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Post by man in the stand on Sept 22, 2021 19:21:48 GMT
Surely, if Warwickshire draw they end up with 70 points and if Hampshire lose they end up with 61.5 points and Lancashire end up with 73.5 points. Nottinghamshire max out at 73 (thanks to missing that 300 this morning). I originally said that Warks just needed to win to claim the championship...but apparently that won't be enough if Hants beat us and Warks don't have enough bowling points.. it's all very confusing....better just concentrate on bowling Hants out and hope we can bat better 2nd time around...
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Post by Admin on Sept 23, 2021 7:04:48 GMT
ESPN Paul Edwards report
Hampshire 143 and 158 for 7 (Vince 69, Bailey 5-19) lead Lancashire 141 (Abbas 5-48, Barker 4-48) by 160 runs
There was great joy at both Aigburths yesterday. At the cricket ground, the home of Liverpool CC, Hampshire's James Vince played a lovely innings and Lancashire's Tom Bailey took five wickets. Meanwhile at Aigburth CC, which is located more or less round the back of the nearby railway station, the club had had its lease extended by five years. This is wonderful news. The threat to the club's very existence had been grave and pressing. And no one should mistake the link between the latter tidings and the fine performances of Vince and Bailey. If club cricket in this country disappeared, the first-class variety would conk out within a decade.
Anyone doubting that fact should perhaps visit Erlestoke CC in Wiltshire, where Vince first played the game. His talent may be natural; indeed, that much was plain on this second afternoon when his innings of 69 and his 80-run partnership with Liam Dawson had given Hampshire a 160-run lead and the advantage in a match which may yet lead to their county winning the Championship. Or our pesky doubters could go to Goatacre CC, also in Wiltshire, where Dawson "got into the game" by watching his dad play. The truth, of course, is that every one of the players involved in this intriguing battle began their careers at a club. There was a time when very few people in cricket knew who Vince or Dawson or Bailey (Vernon Carus CC) were.
Everyone in the game knows them now, of course, and their skills enriched this day on which warm afternoon sunshine rapidly gave way to the sharp chill of autumn. Vince and Dawson came together when Hampshire were 78 for 5 and their lead was an insufficient 80 runs. By the time Vince was leg before to Matt Parkinson four overs before the close that advantage had been doubled and not even the loss of Dawson, who was bowled by Bailey for 41 in the next over, could extinguish the feeling that Hampshire had ground out a match-winning advantage. We shall see.
And not everything was a grind. Although three of Vince's fours were worked through backward point in the manner of a county opener there was also an easeful cover-drive and the smoothest of clips off his toes. Vince, of course, is so gifted a cricketer that one often feels he sees playing a difficult shot as a gauntlet to be picked up rather than a danger to be avoided. Anything else would be a betrayal of talent. Fortunately he had some dross to despatch this afternoon and he did so without fancy or flourish. So did Dawson but this day's cricket had already given us riches from both sides and even as the cold penetrates the press tent it is difficult to think we must soon bid these things farewell.
Lancashire had begun the morning on 25 for 3 and for the first hour of the day batting looked like an activity the human race had yet to master. Keith Barker caused most of the trouble, first when his extra bounce took the edge of Josh Bohannon's bat and Joe Weatherley dived from second slip to take a fine catch, but most notably when he cleaned up Dane Vilas and Danny Lamb in the same over. The ball Vilas drove to cover may have stopped on him a little but Lamb was beaten all ends up and his departure left Lancashire in ruins on 47 for 7. It suddenly seemed to matter very little to home supporters what was happening at either Trent Bridge or Edgbaston. Forty minutes into the morning's play Vilas had clipped Barker to the square-leg boundary and anyone passing Aigburth might have thought from the applause that a player had reached their fifty.
Story Image Mohammad Abbas returned another five-wicket haul PA Images/Getty Within an hour though, Luke Wood had brought this seemingly absurd prospect within reach. Wood's batting possesses thought without complication. It is a good mixture and it earned him 37 runs off 41 balls. At the other end Steven Croft watched in quiet satisfaction as his partner top-edged a hooked six, smacked five fours and took control of a 46-run stand that nearly doubled Lancashire's score. And even when Wood had edged a slash off Brad Wheal to Tom Alsop, Croft and Bailey batted with renewed vigour against a tiring attack and an ageing ball.
Indeed the shot of the morning was the six that Croft picked up off Barker and deposited into the crowd at midwicket. Lancashire came into lunch on 115 for 8 and as though reflecting the crowd's mood, the sun came out. It really wouldn't have been surprising to hear some of Gracie Fields' more cheerful ditties coming from the loudspeaker. Or George Formby, perhaps. Not The Smiths anyway. That really is 47 for 7 music.
By the time Mohammad Abbas had removed Croft and Bailey over half an hour into the afternoon session Lancashire's deficit was a mere two runs and Lancashire had offered batters on both sides something of an example of how to bat on a pitch that has not so much one wicket in it as a clump of the rascals.
Mind you, it helps if you have a new ball available and a bowler as skilful as Bailey to use it. In his first five overs in Hampshire's second innings the Lancashire seamer had returned Ian Holland, Mason Crane and Alsop to the pavilion and one imagines all three were grumbling about outgrounds in September. Three overs later Nick Gubbins was bowled by George Balderson with one that kept low and nearly an hour later Joe Weatherley played on to Bailey for 33.
Then Dawson joined Vince. We watched our cricket and noticed that while the eponymous trees have not yet turned on Beechwood Road the hazels were going over on Riversdale; thus were we reminded of the turning of the year and of this great city in a more leisured age, one in which the Liverpool club was dominated by cricketers who learned the game at their public schools.
And there are still many Liverpools just as there are many types of batters. Vince, for all that his seemingly cavalier approach to his craft is occasionally frustrating, is one of the few who can transcend the conditions in which he plays. We should be grateful we have the chance to see him do so and we should be thankful for Erlestoke, too.
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Post by chris on Sept 23, 2021 9:06:10 GMT
I was at the match today. Abbas and Barker bowled really well and both put in a shift. With cloud cover in the morning the pitch was lively and batting was difficult. We got close to their score thanks to Croft, Wood and Bailey. Wood and Bailey both chanced their arm and could have been out cheaply. Bailey and Balderson both bowled really well. Parkinson didn't seem to get much spin from the wicket and Hampshire only bowled one over of spin. Lancashire still have an outside chance if they can bat well in the last innings but I can't see it happening. I think it was flawed to go into a match on a bowler friendly wicket with only four specialist batsmen and five seamers. I know we have a load of all rounders but surely we could have put out a team with a stronger batting line up. Said it before, but need a good first session, three quick wickets and then bat well.
Whilst I agree with you questioning the five seamer route. Hampshire are proving three will do. There are not a lot of options at the moment to put out a team with a stronger batting line up.
Contracted Batsmen not playing: Livingstone (IPL), Jennings (injured), Jones (dropped for this game), Lavelle (dropped for previous game), Buttler (unavailable), Shah (released unconfirmed but according to Allott) 2nd XI top run scorers in championship (250 or above): Lavelle (517) see above, Taylor Cornall (322) playing for other county seconds, Jones (310) see above, Ben Walkden (281) uncontracted 19 years old last Sunday, George Bell (275) uncontracted 19 years old on Saturday. 2nd XI most appearances in the championship: Lavelle, Balderson, Cornall, Bell, Shah, JJ Fielding (177 runs in 11 innings at 15.82)
Only realistically choice would be Jones rather Lavelle, Shah or Cornall. Jones has clearly outscored Davies since the championship re-started, but .....
Interestingly the bowler rotation has stopped. Bailey, Lamb and Balderson played all 4. Blatherwick replaced the unfit Mahmood. Wood brought in as soon as fit.
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Post by alanw on Sept 23, 2021 11:04:20 GMT
I'm concerned about our batting options not only for this game but for the future. I think that we have to accept that we cannot count on Livingstone or Butler due to England and IPL commitments. Both Vilas and Croft are coming towards the end of their careers. Which leaves us very few options. At the moment we have Balderson batting out of position in my opinion as a stand in opener and it certainly isn't ideal to be opening after bowling 21 overs.
There seem to be few reserves in the second XI, Shah seems to have been around a few years and not broken into the first team so I'm not surprised that he is being released. Lavelle is a wicket keeper batsmen maybe he could develop into a specialist batsmen. The situation with Taylor Cornall seems odd, he was picked for a couple of RLC games and didn't do much wrong although his opportunities were limited batting down the order so why is he playing for other teams 2nd XI?
Hopefully Ben Walkden and George Bell will continue to progress.
I believe Rob Jones' contract is up at the end of next season so it will be a crunch season for him next year.
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Post by denno97 on Sept 23, 2021 11:46:00 GMT
I'm concerned about our batting options not only for this game but for the future. I think that we have to accept that we cannot count on Livingstone or Butler due to England and IPL commitments. Both Vilas and Croft are coming towards the end of their careers. Which leaves us very few options. At the moment we have Balderson batting out of position in my opinion as a stand in opener and it certainly isn't ideal to be opening after bowling 21 overs. There seem to be few reserves in the second XI, Shah seems to have been around a few years and not broken into the first team so I'm not surprised that he is being released. Lavelle is a wicket keeper batsmen maybe he could develop into a specialist batsmen. The situation with Taylor Cornall seems odd, he was picked for a couple of RLC games and didn't do much wrong although his opportunities were limited batting down the order so why is he playing for other teams 2nd XI? Hopefully Ben Walkden and George Bell will continue to progress. I believe Rob Jones' contract is up at the end of next season so it will be a crunch season for him next year. Jones & Bohannons contracts up at the end of this season. No news on either
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Post by Admin on Sept 23, 2021 11:52:25 GMT
I'm concerned about our batting options not only for this game but for the future. I think that we have to accept that we cannot count on Livingstone or Butler due to England and IPL commitments. Both Vilas and Croft are coming towards the end of their careers. Which leaves us very few options. At the moment we have Balderson batting out of position in my opinion as a stand in opener and it certainly isn't ideal to be opening after bowling 21 overs. There seem to be few reserves in the second XI, Shah seems to have been around a few years and not broken into the first team so I'm not surprised that he is being released. Lavelle is a wicket keeper batsmen maybe he could develop into a specialist batsmen. The situation with Taylor Cornall seems odd, he was picked for a couple of RLC games and didn't do much wrong although his opportunities were limited batting down the order so why is he playing for other teams 2nd XI? Hopefully Ben Walkden and George Bell will continue to progress. I believe Rob Jones' contract is up at the end of next season so it will be a crunch season for him next year. Jones & Bohannons contracts up at the end of this season. No news on either There are quite a few out of contract
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Post by alanw on Sept 23, 2021 12:11:22 GMT
Josh Bohannon has had a great season and should be offered a good deal. I would be worried if I was Rob Jones but perhaps the shortage of batting alternatives will work in his favour.
I'm really struggling with the number of batsmen we have. In the fast bowling department we are without Jimmy, Saqib and Gleeson but can still put out a good five man pace attack. In the spin department we have Hartley and Morley sitting out this game.
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Post by happy larry on Sept 23, 2021 13:12:55 GMT
what is dawson doing with his left hand after every ball going in his pocket and rubbing something on the ball ? very strange
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Post by alanw on Sept 23, 2021 13:42:48 GMT
Somerset tail wagging and Somerset now have a first innings lead. Warwickshire have some work to do if they are going to win.
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Post by Admin on Sept 23, 2021 13:56:49 GMT
Suspect we might all be Somerset supporters tomorrow
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Post by alanw on Sept 23, 2021 14:09:44 GMT
Somerset all out with a lead of 22.
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Post by Admin on Sept 23, 2021 14:18:27 GMT
Two wickets before tea interesting to say the least
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Post by Dave Towers on Sept 23, 2021 14:29:44 GMT
Two wickets before tea interesting to say the least We could really have done without those few minutes. 78 needed with two new batsmen at the crease. So if each of the remaining six partnerships can put together 13 runs each we’ll win. Sounds simple!! If we lose, will the winner of the Trent Bridge game go above us? I reckon we can finish anywhere between 1st and 4th, or maybe even 1st and 5th.
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Post by Admin on Sept 23, 2021 14:34:48 GMT
Here we go 40 overs left today
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Post by richard on Sept 23, 2021 15:03:27 GMT
Any chance of a thunderstorm in Birmingham tomorrow?
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