The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

It's confirmed, we've won the Central group (higher run rate than the Pears) and have qualified for the T20 Semi Finals.

The draw hasn't been made yet (the Semi's & Final are next week - Wednesday 16th - at Wormsley CC, Buckinghamshire), the other Counties in the mix, are Durham (North winners), Hampshire (South winners) & Notts (North runners up and highest of the 3 groups). Whoever we play, it could be tough - if we play Durham or Hampshire (who won their groups easily, with only one defeat), they will be favourites - Notts would be easier (3 defeats, like us), but it all depends on who puts out the better side and of course, the toss.

We play Durham in the second semi-final, starting at 1.45.

189 for 1 off 15 overs. We're obviously not going to win this! What is it about performances at home this season - we're rubbish?!

It's confirmed, we've won the Central group (higher run rate than the Pears) and have qualified for the T20 Semi Finals.

The draw hasn't been made yet (the Semi's & Final are next week - Wednesday 16th - at Wormsley CC, Buckinghamshire), the other Counties in the mix, are Durham (North winners), Hampshire (South winners) & Notts (North runners up and highest of the 3 groups). Whoever we play, it could be tough - if we play Durham or Hampshire (who won their groups easily, with only one defeat), they will be favourites - Notts would be easier (3 defeats, like us), but it all depends on who puts out the better side and of course, the toss.

We lost by 5 wickets. All our games played, still (just) top of the group (above the Pears), but only on run rate. If Glamorgan win their last 2 games (quite likely), us, Worcester and them will all be on 26 points, with only run rate deciding who wins the group - and only group winners are guaranteed a semi final place (the final place going to the best runner up in the 3 groups).

ExiledBrummie wrote:

white-lightning wrote:

Why aren't Hassan Ali, Dan Mousley and Jacob Bethell not playing?

Hassan because we're only allowed 2 overseas, Bethell with England, Dan M no idea although is he injured as didn't play in the T20 game today. Anyway a decent second innings so far.

Hasan played for the 2nds today in their T20 win over Gloucestershire (we're still top of the group with one game to go, so should be in the semi finals). He took 1 wicket, but was quite expensive.

Yes, we lost by just 1 run, getting 512 in the 2nd innings (and a total of over 1400 runs scored in the match)! Arjun was left high & dry on 125, when he ran out of partners!

We made 241 in the 2nd innings:-
Jani (34), Shaikh (37), Khan (44), Burle (53) and Sylvester (23), the top scorers.
Durham need 248 to win and currently are on 30 for 1 (a wicket for Sylvester - Taylor and him opening the bowling).

A slight first innings lead of 6 runs:-
We got 358, chiefly due to Rob Yates' 149, but Hamza got 58; Arjun Singh, 48 and Bamber, a late and quick 44 (from 33 balls).
The standout bowlers were the spinners - Rob Yates' off spin - 4 for 100 off 24 overs and Taz's leg spin - 4 for 78 off 19 overs. Ethan B got 2 for 29 off his 12 overs.

A major change of team for our 2nd innings:-
Rob Yates replaced by Omaris Khan
Theo Wylie by Ollie Burle
Ethan Bamber by Charlie Taylor
Che Simmons by Eddie Miller
OHD's batting (!) by Adam Sylvester (who was in just as a bowler).

I would guess most of those changes, are because players have been added to the Blast squad for Friday (certainly, Yates, Simmons, Bamber & OHD), I think Theo Wylie picked up an(other?) injury - he didn't get chance to bowl any of his leg spin.

Isaac is 78NO for Worcester 2nds tonight - no doubt well on his way to his first ton, in his first Championship game for them! OH DEAR!

Team for 4 day Championship game at Portland Road:-

Yates
Wylie
Shaikh (Captain)
Malik
Jani
Dandy
Arjun Singh Nahal (Batting?)
Taz Ali
OHD
Simmons
Bamber
Sylvester (Bowling)

We won the toss and chose to bat.

Bald_Reynard wrote:

Unchanged team (again):-

Davies
Latham
Mousley
Moeen Ali
Hain
Barnard
Smith
Garton
Hasan Ali
Briggs
Lintott

We won the toss and chose to bat.

I'm surprised that Jake L has been given another chance. Must be last chance saloon for him in the Blast?
I'm less surprised that Kai is still there, but I really don't know what he's contributing, (just) batting at 8. They really should give him a go behind the stumps, he's never had chance in the T20. One less duty for the Captain.

Yep, that's really rubbing salt in our wounds. I was upset enough to find we'd lost him (and we did shoot ourselves in the foot, only offering him a 1 year contract), but to find he would have been our only England U19 player, just makes a mockery of our Academy programme.
We really do need to sort out our Player Contract arrangements (for youngsters, as well as current & new players). How is it that a relatively poor County like Worcester, can offer 3 year contracts and we can't?!

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Looks like a fairly convincing win.
We made 212 for 6 - with Malik hitting 92 (from 46 balls - with 12x4's & 4x6's!), well supported by Jani (42) and Dandy (37 - from 15 balls).
Wylie, opening, again misfired with the bat (with a golden duck), but has made up for that, bowling - currently taking 3 for 11, off 3 overs. Simmons 2 for 12 and 1 apiece for Blakemore & Taz.
Northants, now 55 for 8 off 10 overs.

We bowled Northants out for 78, so a very good win, which will help the scoring rate (although we have lost 2 games in the group and had one abandoned, we're still in a decent position, with 2 games to go). Taz & Bamber took the last 2 wickets.

Looks like a fairly convincing win.
We made 212 for 6 - with Malik hitting 92 (from 46 balls - with 12x4's & 4x6's!), well supported by Jani (42) and Dandy (37 - from 15 balls).
Wylie, opening, again misfired with the bat (with a golden duck), but has made up for that, bowling - currently taking 3 for 11, off 3 overs. Simmons 2 for 12 and 1 apiece for Blakemore & Taz.
Northants, now 55 for 8 off 10 overs.

Team:-

Wylie
Jani
Malik (Captain)
Shaikh
Dandy (Keeper)
Arjun Singh Nahal (Harborne CC)
Isaac Maddy (Knowle & Dorridge CC - and George's brother of course)
Taz Ali
Bamber
Simmons
Blakemore

We won the toss and chose to bat

ExiledBrummie wrote:

Bald_Reynard wrote:

We lost by just 3 runs.

Theo Wylie and Taz A are back. Both made a good contribution - Theo with bat, Taz with ball (3 wickets).

Theo scored 13!

Yes, but a friend from Gloucester who was there, said the decision was a bit dodgy!

Taz got 3 wickets, but at nearly 9 an over, so a fair way to go, to get near the 1st's again. Though Jake L's place could be up for grabs.

Mikkyk wrote:

Good win, the team is starting to take shape but still a few things need to sort out.

Mousley seems a bit out of form with bat (strangely) and ball.

Lintott is struggling too.

Good to see Garton do well and hope he can maintain it. The two Alis and Briggs the only consistent bowlers.

I agree about Jake, he is struggling in the Blast. He has bowled better in 2nds red ball this season (but never gets a chance for the 1sts). After 4 games, I'd rest him, perhaps give Taz a chance (if he's fit, he picked up a little niggle a couple of weeks ago).
Dan M does need a couple more games to get his (Blast) eye in (again, he's been doing better in red ball recently). At least Rob Yates showed last week for the 2nds, that he got some white ball form back - and I'm sure he'd come in, if Mousley doesn't pick up.
I'm pleased for George - 5 catches, as well as a couple of good overs. And Briggs is bowling MUCH better than he has for the 2nds. It's very strange that players are doing better now, in formats they've not shown form this season.

Somerset all out for 129, a win by 89 runs.
Wonderful bowling from the Bears, particularly Adam Sylvester, who clearly has sorted out some of his demons from the Blast game on Saturday - 3 overs , 3 for 11 !
Dan M also took 3 wickets (for 25 runs in his 3 overs), Taz Ali, 2 wickets for 22 (3.2 overs) and 1 apiece for Garton (18 runs, off 3 overs) and Simmons (an expensive 35 runs, off 3 overs). Bamber did just have 1 over - for 16 runs ! 2 catches behind the stumps for Kai Smith.
On the basis of this game, I'd say Yates must be a shoo in for Friday's Blast match (but who for?) and Smith could well be keeping. Can't see Bamber forcing his way in (or Sylvester being given another chance) and so the expensive, but effective Simmons, will probably play.

And Jani got a quick 34 (off 24 balls), in a 117 stand for the first wicket with Yates, in 10 overs, so he might not be far away from a Blast game.
Somerset already 3 down - 2 wickets for Mousley, 1 for Sylvester. Sylvester, first change, already looking more effective than Garton & Bamber, opening (Bamber, 16 runs off his first over - not far off, what Sylvester was hit for in his last Blast game!).

ExiledBrummie wrote:

So has Dan pulled out of the Lions game starting Friday I assume?

Probably not, I guess he's just been released for this 2nds game.
I forgot he should be playing for the Lions on Friday, so almost certainly won't be available for the Blast game, as I suggested.