Kent at Taunton Blast Number 6 - full game anyone?

By Grockle
June 14 2024

Kent come to the County Ground on a Friday when the suggestion is that we will be rain affected. At 5:30 it is still dry but precautionary covers are on the strip. The home side is unchanged from the side that murdered Middlesex and there are rumours that ex Somerset man Nathan Gilchrist will be co-opted in to use his local knowledge. The side may alter if the overs are reduced.

Blast! Number 6 Hampshire @ Taunton Friday 14 June 2024

Somerset will be unchanged from the side that turned out at Lord's if the game is a full one

Banton, Smeed, TKC, Abell, Dickson, Gregory, Green, Overton, RvdM, Davey, Meredith

Presently the sun is out and the sky is blue with white cloud, the rain clouds are about the place but they aren't presently are not heading here so keep praying.

Kent have won the toss and will bowl first so Somerset will be setting and not chasing tonight.

They have pulled Craig and Jake Ball is playing instead.... he isn't fit, the back is still causing him problems.

Out come Banton and Smeed AND the remote control Range Rover from Vertu with the ball (with broken stumps on top of it)

Bartlett opens from the River and Banton is straight off the mark with a single. Will has a look and then fours Bartlett to the CA as the rain starts to fall. A four to the Somerset and that's the lot for the moment as the covers arrive. It has really built up in the last half hour and is dark in most directions.

At 7:20 it doesn't look hopeful. The cut off time for the game is 9:57 but because we have had one over no one seems sure what the regulation is concerning returning to the middle. This is all based on the assumption that the weather will abate long enough to get a game of any size in.

Sorry people there's not a hope in hell of a game here tonight.

But I lied!! The Umpires have decided we can get a 5 over a side game in starting at 9:02. It looks like Somerset will have 4 overs plus the one they already have had. Then one would assume Kent will be D/L'd for their 5 overs.

We will see, IF the rain stays off.

Anyway Somerset restart with 11 on the board (Will Smeed snicked one but it was a no ball). Bartlett can bowl another overf because bowlers can bowl 2 overs.

A major announcement is made that "All pies, pasties and sausage rolls are half price" The sell out crowd (minus about 300) has mostly gone home and it has started to drizzle again. Still not definite we will start. One assumes that omnce they are out they will go for it. Kent are in kit and waiting to take the field.

And here we go!!

Stobo will bowl over 2 from the MT with Smeed facing and he dies immediately at deep mid wicket caught by Crawley. 11 for 2. TKC arrives. He puts his first into the Ondaatje. THAT is how you do it . The next goes for four and it was a no ball. End of the 1.3 over 'Powerplay'

Bants top edges a 'reverse' sweep but it falls safe. The second over ends at 24 for 1

Stewart takes the next from the River. There is an issue off the pitch as the club have shut the gates and are not letting ticket holders back in because of the 'no readmittance' policy. One might suggest a bit of flexibility might be sensible.

Meanwhile we have 6 off 2 balls and a single off the third. Banton goes for 7 trying to get the ball over the Caddyshack boundary. Caught by Muyeye. A change sees Lewis as the next man in - we aren't scoring enough at 31 for 2 at 2.4 overs

The first ball he faces is a wide, he sends the next to the Botham for a one bounce four. The next is also a wide. The next one is a dot. At 3 the score is 37 for 2.

Gilchrist takes the next at the MT... could be interesting. TKC respects him not at all and puts it over the Trade Nation stand. He takes a single of the next. Gregory sends the next one one bounce to the Ondaatje boundary. The next one tries the same but finds the fielder and the skipper goes for 8 at 48 for 3 with 2 balls to go caught by Bartlett. Green is next in, we are fiddling with the line-up hoping someone will hit a rich vein of boundaries. Unfortunately TKC finds another boundary fielder and Denly gives Gilchrist a second. 49 for 4. In comes Dickson to face the last from Bartlett. TKC's 24 came from 9.

The 50 arrives in the 5th. Dickson has to reach but he squirts it for 4. He misses the next 2 and trying to get a single Ben is run out. Out comes Tom Abell on a hiding to nothing with one ball left. He ramps it, runs one and is run out coming back.

Somerset have 55 for 6. Kent will need 61.... One has to say that we would fancy getting 61 off 30 balls so one might expect Kent are in the driving seat.

The Reply

Crawley and Bell-Drummond come out to see what they can do. Meredith will bowl the first. Crawley will face the first. Dot ball first. The second ball they try for two but Kasey gets the ball in and Crawley is run out. Another scrambled single from O'Riordan followed by a wide. He bowls another wide and it goes for 4 moving Kent on to 8. Bell-Drummond skies it and Jake Ball takes the catch at backward square. In comes Billings with 2 balls of the first over to go. The first is a single. Dot ball. 9 for 2 after 1.

Jake Ball takes the second. The first goes for 4. That is followed by a single and Billings off strike. Ball dots the next and ends the 'Powerplay'. Single is a near run out as Abell hits as they go for a second. O'Riordan goes to Abell next ball caught in front of the CA. 16 for 3. Joe Denly arrives to try and help Sam take us back to Canterbury. The next is ajudged a wide (not sure) and the next is closer but also called. However the next ois a dot. Good over from Jake and 18 for 3 after 2.

Riley takes the next and dots the first. He does the same with the second. He is bowling at speed. A single off the third. The next one is absolutely through him. They take double off the next but the pressure is racheting up. A streaky flashed four finishes two excellent overs and moves Kent to 25 for 3. They need 36 to win. Ball will bowl the next... not sure this is a good idea (think I would have bowled Green or had the skipper take one). Four off the first. Dot off the second though Billings disagreed. The umpires have a chat about the dissent. Four more off the next. A conversation is had between captain and bowler and a few people are moved at 33 for 3 but Billings tries for two on Abell's arm and he is short. Run out for 16 off 10. 24 for 4 and Evison in. Ball dots him and then he goes for a single 35 off 4.

Last over they need 26 and they've given it to Greener. Single, four, single, Evison has broken his bat. 41 for 4 with 3 to go. They need 20 off 3. The first is a wicket in front of the Trade Nation caught by Smeed. Evison goes and Stewart arrives. Single means they need 19 off the last. He ramps the last and we win by 14 runs.

Excellent bowling from all three men to hold them to account. Meredith just gets better, Ball more than deserves his place and Green is presently literally the best in the world at what he does.