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Post by newby on Jun 29, 2024 7:35:10 GMT
You could, if you had a mind to, watch all 8 teams play live in our division on the same day this round of matches, weather permitting.
Chesterfield to Leicester to Northampton to Cheltenham, 200 odd miles. It's probably easier on the live streams though.
Leicestershire(5) host Middlesex(2) at the Upton Steel Ground. Cheltenham cricket festival time and Gloucestershire(7) take on Glamorgan(4) While in Northampton Northants(6) play the leaders Sussex(1)
Here's hoping all the home teams do well in those games, we obviously need all the help we can get to close the gap on the top 2.
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Post by newby on Jun 30, 2024 15:49:34 GMT
Some low scores elsewhere too, at Northants, Sussex all out for 143 which was hopeful, but now Northants are struggling too on 85/5. Hope the class of Prithvi Shaw can pull them through to a decent total.
At Leicester the home team struggled to 179, but now have Middlesex at 45/5.
Same score at Cheltenham for Glos 179 all out, Glamorgan currently 61/3.
Not a batting bonus point in sight.
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Post by hawke on Jun 30, 2024 19:59:25 GMT
I was in Kennington today and sneaked into The Oval for the last hour of Surrey v Essex. Due to a late start play went on til 7.08 so I managed to see an hour’s play. Southern Africans Snater and Harmer were bowling. Snater was very good. Quite a few Essex fans there. The Oval has changed a fair bit since I last went, well that was in the previous century! There were about 1000 watching the final hour., perhaps as few as 700 by the end. There were perhaps as many watching the football on screens below the stands. They were quiet for a long period but became very noisy!
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Post by newby on Jul 1, 2024 7:32:13 GMT
As you would expect with so much riding on it this looks to have been a hard fought day at the Oval.
Indeed, some knock about stuff at Chester-le-Street with 23 wickets on the day, but otherwise Division 1 looked to be playing a different game than the one being played in our Division. The other four games in Div 1 producing just 28 wickets against the deluge of 75 wickets in the same number of Div 2 games.
Have all the 2nd Divisions teams not in the top 2 suddenly decided to go with results pitches, knowing that draws are getting them nowhere. Or did the sudden drop off from the hot weather catch the groundmen out.
Whatever the cause it was an interesting day and might be followed by a couple of day 2 results.
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Post by hawke on Jul 1, 2024 8:03:46 GMT
Indeed what is going on with those pitches? Just realised the new England player Smith made 100 yesterday at The Oval. He was out by the time I arrived I don’t know if Surrey allow people in for free after a certain time but the gate people were distracted with spectators leaving so I just looked ahead and walked in.
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Post by newby on Jul 1, 2024 9:23:57 GMT
The Oval is one of many grounds who do 'free after tea' an eminently sensible idea.
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Post by newby on Jul 1, 2024 14:08:55 GMT
Northants need 284 to beat Sussex, which would be handy.
Leicestershire lead Middlesex by 333 runs with 3 wickets remaining, which could also be handy.
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Post by newby on Jul 1, 2024 20:08:20 GMT
At the end of day 2 at Grace Road, Leicestershire look best placed to do us, and themselves, a favour by beating second placed Middlesex. They are currently on 311/8 which gives them a lead of 404 with two wickets left. It's turning into a good game for Ben Mike (26 not out) and I wouldn't mind seeing him turn his 5 for first time round, into 10 wickets for the match.
Could go either way at Northampton, chasing 284 to win Northants are on 137/4 and need a further 147 runs to beat Sussex. Remaining batting looks a bit lightweight so I wouldn't put money on it.
Glos look to be in charge at Cheltenham after a low scoring first innings against Glamorgan. Turn around in fortune for the batters with Glos on 388/3 second time around, a lead of 370. Cameron Bancroft 159 not out.
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Post by newby on Jul 2, 2024 7:46:27 GMT
Hard luck on Essex, losing Jordan Cox to illness which has resulted in him needing to have his appendix removed.
He wasn't keeping wicket in this match, but nonetheless losing an in form batter so early in the game is a big blow.
The laws are tough in regards to losing players to injury or illness and I wouldn't want it to become an area where teams can manipulate substitute players to their advantage. However, in cases such as this where the player has been taken ill before having batted or bowled, the laws may be too tough.
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Post by slowleftarmer on Jul 2, 2024 8:05:17 GMT
agreed - wasnt Mckerr taken ill in our current game and Derbyshire allowed him to be replaced by Revis after the teams had been handed in?
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Post by newby on Jul 2, 2024 11:32:22 GMT
5 for 18 from 8 overs for one James Anderson at Southport against Notts. Not too rusty then.
Make that 6 for 18 from 9.
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Post by newby on Jul 2, 2024 12:11:19 GMT
Despite some rear order resistance 284 proved too many for Northants and Sussex get their 5th win of the season to tighten their grip on top spot.
Relying on Leicestershire now to deny Middlesex. Middlesex currently 74/2 chasing 466 to win.
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Post by newby on Jul 3, 2024 11:11:14 GMT
Just the game at Cheltenham to resolve in our division.
Glamorgan need a ton of runs and look to be having little difficulty in batting out the time. Glamorgan are 279/3 still needing 314 runs for an unlikely win.
More of the same in Division 1 with Essex on 38/2 chasing a further 323 runs at the Oval to beat Surrey. Survival mode with some rain to help.
Another bore fest at Southampton and even Kent might manage to see this game out for a draw. Currently 166/3 puts Kent a few runs in front and means Hants will now have to bat again. It shouldn't come to that but Kent might well subside at any minute.
In Taunton Somerset 68/1 require another 340 runs to beat Warwickshire. I don't think they are going for it, yet.
At Southport Notts 132/3 still need 95 runs to make Lancashire bat again. Best chance of a result.
Pleased to see that Worcestershire managed a rare win yesterday at Durham.
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Post by newby on Jul 3, 2024 16:23:28 GMT
Record run chase perhaps at Cheltenham, 520/7 for Glamorgan, they still need 70 but Sam Northeast is still in.
Somerset going for a win against Warwickshire, and Hants also chasing a gettable target against Kent.
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Post by davemorton on Jul 3, 2024 18:41:31 GMT
I watched the conclusion of Glamorgan's run chase, the final half hour or so. If you don't know the result, find the footage on YouTube. Surely one of the great cricket matches. If you remember the Yorks v Northants game during Covid, it was similar.
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