Story Filling the County Cricket07 Vacuum

lvccwan.jpg

Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division Two Match
Wanderers vs. Surrey - Day One, Afternoon Session

Surrey emerged from the luncheon break continuing on from 51 for the loss of 2. Duffin continued his spell and was soon joined by Daniel Wade, the fiery all-rounder. Duffin yet again had Butcher in trouble at 1.49pm, Butcher getting a leading edge on an attempted leg glance, and the ball sailing past Duffin who made no attempt to go for the ball before it landed on the non-strikers middle stump. Whether he had outright caught it or merely gotten a finger on it to have a runout shout against non-striker Mark Ramprakash, chances like these must be taken by the Wanderers if they are to become a threat this season.

d1s21.jpg


Mark Butcher had certainly not asserted himself at the crease by 2.30pm. Continuing on from his swinging and missing against Duffin in the first session, he was beaten all ends up by Dan Wade at lease three times and had been found playing across the line, resulting in a modest LBW shout, replays showing it hit him outside the line of off stump, and the umpire possibly bearing in mind Wade is bowling around the wicket. Two balls later Duffin missed the otherwise solid looking Ramprakash's outside edge by a virtual whisker as the batsman attempted a fierce coverdrive. The hope is short lived though as Ramprakash makes amends crashing Dufin through backward point for four with a very classy square drive. Duffin is replaced by Adcock next over, and a few overs into his spell gets Ramprakash fishing at a short pitched ball that didn't bounce.

D1-S22.jpg


Even if the damp surface isn't getting the Wanderers wickets it's certainly keeping the runs low. After 41 overs Surrey are only on 73, and this should give the Wanderers confidence going into the Friends Provident Trophy. Paul Adcock comes up with possibly the over of the session, beating Butcher's outside edge three times in four balls at 2.48pm. Simon Catterall, the leg spinner, comes into the attack and is welcomed with another classy Ramprakash shot, a sweep shot through backward square for four. After a few problems with two bounce no balls on the wet surface, Catterall is unlucky not to have Ramprakash caught, the ball ballooning up into the air falling just short of midwicket.

d1-s23.jpg


Next ball Ramprakash is the victim of a ferocious LBW shout, declined by the umpire. Replays showed that there didn't seem to be too much wrong and Catterall may feel slightly confused as to why it was not out. At 3.15pm Adcock finally catches the edge of Mark Butcher but it drops short of 3rd slip.

d1-s24.jpg


A few overs later a moment of the most embarrasing sort occurs as Mark Ramprakash leaves a full-ish wrong-un from Simon Catterall and is clean bowled. The Surreyman looked comfortable on 19 and was looking to take the attack to the Wanderers' attack.

d1-s25.jpg


Sensing the opportunity to rip into the Surrey batting lineup before tea, Vijay replaces Catterall with James, and Adcock with Catterall. The plan however doesnt work, especially as James gives up two no balls followed by a delicate stroke through the covers for four by new batsman Ali Brown. Both batsmen survive until tea with the score on 118/3

J.Benning.....c. Ehsanul Haque b. J.Duffin.....16 (75)
S.Newman.......................b. C.James......20 (63)
M.Butcher......................not out.........15 (107)
M.Ramprakash...................b. S.Catterall..19 (89)
A.Brown........................not out..........4 (14)
Extras (4w, 20nb)..............................44

Total (3 wickets, 58 overs)...................118

..................O.....M.....R.....W
C.James..........17.....4....31.....1
P.Adcock.........15.....5....24.....0
J.Duffin.........12.....3....25.....1
D.Wade............7.....1....16.....0
S.Catterall.......7.....4....24.....1
 
Last edited:
lvccwan.jpg

Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division Two Match
Wanderers vs. Surrey - Day One, Evening Session

Resuming on 118/3, Surrey seem to be in a predicament. Despite their clear talent advantage over the Wanderers, they are losing the chance to outright win the game and indeed get maximum first innings points. Mark Butcher looks set at the crease, but is accompanied by new batsman Ali Brown and on a damp surface, it looks as though it may be tricky for Surrey to put up a comprehensive total. Sunil Vijay, keen to pounce on the departure of Mark Ramprakash before tea, has chosen his two strike bowlers, Corey James and Paul Adcock to begin the evening session of play.

Surrey seemed to be keen to get a move on. Butcher and Brown both hit sweetly timed cover drives and in the fifth over of the session Butcher hits a lavish square drive for four. Adcock is equal to the challenge though, as he beats the outside edge of Butcher. James is also looking for the edge, delivering this peach of a ball at 4.30pm.

d1-s31.jpg


Both bowlers are then rested, with the new ball in sight. The best indication of Surrey's attitude to the session comes in the first over of Simon Catterall's spin spell. Here we see Ali Brown charging down the pitch Brown is not the only one to miss the ball, Ehsanul Haque not gathering the ball and giving Brown the opportunity to get back.

d1-s32.jpg


Catterall was accompanied by Kevin Butler, bowling medium pace for seemingly no reason other than to get through to the new ball as soon as possible. Butler had other ideas, finally catching Butcher's edge as he attemped a cover drive, and the ball flew to second slip.

d1-s33.jpg


Butler clean bowled new batsman Batty next over, only for it to be called back for a no ball. Had the medium pacer not overstepped, it would have been a remarkable day for him, not even considered a bowling option that morning.

With the new ball taken Corey James had another go at a new batsman, and had this seemingly plumb LBW given not out. I'll let you judge for yourself.

d1-s34.jpg


With 6 minuted to go before the 6pm cutoff, Ali Brown was at the centre of a moment of madness. Trying to whack Corey James out of the ground, he hit the ball straight up in the air, being fortunate enough for it to land at a vacant mid-off. After running a single Batty calls himself through for a suicidal second run and is barely halfway down the pitch before Ealham throws the ball to James, who gladly knocks off the bails.

d1-s35.jpg


Next ball Brown does manage to thrash James through square for four, but it is scant compensation. The final over of the day from James is very expensive, conceding 20 runs, with Brown getting maxima over long off and cover, and finishes the day with a sweetly timed cover drive for four.

J.Benning.....c. Ehsanul Haque b. J.Duffin.....16 (75)
S.Newman.......................b. C.James......20 (63)
M.Butcher.....c. B.Hall........b. K.Butler.....31 (160)
M.Ramprakash...................b. S.Catterall..19 (89)
A.Brown........................not out.........49 (97)
J.Batty.......run out (Ealham/James)............2 (20)
R.Clarke.......................not out..........0 (6)
Extras (5w, 26nb, 2b)..........................59

Total (5 wickets, 85 overs)...................196

..................O.....M.....R.....W
C.James..........24.....4....68.....1
P.Adcock.........18.....8....30.....0
J.Duffin.........12.....3....25.....1
D.Wade............7.....1....16.....0
S.Catterall......17.....8....47.....1
K.Butler..........7.....2....8......1
 
Last edited:
lvccwan.jpg

Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division Two Match
Wanderers vs. Surrey - Day Two, Morning Session

Surrey resume on 196/5, a decent score on what appears to be a difficult pitch on which to play. Ali Brown is at the crease and having marmalised Corey James for 20 in his previous over, he will be keen to continue to take the attack to the Wanderers' attack. However new batsman Rikki Clarke is at the other end, and should Brown leave, the Wanderers will find themselves well and truly into the Surrey tail.

Simon Catterall bowls the first over of the day and it doesnt take long for the first highlight to crop up, Brown thrashing the fifth ball of the day over mid on for four, to bring up a vital 50. It is in good time too, compared with the rest of the batsmen, coming in 99 balls. Two balls later though, Brown's strategy is perhaps influenced by the first ball from Corey James, which catched the edge of Clarke, and typical of the pitch, drops short of 3rd slip. More angst for James comes next over, as Brown plays a pull shot which nets Surrey four runs. It is only four, however, due to some poor wicketkeeping as Brown gets nothing but air. He makes no mistake later though, as he plays a glorious off-drive. A nifty bit of thinking for Catterall almost brings Brown's innings to an end. Brown comes onto Catterall, charging, and Catterall floats up a full toss. Luckily for Brown he just made it back in before Ehsanul Haque whipped off the bails. A good battle between bat and ball continues, until Brown destroys Paul Adcock over cover for a massive six.

d2-s11.jpg


A few overs later, Brown almost loses his off-stick trying to pull, but then the next ball is caught at long leg... until Duffin steps over the rope making it 6. James gets the edge of Clarke, but again it falls short, this time of first slip. James changes tactics to Clarke, instead of pitching it up looking for an edge his bowls it short, and Clarke gets whacked on the hat.

Brown on the other hand is relishing the aggressive field placings, hitting fours and singles to bring Surrey some much needed runs before the impending declaration. He almost gives his innings away on 90, with a mistimed ondrive falling short of mid-on, but it doesnt matter as Surrey declare on 311/5.

Here is Ali Brown's spider

D2-S13.jpg


J.Benning.....c. Ehsanul Haque b. J.Duffin.....16 (75)
S.Newman.......................b. C.James......20 (63)
M.Butcher.....c. B.Hall........b. K.Butler.....31 (160)
M.Ramprakash...................b. S.Catterall..19 (89)
A.Brown........................not out.........90 (167)
J.Batty.......run out (Ealham/James)............2 (20)
R.Clarke.......................not out.........47 (74)
Extras (8w, 35nb, 8b)..........................86

Total (5 wickets, declared, 108 overs)........311

..................O.....M.....R.....W
C.James..........35.....8....103....1
P.Adcock.........21.....8....66.....0
J.Duffin.........17.....4....42.....1
D.Wade............7.....1....26.....0
S.Catterall......21.....8....57.....1
K.Butler..........7.....2....8......1


Wanderers' First Innings

d2-s12.jpg


The Wanderers openers Hall and Salisbury enter the field and Salisbury goes within a ball, trapped plumb LBW.

d2-s14.jpg


Sunil Vijay came to the crease, needing a good knock to vindicate the captaincy decision. He makes a good start with Ben Hall, seeing out the three overs until lunch to get the Wanderers to 8/1.


J.Salisbury...lbw............b. M.Nicholson....0 (1)
B.Hall.......................not out...........6 (8)
S.Vijay......................not out...........2 (9)
Extras ........................................0

Total (1 wicket, 3 overs)......................8

..................O.....M.....R.....W
M.Nicholson.......2.....0.....5.....1
J.Ormond..........1.....0.....3.....0
 
Last edited:
lvccwan.jpg

Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division Two Match
Wanderers vs. Surrey - Day Two, Afternoon Session

Having put themselves in a good position on day one, the Wanderers found themselves at lunch feeling slightly let down by themselves. Unable to remove belligerents Ali Brown and Rikki Clarke, they not only failed to get more first innings bowling points but also relinquished the upper hand to Surrey, who declared on 311/5. To make matters worse, Josh Salisbury departed before the scorers even had a chance to sit down, trapped plumb LBW. Captain Sunil Vijay and Ben Hall are at the crease, having seen out the 3 overs before lunch. Vijay is under pressure as captain and needs a good knock here to justify his selection.

The first boundary of the day comes in two balls, in the form of byes as Batty failed to collect Ormond's delivery. However next over Vijay collected the Wanderers' first boundary from the bat, an eloquent drive struck with power through cover point. Vijay is batting on middle and off stump, in an attempt to rectify a common problem with right handers which results in them being bowled by inswinging back of a length balls. One negative of this strategy though is susceptability to LBW, and there was a big shout on 50/2.

d2-s22.jpg


There is little other drama as the two pile on 50 for the partnership by 2.40, but soon after, Vijay is bowled by Ormond, inside edging a backfoot drive onto the off stick.

d2-s21.jpg


Having accumulated 37 runs in decent time, he will be very disappointed to have ended his innings in such a fashion. Sean Ealham came to the crease at second drop. Though he lacks the flair of Vijay, and is shown through the odd attempted cover drive which lacks timing, he is still able to avoid too many close calls. He and Hall continued nudging the ball around, though in the penultimate over before the tea break both hit boundaries through square. All in all a rather efficient little session for the Wanderers results in them being 99/2.

J.Salisbury...lbw............b. M.Nicholson....0 (1)
B.Hall.......................not out..........38 (77)
S.Vijay......................b. J.Ormond......37 (62)
S.Ealham.....................not out..........16 (57)
Extras (2nb, 4b)...............................8

Total (2 wickets, 32 overs)....................99

..................O.....M.....R.....W
M.Nicholson......12.....1....33.....1
J.Ormond..........9.....3....30.....1
J.Dernbach.......11.....2....32.....0
 
Argh... I think I corrupted the save file somehow... its not loading at all... I'll try and see what I can do...

Is anyone interested in this story enough for me to start it again from scratch or should I can it?
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top