Looking at the mainstream media one would think there is no 50 over cricket in the country at the moment and that all county eyes are fixed on franchise cricket in the cities. So someone has to redress the balance and if the national sports media can't be bothered....well Somerset start the defence of their title a year late against Derbyshire with 6 debutants in their side and a new captain in Ben Green. 3 and a half thousand supporters brave a dubious weather forecast and leave the stuff on TV to the 'new' audience to come down to the cricket and beer festival at Taunton where we welcome you as well to what was an interesting evening of cricket.
Royal London One Day Cup v Derbyshire @ Taunton Sunday 25 July 2021
Somerset:Davies (w), Young (deb), Goldsworthy (deb), Hildreth, Bartlett, Green (c), Byrom (deb), Baker(deb), Aldridge (deb), Brooks (deb Som), Leach
The weather suggests for most of the day that there might be rain and we get a little drizzle at the start of the game. It's overcast, Ben Green wins the toss and decides the conditions would help his bowlers (it's a bit of a lottery whether to test the batting or the bowling with a side that only really got a taste of this against Cornwall on Wednesday). Sonny Baker gets his debut as Josh Davey is still not fit enough.
Franchise cricket seems to have not tempted the Somerset faithful away as the crowd is large and active. It's a Sunday and there is a beer and cider festival but an official number of 3200 is decent for a July Sunday night.
Jack Brooks opens from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion (new to me and from now on will be the MTP) against Came and Godleman. Derbyshire only have one debutant but that is because they played 6 new players in a game mid week. Brooksie starts with a wide and the last ball of his over is the first boundary. His partner is Sonny Baker from the River end - this is something I personally have been waiting to see after seeing this guy in the March friendlies. He is slight for a fast man but he generates some pace (averaging 80+ mph) and will get stronger at only 18. His first over is good and we are 8 for 0 after 2. His second is better as he suprises Came with one that lifts considerably, gets an edge and thumps into the keeper's gloves. First wicket to Baker!! Tom Woods strides out with the visitors 18 for 1. Brooks is pushed to respond and he does, removing Godleman caught Byrom. Derbyshire are 18 for 2 after 5 overs.
Guest joins Wood and we have a spell of Wood being happy to come up the wicket to Baker and try and pressure him out of the attack. Baker is not phased and asks the batsman a number of questions as we move to 30 for 2 after 8. The drinking festival is not taking away from the action on the field as Sonny gets a second, winning the game against Wood with another one that lifts suprisingly off a length which Davies pouches. 36 for 3 and considerable trouble for the visiting opposition. The Derbyshire press don't think there is much left in the batting tank and they are not sure of Fynn Hudson-Prentice who is on debut and has already signed for Sussex for 2022. With 10 overs done 37 for the loss of 3 is not where they want to be as we see Green replace Baker and Aldridge start his first game at the MTP for Brooks. Kasey is 'taller in person' and another slim individual for a bowler. Though he does not generate the pace of Baker, it is good to see him starting after an injury kept him out of early games this year. His first over is a tight one - the new boys seem to have been told 'Don't give anything away'!
The 50 arrives with a Guest boundary off Green in the 15th which shows how tight the initial bowling has been and it has only reached 79 by the 18th when we see Jack Leach for the first time after an excellent 8 overs from the second level of our pace attack - it looks like the skipper chose the right course at the start as the weather is improving minute by minute.
After 20 the score has moved to 87 and it is good to see that the county of Peter Bowler is still teaching batsmen to get to the pitch of the ball consistently. Lewis Goldsworthy takes over at the other end and the spin press is on!! The 100 arrives in the 23rd and at the halfway mark there is 117 on the board which must be giving the visitors cause to discuss a change of strategy for the second half though Hudson-Prentice is looking solid and reaches a highest score half century from 60 balls with 6 fours.
Both batsmen are coming up the wicket to Jack who isn't getting a lot from this wicket and the 100 partnership is reached from 116 balls at 136 for 3 in the 29th. The batsmen know they have to move the speed up in order to reach a defendable score and the England spinner is their target. So much so that Green brings Baker back for the 30th at 142 without any more loss. Though the skipper doesn't take Jack off.
Brooke Guest goes to his debut 50 as the 150 is clocked up (67 balls with 3 fours) and the conclusion that Soomerset have left Leach on too long is confirmed as the batsmen take his 8th for 18 leaving him wicketless with 56 from his spell. It may be that Green is gambling to have overs left at the end by using his spinners but the score looks definitely healthier when Green brings himself on and is lucky to C&B Hudson-Prentice for an excellent 93 in the 34th at 178 for 4. The partnership is a record breaking one against Somerset at Taunton replacing that of Derbyshire legend Kim Barnett and Double legend Peter Bowler (of blessed memory).
Jack Brooks returns for the 35th at the MTP and he is in the action as he is the one who runs out Anuj Dal at 192 off his first ball. He is re-joined by Baker as Derbyshire pass 200 and they reach 217 with 10 to go and Aldridge returns from the Pavilion end. He does for Guest with an excellent slower ball which the batsman hits straight to the dependable 'steady' Eddie Byrom. He departs for a needed 74 at 224 for 6.
Thompson and McKiernan are looking to push on but McKiernan in particular can't get bat on ball, though he is trying manfully. However, the debutant Somerset paceman has something left when with 2 balls to go of his spell he fires in a quick full length ball and cleans the opposing batsman up comprehensively for a very impressive finish to his first bowling outing. 10 overs, 1 maiden, 46 for 3. Take a bow Mr Baker.
Marshal replaces McKiernan and Derby pass 250 with balls left of the 45th - a much better score than expected by the travelling faithful it seems. Green takes up the captain's mantle and comes on to push the batting. He gets Thompson caught by George Bartlett for 24 at the end of the 46th while a Brooks slow ball does for Aitchison bringing Ravi Rampaul to the crease at 268 for 9.
However, it isn't over yet and the last pair take their side into the last over at 291. Green takes the last 6 and Rampaul puts him into the crowd on his first. The secoond is a single and then the innings is wrapped up as Marshall is caught behind off the third.
Somerset need 299 - more than they would have expected to chase at 36 for 3 and more than a new and green batting line-up would want to chase under lights on their first outing. In a 50 over context it is only 6 an over but in a Somersetian context it's SIX an over. Lots of responsibility on the 'mature' members of the line-up.
Steve Davies is no suprise opening. Sam Young is however and it is a lot on the young man's shoulders on debut. Derbyshire open with Ravi Rampaul at the River and the slow bowling of Alex Thompson at the MTP. It reaps early rewards as Young is out for 4 fishing caught behind by Guest with only 5 on the board. George Bartlett is in third with a need for some time at the crease after looking woefully out of form in his last few outings.
Derbyshire start a puzzling process of swopping bowlers at the Pavilion end with first Hudson-Prentice turning his arm over and then Aitchison coming on from that end. Meanwhile Somerset consolidate and reach 50 in the 9th. All seems to be settling until Bartlett, who was looking comfortable, pulls one straight down Dal's throat at 51 off Hudson-Prentice.
We come to an important part of the game with Davies and Hildreth at the crease. If Derbyshire can break this partnership then the game is in their hands. If the pair can stay together then their respective skill and class can take the home side to victory. Everyone says NOTHING about any quality strokes, how the batsmen seem to be settling, how good these two are. We pray that Anthony Gibson makes no comment on the BBC about Davies looking comfortable in the 30s or Hildreth looking a class above the rest. Eyes close until both batsman pass individual scores of 39!
McKiernan is introduced (leg spinner) at the MTP and Hildreth swats his first to the boundary. Alex Thompson comes on for the 16th at the River and Davies sixes him into the Colin Atkinsoon pavilion. Davies reaches 50 at 96 for 2 from 46 balls with 5 fours and the six. Anuj Dal comes on at the MTP - the 5th bowler from that end in 19 overs. Up comes the 100 and at 20 overs Somerset are 107 for 2 still with a lot to do and a desperate reliance on the 2 at the crease to keep the scoreboard anxiety down.
The veterans continue. Rampaul tries the MTP in the 24th and the home side pass 150 in the 26th. Sort of halfway at halfway. Not long after the 100 partnership arrives with a 4 off 98 balls but the expected Hildreth 50 has to wait as Steve Davies smashes to ball to all parts and pushes towards 3 figures. Hildreth finally gets there at 169 from 62 balls with 5 fours. Then at 171 for 3 Steve gives it away in smelling distance of a well deserved hundred as he goes for 94 from 72 balls with the game nowhere near over.
Lewis Goldsworthy replaces him and it is interesting how many comment that it is good to see him coming in to steady and push this on. He's 5 foot 8 and 20 for God's sake. But he plays like he has done this all his life after such a short time in the firsts.
McKiernan is tried from the River in the 34th at 195 for 3 and Hildreth sixes him into the CA to bring up the 200. Not a day to mess with Mr Hildreth it seems. Rampaul returns to the MTP for the 39th with the score moviing to 225 for 3 but James is looking in trouble and we have a long physio break while a hamstring pull or extreme cramp is dealt with. This results in Bartlett coming out as a runner - though the injured batsman forgets this for a couple of balls!!
By the 40th over it's 67 needed. By the 43rd the 250 has arrived and Hildreth is close to his 8th 50 over ton. That dutifully comes with a towering 'stand and deliver' six into the Somerset Stand (102 balls 9 fours and 2 sixes). On a day when Steve Davies was very very good...James Hildreth was just 'better' and once agin he takes his side close to home on one leg.
With 276 on the board in the 45th a very tired Hildreth holes out to McKiernan off Thompson for a run a ball 110 (well 109 balls) and Eddie Byrom comes out after the applause to look for 23 off 24. He starts with a streaky four off an edge when people are just saying 'Get Lewis on strike'. But he is not hurried, he takes 2 and then adds another four to take us to 287 at the end of the 47th.
Then Lewis takes control.After digging out a very good Rampaul yorker first up in the 48th he goes to a debut 50 from 64 balls with 6 fours and a six and finishes the game with a straight 1 bounce four to bring up a six wicket victory as calm as you like. Eddie finishes on 11.
Excellent stuff. We let them get away a little, Leachy took some tap. Baker was impressive, Green cleared up at the end. Shame Young went early but the 'old men' did their job magnificently and both deserved centuries. Bartlett and Byrom got some time at the crease and the mature debut half century from Goldsworthy was good to see. The side has been 'blooded' they came through and performed well.
On to Glamorgan mid week.
New Blood Royal London v Derbyshire
Posted by: Grockles.com (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2021 12:25
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:07:29:23:31:16 by Grockle.
Not sure what I expect tomorrow but from a Somerset fan point of view at least it isn't a franchise game and the guys out there will be playing for the shirt and not (even more obviously) the money.
Royal London Cup Head Coach, Paul Tweddle has named the following squad:
Ben Green, Kasey Aldridge, Sonny Baker, George Bartlett, Eddie Byrom, Jack Brooks,
Josh Davey, Steve Davies, James Hildreth, Lewis Goldsworthy, Jack Leach, Ned Leonard,
James Rew and Sam Young.
Having been in the Ondaatje stand for the season so far, I've finally got tickets to the Somerset Stand. Hopefully that won't jinx Somerset but really looking forwards to it
Lets see how much balance remains in the posts tomorrow if it doesnt go so well.
I'm guessing the "really keen to see our young prospects" mantra may soon change.
I am very acceptant of what i am going to see.
We are missing 9 of our main players, no overseas player and up to 10 after tomorrow once Leach leaves us.
Derbys i dont think lose quite so many players, it is what it is.
Maybe more than one record will change tomorrow đ and we'll have some good things to report on.
However the posting will be done by individuals on the basis of what they percieve the day to be like and you'll just have to deal with it wsm if it doesn't achieve what you expect I'm afraid
They have the right to post. You of course have the right to disagree or agree with their perception and debate the pros and cons with them within the rules.
At the end of the day, there will be very limited scope for anyone to call for other players to play because the other options are very limited. The guy who made the runs the other day is one possible exception.
So team selection is unlikely to be the subject of any criticism.
We do need those more senior players that are still available to deliver. Not that we have many alternatives if they donât but, if there is to be any disappointment tomorrow (and hopefully there wonât be) itâs most likely to be if we have to rely on young players even more than âplanned,â which is what would happen if senior players donât deliver.
I don't particularly care whether it affects you wsm unless the reason is someone attacks you personally for a post you make here
I care whether the debate on this site is about what happens and not whether posters have defined others as 'unbalanced' based on their own subjective view and not the objective facts
Please remember that this is not a site where you have to be some kind of unquestioning Somerset supporter first and a commentator on the cricket second
'Balance' involves two sides and neither is set in stone at the start
Iâve only heard of three of the players named by Derbys in their squad for this match.
Part of that will be because we seldom play them
and Iâve been focused on, first CC1 and then our regional groups. But I guess they have a handful missing thanks to the ECB, too.
As a guy who much prefers 4 day cricket to white ball - I don't go to T20 anymore - I am really looking forward to today. I hope some of the youngsters get their chance, and hopefully show us what they can do. It would be marvellous to see yet another one emerge out of the group. After Marchant's stunning performance in The Blundred, it would be very satisfying to see one of our young quicks rise to the occasion and try to fill the gap. I expect that Marchant will be much in demand to entertain the "women and children"!
I always think of one day cricket as the thinking person's white ball, there is time to adapt to a change of fortunes etc in a game of more than 120 balls an innings.
Not sure the weather will be kind which is the problem if it happens on the wrong day of course
No surprise that there are no Royal London previews on the BBC website and except for scirecards no reports on games already played.
Good to see that the franchise women's game has a high priority but the RLOD fixtures come below the Zimbabwe v Bangladesh fixture on the national broadcaster's list
20 stories on the franchise before we have the news of the Championship tables.... nothing on 50 over cricket... colour me massively surprised
Hudson - Prentice looks at home though they both keep coming up the wicket to Jack. This is his highest List A score and he has already signed for Sussex for next year so the Derbys guys aren't exactly over the moon about his 50
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:07:25:15:51:23 by Grockle.
Variable innings - got em, let em go, got em let em go.
Sonny Baker the pick. Ben Green doing the captain bit but getting a little overeager to show his 'pace'. Kasey Aldridge 1 for 40 and Jack getting some tap.
It's a demanding target and game on I think. A good start is needed by our boys to keep ahead of this so we aren't pressurised into rushing into things
Derbyshire largely have a reserve team too. They might find somebody unexpected who does a Sonny but itâs also likely they will have a couple of guys that we can put under real pressure.
The one concern I have is that guys like Byrom and Bartlett arenât bringing much form with them into this game.
Davies, Hildreth and Goldsworthy possibly the three key wickets for us.
Well he troubled the scorers more than recently though it wasn't there to pull and the fielder was there for that shot.
Derbyshire are struggling to find a bowler from the MT Pavilion to cause problems
Last time Hilda AND Davies both got to 50 in the same game? I have a feeling it's more recent than I think but has it happened more often than I believe in one day games? Doesn't strike me as a regular occurrence but I could be mistaken
Obviously not because it'll be about lunchtime. Steve has given a century away - shame, second one of this game. Well played sir - he looks SO good until he goes but at least it was tother side of 50 this time.
I fancy it may have been quite some time since it happened, not least because Steve has generally had a disappointing time in white ball cricket since moving from the Oval (plus seldom plays T20 and 50 over got cancelled last year)
Lewis on the ockie without this one being put to bed. This game is asking them all questions and that can't be a bad thing in the grand scheme of things
I was thinking white ball AG - more chances for it to happen in the CC and Steve has had a better CC career with us than white ball. I'd take out the 2020 unless it happened there. There was also a phase of the T20 where James wasn't flavour of the month, week or year I believe. Just thought it would not be a regular thing is all.
One positive difference between this commentary Vs the Beeb is that, even without Kirby, the home commentators seem to know quite a bit and/or have done their homework on the opposition. Ant Gib seldom seems to know much about the oppo players.
But to be fair it is usually a joint venture between the counties on the Beeb with local commentators from both sides joining up to commentate. It is good to be able to talk about the others though as it stops the commentary being more partisan than it has to be.
Hopefully only a grade 1 hammy, if it is the hammy, in which case can miss the rest of the 50 over and hopefully get back in time for the Notts CC game.
I think James had done all he could and I doubt we'll see him again any time soon - well played to the man but he was obviously in a lot of pain. Eddie Byrom in with a chance to NOT mess this up.
Apparently Derbyshire are no longer the County who have been away from the County Ground for the longest. The honour reportedly now falls to Durham, who havenât played there since 2016.
Very good win in the end, please to see our youngsters stand up to their outing with the depleted squad,
James looked to first have hamstring problems and then cramp, cannot see him being able to play for a few weeks.
Scrumper the starting time could have been altered to accommodate more drinking time,
the Beer/Cider festival was staying open for an extra half an hour at the end of the game.
The maturity of Lewis Goldsworthy was something to see. It's like he's been there forever and it is great to see bowlers try and intimidate him with short stuff because of his height. Must have happened his whole cricket life and he just swats them away.
Good to see George get a few minutes at the crease and Eddie get a few good ones in at the end.
There were times but we controlled a lot of this game and put away one we should have won the way we should have.
Some tightening up needed and a couple of changes because of call ups and the Hildreth injury but that was a better than decent start with an excelkent debut from Sonny Baker in particular.
I didnât think either of our experienced bowling options, Brooks or Leach had a particularly good day, and Baker really helped to drag it back.
I donât want to take any chances with Davey. So would be very happy to see Baker Vs Glamorgan, too, but it might be that the club will want to rotate their youngest bowlers, such that Ned Leonard might get the nod.
Even if, by some miracle, it really was just cramp for Hildreth, it would surely make sense to take no chances with him on Wednesday, in which case the muscular George Thomas may get a chance?
That was all very satisfactory, with Baker and Goldsworthy particularly impressive. Davies and Hildreth we already knew to be batsmen of true class and it was a delight to watch them at the very top of their game.
I always find it difficult to find a link to the BBC commentary for these streamed matches. The BBC site tells me I have to click on the audio icons, but I've no idea what these are or where to find them. The commentators on the streaming site are rather too inclined to chat and introduce trivial gimmicks rather than concentrate on what's happening on the field. But today we were treated to a long session with Steve Kirby who was hugely enjoyable to listen to. He comes across as a very warm and decent man, seeming not to have a bad word for anything or anybody, and I imagine he is a great motivator.
Excellent atmosphere and terrific experience for these guys in front of a lively crowd. It looked like from the 20 over mark Derbyshire were going to get around 300, but this flattered them. Leach was expensive and Green not the best death bowler. Baker was really impressive. I had no doubt we would get the score, as never below the target. However, Davies-Hildreth-Goldsworthy were memorable. One negative - I couldn't hear the tannoy
I don't know whether it was visible on the live feed, but from the way Hildreth was massaging and shaking his leg when off strike it looked like the old dog had simply cramped up and nothing more.
Speaking of old dogs, it was a pleasure to be there with mine today - first live game since 2019. I'd more or less given up hope of seeing another match at the ground. But it was great. Thousands packed in side-by-side, barely a mask in sight anywhere, and loads and loads of mumz n kidz cheering and jeering and having a great time.
I found the lads sat in front of me quite amusing with their chants of "Harry Came Harry Came". Even better when they got excited and soaked elderly neighbours with cider.
Watching Steve Davies and Jame Hildreth effortlessly stroke the ball to the boundary from all angles and with the shots of true class batsmen is always tinged with praying that Ant Gibson doesn't say anything about how in control either of them are or what sublime skill they have.
The 30s are the worst. But occasionally, just every now and then, they both pass through the shallows and open out into the higher scores and you appreciate the quality of what they can both produce in their pomp. Davies deserved his ton as well. Someone posted that perhaps he could show the one day sklls we bought him for... he can and he did.
The quality of James Hildreth simply comes from the fact that on a day when Steve Davies was very very good. Hildreth was simply better - not by a lot but better.
It was a masterclass in batting Grockle. I only wished Sam Young had stayed around longer. Bartlett looked like he was on for a big score, until he found the safe hands of Dal. Goldsworthy looked outstanding. Byrom finished the job off with style.
Hudson-Prentice and Guest just took advantage of some sloppy bowling in the middle of their innings, otherwise we would have been home a lot sooner. However, that set the scene for vintage Hildreth and Davies as you say
That Bloke with a dog . Can we officially bring our 4 legged friends into the ground for the 50 over games. If so were there any stipulations on where they can go ?
I was only able to make it for the Somerset innings yesterday. I checked in at the Brian Rose Gate with dog in tow, had my ticket scanned, and none of the chaps on the gate said anything about her presence. We made our way to Somerset Stand Block 1, and i couldn't for the life of me work out where my allocated seat was, and nor could the steward on duty there, so he just pointed to a vacant seat at the end of a row, and told me to sit there, while the hound settled down in the gangway, and everyone was happy.
I also noticed someone walking past with one of those cavapoo-style creatures at one point. So I think we can take it that if you bring your mutt to the Brian Rose Gate/Somerset Stand area at least, there won't be any problem.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:07:26:22:41:03 by That Bloke With The Dog.
If there's still confusion, I sent a snotty e-mail, back in May when the dog ban was originally announced, wondering why the BBC report of the first crowd back at Northants featured a picture of a couple with a spaniel, and why couldn't Somerset supporters bring our own dogs along in that case. I received the following reply:
Good Afternoon
Thank you for your email and I am sorry to learn of your disappointment.
I can confirm that this only applies to the restricted capacity matches due to the space which we have available.
After the 21st of June we do hope dogs will be allowed back into the grounds as previous seasons.
Once again, I apologise for any disappointment and inconvenience caused.
MIKE TA1 X stickers were removed from the seats in the long room for last Sundays game, but unfortunately it has left a very sticky circle on the seats.
Thatâs another gripe Iâm afraid Roger.Never known all the seats in the ground so grubby and dirty..It comes to something when youâve got to bring something down to clean them with before you can sit on them.
Yes Nelliec. I was in the River stand. In the row in front of me were 3 seats requiring maintenance, one of which was broken and dangerous, with the occupant leaning backwards at an alarming angle. The steward, who was made aware, took the number of the seat ...... and left the occupant where he was!
Back to the game ....... didn't Baker, Aldridge, Goldsworthy, Green, et al do well? A lot of pressure for them, and they rose to the occasion admirably. It looks as though our fast bowling stocks may well soon be more than secure.
I think Baker was more Effective than Aldridge on Sunday,so if Ned is going to play Iâd consider rotating Aldridge for Ned on this occasion.If Jacks not available we might play all 3 I Suppose ,but they might be too similar
Yes, Nellie - for me Baker was alone, really, among the bowlers in impressing Vs Derbys.
I also think Aldridge and Leonard somewhat similar. However, I suspect that the plan might be to play Baker and Leonard, as our youngest bowlers, in alternate games. It might depend if Davey is fit though.
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