GerryShedd wrote:

George Dobell (again turning his attention on the Club) says that the hotel development is "on time but at least £3m over its £46m budget."

A lot closer than being achieved by HS2

Thank you for all your efforts - it's a great forum.

Just to confound the critics Davies plays a valuable innings.

Jani had a shaky start but once he got going had a superb partnership with Yates. What a shame in both white balls we have had the disastrous starts.

OHD cashed in at the death - strike rate of 400 !!!!!!!!!

GerryShedd wrote:

What Matt Walker didn't say:
"Having worked non-stop to transform Alex Davies' batting performances, I now feel the need for a lesser challenge."

I had to double check this wasn't posted by certain someone else - ha ha

I was in Barbados a few years back (2022 I think) when England played two 50 over games against the West Indies. They had a warm up games at the Three W's ground at the university. At the interval special awards were being presented to both Garry and Everton Weekes. While this was going on the two teams had lined up at the side to watch. When it was over all the players ran on to the field to get on with the game. What I noticed was our captain Eoin Morgan ran over specially to shake Garry's hand. I thought that showed just how much Sir Garfield is respected in the game.
From speaking to cricket lovers in Barbados I do know he was disappointed at the decline of the WI cricket - we noticed how kids are not playing cricket over there like they used to. Influenced by American TV with basketball and, of course, football.

Just read the very sad news that "Gary" Sobers has dield at the age of 89. A great cricketer and a great ambassador for the island of Barbados.

GerryShedd wrote:

As if on cue, Kai Smith says he has improved a lot and wants to be the best keeper in the country:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cgrkekq8gy4o

Reading that interview I have to say I'm impressed with his work ethic. He deserves to succeed.

At 49/5 the last thing you expect is a 100 partnership! So annoyed the gremlins stopped us from seeing it. If only we had won one of the first 5 games.

They have posted an internet problem around the ground affecting scoreboard as well. Looking at score perhaps it's like that for our benefit!

My take on the game was that we snatched victory from the jaws of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!!
I agree about Woakes being poor throughout the Blast . I also agree Smith should keep wicket for the rest of the season to see if he can make the improvement his game needs. In the Blast he really should bat higher up. If he had come in around 16th over he would have had time to settle and would then keep the scoring rate up. Instead what we got was a succession of singles that nearly lost us the game.
With the way we improved in the second half of the competition it's a pity we didn't just manage to qualify as I think we could easily have gone on to win it.

Given the use of spin by Glamorgan why was Yates not given an over.

Two brilliant responses - I can't stop laughing and helps make up for the fact I won't be able to follow the game tonight!!!

Highveld wrote:

"3 lost this morning and one of those was a tailend nightwatchman."

Thats not a nice way to describe Davies :-)

Nice one!!!

So many unbelievable catches behind the stumps. Sad to read this today. Thank you Pipes for so much enjoyment you provided.

Was that a spectacular c & b or was that a really spectacular c & b ?????????

One consolation - we are not likely to lose once again in the quarter-final!

Reading on the varied comments regarding the batting order how about - Hain opening with Yates followed by Mousley then Webster. As a top 4 they could provide an excellent start to the innings. My earlier comment concerning Kai is the position he was in there seemed to be a waste. Going in above Thompson and Woakes is simply because at least they will, or should be, contributing with the ball. Also Woakes has done very little with the bat anyway.

What a disappointment. But what is the point in playing Kai at 8 behind Woakes and Thompson.they would have been better off having Davies as keeper because as opener at least he may have scored half a dozen!