Horses with horns and banana skins
Dockrell/Waller duo in
By Grockle
August 21 2011
The Unicorns haven't won a game yet this season, we are on a losing streak and need the points, Keith Parsons is returning to the seat of his triumphs and Thornley is picked for the visitors looking to show Somerset the errors of not signing him. Banana skin in the offing? Well we expect not but you never know..
v The Unicorns CB40 @ Taunton Sunday 21 August 2011
A beautiful day at Taunton and a fairly decent crowd. The Unicorns have won the toss (now there is a surprise - when did Marcus last win one?) and will bat first. Our side is;
Trecothick, Kieswetter, Trego, Hildreth, Buttler, Compton, Suppiah, Thomas, Dockrell, Kirby and Waller
So, Somerset go with two spinners - good to see - but I'm personally sad not to see Craig Meschede left out of this one. We could have probably allowed Nick to rest his ankle this afternoon.
This is one we are expected to win though Keith Parsons and Mr Thornley may want to have something to say in the progress of the game and this game does have a kind of possible 'slip up' possibility.
Campbell and Thornley will open for the Unicorns and the skipper is opening with Dockrell as he would have had Murali been fit. He goes for 1 from the River and Alf takes the first from the Old Pavilion. He also goes for one but passes the bat twice as well.
Over 2 and George is into his stride giving away singles sparingly before dismissing Campbell with his 5th ball LBW - 4 for 1. They have 12 after 5 when Steve takes over from Alf. Thornley takes a shine to him and produces two boundaries off the first two half volleys that our man provides. By the fourth ball boundary they have doubled their score and the fifth ball four means Kirbs has gone for 16 off is first over. Not good enough I'm afraid. You can't tie them down and then simply give it away through 6 loose balls.
Over 7 is not given to SK but to one of the other spin men....Arul Suppiah but he is swept for four off his first as well by Thornley. The difference is that he doesn't continue to serve up the same stuff until Thornley comes up the wicket to his 5th. After 8 the Horny Ones have gone on to 38. Spin continues at the River as Max gets his first and nearly catches Ord with his first delivery diving full length and parrying it "around the post". He is still probably bowling too short but only gives 6 runs to the opposition.
An excellent tenth over from Suppiah has the Unicorns tied down with only 46 off the first 25% of their innings..and the spin has them under the cosh as Ord goes big off a Waller ball and puts the ball straight to Dockrell on the Somerset stand boundary and it is 48 for 2. Thornley has hit 37 of his sides 48 as he is joined by Levitt.
The 50 arrives 2 balls into the 12th. Marcus drops to save one and looks in trouble with his leg injury - the question is posed "Why does he need to play in this game if the injury is going to be constant until the end of the season and we need him to be ready for a final next week?" He runs it off but even when he is jogging he looks to be conscious of it.
Trigger gets his first cance with the ball for the 16th after 60 runs come off the first 15. His last ball has Levitt putting one up very high and Suppiah running backwards towards the Ondaatje makes it look stupidly simple as he takes a superb catch on the run with one hand. 62 for 3 and Parsons marches out to very generous applause to face Dockrell from the River. He's off the mark with a shovel over Max at midwicket.
Pete is on, takes a wicket and then is replaced by Alf for the 18th who really doesn't look in peak condition one has to say as KP takes advantage of a couple of loose ones to take his side to 70. It has moved on to 90 before Thornley gets his 50 halfway through the 22nd - slowed him down somewhat (61 balls 7 fours) from his early rate of scoring. The Unicorn 100 arrives from Keith's bat off the bowling of Trigger in the 24th and he starts to outscore his younger partner courtesy of a couple of cover drives to the electronic scoreboard off the Somerset allrounder.
With 114 after 25 the Boss turns back to Kirbs and Keith tries to put him into the car park...instead he puts it into the safe hands of Arul for 38...is that his last innings at the County ground? We keep thinking so..but the man keeps coming back and still looks good. 115 for 4 and Knappett takes the field.
By 30 overs the visitors have amassed 137 and are looking to push the score along in the last 10 to create a competitive score on the Taunton wicket. Hence the increase in the scoring rate that sees them close in on 150with the addition of 10 in the 31st. At the present rate, anything around 200 would be a decent score for them as Marcus returns to Dockrell for the 32nd at the OP.
Knappett works hard with Thornley to push the score along until he is caught by Compton off the bowling of Kirby (changing ends and coming in from the River) 171 on the board and 200 looks far more likely than it did.
Thornley has held this ininngs together and produced half his side's suns and as they push on to 200 he passes the personal milestone of 100 well deserved runs off 111 balls with 10 fours. Reece provides good support for his established partner with 18 off 14 and the two manage to reach 208 by the end of the 40 overs. A decent score - it shouldn't be enough but they are in the book and we have to make them.
The Reply
Marcus and Craig K are not a surprise as they march out to reply to the Unicorn score. Querll takes the first over and see 7 come off it. McGarry takes the second and finds the Somerset pair ready to take him on. At the end of the 3rd the score is 19 for no wicket with both batsmen finding the boundary boards early and as we move into the 30's during the 4th one would suggest that 208 is not enough for a 40 over game here.
Taunton born Luis Reece takes the 6th as we reach 36 off the first 5 without loss and he produces a decent over with only 3 coming from it. Other interesting things about the Unicorns? The keeper Knappett wears one of those baseball grills with his baseball cap on backwards rather than a usual keeper's helmet. Many of the players are 'follically challenged' with Keith having more than most. Thornley is almost entirely without fuzz at the age of 24. We are all wondering why the Zimbabwean Querl is playing for the Unicorns... does he have English registration as well one wonders?
Meanwhile the 50 arrives with an effortless boundary from the Somerset captain from the second ball of the 8th over. Tres nearly throws an opportunity away by firing one from Reece high in the air but Beaven, trotting backwards into position, misreads it and it falls over his head without him getting a hand on it. Daft and lucky...learn the lesson Boss and "fill yer boots". 55 after 8 and the poor Beaven has to now come on to bowl the 9th..ain't it always the way?
72 after 10 for the home side with Marcus on 40 and Craig on 27. Somerset seem to be in no hurry and no trouble as they farm 12 off Beaven (a Trescothick four and the first six from his partner)in the 11th. The race to be the first man to 50 is on and by the middle of the 14th (bowled by Reece) the score is 99 with the Boss on 49 and CK on 45. As Craig drives for 4 in the air, he is caught by the diving Parsons and we lose our first wicket one run before 100. In comes Peter Trego.
Bradley Whadlan takes the 15th and from his first ball Tresco goes to 50 off 38 balls with 7 fours. At the same time Somerset reach three figures and with Trigger taking a single off the last ball of the over Somerset are 101 for 1 after 15 overs.
Then we go through the 'wheels getting wobbly' stage as Marcus looks to sweep the "dangerous" spinner Bradley Whadlan and is bowled for 53...why? 113 for 2 and the newly capped Nick Compton joins the willow party in the middle and the run rate slows to a crawl.
"Wobblier wheels" come when Trigger plops an innocuous Whadlan delivery to the infield catcher and it is 116 for 3 with Hildreth coming out to partner (and be careful of) the "run out king" Compo. The prediction of this being all over by the 20th over was wildly optimistic as we have 116 by the start of the 20th. Beaven and Whadlan have tied the pair down and runs have become a trickle after the ease with which the two top order men were scoring in the early overs. 117 by the end of it just illustrates how tightly the Unicorns have employed the "press".
The two scary things for our future games that come from this little interlude is the lack of pace in a Compton over and the problems James has against spin. He seems to have two shots, the sweep and the reverse sweep. Anything else he plays he does with little confidence of scoring from. The last boundary in this game came in the 16th over and we are now in the 24th. Although the score is moving it is doing so very slowly (130 for 3 at the start of the 25th) - as I type this JH finally fnds the boundary again - and we can't afford that in higher scopring games where we are looking to reach higher targets or set them for the opposition to chase. Really if this is the situation there is a case for Jos to move up the order if spin is being employed to split up this partnership which is like watching the proverbial wall covering reach a level of non stickyness!
139 after 25 as single is piled on single to pull us closer to the target....predictions are now that we will reach the total in the 37th or 38th over unless one of these is out and someone else comes in. If Hampshire employ their three spinners next Saturday then don't expect to watch Somerset after the semi final.
Thornley is on to bowl at the OP for the 28th with 147 on the board. He watches the 150 come up before the end of the over but only just. We are left needing 59 off 12 and there is a new urgency in the running between the wickets which puts an icy fear in the stomach of every Somerset supporter...they may try for 2's and Nick is at one end!!
However, the urgency has reaped rewards as we reach 30 overs with 166 to our names neading 43 off 10 overs. Whadlan is brought back on at the River by the Unicorn captain but now they are looking for runs and his first delivery is contempuously cut to the scoreboard boundary by Hilda. Suddenly they have lost their respect for the spinner from Herefordshire and take him for 10. McGarry returns at the OP and a nice cover drive is superbly fielded by that man Thornley to save a certain four runs. The fielder on the other side is not so lucky as Hilda splits the field with the next delivery.
Nick tries to push McGarry to the leg side but steps too far across and misses one that goes straight through and bowls him for 25. 182 for 4 brings in Jos to hopefully finish this one off by partnering JH to his first 50 in this competition and getting the 27 needed to win this. His first ball from McGarry is dispatched to the Ondaatje boundary to get him off the mark.
Whadlan finishes with 2 for 39 as we reach 190. Jos starts his next over by putting McGarry into the Gimblett before he hits the Ondaatje with ball number 2 to bring up 200. Will he let James get the 6 he needs? Well he takes a single and allows JH to deposit the next one for four and then take a 2 off the last of the 34th. 50 off 50 balls with 6 fours. 2 needed to win with Buttler on strike and Querl bowling.
It takes one ball and a six into the Somerset and the game is over. "See this Nick this is how you play this game". Six wicket victory with 5.5 overs left and Jos Buttler 23 off 8 balls.
Lessons for next week? I think so. But will they look and listen?
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:08:24:19:39:55 by Grockle.
This is one of the two matches we have in hand over Nottinghamshire, who are two points ahead but with an inferior run rate.
Unicorns from: Keith Parsons, Thornley, Benham, Park, Campbell, Chishti, Reece, Rashid, Beaven, Queri, Saker, Knappett and Peploe.
Think 9 are certain pretty much-
Tres, Kies, Tregs, Compo, Hildy, Jos, Arul, Alfie, George.
Then presumably 2 from Max, Kirby, Meschede, Hussain & Dibble
Nick Compton - leg.
James Hildreth - Arm.
I don't know how bad they were injured!
I would not be surprised to see Dibble given a game after his match for the 2nds last week but whoever plays should do well.
Or did they never come out when play began?
The photo of Nick being hit is on the match thread.
Quote:cricketjerry-mouse
Opening batsmen Mike Thornely and James Campbell, who have both appeared for Somerset Seconds this season, are in the Unicorns 13-man squad
Very good.
But Robin Lett who is in the Unicorns squand does not seem to
get a game.
Well done again to Wes D. for doing a Lazarus using the
Unicorn escape route.
Good to see the two young spinners playing in a strong looking team.
Unicorns win the toss and will bat.
No it wasn't. It was Kirby who went for 16 in an over.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:08:21:14:19:08 by Bobstan.
A bit worried re Marcus though, reading the above comments re his injury.
SK 4-0-33-1....... against the Unicorns ...............?
Grizzzly
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Craig Meschede seems to be the man who may miss out in that scenario...a shame IMPO.
Presently the game today is a walk in the park...but things can change.
120 for 3 after 21
What kept him?
23 off 8...nearly stopped James getting to his 50!
Unforgivable behaviour.
Now for the old enemy!
As for Somerset's performance today? Well, I thought it was a little like the curate's egg - good in parts.
I can't say that I was over - impressed with the manner in which both Marcus and Nick Compton gave their wickets away, but all was well in the end against such opposition.
The pitch (one I imagine that had been used before this season) gave the slow bowlers some help, but I was particularly impressed with the way that George Dockrell bowled.
Good to see excellent figures from GD again.
Anyone know if Marcus is OK ? I presume he can't be too bad as he managed to score 50 odd.
Grizzzly
Jos is a different class and is so exciting to watch. Nice to see some sun after three hours of heavy rain in Dorset, this morning.
Tractor and Trego's mates in fine voice.
I assume that Kirby must come good, as the professional selectors clearly no a lot more about cricket than I.
Got to BTM and realised I'd left my camera in the car so took it along.. will have some photos to share while not wanting to trample on Mikes feet.
Don't want to scare people but Marcus realy appeared to struggle in the field to me, he seemed very tentative when having to go down to field, and was often flexing it.
Saying that i didnt notice it when he batted, he didnt run too hard but then he rarely ever does.
Guess with ankles, running is fairly much straight lines where as fielding is more twisting, turning.
Recently he said it wasnt great but strapping and pain killers will see him through to end of season, really hop that's the case, it's not just how good he is i think as we saw at Cardiff, the team just doesnt have same feel without him to me, the other batters follow his lead, we struggle to fire without him i feel.
Huge game Wednesday now, be great to qualify v the enemy and go into finals day full of confidence (and with Tres and Kartik passed fit)
Plenty of photos to choose from today, a day when Nick Compton got his County Cap and Andy Caddick was presented with a self portrait.
Andy Caddick looking at his self portrait that was presented to him by Andy Nash.
After Jayden Levitt played several scoop shots over his head at the river end when Craig Kieswetter came down my end in the next over he checked with the leg side umpire several times to make sure he could stand way back. It looks like it was ok as long as he stayed within the circle.
James Hildreth steadied the ship in the middle and scored 50 with the help of this four.
It was good to see the spinners complete their overs today it doesn’t happen very often, Arul Suppiah beating J Levitt’s bat with this delivery.
Craig Kieswetter hoping for a stumping but J Ord had his foot down.
Keith Parsons didn’t like this slow bouncer off Alfonso Thomas.
Both Steve Kirby and Alfonso Thomas bowled quite a few slower balls this one from Thomas to L Reece.
Sussex have played 10 and got 16pts
We have played 10 and got 15pts.
Therefore if we win both our next 2 and Sussex slip up at all then i make it we get a home semi
Sussex have Kent at home Tues 23 and Middlesex away Mon 29.
We have Glos away Wednesday and Essex home Mon 29.
Still all to play for...
Presume this will not take place until Mon 29 evening or Tues 30th.
Fixture list says both games will be on Sunday 4th, does that mean only 1 is on sky?
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Apart from Thornely, I was also quite impressed with Reece. He should have had Marcus, did get Craig and had enough about him with the bat to get Alf's gander up!
Marcus obviously already has a lot of confidence in George -using him as the power-play bowler.
Compton is a useful ship steadier but I do wonder if he comes in sometimes when the ship doesm't need steadying. Please tell me he's not in contention for Saturday. It looks as though Alf is not really himself at the moment although it appears he could have bowled one more over instead of Kirby which would have been a bonus.
If he takes a batting spot away from a top 8 of
Tres, Kies, Tregs, Hildy, Jos, KP, Arul, Lewis/Meschede then there's something wrong with our thinking.
Thomas only bowled 7 just because of circumstances, he had 4 left and im sur Tres was aiming to use him for their batting power play.
As it happened they didnt take it until over 35, therefore Alfie only came back for 3 at the end.
I certainly haven't abandonned my wish for youngsters to be given opportunities. My point was that at this stage it appears that Thornley has the capacity to impose himself on the bowlers while the other two still seem to lack that ability - but things can change. I am still encouraged by BR's Independent article in which he clearly states his wish to promote the young players.
Looking forward to a trip to the so called international ground at Bristol on wednesday.
A win their will be vital so we can avoid the "squeaky bum time" game v Essex on the bank holiday
COACH
I would play Compton in the 40 over in a flexible batting position byt never in T20. I think he;s developed into a far better signing tha I thought at the beginning.
Re Thornely: still looks like he would be a handy signing to me as batting back-up. But I can see why people would say he would be blocking the youngsters, although he himself is still relatively young at 23/24. Tough decision for BR. Presumably he's still a free agent, or he wouldn't be playing for the Unicorns? With form like this he should be sure of a berth somewhere next year, though.
Re 40 over stuff: we still have to win the group to be sure of qualifying, don't we, so let's not count the chickens yet, eh? If we win the next one, we should be safely through (with our superior run-rate), but if the opposite were to happen ... it could be squeaky-bum time for the last game!
I don't know if Thornely will have done enough to have changed Brian's mind? Personally, I would think he might be worth the offer of a short-term contract offer for one-day cricket only. I am not convinced that Barrow/Jones are really seen as one-day prospects at this stage? So I don't think Thornely would be in competition with them at this stage.
One thing I would say is that it did not seem to be the usual "plum," of a one-day batting pitch. Peter Trego certainly seemed to feel that the one that got him stopped in the pitch and some of our players were less fluent that one might have expected against that kind of attack. So Thornely scoring that well on something other than a plum pitch might go in his favour.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Next season, Barrow and Jones will be a year more experienced. Meschede too, and all of them probably cheaper than a 24/25 year-old.
I thought you must have had a very long extension lead to take that from your place in the Gimblett, Mike.
Sussex supporters were extremely disappointed to see him released at the end of last season, so that must say something about him. He certainly looked class on Sunday, beating his prevous highest limited overs score - against us at Taunton last year.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:08:22:23:05:34 by cricketjerry-mouse.
He made runs on Sunday but it wasn't exactly scintillating - taking nothing from the man's work rate and the fact that he deserved the 100 for keeping the Unicorn innings going.
Edit - wrong thread
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011:08:23:22:10:29 by Mike TA1.