Young may as well have a go now and see if we can knock off this deficit

Andy wrote:

Didn't pick up on any dissent? Could be wrong. I mean either way it was clearly an absolute seed, right?

He wasn't happy. Yes it was a beaut of a ball but that doesn't mean he actually hit it. I might be wrong but shaking your head all the way off the pitch is not usually because the ball was that good that you think you have been unlucky.

Andy wrote:

What a ball
Barnard didn't seem to think so, unless I have misread his body language.

He was shaking his head all the way off the field and did not make any attempt to leave the pitch.

Getting a positive decision from an umpire at the Oval is like getting a penalty at Old Trafford 20 years ago, every questionable decision seems to go their way.

Really really poor decision to bowl Barnard.

Can’t believe he was chosen after his previous overs, lost us the match.

Yet another season of disappointment

Barnard has bowled poorly tonight, this was the wrong choice last over.

What was Davies thinking having seen the whole game pan out.

Somerset supporters are the worst I have ever seen. You can tell that the banter to our players is not funny due to the reaction of them when taking a wicket.

For some reason, I thought they would be a knowledgeable & supportive bunch but they just seem one eyed, rude & entitled.

Back to the game and imo we were 15-20 runs too short.

Exiled Bear wrote:

Are Lancashire trying to lose? No idea why they’re persisting with Shetty, who has gone for over 7 an over all innings.

Sussex played in the spirit of the game and played to win, Lancs really are the opposite.

They have just taken the 7th wicket and look as though they have all lost £100

Henry Brookes to see Middlesex home?

Lancs are bowling a youngster called Shetty.......they have kept him on for the full 10 overs despite him going all around the park.

Thanks for that my least favourite opponent!!

A real a shame how this is ending up considering how good all of the youngsters have been at various points & the fact that 5 wins is usually enough to qualify.

Davies just had to see things home but his wicket was the catalyst to a collapse. Lintott also being a senior player just needed to bed in and take it easy but went for boundaries when we were under pressure.

Lancs are indeed crap.

Good display by Taz Ali again and yes, Sylvester was very tidy & unlucky with one LBW shout that looked pretty plum.

A couple of those googly's were very nice.

I am still concerned that we seem to have to lose a bunch of wickets quickly but a good win none the less.

At least we have mixed things up today with our collapse.

One spinner on the same pitch that we took 7 wickets with spin just the other day.

Hopefully we post a good score & Yates can back up Taz Ali

Excellent stuff from Taz Ali

He is forcing false shots/decisions from the batsmen. Bowling close to the wicket with a bit of zip and a great length

Andy wrote:

Pretty strong Northants team too to be fair Meash, 2 overseas players in it, one of them the IPL's all time leading wicket taker. Proctor, Broad, Guthrie, Vasconcelos, Keogh etc all first teamers.

Yeah, fair enough. I commented when the opening bowlers were still on. Didnt realise Charhal was playing for them today.

Silly from Jani there

I know he is young but he saw out 5 balls from the over and went for one slightly wide.........why? Just see the over out and go again.

Once again, we pull ourselves back into a game & within minutes give the impetus to the opposition with two poor shots from equally average deliveries.

Good partnership from Smith & Davies though.

Barnard looked a bit unlucky there, although there have been a couple of other close ones.

I keep saying it, something is not right.

We scrambled through a poor standard T20 group, 2 of our 3 championship wins have been extremely unlikely results that on most occasions would have been the opposite and we are currently 4 down for nothing vs Northants 2nds (and we have on paper a strong team out).

It seems like every game we are looking for someone to drag us out of the mire.

Somebody needs to come into the club, raise the standards and set expectations much higher than they currently are within the squad. We are better than this but are being allowed to slack far too often.

7-2

Never mind though, Davies is in next..............

Yates with a first baller

I have been watching for the last half hour or so and the Essex batsmen have hardly had any worries at all. Nothing has beaten the bat and we are not quick enough to trouble them bowling straight. Nice green pitch that we have got nothing out of.

As I type, Rochi has been brought on to bowl within the 1st hour which tells you everything.

Came on here as I had laid into the team over the first 3 days.

I missed day 4 as I was at Uttoxeter races but a fantastic turnaround by the boys to win.

Like most on here, I am still worried by us struggling to take wickets & in particular the role of Davies as captain.

Hopefully we will be safe but there is a lot of work to be done, especially in finding several seamers who can lead the attack.

Nothing Yates could have done with that ball.......nipped back and kept low

Davies on the other hand.........