The Cricket Thread

150-6

 

160-7

 

Terrible run rate.

 

I quite like it.

The Windies are a bit of a curate's egg...slashing it all over the park in one game and dropping the ball into welcoming hands in the next.

 

187-8

 

???

 

Nice days play at the Bowl. Are Hants that good or are Essex still on the juice? Hope they can skittle them out early tomorrow & go on to win the game. Might be the only side to beat them this year.

 

I referred to the previous T20 as an ODI...and was corrected.

 

Ah, did wonder.

 

I can see that my being corrected would confuse you.

 

Good day for Hampshire, a reasonable one for Yorkshire, Middlesex,and Surrey and an iffy one for Somerset. Hope Somerset can get early wickets tomorrow at the Oval.

 

I thought it was so obvious not to enforce the FO this morning, that I didn't really entertain the prospect. Less than four sessions into the match, and when a draw wouldn't actually be a bad result, there was no reason in my mind to enforce it. Time simply wasn't an issue.

We might still win this. The new ball is only six overs away, and their tail did nothing first time around. But I'd have much rather we squashed them into ground by setting them a massive score (which would have only required an OK score from us), rather than risk handed them the advantage by being able to set us something tricky vs Porter and Harmer.

 

I agree with you. First hour at Lords tomorrow could well have a big say on the relegation issue. If Lancashire can survive that, Middesex I fear are in the mire. Just hope Somerset can hold onto a draw against Surrey. Perhaps bad light will play its part.

 

Lancs 156 (156, or 161, or 172)
Surrey 141 - 143 (141 - 143, or 146 - 148, or 157 - 159)
Hants 140 (140 or 145, or 156)
Yorks 129 (129, or 134, or 145)
Somerset 127 - 128 (127 - 128, or 132 - 133, or 143 - 144)
Middlesex 127 (127, or 132, or 143)

Just to illustrate that a draw, moving us onto 145 points, would not have been a bad result for us. Somerset and Middlesex would still be below us, Yorks would be below or level with us, and Surrey potentially would fall below us.

It also shows that if us, Somerset and Middlesex were to all lose, then we would be safe (subject to any points deductions for slow over rates). A 13 point lead over Middlesex could only be overturned with Middlesex beating Somerset (which in turn would mean that Somerset couldn't overturn their own 12 or 13 gap); whilst 13 points can be achieved with a draw, we would survive by virtue of having 3 wins to Middlesex's 2 (in the massively, massively unlikely even that we lost to Warks without picking up a bonus points). Lancs have made a good start in their run chase vs Middlesex.

 

Subject to tomorrow being clear, losing today works to our advantage in my view (should it come to that).

Either we skittle through the rest of the Essex batting line-up, meaning they set us very little. In which case one day of play is sufficient for that action to take place.

Or Essex bat for quite a lot longer, meaning they set us something a bit challenging. In which case one day is play is insufficient for them to potentially bowl us out before we reach that target. (And as I say, a draw is not a bad result for us - indeed, it would mathematically keep us up, if Somerset and Middlesex both lose - albeit the latter have started well today).

 

Excellent for us to get both Lawrence and Bopara today. Real chance to push for the win now.

 

Spot on St B!! Should make a very good afternoon's cricket there at the Bowl.

Elsewhere, Yorkshire look as if they are inching their way to a nervy win. I hope Somerset can survive at the Oval, which would then set us up for a great round of final matches.

 

Think again . Hants 29-6 .....

 

What pathetically weak and lily-livered batting from our top order.