Ah, now where were we?
I’ll come to the main event, the championship game against Kent, in a later post. Firstly, it’s time to make a comment on Surrey’s progress – or lack of it – in the T20 contest. There were three scenarios going in to that penultimate game against Kent: a victory, which would see us straight into the next round, a loss, which would mean we would have to face Sussex looking for a win, or losing both games in quick succession and making no further appearance in the competition.
I’m not a pessimist by nature. Not even when we’re talking about a Surrey team capable on paper of total greatness or in contrast a collapse bigger than a Chipperfield tent. Even so, as we faced a rejuvenated Kent team I had, to quote Han Solo, a “bad feeling” about it.
Annabel and I were lounging around in our hotel room listening to Churchy, or rather that should read trying to listen to Churchy via my new smart phone. For reasons known to itself the little beggar was not living up to its reputation of being ‘smart’. In fact it lost connection to the internet and refused to link up to anything. It was fine at the Dr Who Experience earlier that day but I think its trip into the bowels of the Tardis possibly left it stuck in the vortex for a few hours. Not what you’re wanting when you need to listen to the cricket. I was all set to ‘exterminate’ something when finally, after hours of trying, the perisher decided to spring back into intermittent action. Note it waited until I was drying my hair to do so.
So, there I was, hair dripping wet, not daring to switch on the hair dryer for fear of missing the action. We caught the last few overs of the game. Just in time to hear Surrey falling short of the target set by Kent. I can’t tell you how I sighed to hear the loss, because I absolutely knew in my heart that Surrey were not going to beat Sussex in their next game. When the likes of Mahmood take on their old team you just know there’s going to be fireworks, and with that victory a resurgent Kent had manoeuvred themselves into a very nice qualifying position. Surrey on the other hand...
I could have had money on Sussex winning. And I could have had money on Murray Goodwin being the despicable object that caused the most problems for Surrey. I have to put my hand on my heart and say that whilst Muzza is one of the best county pros around he isn’t my favourite player. Then again, I’ve not met him, so who am I to judge? Sport’s a funny old thing, though. Be it cricket, football, tennis, golf or horse racing, we all have our likes and dislikes. Most of them probably based on not very much at all.
Still, whilst admiring what he did in the game I can’t say the result made me like him any more than I already did!
So, that was it for Surrey. The end of the T20 line for 2011. In many ways it was a shame, because there were moments of brilliance from them, and yet Surrey continue to be frustratingly inconsistent in all forms of the game. You can sense the ability bubbling underneath, and yet it bursts forth so sporadically that it’s more like a muddy geyser plopping away to itself rather than a lava-filled pyroclastic flow.
It would have been good to see the team progress, but there will be other days. There’s still the CB40 and the Championship to scrap for. Let’s hope the more sedate and dignified pace of both competitions will suit Surrey better!
Showing posts with label Sussex Sharks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sussex Sharks. Show all posts
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Shark attack
I said to a few of the other Rampants that I reckoned Sussex would be up for the challenge...well, in fairness it’s rare to see a Sussex team that isn’t hungry for a victory. Their run in the shorter forms of the game has been a little unreliable whilst in the championship they continue blithely on their merry way, but they are the class act in division two when all is said and done. For Surrey, coming on the back of their world record last week, this marks the start of a five day contest against Sussex and today’s CB40 game kicked things off in interesting fashion.
The game seemed to twist and turn a bit and promised to be a reasonably close affair for a good long while. Winning the toss and batting first Surrey got off to a nicely judged start. Perhaps there wasn’t the pyrotechnics and dazzling array of fours and sixes as there had been against Glamorgan, but without wishing to insult the Welsh team (who are currently near the top of the championship table) Sussex were always going to be a much more difficult proposition. RHB and Davies began to turn on the gas a little but then as can happen when looking set for a big score the skipper got out for 31. Walters then came in at three and showed exactly what a class bat he can be when he gets his head down, scoring at a good pace. Unfortunately, Davies then went for 26.
A word here for the Sussex bowling, which was very good indeed. Every time Surrey looked as if they might get the upper hand they managed to peg it back. Ramps came in next and kept ticking along, allowing Walters to go about his business at the other end, with the pair of them putting up a stand of 84 together. Alas, he was bowled by Kirtley for 33 when attempting to up the tempo. Other than Spriegel who made 30 none of the other batsmen made a score over 13, although in part this was testament to the excellent Sussex attack. The mainstay of the Surrey innings however turned out to be Walters who made 88 before Liddle claimed him as a victim, and it was just a shame that he was unable to claim what would have been a well deserved maiden 40 over hundred.
Sussex started strongly and their innings appeared to mirror the Surrey one in many respects. Joyce looked set for a massive score, but then his dismissal when on 37 by Spriegel came out of the blue! Steady rebuilding appeared to be the order of the day with young Joe Gatting (who although a fine cricketer in his own right will probably always have his name affixed with the tag ‘nephew of Mike’) staunchly digging in for what looked like a long stay. But his dismissal on 19 by Tremlett potentially opened up a tiny window of hope. At this point the Sussex and Surrey total was pretty much on a par.
Confession time: there was much cheering when Nash went. Not that we have anything against Nash especially but he’d made 63 when Batty snared him and hadn’t looked like getting out at all. There was even greater Rampant cheering when very next ball Goodwin (who we do tend to boo in mock-pantomime villain fashion) was bowled by the selfsame Gareth Batty for 10, to the extent where we decided to anoint the Surrey bowler as St Gareth of Batty!
Alas, the prized scalp of Goodwin turned out to be the last Sussex wicket to fall, as the rearguard action by Hodd (46no) and in particular Yardy (66no) made the real difference between victory and defeat. Although difficult to know for certain what was a good score or not, it did feel that Surrey had fallen maybe 25 runs short of what they might have hoped for and unfortunately this proved to be the case. Having done the trench work, Yardy took the batting power play at the death and it was enough to see a sudden increase in Sussex boundaries just when required. In the end Surrey lost by six wickets, and although in some respects it had been a tight and interesting game it did seem to be a match that had the Sharks’ name on it from the start of their reply.
I did feel sorry for poor Mr Church & Mr Barran. It can't be easy to commentate your little socks off when you've got people blocking your view, wandering in front of you or generally being a little disorderly. I wonder if that sozzled spectator made it out the ground or if we'll find him sleeping off his excesses on the boundary somewhere! And I have to agree that it must be annoying to have children running infront of the sight screen all the time. Kids should be taught in the nursery that there are wizened trolls feasting on the bones of children who mock the gods of cricket!
The Surrey fielding was really strong today by the sound of it. Despite the odd howler here and there – and every side will make those – Surrey are out of sight in terms of fielding compared to how they were last year. Hopefully we will see more of this in the championship game tomorrow. One thing is for certain: Surrey will have to be at their Northants beating best to get one over on Sussex over four days. But, given clear skies, good bowling and the odd Ramprakash century, who’s to say they won’t do just that?
The game seemed to twist and turn a bit and promised to be a reasonably close affair for a good long while. Winning the toss and batting first Surrey got off to a nicely judged start. Perhaps there wasn’t the pyrotechnics and dazzling array of fours and sixes as there had been against Glamorgan, but without wishing to insult the Welsh team (who are currently near the top of the championship table) Sussex were always going to be a much more difficult proposition. RHB and Davies began to turn on the gas a little but then as can happen when looking set for a big score the skipper got out for 31. Walters then came in at three and showed exactly what a class bat he can be when he gets his head down, scoring at a good pace. Unfortunately, Davies then went for 26.
A word here for the Sussex bowling, which was very good indeed. Every time Surrey looked as if they might get the upper hand they managed to peg it back. Ramps came in next and kept ticking along, allowing Walters to go about his business at the other end, with the pair of them putting up a stand of 84 together. Alas, he was bowled by Kirtley for 33 when attempting to up the tempo. Other than Spriegel who made 30 none of the other batsmen made a score over 13, although in part this was testament to the excellent Sussex attack. The mainstay of the Surrey innings however turned out to be Walters who made 88 before Liddle claimed him as a victim, and it was just a shame that he was unable to claim what would have been a well deserved maiden 40 over hundred.
Sussex started strongly and their innings appeared to mirror the Surrey one in many respects. Joyce looked set for a massive score, but then his dismissal when on 37 by Spriegel came out of the blue! Steady rebuilding appeared to be the order of the day with young Joe Gatting (who although a fine cricketer in his own right will probably always have his name affixed with the tag ‘nephew of Mike’) staunchly digging in for what looked like a long stay. But his dismissal on 19 by Tremlett potentially opened up a tiny window of hope. At this point the Sussex and Surrey total was pretty much on a par.
Confession time: there was much cheering when Nash went. Not that we have anything against Nash especially but he’d made 63 when Batty snared him and hadn’t looked like getting out at all. There was even greater Rampant cheering when very next ball Goodwin (who we do tend to boo in mock-pantomime villain fashion) was bowled by the selfsame Gareth Batty for 10, to the extent where we decided to anoint the Surrey bowler as St Gareth of Batty!
Alas, the prized scalp of Goodwin turned out to be the last Sussex wicket to fall, as the rearguard action by Hodd (46no) and in particular Yardy (66no) made the real difference between victory and defeat. Although difficult to know for certain what was a good score or not, it did feel that Surrey had fallen maybe 25 runs short of what they might have hoped for and unfortunately this proved to be the case. Having done the trench work, Yardy took the batting power play at the death and it was enough to see a sudden increase in Sussex boundaries just when required. In the end Surrey lost by six wickets, and although in some respects it had been a tight and interesting game it did seem to be a match that had the Sharks’ name on it from the start of their reply.
I did feel sorry for poor Mr Church & Mr Barran. It can't be easy to commentate your little socks off when you've got people blocking your view, wandering in front of you or generally being a little disorderly. I wonder if that sozzled spectator made it out the ground or if we'll find him sleeping off his excesses on the boundary somewhere! And I have to agree that it must be annoying to have children running infront of the sight screen all the time. Kids should be taught in the nursery that there are wizened trolls feasting on the bones of children who mock the gods of cricket!
The Surrey fielding was really strong today by the sound of it. Despite the odd howler here and there – and every side will make those – Surrey are out of sight in terms of fielding compared to how they were last year. Hopefully we will see more of this in the championship game tomorrow. One thing is for certain: Surrey will have to be at their Northants beating best to get one over on Sussex over four days. But, given clear skies, good bowling and the odd Ramprakash century, who’s to say they won’t do just that?
Sunday, 18 July 2010
It's the final countdown!
So sung Bon Jovi some twenty odd years ago. I'm sure they won't object to my half-inching their song title for this blog post. And, just to try something a little different, today I am going to be blogging live and adding my thoughts as the game progresses, whilst keeping a keen-eye turned to the the Middlesex and Hants games. As two of our number aren't especially Surrey supporters - in fact not remotely - one a Middlesex fan and the other a Hants fan, it's going to make for an interesting afternoon! But, whatever happens in terms of that last qualification spot, at least somebody is going to be happy with the outcome today!
May the best teams win, and good luck to all!
But especially Surrey, Sussex and Essex... (sorry, couldn't resist)!
***********
Gladiators have been stuck in by the Lions. Symonds bowling first. Think we need to get Porterfield out quickly. Pitch playing slowly. 4-0 in the first over.
Middlesex 1-1 in their first over!
Tremlett gets Redmond!!! Woohoooo! 12-1 in the second over! He's a good boy, that Chris Tremlett.
Gidman looking frisky now! Both batsmen very dangerous. 22-1 at the moment. Wonderwoman has turned up in the crowd. Could do with her superpowers! Oh, and the Ghostbusters! I'm afraid I'd have to go dressed as the Stay Pufft Marshmallow Man.
Gidman swings the bat and the first 6 goes hurtling out of sight.
32-1 and Gladiators starting to motor a little. Need a wicket quick-smart.
And no sooner said than done! Gidman gone for 15! 36-2, and well done Mr Tremlett!
Nel aims at the stumps and nearly gets Franklyn. Think he's been taking my advice regarding lobbing grenades.
40-2 after the 6th over. Spriegel coming in to the attack. Come on the 'spin doctor'!
50 comes up in the 7th over. 51-2 and a good over for the Gladiators.
Shah has gone for Middlesex. They are 56-2 in the 6th over.
Porterfield is looking mighty good! Eeeeek! Surrey could do without this at the moment, but the Gladiators (I keep wanting to call them Gladioli) aren't going to lie down and die. 82-2 after 10 overs.
Middlesex 73-3.
I'm missing the trumpeter. I like the tootling to signal a change of bowler!
Yippppeeeee! Porterfield goes! 89-3, with Hamilton-Brown taking a good catch. Thank the lord!
Warner gone for Middlesex. Essex doing okay so far.
Taylor gone for 1! That's two in the last two overs. Fab-u-lous, as Craig Revel-Horwood would say. 91-4 for Surrey.
Dent bowled for 1! 97-5! Unfortunate for Dent: looks like his bat got stuck in the turf and the ball went between the bat and pad, hitting the stumps. Very good news for Surrey!
Hants have lost Jimmy Adams, this is even better for Surrey!
98-6! Snell just gone! Well done Nella!
101-6 in the 14th over. Nails are being bitten.
Good outfield cricket from Surrey. 108-6 in the 15th.
Franklyn gone for 33! Run out! Good arm from Wilson. 155-7 now.
Andre Nel does a pirouette. Rampants may start 'Gunther for Strictly' campaign.
Oops...Spriegel has a ball bobble on him and it goes for 4. Dawson going nicely now.
134-7 in the 18th over. This might be a tricky ask for Surrey after all.
143-7. Not what Surrey would have wanted. Hope RHB and Davies have their batting heads on today.
Lewis gone for 13. 144-8. Tremlett strikes again!
Kirby goes first ball, run-out by Tremlett!
147-9 posted by the Gladiators: 148 for the Lions to win. Middlesex have posted 173, which will take some catching by Essex! Time for a cup of tea!
***********
Scary biscuits time: hold on to your hats folks! Here goes with the Surrey reply.
RHB only knows one way to play...hoping it works for him today. He won't die wondering, that's for sure! 6-0 after the first over.
Hampshire looking ominous, especially given that Sussex have not done so well in their last few games. 196 for Sussex to win.
Davies nearly gone but it just snuck past Porterfield. And now hits a six to clear his mind.
20 off the second over! Surrey need Davies to stay forever, basically, and help get that run-rate down.
Ramps not playing, btw. Sad for the Rampants, but I guess it means we can listen to the game without tensing up like a coiled spring! Davies hits another 6: he's got the bit between his teeth and no mistake!
And again! 39 without loss! Sixes gallore!
Free hit...where's the skipper putting this? Swing and a miss. Oh, well! Let's not be greedy!
The 50 comes up without loss in the fourth over.
54 without loss. The skipper beginning to get his head down. And then a further boundary! So far, it's a dismantling in the powerplay. 60 without loss.
67 without loss after five overs! Wow! Uh-oh...here come the spinners. And I'm not talking about the 70s folk group. Even I would face up to them.
Good point made by Churchy and JB: Surrey have nothing to lose. All they have to do is win, and win in the best way they can. They can do nothing about the other results, and they are indeed playing without fear. It's the only way to do it.
78 without loss at the end of the powerplay is very good indeed!
'Demolition Davies' brings up a fabulous fifty with a six! Wooohooo!
Why the flip did we not play like this against the Gladiators at the Oval?!?
RHB and Davies are having a contest to see who can hit the longest six! 99-0!
Hundred up in the 8th over! 106 in fact. Davies will surely find himself in the England team opening the batting at some point. This is a really classy display! At this rate we might not get to find out if the team is missing Ramps in the middle order.
RHB winning the battle of the sixes at the moment. Rory, size isn't everything! And as I say that, he's lbw for 48. Pity he didn't reach his 50. Now, Roy or Symonds next?
Jason Roy comes on next. Will it be a good day or a bad day for him?
Answer: bad day. 112-2. Roy gone second ball. Ooops.
Symonds dropped by Snell. Hoping Symo the animal has turned up today. We could do with him in a rampaging mood!
Symonds goes for 4. 123-3...please get Davies on strike!!! Please!!!
Johnny Barran wins first prize for non-gratuitous use of the word 'humping'.
Not looking good in the other games for Surrey. Essex struggling, Sussex struggling. And now it's raining for good measure.
Only 13 runs required, and then they have to sit and twiddle their thumbs to see what happens elsewhere.
Davies gone for 73.
Wilson clubs a meaty six with his first ball. Only 6 required now. Wilson gets 4 more...
Gary Wilson smashes a total of 12 off three balls. Lions win by six wickets! Well done boys, whatever happens. 150-4! You were meteoric today!
********
So close in the end. Surrey did all they needed to do, but so did Hants. We shouldn't have to rely on other teams to do us favours, although Sussex have been rubbish in the last few games compared to how they started, so it shouldn't surprise us. So, congrats to Hants and hard luck to Surrey and Middlesex.
Now it's back to the county championship next week!
May the best teams win, and good luck to all!
But especially Surrey, Sussex and Essex... (sorry, couldn't resist)!
***********
Gladiators have been stuck in by the Lions. Symonds bowling first. Think we need to get Porterfield out quickly. Pitch playing slowly. 4-0 in the first over.
Middlesex 1-1 in their first over!
Tremlett gets Redmond!!! Woohoooo! 12-1 in the second over! He's a good boy, that Chris Tremlett.
Gidman looking frisky now! Both batsmen very dangerous. 22-1 at the moment. Wonderwoman has turned up in the crowd. Could do with her superpowers! Oh, and the Ghostbusters! I'm afraid I'd have to go dressed as the Stay Pufft Marshmallow Man.
Gidman swings the bat and the first 6 goes hurtling out of sight.
32-1 and Gladiators starting to motor a little. Need a wicket quick-smart.
And no sooner said than done! Gidman gone for 15! 36-2, and well done Mr Tremlett!
Nel aims at the stumps and nearly gets Franklyn. Think he's been taking my advice regarding lobbing grenades.
40-2 after the 6th over. Spriegel coming in to the attack. Come on the 'spin doctor'!
50 comes up in the 7th over. 51-2 and a good over for the Gladiators.
Shah has gone for Middlesex. They are 56-2 in the 6th over.
Porterfield is looking mighty good! Eeeeek! Surrey could do without this at the moment, but the Gladiators (I keep wanting to call them Gladioli) aren't going to lie down and die. 82-2 after 10 overs.
Middlesex 73-3.
I'm missing the trumpeter. I like the tootling to signal a change of bowler!
Yippppeeeee! Porterfield goes! 89-3, with Hamilton-Brown taking a good catch. Thank the lord!
Warner gone for Middlesex. Essex doing okay so far.
Taylor gone for 1! That's two in the last two overs. Fab-u-lous, as Craig Revel-Horwood would say. 91-4 for Surrey.
Dent bowled for 1! 97-5! Unfortunate for Dent: looks like his bat got stuck in the turf and the ball went between the bat and pad, hitting the stumps. Very good news for Surrey!
Hants have lost Jimmy Adams, this is even better for Surrey!
98-6! Snell just gone! Well done Nella!
101-6 in the 14th over. Nails are being bitten.
Good outfield cricket from Surrey. 108-6 in the 15th.
Franklyn gone for 33! Run out! Good arm from Wilson. 155-7 now.
Andre Nel does a pirouette. Rampants may start 'Gunther for Strictly' campaign.
Oops...Spriegel has a ball bobble on him and it goes for 4. Dawson going nicely now.
134-7 in the 18th over. This might be a tricky ask for Surrey after all.
143-7. Not what Surrey would have wanted. Hope RHB and Davies have their batting heads on today.
Lewis gone for 13. 144-8. Tremlett strikes again!
Kirby goes first ball, run-out by Tremlett!
147-9 posted by the Gladiators: 148 for the Lions to win. Middlesex have posted 173, which will take some catching by Essex! Time for a cup of tea!
***********
Scary biscuits time: hold on to your hats folks! Here goes with the Surrey reply.
RHB only knows one way to play...hoping it works for him today. He won't die wondering, that's for sure! 6-0 after the first over.
Hampshire looking ominous, especially given that Sussex have not done so well in their last few games. 196 for Sussex to win.
Davies nearly gone but it just snuck past Porterfield. And now hits a six to clear his mind.
20 off the second over! Surrey need Davies to stay forever, basically, and help get that run-rate down.
Ramps not playing, btw. Sad for the Rampants, but I guess it means we can listen to the game without tensing up like a coiled spring! Davies hits another 6: he's got the bit between his teeth and no mistake!
And again! 39 without loss! Sixes gallore!
Free hit...where's the skipper putting this? Swing and a miss. Oh, well! Let's not be greedy!
The 50 comes up without loss in the fourth over.
54 without loss. The skipper beginning to get his head down. And then a further boundary! So far, it's a dismantling in the powerplay. 60 without loss.
67 without loss after five overs! Wow! Uh-oh...here come the spinners. And I'm not talking about the 70s folk group. Even I would face up to them.
Good point made by Churchy and JB: Surrey have nothing to lose. All they have to do is win, and win in the best way they can. They can do nothing about the other results, and they are indeed playing without fear. It's the only way to do it.
78 without loss at the end of the powerplay is very good indeed!
'Demolition Davies' brings up a fabulous fifty with a six! Wooohooo!
Why the flip did we not play like this against the Gladiators at the Oval?!?
RHB and Davies are having a contest to see who can hit the longest six! 99-0!
Hundred up in the 8th over! 106 in fact. Davies will surely find himself in the England team opening the batting at some point. This is a really classy display! At this rate we might not get to find out if the team is missing Ramps in the middle order.
RHB winning the battle of the sixes at the moment. Rory, size isn't everything! And as I say that, he's lbw for 48. Pity he didn't reach his 50. Now, Roy or Symonds next?
Jason Roy comes on next. Will it be a good day or a bad day for him?
Answer: bad day. 112-2. Roy gone second ball. Ooops.
Symonds dropped by Snell. Hoping Symo the animal has turned up today. We could do with him in a rampaging mood!
Symonds goes for 4. 123-3...please get Davies on strike!!! Please!!!
Johnny Barran wins first prize for non-gratuitous use of the word 'humping'.
Not looking good in the other games for Surrey. Essex struggling, Sussex struggling. And now it's raining for good measure.
Only 13 runs required, and then they have to sit and twiddle their thumbs to see what happens elsewhere.
Davies gone for 73.
Wilson clubs a meaty six with his first ball. Only 6 required now. Wilson gets 4 more...
Gary Wilson smashes a total of 12 off three balls. Lions win by six wickets! Well done boys, whatever happens. 150-4! You were meteoric today!
********
So close in the end. Surrey did all they needed to do, but so did Hants. We shouldn't have to rely on other teams to do us favours, although Sussex have been rubbish in the last few games compared to how they started, so it shouldn't surprise us. So, congrats to Hants and hard luck to Surrey and Middlesex.
Now it's back to the county championship next week!
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Not quite buried yet...
It’s still an awfully big ask, but there’s still life in the old dog!
Or rather, life in the old Lion. Having been made to look a rather toothless moggy with our last T20 performance Surrey came roaring back against a Sussex team that never quite got into a rhythm following some fast, accurate bowling. It was definitely one of Surrey’s ‘going’ days. It can be a bit of a lottery sometimes as to what you’re going to get but today the dunce’s cap was swapped for a rather swanky mortar board hat complete with little dangly tassel thing. Chief swot was the skipper. Well done that man. Someone give him an apple!
I noticed a post on the Sussex board (for I do love a furtive read of other forums when I get the chance) that mentioned that Arundel could easily hold 3000 people but that the pre-sold tickets already amounted to 5000, and that they were predicting multiple hold-ups getting into the ground. They were of course spot on with their prediction. As Churchy muttered the word ‘chaos’ under his breath I couldn’t help but think of Lesley, our Rampant representative, who had quite cleverly decided to take her own chair with her. I do wonder if she managed to get out of the ground okay or if she’s still stuck there!
Talking of Churchy, a word of praise here – and for Mr Barran as well. It can’t be easy commentating al fresco, so to speak; especially when you’ve got microphone mishaps, barrier collapses and people sitting directly in front of you obscuring your view. Churchy was very restrained, I thought. I’m a gentle soul but I’d have been tempted to use the man’s head as a coconut shy and aim something round and heavy at the back of his unguarded cranium...
Top marks to ‘Rob the trumpeter’ as well. Loved the improvised tune that accompanied the sight of one of the umps falling over!
Sussex have an awful lot of good players. There’s just no two ways about it. There are one or two players who fall into the category of ‘not a favourite’ for various reasons. Take Matt Prior for example. Much improved over the years in the batting department, and still very much England’s number one test wicket keeper despite recent strides by Kieswetter. But the fact he, how shall we put this, has a limited grasp of the word ‘humility’ at times hasn’t endeared himself to the Rampants as a whole. So, when Mr Prior went for a magnificent fourth ball duck there wasn’t just a “thank goodness; that’s one danger man gone” feeling but more of a general “yipppppeeee!”
I think it would be more sporting to say “well bowled, Symonds” rather than enthusiastically celebrating the demise of one of the opposition. But in this case we’re fairly unrepentant!
Only three were on the board for Sussex when Prior departed. And only seven were on the board when Joyce went, bowled by Tremlett. I feared for Tremlett this year, given his past history. He seemed like the sort of bloke who would shatter if someone in the same room hit a top C, but he has been a complete triumph thus far, especially in the T20. If we do sneak through to the next round by some miracle, a lot of it will rest on CT’s very broad shoulders.
It got even better, when moments later Nash made his way to the crease, faced a ball, and then wandered his way back to his team mates, yet another Symonds victim. Things were looking rather too good to be true, especially as Goodwin was beginning to tick. I’m not bringing up the whole Goodwin saga again. But if you think the celebrations amongst the Rampants was jubilant when Prior went, that was nothing to the delighted cheers that marked the departure of Muzza for 11. Give that man Tremlett a medal, that’s what I say! Although you’d probably need a ladder to pin it on him.
It would be fair to say that the middle and lower order fared better for Sussex than their top order did, with Smith reaching 21, Gatting 16 and Arafat 12, but the wickets kept falling steadily. I did wonder if the pitch had a few tricks in it, but the Surrey bowling has generally been decent this year and so it appeared more likely that it was down to this rather than any unseen gremlins. For a while a rather handy little partnership in the guise of Keegan and Rayner got going, and the former’s last minute heroics hauled the Sussex total over a hundred and beyond. But then Andre Nel struck and removed him for 26, leaving Rayner on 25 and Beer not out on 1 at the end. The finally tally for Sussex was a rather tame 121, and it seemed that it would just take a few overs from RHB and Davies to put the whole game to bed.
Things never quite work out the way you expect them to, however.
Surrey’s reply was cautious, although rightly so considering they had no need to go hell for leather after such a small target. The skipper rode his luck when Kirtley dropped him at the start of the Surrey reply, and from that moment onwards it seemed to galvanise him into positive thought. Davies seemed a little subdued at the other end, maybe mindful of his duck in the previous game. They crawled slowly, run by run, all the way up to a solid if unspectacular 41, with the occasional boundary from RHB to enliven proceedings, until Davies fell for just 9. This brought Jason Roy to the crease who sadly, after the two monster innings he had earlier in the competition, did what Nash did and perished for a quacker.
You’d have still rather have been Surrey at this point. It was a pretty decent toss to lose in the end. Even although they were two batsmen down, giving Sussex a glimmer of hope, the runs on the board gave Walters licence to tick around for singles whilst the skipper set about his former county with consummate ease. Once the sixes and fours were unleashed the outcome was never really in any doubt, with the Sussex faithful beginning to exit the ground as soon as the Surrey hundred was reached. It was in the end a facile victory from a team who had been so roundly and deservedly thrashed in their last game.
I was pleased for Rory in particular, who finished not out on 87, with Walters not out on 24 with just under two overs to spare. Qualification still seems unlikely, but with Middlesex losing to Glamorgan and Kent beating Essex the fourth spot is still open to many of the chasing pack. Whoever gets there in the end will have earned it, that’s for certain. As for the game itself, it was one of the most enjoyable T20s I’ve listened to this year. And considering Mr Ramprakash wasn’t playing today, that’s quite a compliment!
Or rather, life in the old Lion. Having been made to look a rather toothless moggy with our last T20 performance Surrey came roaring back against a Sussex team that never quite got into a rhythm following some fast, accurate bowling. It was definitely one of Surrey’s ‘going’ days. It can be a bit of a lottery sometimes as to what you’re going to get but today the dunce’s cap was swapped for a rather swanky mortar board hat complete with little dangly tassel thing. Chief swot was the skipper. Well done that man. Someone give him an apple!
I noticed a post on the Sussex board (for I do love a furtive read of other forums when I get the chance) that mentioned that Arundel could easily hold 3000 people but that the pre-sold tickets already amounted to 5000, and that they were predicting multiple hold-ups getting into the ground. They were of course spot on with their prediction. As Churchy muttered the word ‘chaos’ under his breath I couldn’t help but think of Lesley, our Rampant representative, who had quite cleverly decided to take her own chair with her. I do wonder if she managed to get out of the ground okay or if she’s still stuck there!
Talking of Churchy, a word of praise here – and for Mr Barran as well. It can’t be easy commentating al fresco, so to speak; especially when you’ve got microphone mishaps, barrier collapses and people sitting directly in front of you obscuring your view. Churchy was very restrained, I thought. I’m a gentle soul but I’d have been tempted to use the man’s head as a coconut shy and aim something round and heavy at the back of his unguarded cranium...
Top marks to ‘Rob the trumpeter’ as well. Loved the improvised tune that accompanied the sight of one of the umps falling over!
Sussex have an awful lot of good players. There’s just no two ways about it. There are one or two players who fall into the category of ‘not a favourite’ for various reasons. Take Matt Prior for example. Much improved over the years in the batting department, and still very much England’s number one test wicket keeper despite recent strides by Kieswetter. But the fact he, how shall we put this, has a limited grasp of the word ‘humility’ at times hasn’t endeared himself to the Rampants as a whole. So, when Mr Prior went for a magnificent fourth ball duck there wasn’t just a “thank goodness; that’s one danger man gone” feeling but more of a general “yipppppeeee!”
I think it would be more sporting to say “well bowled, Symonds” rather than enthusiastically celebrating the demise of one of the opposition. But in this case we’re fairly unrepentant!
Only three were on the board for Sussex when Prior departed. And only seven were on the board when Joyce went, bowled by Tremlett. I feared for Tremlett this year, given his past history. He seemed like the sort of bloke who would shatter if someone in the same room hit a top C, but he has been a complete triumph thus far, especially in the T20. If we do sneak through to the next round by some miracle, a lot of it will rest on CT’s very broad shoulders.
It got even better, when moments later Nash made his way to the crease, faced a ball, and then wandered his way back to his team mates, yet another Symonds victim. Things were looking rather too good to be true, especially as Goodwin was beginning to tick. I’m not bringing up the whole Goodwin saga again. But if you think the celebrations amongst the Rampants was jubilant when Prior went, that was nothing to the delighted cheers that marked the departure of Muzza for 11. Give that man Tremlett a medal, that’s what I say! Although you’d probably need a ladder to pin it on him.
It would be fair to say that the middle and lower order fared better for Sussex than their top order did, with Smith reaching 21, Gatting 16 and Arafat 12, but the wickets kept falling steadily. I did wonder if the pitch had a few tricks in it, but the Surrey bowling has generally been decent this year and so it appeared more likely that it was down to this rather than any unseen gremlins. For a while a rather handy little partnership in the guise of Keegan and Rayner got going, and the former’s last minute heroics hauled the Sussex total over a hundred and beyond. But then Andre Nel struck and removed him for 26, leaving Rayner on 25 and Beer not out on 1 at the end. The finally tally for Sussex was a rather tame 121, and it seemed that it would just take a few overs from RHB and Davies to put the whole game to bed.
Things never quite work out the way you expect them to, however.
Surrey’s reply was cautious, although rightly so considering they had no need to go hell for leather after such a small target. The skipper rode his luck when Kirtley dropped him at the start of the Surrey reply, and from that moment onwards it seemed to galvanise him into positive thought. Davies seemed a little subdued at the other end, maybe mindful of his duck in the previous game. They crawled slowly, run by run, all the way up to a solid if unspectacular 41, with the occasional boundary from RHB to enliven proceedings, until Davies fell for just 9. This brought Jason Roy to the crease who sadly, after the two monster innings he had earlier in the competition, did what Nash did and perished for a quacker.
You’d have still rather have been Surrey at this point. It was a pretty decent toss to lose in the end. Even although they were two batsmen down, giving Sussex a glimmer of hope, the runs on the board gave Walters licence to tick around for singles whilst the skipper set about his former county with consummate ease. Once the sixes and fours were unleashed the outcome was never really in any doubt, with the Sussex faithful beginning to exit the ground as soon as the Surrey hundred was reached. It was in the end a facile victory from a team who had been so roundly and deservedly thrashed in their last game.
I was pleased for Rory in particular, who finished not out on 87, with Walters not out on 24 with just under two overs to spare. Qualification still seems unlikely, but with Middlesex losing to Glamorgan and Kent beating Essex the fourth spot is still open to many of the chasing pack. Whoever gets there in the end will have earned it, that’s for certain. As for the game itself, it was one of the most enjoyable T20s I’ve listened to this year. And considering Mr Ramprakash wasn’t playing today, that’s quite a compliment!
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Mr Jekyll or Mr Hyde?
Oh dear...that was a tad disappointing.
The only reason I say ‘disappointing’, considering I have been blithely predicting a Sussex victory in this game for ages, was that at the start of the Surrey innings the total looked rather gettable! I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who thought the score was about par at most. I bet the Surrey boys were thinking much the same! So now it’s difficult to know whether the Sussex score was below par and Surrey just threw the chase away, or whether the score was better than originally anticipated. One thing is certain: Sussex deserved to win, and after the first three or so overs you have to say they bowled pretty well.
I had high hopes when Prior (out for 5), McCullum (34) and Goodwin (28) were back in the hutch. Especially Goodwin, who has a nasty habit of taking a game away from you when he gets into his stride. He’s not my favourite player by any stretch of the imagination – and I’m pretty sure most of the Rampants will probably hold similar views – but he’s undeniably a big danger with the bat. I think it would be fair to say there was a certain degree of rejoicing when his wicket fell! And when Smith went for 23 my confidence unexpectedly soared for the first time.
What Sussex did do well, and something that Surrey haven’t really managed at any point so far in this contest, is that the team contributed with twenties here and thirties there. With Surrey it’s usually ended up being a two or three man rescue mission, with the odd partnership clicking at the right time to enable a win. After Smith, Hodd scored 23 and Nash scored 32. Okay, the rest of the lower order didn’t quite do it but it was enough for a reasonable total to be posted. Gatting was out for 9, Keegan run out for a comical duck and the soon to be school teacher Martin-Jenkins not out on 1. I would like to say at this point how much I like Robin Martin-Jenkins and wish him all the best for his future. County cricket’s loss is very much the education system’s gain!
With 159 needed to win, Surrey must have been licking their lips. The first couple of overs seemed to back this up with the opening partnership finally really clicking like they should, with RHB in particular looking extremely dangerous. His score of 24 off 13 balls was impressive, and it was a real pity that he holed out to Smith at that point. Taking 18 or so off the first over made it seem like the chase was going to be child’s play! Alas, it was not to be. Ramps came in at three, but was stumped for 8 by Hodd. Even then there didn’t seem to be too much pressure as there was still plenty of batting to come. The pivotal point unfortunately came when Symonds got himself out on 1, having faced only 2 balls. Every time you try to rebuild in T20 you run the risk of leaving yourself too much to do in terms of run rate, and if you should lose further wickets your goose is well and truly basted!
I felt sorry for Symonds, especially after his heroics against Kent, but I also felt sorry for the crowd who would have, arguably, come to see him wallop some really big sixes. I should call big, nasty Sussex all manner of names for spoiling the fun – especially of Liz and her grandson Samuel (who was attending his first ever professional game of cricket) – but then again it is big, nasty Sussex who are at the top of the table. And not without good reason, either!
Davies was, I felt, in the words of Princess Leia, Surrey’s “only hope”. Credit where it’s due, he scored 35 today and looked in very good touch but got out just at the time when he was most needed to stick around. That sounds a bit silly, I know. There’s never really a good time to get out, is there? But it sort of fell away from Surrey after that. I don’t know if the spirits flagged a touch or whether it was too much for them to get back in the game at that point, but the last real batting partnership of Walters (who seemed to be just about everywhere in the field today!) and Younus Khan couldn’t quite get into top gear.
Walters made 10; Batty came in and was stumped for 3 whilst Younus managed 11. It was pretty clear at that point the game was as good as up for Surrey. Nel attempted to swing the bat in a last ditch attempt to make the score a little more respectable and was bowled for 4, Schoey was bowled for 15 and Linley was the final victim, bowled for 1 to wrap up a comprehensive and well deserved victory for the Sharks. Tremlett was left 4 not out at the end.
I have to say the game panned out exactly how I had initially expected it to, so there shouldn’t really have been much feeling of despondancy, and yet oddly enough this is the one game that Surrey have played where I have felt a tiny bit down at the end. I realise how daft that sounds considering the debacle of the first couple of games. Again, the bowlers did pretty well today for Surrey, over all. The batting once again seemed to falter at crucial moments.
In some respects the Sussex and Surrey T20 game mirror’s the overall state of affairs with both teams in all competitions. Sussex remember how to win, feel as if they have a natural right to be up at the top, and have a cohesive unit to put the plans into place. Surrey have all the talent but it doesn’t all come together in one game. Sometimes Younus will fire. Sometimes Ramps. Sometimes RHB or Symonds. We haven’t really seen them all turn up to the party on the same day. It’s as if the engine is primped to perfection but the oil still isn’t quite flowing. No doubt they’ll get there soon, but for the moment it’s all a little Jekyll and Hyde: one day brilliant, the next not so...and you never quite know which Surrey is going to turn up.
But enough of such pontificating. This blog was never really supposed to be deadly serious. As I mentioned earlier, our very own Rampant Liz and her grandson were attending the game today in the hope of seeing the odd six hurtling towards the stands. The quote of the day definitely came via Sanneh, having received a text from Liz when Ramps came in to bat. Apparently, Liz had complained that Joe Gatting was standing in front of her, blocking her view, and she couldn’t see Mr Ramprakash.
Sanneh couldn’t resist pointing out that she should be relieved it wasn’t his uncle Mike or she wouldn’t be able to see the pitch...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
