Into the Arena
By Grockle
July 16 2010
Just popping into Bristle on the way back to HQ to give the Gladiators a seeing to at the Brunel car park. Two games left and we are in the driving seat of the Southern group looking for that home quarter final (against Derbyshire and Wes and Steff?). It would really set up the final home fixture on Sunday.
v Gloucestershire T20 @ Bristol Friday 16 July 2010
A damp and dreary evening at the home of the Bristolians for the penultimate group match of this T20 tournament. We win the toss and Banger chooses to chase and puts the Gladdies in.
The side suggests that the club have registered Cameron White for the quarter because Murali Kartik is not playing;
Trescothick, Kieswetter, Trego, Hildreth, de Bruyn, Pollard, Buttler, Phillips, Thomas, Waller, Turner
So Max Waller gets his first run out in the T20.
The Gladiators
A 'get in get out' sort of an innings with lots of Gloucs batsmen getting in but no-one pushing on nd getting somethign big. Redmond went early to Phillips with the score on 11 but then a bit of a partnership between Gidman and Franklin which takes the home side past 50 in the 6th over before Gidman was caught in front by Trigger at 55. It's Pollard's chance to get a bit of tap as his first two overs went for 24 but he manages to remove Franklin at 71 but Dent and Marshall push the score on over 100 and it's 132 before Dent goes in the 16th.
With Marshall there, 170 is being suggested but then we get the Pollard and Thomas show as they push each other to be the highest wicket taker in this competition (they've taken over 50 between them). Gloucestershire lose wickets regularly when they needed to kick on. Pollard takes Marshall at 134, Thomas has Taylor caught behind at 142, Pollard takes Snell (courtesy of the hands of Phillips) at 146 while Alf skittles Dawson at 151. A final run out going for a daft second off the last ball ends the innings with the home side looking to defend 152 against the best side in the South.
2 to Thomas, 3 to KP and 2 to Trigger while Phillips gets the other one and Max and Mark provided four overs between them for 35 (split 17/18). Can they defend it? Present form suggest NO but we've been here before.
The Reply
Kirby opens for the Glads to the Boss. Not quite Tait who Marcus murdered a couple of days ago. However he is fired up and gets the first into the blockhole - no slouch Mr Kirby. Craig is off the mark first ball this evening so it looks a little less fraught than the Glamorgan innings. But the skipper does not get on tonight as Kirby takes him out bowled (middle and off yorker). A good ball that Trescothick doesn't get his bat down on
Peter Trego comes in at the end of the first over in an unusual situation for us this year as Ireland starts the second to CK. No skipper and all to do. It could be a night for Pollard to say goodbye in style. A quick single to Taylor (their best fielder) nearly gets us in trouble but he fumbles it and we get the run. Then Trigger takes over and belts 3 fours off the second half of the Ireland starter 17 for 1 with 15 off the second.
Kirby continues and shows that Craig really hasn't got his timing sorted yet. Pete is hitting out and taking chances but luck seems to be with him at the start of the innings. Boundaries are still coming so we have 29 after 3 overs and the pace is being maintained.
Lewis is on and the first six from Peter shows that he can still belt a ball if you give him something loose. He takes a four off his hip and then another one flayed through the in field and he is moving at a rate with 28 off his first 10 deliveries faced. That becomes 32 off 11 while we take 18 off John Lewis.
47 after 4 is just what we want and Peter is warming to his task. Ireland continues and Craig boundaries him to take us past 50. Ireland tries a short ball and it works as CK top edges it to Hamish Marshall and he goes at 53 to usher Hildreth in as Franklin takes over the sixth over. Pete is looking to do the business here as he takes a six and a four off respective balls to go into the 40's. He ends the over with a top edge after making 46 in quick time. Peter isn't happy but that was his job in the powerplay overs and he leaves at 67. (17 balls 2 sixes and eight fours). Excellent.
In comes Zander de Bruyn and we have two men at the crease now yet to score. Gidman tries to make sure they don't in the 7th! ZdB gets his single and there's only two from the over. 69 for 3 after 7 and Gloucs turn to spin.
Dawson tries his hand with the 8th and sees de Bruyn hit him for six and they take 10 off the first slow one with ZdB taking most of them. Gidman takes the 9th and we see Hildreth get his first boundary but he is not getting it off the strip easily. We still have 88 by the end of the over. It's all looking good at the moment as Dawson takes us to the halfway stage needing just over 60 to win. It's on.
Zander takes another maximum from the Gladdies' slow man in his second and we manage 97 for 3 with 10 overs to go. Excellent pacing of the run rate which has moved at about 10 an over from the start. This leaves us needing roughly a run a ball to win this.
Kirby is brought back for the eleventh in the hope that he can get some wood to fall over but the partners seem better set. However the bowler is putting some fizz on the ball and we are struggling to time the ball off him. They get to 100 in his over and we need 53 with 7 wickets in hand.
John Lewis is brought back after being hammered by Trego earlier in the innings (18 off 6). Hildreth facesand although he takes a single, Zander hits his first one faced to the boundary to take us to 105. The twelfth ends with 106. Ireland returns and Zander continues milking the fours from loose balls and that is all he needs to do because he is also milking the singles so 6 plus an over will see us home easily. 8 off the 13th. It is less than a run a ball and in a T20 that is pretty much home and dry - except when Someset are playing of course!
Franklin continues and we have 120 by the time he collects his cap at the end. 33 needed off 36 as Lewis bowls a slower ball and gets Zander caught behind by Snell. 120 for 4 as Kieron Pollard comes out to face the men from Bristol. 33 off 35 needed. Here's hoping he ends his group stages with a bit of a show.
Lewis bounces him first ball and then they have a chat but our man takes on the throw with the second and Snell misses the run out. Lewis short balls him again and is no balled for his efforts - obviously looking to wind the West Indian up. KP takes a single. Hildreth takes a single and they end the over on 127 for 4. Still less than a run a ball needed with 5 overs to go.
Ireland is back to Hildreth and his start of the 16th is tight. The first time Pollard faces he top edges a pull over the boundary - when he looks to hit he really does hit hard so a flashing shot from him goes the distance. The next ball is also short and Kieron gets this one so it goes further! Why bowl short to this man? York him or just back of a length! Anything else gets smeared!
Kirby is their best and he is back on as Pollard steals the strike - if he doesn't bowl now he may not get the chance! He edges his first but it bounces in front of Snell. 140 for 4 as Kirby bowls a wide leaving us with 12 - 2 balls to KP! Kirby gives him a slower one and he gets the first one so easily. Kirby tries to york him and he gets smashed for four. The next one is short and so he is no balled and we are level! Next ball......halfway through the over and he nearly yorks Kieron with an excellent ball that he just keep out. He boundaries the next full toss and we have destroyed Gloucester by 6 wickets
Home draw. Glamorgan murdered. Gloucestershire smashed and we look very very comfortable. Pete did the job of putting this one away early and made it comfortable for the rest after the bowlers had restricted the home side to a total some 25 runs - at least - short.
Clean, Clinical, let's take Kent out and get this right in the quarters as well. Excellent work lads welcome home!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:18:14:09:06 by Grockle.
Oh it does annoy me.
The message the club is giving out by dropping the Sabre name is that SCCC are far too superior to get involved in all the froth and marketing stuff. And yet every other post on the main site is about six-hitting, hard hats, danger to low flying aircraft etc, etc.
No doubt Glos will have got used to the idea by next season. Maybe by then we will have our rightful designation : Cidermen!
The reason given at the AGM for the drop was that the team plays for a county and the 'sabres' was always a secondary option because we weren't allowed to use 'Wyverns' because an organisation (now defunct) with that name existed and that Glamorgan had already picked up the 'Dragons'.
We've had all the arguments around that laid out earlier in the year but I doubt you'd get a majority vote for 'Cidermen'.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:16:16:12:31 by Grockle.
“Not Sabres” do you think that would work?
There is certain ring to it on the loudspeakers.
And tonight we have the Gladiators against the Not Sabres.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:16:16:10:44 by Mike BOS.
As far as tonight is concerned 99.9% of the people will call it Gloucester v Somerset!
OLDBOYBA!
* thus giving Tractor the prompt to say "I resemble that remark."
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
He is captaining Ireland in both of their ODIs against Bangladesh in Belfast today and tomorrow.
Glo`shire, who also play Essex at Chelmsford tonight, are rotating their squad, with Jon Lewis, Steve Kirby and Hamish Marshall all rested tonight.
In the squad for both days is England National Elite Development Squad member Liam Norwell, an 18-year-old quickie from the Redruth cricket club, signed by Glo`shire today on a two-year contract.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Thanks
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I think we've had about enough T20 for this season and propose we move directly to a final against Notts.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Will we be able to adjust to CC after all this t20, there will be scores of six hundred in a day and that will be just one batsman.
The rain we have had this evening in Taunton has made up for this long dry spell we have had recently, let hope it has got it out of it's system ready for next week and back to dry weather again.
Of course, Taunton is usually a pretty firm surface, anyway, as well.
I'm less worried about the rain affecting the prospects for turn from our CC pitches and more worried about what seems to be forecast to come out of the sky next week interrupting play versus Kent.
My previous convinction about our summer is now wavering as the dominant weather pattern that had kept the Atlantic fronts at bay for six months appears to be weakening.
p.s. I agree with LoL's suggestion about an immediate final versus Notts.
At the moment it's cloudy but a strong breeze is keeping the showers away here in Saltford.
It could well be that - but they have also had a pretty poor campaign too!!
[www.thisissomerset.co.uk]
Who would have though that at the beginning of the tournament.
They must be desperate if they're ringing round people's mobiles a few hours before the gates open for a T20, on a Friday evening, for the local derby.
Alas the poor lady was disappointed as I already have my ticket for tonight. Hoping it will be another humdinger like last year's T20 at Bristol. Would be particularly good if Kieswetter could display that sort of form again.
It would hardly be particularly surprising if the enjoyment that certain teams have been getting out of T20 was in more or less direct proportion to the aptitude that they have shown in T20.
I read on CEEFAX last night that Ian Thomas, the guy who once made 117* in a T20 versus the mighty SCCC, stated that "most players do not enjoy T20 games."
I have to say that I had been under the impression that it was popular with players but maybe many of them are sick of it - and perhaps not just the ones on losing teams?
COACH
Rest him up for next two games.........we need him next week.
His injury couldn't really have come at a worse time given the CC is about to start again.
Both are in the Durham squad of 13 for tonight`s game with Leicester at Grace Road.
It may be similar not far up the road at Bristol, unless the weather clears up rain could be a problem.
Perhaps his new sylph-like figure has also disappeared (?)
Worryingly, these must surely be very recent injuries, otherwise we would surely have registered Cam White for the T20 and de-registered an injured Kartik?
I don't know what is going on here with certain decisions but its baffling me big style.
Phillips on target nicely caught by Trego
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
There is a lot to play for with the other matches.
A match from the Friends Provident Twenty20: Hampshire v Sussex in a South Group game at the Rose
8pm start on Sky sports 4
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
A home draw.
Yet another professional performance.
I may have to chnage my habits and get a ticket for the home tie!
Ref Sunday, I have set the vid for the match, as it may well be us. We are playing Hants, are we not?
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
The home supporters seemed resigned to their fate from the off.
We are very good at this.
Gloucs are not.
Bristol is a dump of a ground.
Not much new then !
Grizzzly
I have 3 tickets, but a day trip from Warsaw is out of the question, so Luke and his sister will be there. Should be a good game on a rare Sunday fixture.
It is not good enough.
We need to win on Sunday to make sure of it.
Gloucestershire mind were very poor but we did what we had to.
Horrible ground and agree totally on the complete lack of atmosphere and lack of support for the home team.
Personally i think Somerset fans may have contributed 30/40% of the crowd, and thats just the ones who made themselves known by their attire or applause.
Roll on Sunday.
PS- thumbs up to the club for £12 members tickets to 1/4, as it isnt covered by membership was expecting them to clobber us for far more than that
I think the only team that, on current form, might stop us would be Sussex in a rematch on finals day.
Far more important is getting MK back for the CC
Quote:AGod
I think the only team that, on current form, might stop us would be Sussex in a rematch on finals day.
I think that Essex supporters, with good reason, would disagree with you.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Unless they get Kaneria back then I do not really think that Essex have the bowling to beat us. They have a lot of samey medium pace in there.
Equally, Surrey might qualify and they've beaten us twice but I'd still back us to beat them well.
OLDBOYBA!
"They have got genuine world-class players in their batting and it was always going to be very tough. [www.thisisbristol.co.uk]
Very nice words from Gloucester's Captain.
Quote:AGod
If you are referring to our home defeat to Essex then I would simply say that our batting had not hit its stride in the early games.
I am not; I have been observing their performance with interest of late and noted an excellent win against Sussex yesterday evening. I would suggest that their opening partnership of Cook and Bopara is probably more reliable than Trescothick and Kieswetter and, like Somerset, they have six or seven outstanding batsmen. We are probably a slightly better bowling side.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:17:13:10:15 by Loyal of Lhasa..
Nice words from Gidman but I think he's missing the point somewhat.
We're not only one of the best T20 sides in the world but one of the best clubs in all forms of cricket in the world.
Just to put the record staright,of course.
A bit negative, though. I think we're quite a decent team.
Fair enough,I'll try and be a bit more upbeat in future.
And if anybody wants a good bread oven,my computer is doubling up as just that right now.
Hot stuff this electric,I don't why somebody hasn't thought about using the stuff as a heating method.
With your words of wisdom, I guess your judgement would be that we have the best cricket team there has ever ever been.
With you online there are no superlatives grand enough to give the real picture!!
With you offline we become mere mortals.
Welcome back!
OLDBOYBA!
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
And thanks to LoL as well,yours were quite nice.
I honestly do think we are the best County side in the land,and I think we'd kick the backsides of quite a few Test sides as well.
The finest side on the planet?
Not short of the mark.
,,,and welcome back BJ - we need you even if your computer doesn't agree!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:18:13:10:24 by Sloop John B.
They told me my fans were blocked up,blew into them and went away again.
They then sent me a bill for £70.
Anybody else fancy setting up a firm of computer fixers?
All you need to succeed is the ability to blow into a computer and a creative ability with figures.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Shall we get married?
I like that modern beat combo, The Beatles, so I too am fully abreast of contemporary culture.
Green fingers, you know.