Fighting Loss - Warwickshire Day 4

Can't bowl Can Bat!
By Grockle
June 29 2002

It was out of reach really but we did give it a good go...especially Johnson who hit run a ball 30 plus with Rob Turner before the Bears closed the door on us.

WARWICKSHIRE CC1 @ EDGBASTON 26 JUNE 2002

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

DAY FOUR

Not what we wanted....

It was always going to be difficult to get there.  The front end of the batting line-up hadn't put enough of a platform for our second half.  We do bat a long way down but 198 was too many.  88 too many in fact!  Rob Turner had to be a focal point of a Somerset victory.  Keith Dutch kept him company for a while and when he went at 264, a lot of people would have expected a collapse and a loss by over 100.   Unfortunately, Turner, Bulbeck and Johnson hadn't read this script.  Turner remained the focal point of our stand but Matt Bulbeck put on 33 with him, even though he only hit 4 himself!.  Jonah took the score over 300 but didn't stay long, it was Richard Johnson, sidelined in the bowling department, who made the Bears uncomfortable!

At 302 for 9, Pollock and the rest must have been expecting to be in the bath in minutes.  Johnson hit 38 off 37 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes (two off Pollock himself) while Turner took his score to 83 before the inevitable happened with Johnson last man out after a partnership of 55.

So, we lost.  It was a spirited fight but we lost this game on Friday when the bowling attack could not support Jones in taking wickets cheaply.  This was followed by five batsman putting together 146 in total, all in double figures and only one over 50.   Not enough when chasing 445!  The game against Surrey next week is now a Championship 'make or break' match.  If we lose that we will not be champions.   If we win then we must beat everyone after it and hope that Surrey are so traumatised by the massive defeat we inflict that thier form falls apart!

Anyway, tomorrow is also important.  Beating Glamorgan at Taunton in the NUL is another 'must win' game, we have few one day matches we can afford to lose before we start looking at relegation.  Tomorrow needs to keep our one day 'winning streak' going.   Predictions by 12:00 tomorrow people!  Here's to sun and Somerset runs!