A Tale ot Two T20 Teams. A 'Dickens' of a conundrum
By Grockle
July 16 2022
So before we see if we can get to the Final of the Vitality Blast this year, we could look back at how we come to be in Finals Day for two successive years. We are up against Hampshire again... seems to be where we end up if we hget this far. But it really has been a tale of two sides... the phenomenal one and the not so good.
Somerset have not been a great campaigning side in the 20 over despite being in the finals an awfully large number of times in this century. Since 2005 though it has never been a succesful place for them to be. This is a story in itself but we have to admit that we aren't the most consistent short form unit. We have had very poor group stages followed by suprisingly good knockout stages nbut we have rarely progressed to the end stage with a feeling of confidence.
There are two Somerset's. We usually have a good bowling unit, they pull us out of bad games and put good ones to bed pretty firmly. We have match winners all over the place BUT they hardly fire together at any time - one bat will win us a game or all the players will do enough. Our tactics are rarely seen as clever, we aren't particularly flexible or adaptable to the changes in the game. We are predictable in terms of bowling plans and if they start to go wrong or we find ourselves with scoreboard pressure we can panic and flail. So we bat well bowl well and win or we bat poorly, don't give the bowlers enough and lose. We aren't good at pacing a chase either unless we go off at a rate of knots.
So there is the excellent T20 unit and the 'Shadow' version. Our season depends on which turns up and when
Was this season different? Well you could say so. What was different? Easy. Quite simply the signing of Rilee Russouw. It wasn't a particularly popular choice, the observers were not all that impressed in hoiw the South African had played in his earlier tournaments for other counties though he had taken us to the cleaners once. He was seen as a 'bargain basement' sort of choice.
We had Petter Siddle and Marchant de Lange already on the books so we had three to 'prerm from but it was expected that RR would start. We had Tom Banton and Will Smeed opening with that 'if only' feeling about them and then RR coming in at 3 with overall skipper Abell at 4 and Tom Lammonby working down the order at 5.
1. KENT Away 8 wicket win
Tom Lammonby opening the bowling was a surprise. As was choosing Marchant de Lange over Peter Siddle. The openers failed BUT Russouw didn't with 81 working well with the skipper to take us home... Lewis Gregory took 3 for 25 and we had them at 4 for 33. We beat their 162 with 4 balls to go. Nice start but small score
2. ESSEX Home 6 wicket win (D/L)
A shortened game of 18 overs which Josh Davey celebrated his return in with 3 for 31. The main part of this was that Russouw fired again (67) but this time with Will Smeed (58) and the speed. We needed 144 and we got it in just over 14 overs... the batting was firing a little better than usual on a more regular basis than usual.
3. HAMPSHIRE Away 4 wicket win
The bowling won us this one. Davey 3 for 21, Ben Green coming into the reckoning as a bowler in T20 took 2 for 19, Lewis Gregory 2 for 8 and MdL still being preferred to Siddle 2 for 20. We held them to 123 and knocked the runs off in 15 overs with llittle worry - a problem we have had in the past when needing simply to push the score along without doing anything crazy.
Three games in and 3 wins in the bank... not our usual version of the group stages.
4. SUSSEX Home loss by 47 runs
Sussex put up 216 first - a more than decent over par score at Taunton - which they kept telling us was the highest scoring T20 ground in the world. Davey continued the good form with 3 for 45 and MdL kept justifying his place with 2 for 56 - a bit high but crucial wickets. Could we chase? Well it started off well with Rilee continuing to generate runs with an excellent 74 however when he went at 120 we collapsed oin short order to 169. It seemed that we were good if Russouw was good - not a surprise there to any loong term supporter.
5. GLAMORGAN Home win by 9 wickets
This was a game of two stars. Ben Green took his best ever figures of 5 for 29 as the 'Welsh' were held for 173 for 7. Then Will Smeed fell 2 short of a maiden century at 98 leaving Banton and Russouw to bring this one home in 14 overs and 1 ball. We seemd to be a team that could put people away if they underperformed and we were performing quite well ourselves in more than one place at a time
6. GLOUCESTERSHIRE Away win by 3 wickets (D/L)
Wet and miserable Bristol and a short order slogfest. Glos went first and smacked 101 for 5 from 10. 10 an over was possible but we needed to focus. After 5.5 overs we were 55 for 7. A lot of people put this down to... we aren't good chasing in slogfests. But our number 9 batsman was RvdM whoi took the position and turned it on its head with Josh Davey (a not inconsiderable batsman himself) with 48 off 15 balls to put us over the required 114 and win us another game from absolutely nowhere.
After 6 games, qualification without scrapiing in as the 4th side was looking decidely on. But we had been here before and the opinion was that if the 'shadow' Somerset had not shown up them it was only time bbefore it came to the party.
7. KENT Home loss by 32 runs
Again we let a side get over 200 (202) and then had to chase it down. We didn't seem to be good at this. Craig Overton was back after the Tests and he had 3 for 31. Our front end went cheaply and despite 43 from the captain and 40 from the up and coming at speed Ben Green we lost wickets regularly and could only muster and undercooked 170 for 9. We just did not pace the chase at all.
8. GLOUCESTERSHIRE Home win by 7 runs
Batting first we got back into the swing of things RR hit 54 to keep up his rich vien of half tons. Lewis Gregory weighed in with a 60 suggesting he was coming back into some batting form but we only hit 184 which was possibly low. But all the bowlers answered the call and a 3 wicket spell from Peter Siddle kept them to 177 and we scraped home. So a deecent score and then a decent 'press' - we do this quite well usually.
9. ESSEX Away win by 8 wickets
The bowlers work hard and keep Essex honest with Jack Brooks coming in and taking 2 for 23. 188 for 5 was not enough as RR hits 85 and works with Tom Abell (62) to take us home iin 17.3 overs. When our bowlers are good and our batsmen are good we are very hard to beat this year.
So we are not clearly in the Quarter Finals yet but a home version is up for grabs, as well as not qualifying at all with 5 games to go. This is not unusual. The unusual thing is that 'on form' we should qualify!!
So the side unbeaten yet were Surrey and here they come
10. SURREY Away Loss by 3 wickets
We are put into bat and on a slow pitch Tom Banton is starting to look like he is getting his white ball 'mojo' back with 39. But that is about it and 144 for 8 never looks enough. However, Peter Siddle with 3 for 42 and Lewis Gregory with 3 for 35 push the Browncaps. Unfortunately they scrape home by 1 run!!
11. HAMPSHIRE Home loss by 14 runs
Again we let the visitors go over 200 (208) with Brooks taking 2 and Sidddle with 2. We start very well Smeed 43, Banton 54, Russouw 55 and then very little else and we come up short with 194 for 9. Agaiin we misplace the chase unfortunately and some batsmen find them stuck in one gear when they need to push into the next.
12. GLAMORGAN Away win by 16 runs
Another wet evening game, this one only 7 overs. We bat first and ppush a score to 75 for 5 - probably not a great score in a run chase. Hoever, we have very tight bowlers who keep Glamorgan to 59 with Ben Green once more impressing with 2 for 13.
So can we come out of the Middlesex game already qualified?
13. MIDDLESEX Away win by 2 wickets
Middlesex get to 160 with more wickets for Ben Green (3 for 38) but our front end is working a little better than normally with everyone having decent games at different times. This time it is Tom Banton (39) and his captain (36) who hold the score together while others all put in a bit and we get home with 2 balls to go. Somerset qualify... but home advantage?
14. SURREY Home win by 47 runs
Will Smeed arrives again with 98 Tom Abell hits 70 to keep his solid game going and we hit 218 for 8. Surrey are always chasing this game and with Craig taking 4 for 25 and both Siddle and RvdM adding 2 we dimiss them for 171 and gain that Derbyshire home quarter
So this has been a different season. The 'shadow' side have been there. They have tended to come along when we are chasing totals - not a good thing for us to do. We either get the pace right or we struggle to get it right. We also tend to do better if Russouw gets moving. If Smeed stays in for a while it allows Banton to settle and then we have a side. Tom Abell holds the pairs together when necessary and if we need something at the end then Green, Lammonby and the irrepressable Roelof are ready to add their bats to the fray.
We need the batting side to arrive because both Davey and Overton are not coming to the the day.
IF the right side turn up we will be something to beat. If we don't then 2022 willbe the same as 2021 but it may end ot the semi stage in that case.
BUT a much more satisfying T20 season with some immense performances from players who can get better and are doing so on a pretty regular basis. And then there's Rilee Russouw who has just been on a different level. His 500+ runs in the 14 games were just the difference we wanted. He added 93 in the quarter and I'd be very happy to see another 100 or so in the two games left.
But the problem of the series meets us again in the semi final against Hampshire. Smeed struggled against the short ball as he did against Scrimshaw in the Derbyshire game. Tom Banton was unluckily run out - might have survived if he had dived. Rilee wasn't in long enough and so we were behind the race for the Hawks total of 190. Then we foubnd ourselves in the same position of not being able to pace a chase. . That gear change just didn't happen. That meant that as the overs came and went the scoreboard pressure increased and players coming in had to rush. Run outs and some excellent Hampshire end of game bowling made it impossible for the tail and we fell 37 runs short. So the Blast is over for Somerset.
Thank you to Rilee Roscoe Russouw... a superb period of play. Well done to Ben Green who become a reall asset in this form - hope that sets him up for the RLODC where he returns to the skipper role. Well done to the bowlers overall, including the addition of Tom Lammonby as the useful leftie. Will Smeed learned a lot and go so close to that elusive ton. Tom Banton looked as if he was finding that balance between the red and white ball game, hope he uses that during the rest of the red ball season because we are going to need him.
SO that is probably our silverware hunt over this year. We are not featuring in the Championship oin any real sense and the Royal London may be a bit of a lottery given the injuries to the squad remaining while the franchise clownshow goes on.
We'll revisit that after the games aginst Yorkshire and Essex... that one will be interesting with Harmer doing 'so well' at home!!
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:18:10:32:54 by Grockle.
If Davey Is injured, too?
Who plays? Brooks and……
Do we go Goldsworthy because we need a second spin option at Edgbaston?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:15:09:37:00 by Grockle.
I suppose the forecast does at least mean that things would be over well before midnight … but can’t see them permitting a late night motorway dash.. so I expect the only way we see Craig would be if they decide they want to have a look at one of their other squad options in Manchester.
No mention of Craig Overton.
:-(
Grizzers
Lancs, possibly, favourites for the day now, with Parkinson and Salt restored to their ranks.
Not sure how you work with this... either everyone or no one was easier when it was 1 player a side.
BUT the ECB has stuck a whole bunch in a conflicting situation.
NONE of this is happening from 2 weeks before the franchise right through the final stages Why not? Because it is happening now to make sure the franchise time is free.
All hail the Franchise EVERYTHING else is irrelevant because franchise punters will be basically unaware this is happening and established fans are irrelevant.
It will be interesting to see how commentators cover the absences tomorrow and how much franchise reference & advertising happens. May have to mute if it is what I expect it to be
Somebody posted on here the other week that Ned was being “mismanaged at Second XI level.” I guess maybe I see, now, why they might have felt that way.
Josh Davey? Hamstring. My money is on him being out for some considerable time. Maybe back for September CC run in if we’re lucky. Official site gives no estimated date for return but uses a form of words used by the club in the past when players have been expected to be out for some considerable while.
Hopefully Sonny will be back?
If not? Ollie Sale to play? Somebody else from the seconds? This Ogbonne guy?
I don’t really want to see all of Siddle, Brooks, Hildreth and Davies in the same XI - we should surely be looking to develop as many of the younger guys as possible?
Aldridge, Leonard and Baker all played last year.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
“The clash of fixtures between England and the climax to county cricket's biggest week of the season is unconscionable - either greedy, cynical and deliberate or greedy incompetent and lacking in empathy: take your pick.”
I hope anyone who is going enjoys it and good luck to Somerset.
The Lyth, Malan, TKC axis very dangerous at the top of their order.
We’ll need Goldsworthy in decent bowling form..
He loses nothing in comparison with non Root or Bairstow Yorkie members of the England contingent.
Then again, the last Somerset signing who I assumed would be great in white ball for us was Steve Davies, who instead proved disastrous.
I have the feeling that spectators will be seeing him again in the Final, though.
Should we beat Hants, please do NOT invite this Yorkshire side to bat first…
Good Yorkshire total - they look strong.
12 overs for 138 for pace @ more than 11
As the pitch starts to die during the day?
I wouldn’t be surprised if that difference becomes even more stark.
On paper, an Achilles heel for SCCC at this venue is a relative lack of spin options… with only one having been a regular member of our side in the group stages and L Gold the only other option in the squad. For example, Lancs bowled three spinners and would have given up even more runs had they not been able to do so, but three spinners is an impossibility for us.
You seem to be commentating to yourself on this thread rather than enjoying the cricket in the lovely sunshine here in Birmingham.....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:16:13:43:55 by Grockle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:16:13:45:29 by AGod.
Banton hopefully having found some form Vs Derbys might prove significant, with some luck.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:16:14:12:15 by Grockle.
2 spinners for Hamps. Tom would have bowled first it seems
Jack B and Lewis Jr in... as most people thought.
Gonna go and get the prayer mat out!!
Could easily be more like 185 for the second semi and then 165 for the Final.
Certainly, I would *not* fancy us to chase North of 185. So below 185 is the mark I’m looking for from us, first up.
Whether we will or not is the whole basis of us today!!
Siddle apart, it’s hard to see our other seamers keeping too much of a lid on things, although Brooks has - to be fair - done a good job when called upon.
Peter’s over was not very good.
Yep Siddle OFF the money!!
The key?
For guys like Smeed and Roussow to NOT try to clear the long boundary before they have played themselves in a bit.
If commentators are right that Siddle is injured, though? That would, surely, be the final nail in our CC1 coffin?
I think that’s about five over par for the second game of the day, with pitch slightly slower and gripping very slightly for the second game.
So I make it about 52:48 in their favour, at half way.
Now which Somerset is going to turn up - if it's the batting one.... well
A good finishto the Hamshire innings for Somerset when over 200 looked on the cards for some of the innings.
But as AGod says, please let Roussow and Smeed play themselves in for a few balls. Over 200 was chased down in the first semi, so it is doable, and I guess Somerset would be quite confident.
I'm still fearful...
The four Dawson overs will probably prove decisive, one way or T’other.
Little surprise to see our batting fail under the pressure of Finals Day and a team that actually had a plan for RR (and the skill to execute it).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:16:18:46:07 by AGod.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:16:17:01:46 by AGod.
They aren't pacing this chase at anything like what it should be - they are behind it against some very good Hampshire bowling and I can't see these two pushing it at over 10 an over which is what they need to reach the final.
Unless they get out and we have fireworks from Green and RvdM we are going to come up short again I'm afraid.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:16:17:24:04 by AGod.
As a chasing side? We are average at best and Tom A needs to give up on the idea of default insertions on flat pitches because we are *not* good enough at chasing to back up the policy.
There are positives, except of course we are in the bridesmaid train once again.
We have to learn to chase!! That has been our Achilles Heel all Blast unfortunately
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:16:18:50:49 by Grockle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:16:17:38:42 by hantssabre.
We don't seem to be able to accelerate if it becomes obvious that we are not moving at the right pace. Either the guys coming in hole out and the pressure rises or the people who have a start cannot move the speed of scoring on from whatever level they start at.
We seem to be single speed though that can be fast... when we have trouble slowing down and taking it easier - though that isn't such a problem if our boys are in.
Shame - lots of other things have gone well but chasing... nah!!
I’ve said more than enough previously on the subject so will leave it at that.
I’ve no doubt the players are hurting right now, but likely not as much as the fans who paid a fortune to go & watch.
Grizzers
So something obvious for this group to work on for next year then. We are one of the better teams in the south group and should be close to qualifying for finals day every year.
I'm sure it's been noted.
It's their job.
Many have been bought up with all things Somerset, they get it, and they care.
Many trolls revel in having something to moan about.
Many just vent in frustration, understandably, as they too care, but never more than the 11 out there do.
If RR wants to come back? Cool.
But for the second T20 overseas pro?
I should like us to sign a top spinner to partner VDM.
Certainly, that would be the best thing for Finals Day… You know before you even turn up at Edgbaston that there’s a very good chance that the spinners will be the most effective bowlers in T20 and on Finals Day and all the more so as the day wears on.
If we had a second top spinner, maybe we’d produce fewer “home belters,” and abandon our default “win toss and field position.” And I certainly think we’d have a better chance on Finals Day IF we qualify (Kent and Sussex being reminders that there are no certainties on that front).
Historic par at Edgbaston is 161. Two decent spinners can bowl their 8 overs for 50 or so. That means that, if your seamers can hold the oppo to fewer than 111 runs from the other 12 overs (just over 9 an over) then you should hold the oppo to a slightly below par total.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:16:19:21:44 by AGod.
If it is so vital for a major second spinner naybe we should bring Jack into the T20 squad.
A) A proven white ball force
And
Contracted to Somerset, rather than England .. otherwise they won’t be available for most games.Was the second one available?
There was Max
Yes, there were disappointments concerning our batters, but well done Hampshire.
Interesting end to the Final !
Only followed last over. Well done Hants. I’ll always be grateful to Hants for how professional they were on the last day in 2011 and wish they had won last year’s championship rather than Warwicks.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:16:22:18:19 by Des Platt.
The atmosphere was absolutely tremendous. A singer walking along the front of the Barnes and Wyatt Stand singing 'Hey Jude' in the interval between innings in the final seemed just right and had the whole stand, or most of it, and probably most of the ground, singing along. The huge conga of fancy dressers circulating around the Hollies Stand had people in fits. Even the beach ball gradually being bounced along the crowd seemed to have its place. The looks of joy on children's faces as T-shirts were thrown into the crowd was a joy to see. A pop festival atmosphere at the cricket.
And all the while, the cricket was going on in front of us. And it fixed the attention. Taut faces while it was on, smiling ones when it wasn't. While the pop festival atmosphere was the ever-present background, the cricket was the ever-present focus. Cheers and applause for boundaries, wickets, tight-run runs and brilliant fielding. Tension gripping the air at tight points in matches.
And some brilliant cricket too. Yorkshire posted what looked a competitive total in the first match and Lancashire breezed past it. Somerset looked to have just about held Hampshire to an achievable total in the second match and Hampshire bowled them out of the competition. After the semi-finals Lancashire looked to be the team of the day. More so when they seemed to have bowled Hampshire to an inadequate total and breezed their way through the powerplay at ten an over. And then, from 'game over', Hampshire slowly squeezed the life out of the Lancashire batting.
With Somerset not in the final, and wanting a quick getaway, I watched the last couple of overs on a screen behind the Hollies Stand. The action on the screen was half a second behind the live action. The half second delay was discernable becauset he atmosphere in the ground could be heard and sensed through the back of the stand. I was beneath a tranche of Hampshire supporters. There was silence between the balls and then cheers or groans predicted which way the action which followed on screen would go.
The festival atmosphere carried on to the end, but as the tension in the cricket rose, the festival faded into the background until it exploded again in fireworks in the Edgbaston sky, and a very chirpy coach ride home.
In the end, this was a day for white ball bowlers and spectators. Especially for the Hampshire white ball bowlers. And for the supporters of all four teams.
It was my fifth Finals Day. I reached home at 1.00 a.m., 16 hours after the coach had left in the morning. Would I go again? You bet! If Somerset were there.
Farmer
Against Somerset at Southampton in 2010, Hampshire need one from the last ball, but batsman Dan Christian had pulled a hamstring and had to call for a runner. The laws states that `when a batsman with a runner is the striker. his ground is always at the wicket-keeper`s end`. Christian ignored this and when the ball hit his leg, he set out to run alongside his runner and eventually reached the bowler`s end.
The umpire should have given Somerset all the time in the world (till midnight if necessary) to break the stumps Christian had abandoned, but they neglected to do so - and the leg bye, achieved by the runner alongside Christian, won the match.
Yesterday, Hampshire wicket-keeper Ben McDermott realised Lancashire were attempting a second `winning` bye and correctly ran to the bowler`s end where he should have hit the stumps with the ball. However, the stumps had already been broken by Mason Crane without ball in hand - and the second bye should have been allowed and Lancashire awarded the victory.
To make matters even more bizarre, the umpires also allowed Hampshire`s captain James Vince to alter his field before the last legitimate ball was bowled - and after the Nathan Ellis no-ball had reduced the runs needed to just two. The law states quite firmly that no changes in the field are allowed after a no-ball, if it is the same batsman facing. Clearly, the umpires didn`t check on that either.
Lucky Hampshire three times - there, I told you it was sour grapes.
The others were 2010 at Southampton (wet), 2011 at Edgbaston (the Leicestersbire super sub final and the super over semi-final, 2012 at Cardiff (wet) and 2018 at Edgbaston (wet). All lost.
Some may recall I could not go to the 2019 RLODC because it clashed with my son's wedding. No idea how we managed to win that.
Farmer
Farmer
It built even further when Hampshire called for a runner for Christian for the final ball with Hampshire needing that one run. No other pitch had creases marked out and so there was what seemed like an interminable delay while the groundstaff dutifully marked out creases for the runner on a nearby pitch. Perhaps, when the final ball was actually bowled and that lbw appeal went up, Trescothick could be forgiven for not spotting the infringement of the run out law by Christian.
Oh the unending joy of following Somerset.
Farmer
It seems somebody at Bridgwater CC had more faith in the lad, as they have turned him into the best young prospect in the area in a matter of months. So much so that Jason Kerr demanded the County take another look, on recommendation from Bridgwater.
The irony is that, after Ogborne’s last two 2nd XI games, he has been advised not to play for Bridgwater (rest), the very reason his fortunes have been turned around. Somewhat harsh as i see they lost their last two games without him!
This is the same advice given to Leonard, and look where he is now. Young bowlers need to bowl, otherwise their bodies will not support the workload required to be a professional cricketer over a number of seasons. I worry whether those running the 2nds and the Academy really know what they are doing……..
Quote:AGod
With Davey likely to be out and Leonard definitely out, one wonders what the 50-over bowling will look like?
Hopefully Sonny will be back?
If not? Ollie Sale to play? Somebody else from the seconds? This Ogbonne guy?
I don’t really want to see all of Siddle, Brooks, Hildreth and Davies in the same XI - we should surely be looking to develop as many of the younger guys as possible?
Aldridge, Leonard and Baker all played last year.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:07:18:04:39:51 by somerset blue.
One would hope that they don’t take such decisions alone? Such is our need for good young cricketers that one would hope that, in the case of any young bowler having a run with the seconds, then not only the seconds staff but also Jason Kerr and Steve Kirby would both “have a look.” Easily facilitated, these days, with streams even of the seconds games.