Bristol ODI 3 v SL
By Grockle et al
June 26 2016
So, after over 10 years of clicking in the boxes for internationals when applying for my press pass, I am a member of the international press crew for the first time. Sitting in the press box at these events is an event in itself - I've done it abroad but not in the UK - just at Finals. Also the first time I've watched a game at a ground I've always hated, though it looks less like a car park than it used to. Let's hope the rain stays off and the game is exciting. It's going to be worth it - I'm in for free.
Bristol on a Sunday is a joy to drive through, especially early in the morning and I have to admit that the Gloucestershire ground looks far more like a cricket venue than it used to. Having said that, at 8 in the morning all the people running around are staff so it's not filling yet. The weather in Bicknoller was abysmal so anything less grey than there without rain is worth travelling to. This is the third of these matches and it looks like there might be a bit of a game before any weather closes in at the moment. It is very sparse to be honest an hour before the start but I'm not sure how this ground fills.
The England side is listed as Hales, Roy, Root, Morgan, Bairstow, Buttler, Ali, Woakes, Willey, Plunkett and Rashid. No changes announced so we'll go with that for the moment.
More as the mood hits me....presently the desire for caffeine is a little stronger.
OK coffee and referendum conversations done. England have won the toss and will bowl. One change Ali does not play and Chris Jordan does. The batting line-up will develop as the game does the same one would assume. There's one chnge to the original SL line-up but as my comments on that would be pretty pointless I'll introduce them as they come out to bat. Any discussions of the SL side structure can be worked through in the post section I am sure.
With Willey taking an early wicket and then Mendis looking to shore things up for a while the initial progress of the SL score was sllw to say the least. Some tight bowling and sharp fielding kept everything in check and although Perera was nearly caught on the return by Woakes it required Plunkett to take him out as the batsman tried to smash him out of the attack.
Chris Jordan took over at the College end for the 12th and we saw Rahid for the first time for the 15th - the over where the visitors went past 50. Presently after 17 overs the score is 65 for 2 and it is all muddling along quite slowly.
K Mendis is looking to get some traction in the SL innings and goes to 50 off 61 balls with 5 fours and a six but 84 for 2 after 20 overs suggests there isn't a lot to help him along and without some big end of innings push this is not going to be a huge total. Then again, what is a huge total at Bristol.
Plunkett changes ends for the 22nd and will come in from the College End, With his second ball back he has Mendis caught at deep square by Hales for 53 and Angelo Matthews strides out to sort this innings out - at least he hopes so.
After a bunch of technical issues from a number of places this story has been inaccessible for the last 90 minutes so the main points are;
A Chandamal 50 off 65 balls at 153 for 3. At 165 for 3 Bairstow nearly gets to a bump ball from the ssme player but it falls just short of him in the midfeld.
Chandamal is then caught at Deeo Third Man by Jordan off Woakes znd it is 168 for 4
Prasana does not stay long before being caught in the deep for 2 by Bairstow and it is 171 for 5 in the 37th.
Matthews goes to a very good 50 off 61 balls at 191 for 5 with 8 fours (I think) and 1 six and Plunkett bowls out with 3 for 46 off his 10.
At 206 for 5 Jos misses a stumping when the ball flies in, is not taken and hits his foot while he totals the stumps with empty gloves.
Matthews went at 209 and Shanakar followed him at 215 with a very tight stumping decision which went against him when it could have probably gone either way as Root fired in and the stumps were broken as the bat did or did not cross the line
Presently it is 232 for 7 in the 48th with Tharanga (from opener to number 7) on 35 and Maharoof on 6 swinging at everything Jordan fires down.
Jordan finishes with 10 overs 49 for 1 and Woakes finishes off with the wicket of Masharoof at 242 for 8, caught in the deep once more by Bairstow. Woakes finisihes with very good figures of 10 overs 1 maiden 36 for 3 and SL popst 248 for 9
Then the rain comes and it's 3:30 before we get any kind of reply.
THE REPLY
Does not start well as Hales is out to the first ball he faces from Lakmal. Wafting into the keeper's gloves and England are 1 for 1.
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So, after 10 years of trying I am in Bristol for the 3rd ODI.....so I thought I ought to write something about is as I'm here....... I haven't been at this ground for over 15 years, with all the temporary seating it's more of a bowl than our place. Not impressed with the Lego flats I do have to say. Pegasus may not have done such a bad job at our place.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016:06:28:10:18:00 by Grockle.
I'm beginning to think we need to leave this country to enjoy decent weather, but this has unfortunately, now become more expensive, so we're screwed.
If it clashes with your view of me then I assume you'll be leaving this thread and adding nothing else. Tell you what you leave your concept of my ego alone and I'll not comment on the misery that is your view of cricket recently OK? Personal comments are always a problem on here so leave it out aye!! There aren't that many perks with this unpaid service and I'll take em when I can. If you want to offer me free cricket at the Rosebowl then let me know and I'll see how I'm fixed for the rest of the week.
Hope you get the info about Southampton.... think if you check back that most of my reports are from Taunton or grounds I like...don't particularly like the Rose Bowl either.
Anyway enjoy your coverage from there and sorry you won't be reading anything else here.... though it won't spoil my enjoyment or change my right to report on what the **** I like.
Willey has a wicket as Gunathilaka plays on and it's 3 for 1.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:06:26:10:49:42 by Grockle.
Woakes misses a sharp C&B chance from Perrera in the 8th at 31 for 1 but it doesn't cost anything really as the SL batsman tries to swing Plunkett away 2 balls into the 9th and Jos catches the very high ball and its 32 for 2.
Wow, you are in the big time now.
What should I order from my local newsagent in order not to miss anything - The Muscat Daily or the Bicknoller Bugle?
A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.
Done William
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:06:26:14:57:26 by Grockle.
Did you as moderator delete it?
Funny.
A glass half - empty or a glass half - full?
Regardless, both glasses need filling up.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:06:26:14:45:10 by Grockle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:06:26:15:35:13 by Grockle.
typo error
Ed.
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UK Forecast Video
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Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head -
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:06:26:18:18:15 by WilliamBlessing.
But the lunch as very nice (seems they do still exist AG) - you'll have to stump up for that as well CH if you want me in Southampton
.
I'm just watching CH5 to see if I got the result right so my ego gets massaged (hilarious Mikeindex:-)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:06:27:08:42:41 by Grockle.
His devotion to this site and now it would seem beyond has earned a just reward.
Thankyou Grockle.
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Quote:Shepton Paul 2
It doesn't have to be @#$%&-for-tat. It's quite legitimate for nobody to be rude, at all.
Quite so, we have enough problems at the moment without being rude about a silly game.
Can someone please direct me to the '@#$%&' insult that CP wants to justify the 'tat' insult with?
If not, as the game is done, maybe we can all just move on to more interesting 'silly game' topics and leave this discussion until next time young Harris can't keep his jealousy bottled up any more?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:06:27:08:40:18 by Grockle.