innings' from Taylor (68), Patel (82) and Voges (64 from 39 balls) that dominated the Scottish bowlers. Some tight spells in the middle restricted the hosts but they went on to score 94 from the last 10 overs to effectively take the game beyond Scotland's reach.
Pattinson left the field injured after he had bowled just two balls, which meant Voges had to bowl almost a full compliment of overs but he used them to take 3 wickets as Scotland struggled to get close. 38 late on from Flannigan provided some fireworks, but with Patel (2 wickets) and White (3) also slowing the scoring rate Nottinghamshire strolled to victory.
Star Player: Voges, for his rapid innings that boosted Nottinghamshire's score and for standing in and taking 3 wickets in the second innings.
Somerset v Durham - Somerset win by 8 wickets
Durham won the toss and decided to bat
Dur - 147
Som - 149-2
Durham's poor season got worse again today as they were rolled over by Somerset. After choosing to bat first the Northerners slipped to 9-2 and 34-4, as only Breese (31*) managed to score a significant knock. Durham were all out in 34 overs, with Trego finishing with 3 for 26.
Trescothick was finally back for Somerset, although he only made 15. Kieswetter then scored the bulk of the runs, making 103 from a meer 61 deliveries, scoring nine 4s and six 6s, all but taking the hosts to victory. The innings was complete in just 20.2 overs, a rate that would have taken a 40 over score close to 300!
Star Player: Kieswetter, although he wasn't chasing a big score his innings but the bowlers to the sword.
Sussex v Northamptonshire - Sussex win by 8 wickets
Sussex won the toss and decided to field
Nor - 129
Sus - 130-2
In an oddly similar match to that at Tanton, Northamtonshire were also dismissed cheaply and the home side knocked off the runs for two wickets. The visitors found themselves 9-3 and barely recovered as Liddle picked up 4 for 21.
In reply Nash and Wright fell fairly early but 38 *from Joyce and 67* from that excellent one-day batsman, Goodwin, took Sussex home in 30.3 overs.
Star Player: Liddle, the hard work may have been done, but he finished off Northamptonshire, leaving the door open for an easy win.
Warwickshire v Unicorns - Warwickshire win by 60 runs
Warwickshire won the toss and decided to bat
War - 228-9
Uni - 168-7
In only the second match to be won by the team batting first the Unicorns bowled tightly but couldn't back it up with a good display of batting. It has become a regular feature of Unicorns games, with the wickets shared and only two home batsmen passing 50 (Chopra (69) and Maddy (79*)), Warwickshire were restricted to an average score.
Three early wickets, all from Woakes, though set the tone and as the run rate climbed the visiting batsmen proved unequal to the task. Parsons scored 58 but it was never going to be enough.
Star Player: Woakes, for his 3 for 30 that shut the door on the Unicorns.
County Championship Tables
1st Division
2nd Division
CB40 Tables
Group A
Group B
Group C
Tomorrow there are no games but check in to see my review of the best and worst teams of the year so far. Then look out on Tuesday and Wednesday for my reviews of the Twenty20 Quarter Final action.
County Championship
Day 4
Essex v Hampshire - Hampshire win by 2 runs
Hamp - 323 & 54-0d
Ess - 18-0d & 357
An incredible finish certainly made better watching than England at the Oval, as Essex came so near to defeating Hampshire. At 102-2 overnight the game was very much in the ballance after Essex had been set 360 to win. Pettini and Godleman departed early but 42s from ten Doeschate and Smith took the hosts past 200. Still, when Tomlinson dismissed both of them leaving Essex on 210-6, Hampshire were in the ascendancy. 12 runs later Tomlinson removed Napier and the game seemed all but over.
Wheater and Singh (40) had other ideas though and put on 68 for the 8th wicket. Masters made 6 but once again the match looked finished. Wheater was still there though and hadn't given up. He batted on to 98 from 111 balls with twelve 4s and four 6s, taking Essex to within 3 runs of victory, only for Tomlinson to nip him out at the last moment. The bowler finished with 5 for 86 as he salvaged what would have been an embarrassing defeat.
Points: Essex 3, Hampshire 19
Kent v Glamorgan - Match drawn
Ken - 456-9d & 168-2
Gla - 389
Glamorgan added an impressive 125 today, for only three wickets, as Wallace scored an excllent 111, before being last man out. The late runs meant Kent were unable to force the follow-on and the game was now heading for a draw. Northeast then used the lack of pressure to score an unbeaten 101, before the close.
Points: Kent 11, Glamorgan 10
CB40 Cricket
Derbyshire v Yorkshire - Deerbyshire win by 3 wickets
Derbyshire won the toss and decided to field
Yor - 238-7
Der - 239-7
Yorkshire made a solid start to their innings reaching 102-1 before losing regular wickets as Derbyshire fought back. Gale made 51 at the top of the order, but was the only batsman to pass 50 as the visitors set a par score.
Derbyshire, in contrast, made a poor start as they slipped to 56-4. Madsen steadied the ship with 40 from 43 balls, but two more wickets left the hosts on 141-6. Then the innings of the day from Johnson gave life the chase as he put on 80 with Hughes (37*). Johnson scored 79 from 74 balls including two 6s, but was out before the end to provide a few nerves to the home supporters.
Star Player: Johnson, for the innings of the day that set up the victory for Derbyshire
Gloucestershire v Middlesex - Middlesex win by 10 wickets
Middlesex won the toss and decided to field
Glo - 214-9
Mid - 218-0
An astonishing chase by Middlesex gave them an easy victory after Gloucestershire had set a below par total. 68 from Housego was the only score of note for the home side after they were put in, but even so most spectators would have expected a tighter contest when the second innings began.
Rogers (122*) and Malan (89*) though were in imperious form as between them they hit twenty-five 4s and five 6s. The win was completed in 30.3 overs as none of the Gloucestershire bowlers could find anything to dislodge the openers.
Star Player: Rogers, for dominating the match with a supreme hundred.
Leicestershire v Lancashire - Lancashire win by 6 wickets
Lancashire won the toss and decided to field
Lei - 218-8
Lan - 220-4
In a similar game to that at Gloucestershire, Leicestershire struggled to a below average score after being put in. Boyce (53) and Thakor (83*) rebuilt the innings after early wickets but couldn't lift them to a great score as Chapple picked up wickets towards the end to finish with 4 for 46.
Lancashire made a strong start to all but take the game away from the hosts. 60 from Moore and 85 from Prince helped the visitors to 108-1 and 205-2, with Croft adding an unbeaten 57. A clatter of wickets before the close gave the match some spice but it was too little too late as Lancashire strolled home.
Star Player: Chapple, for his bowling that set up the match, by restricting Leicestershire
Nottinghamshire v Scotland - Nottinghamshire win by 88 runs
Nottinghamshire won the toss and decided to bat
Not - 265-3
Sco - 177
Lumb was out first ball as Nottinghamshire made the worse possible start but they recoved to set a strong score with all the other batsmen chipping in. Hales made 37 in the powerplay, but it was the big innings' from Taylor (68), Patel (82) and Voges (64 from 39 balls) that dominated the Scottish bowlers. Some tight spells in the middle restricted the hosts but they went on to score 94 from the last 10 overs to effectively take the game beyond Scotland's reach.
Pattinson left the field injured after he had bowled just two balls, which meant Voges had to bowl almost a full compliment of overs but he used them to take 3 wickets as Scotland struggled to get close. 38 late on from Flannigan provided some fireworks, but with Patel (2 wickets) and White (3) also slowing the scoring rate Nottinghamshire strolled to victory.
Star Player: Voges, for his rapid innings that boosted Nottinghamshire's score and for standing in and taking 3 wickets in the second innings.
Somerset v Durham - Somerset win by 8 wickets
Durham won the toss and decided to bat
Dur - 147
Som - 149-2
Durham's poor season got worse again today as they were rolled over by Somerset. After choosing to bat first the Northerners slipped to 9-2 and 34-4, as only Breese (31*) managed to score a significant knock. Durham were all out in 34 overs, with Trego finishing with 3 for 26.
Trescothick was finally back for Somerset, although he only made 15. Kieswetter then scored the bulk of the runs, making 103 from a meer 61 deliveries, scoring nine 4s and six 6s, all but taking the hosts to victory. The innings was complete in just 20.2 overs, a rate that would have taken a 40 over score close to 300!
Star Player: Kieswetter, although he wasn't chasing a big score his innings but the bowlers to the sword.
Sussex v Northamptonshire - Sussex win by 8 wickets
Sussex won the toss and decided to field
Nor - 129
Sus - 130-2
In an oddly similar match to that at Tanton, Northamtonshire were also dismissed cheaply and the home side knocked off the runs for two wickets. The visitors found themselves 9-3 and barely recovered as Liddle picked up 4 for 21.
In reply Nash and Wright fell fairly early but 38 *from Joyce and 67* from that excellent one-day batsman, Goodwin, took Sussex home in 30.3 overs.
Star Player: Liddle, the hard work may have been done, but he finished off Northamptonshire, leaving the door open for an easy win.
Warwickshire v Unicorns - Warwickshire win by 60 runs
Warwickshire won the toss and decided to bat
War - 228-9
Uni - 168-7
In only the second match to be won by the team batting first the Unicorns bowled tightly but couldn't back it up with a good display of batting. It has become a regular feature of Unicorns games, with the wickets shared and only two home batsmen passing 50 (Chopra (69) and Maddy (79*)), Warwickshire were restricted to an average score.
Three early wickets, all from Woakes, though set the tone and as the run rate climbed the visiting batsmen proved unequal to the task. Parsons scored 58 but it was never going to be enough.
Star Player: Woakes, for his 3 for 30 that shut the door on the Unicorns.
County Championship Tables
1st Division
| Team | Played | Points | |
| 1 | Warwickshire | 9 | 125 |
| 2 | Nottinghamshire | 10 | 122 |
| 3 | Somerset | 10 | 117 |
| 4 | Sussex | 10 | 103 |
| 5 | Middlesex | 9 | 101 |
| 6 | Lancashire | 11 | 75 |
| 7 | Surrey | 10 | 72 |
| 8 | Worcestershire | 9 | 70 |
| 9 | Durham | 10 | 47 |
2nd Division
| Team | Played | Points | |
| 1 | Derbyshire | 10 | 127 |
| 2 | Hampshire | 10 | 105 |
| 3 | Yorkshire | 10 | 102 |
| 4 | Kent | 9 | 100 |
| 5 | Northamptonshire | 10 | 86 |
| 6 | Gloucestershire | 10 | 84 |
| 7 | Essex | 10 | 75 |
| 8 | Glamorgan | 11 | 66 |
| 9 | Leicestershire | 10 | 61 |
CB40 Tables
Group A
| Team | Played | Points | |
| 1 | Middlesex | 10 | 12 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 9 | 11 |
| 3 | Lancashire | 7 | 10 |
| 4 | Gloucestershire | 8 | 9 |
| 5 | Worcestershire | 8 | 6 |
| 6 | Leicestershire | 9 | 6 |
| 7 | Essex | 7 | 4 |
Group B
| Team | Played | Points | |
| 1 | Hampshire | 8 | 11 |
| 2 | Nottinghamshire | 7 | 10 |
| 3 | Surrey | 7 | 10 |
| 4 | Durham | 7 | 6 |
| 5 | Somerset | 7 | 5 |
| 6 | Glamorgan | 5 | 4 |
| 7 | Scotland | 9 | 4 |
Group C
| Team | Played | Points | |
| 1 | Sussex | 8 | 12 |
| 2 | Warwickshire | 7 | 11 |
| 3 | Derbyshire | 8 | 8 |
| 4 | Kent | 6 | 7 |
| 5 | Yorkshire | 6 | 5 |
| 6 | Unicorns | 9 | 5 |
| 7 | Northamptonshire | 8 | 4 |
Tomorrow there are no games but check in to see my review of the best and worst teams of the year so far. Then look out on Tuesday and Wednesday for my reviews of the Twenty20 Quarter Final action.
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