Story Somerset on the up (ICC)

[Dutch..]

The D.Utch Thoughts monthly, with Billy Beef

BB: Hi Dave, welcome back.
DU: Hi Billy.

BB: Somerset have played three matches without a win, hoe about that?
DU: I think we had a bit of bad luck against Warwickshire, falling two runs short of victory. Schofield just finished us up in the second innings against Surrey with four wickets after we lost our top order 2 for 7 and 4 for 51. Kent surprised us with their strong batting line-up (Hayden, Fulton, Dexter, van Jaarsveld, Walker) and we feel short of the run rate after our openers were dismissed cheaply again (2-40). So I think there's some kind of explanation for everything.

BB: That's good hopes for the coming month?
DU: Yes, surely. First up is Glamorgan in the Challenge Trophy who we should surely be able to defeat, next is Kent in the Championship which will be a difficult match, because they are a strong team, with great overseas batsmen and a good spinning department as well as good pace bowlers. Last year we proved we are a good one-day squad, but I'm a bit worried over our batting form. As soon as we've got that we should be able to defeat anyone. Of course the competition is tight and if a team's in form every team can defeat anyone, but still...

BB: How about your tactics? The supporters mentioned the batting order is a bit thin with Fourfour coming in at 7.
DU: I do agree. Richard Osborne is just a bit dissapointing with the bat, so perhaps a bowler will have to make way for a batsman or an all-rounder. In one-dayers that will probably be Munday, because his economy rate isn't great, but in the County Champs, a problem does exist. Our spinners are the heart of our attack, but we should have enough new-ball bowlers in our team and we can't rely on one of Fourfour or Richard Johnson for that, backed up by Justin [Kemp].

BB: Well, good luck with the match against Glamorgan.
DU: Thanks a lot. Bye.

 

[Jaztheman]

nice interview there, nice pres

 

[Dutch..]

Somerset news headlines

Somerset crush Glamorgan
2 May 2008 - Fred Juggler
Yesterday Somerset showed they are still in the race for the Challenge Trophy. The title they won last year could be returned to the ECB after the defeat against Kent last week, according to some dissapointed fans. Yesterday Somerset spoke though.
Somerset posted an amazing 392 for 7 at Sophia Gardens before bowling Glamorgan for only 174.
Outstanding was Justin Kemp's performance with the bat scoring an unbeaten 132. Both the openers, openers John Francis and Matthew Wood both scored fifties, along with Aaron Laraman. Laraman took 2 for 7 in seven balls to get rid of the last resistance. Amarasinghe took 3 wickets for 25 in his four overs.
Manager Utch said he was happy about the performances of the top order and the ability to take wickets and wrap up the match.

 

[Jaztheman]

Kemp's second century of season

 

[Dutch..]

In only his second match

 

[Dutch..]

Somerset results for May

County Championship D1

Kent (312 & 328/7) beat Somerset (271 & 368) by three wickets
Somerset XI: Francis, Wood (c), Kemp, Durston, Hildreth, Trescothick, Reed, Johnson, Osborne (wk), Amarasinghe, Munday
100: J Kemp 120 (1st innings), J Hildreth 142 (2nd innings), M Trescothick 109 (2nd innings)
Best bowling: M Munday 5-83 (1st innings)
Man of the match: P Fulton (Kent)
Summary: Good performances by Kemp, Hildreth and Trescothick, but except for the three centuries and one Durston 50 no-one managed runs. The bowlers couldn't dismiss Fulton in the second innings which probably cost us the match, as he went on to 191 not out.

Somerset (315 & 302/7) beat Middlesex (401 & 212) by 3 wickets
Somerset XI: Francis, Wood (c), Kemp, Durston, Hildreth, Trescothick, Laraman, Reed, Osborne (wk), Amarasinghe, Munday
100: none
50: 6 of them, 55 & 51 for Hildreth, 89 for Kemp (2nd innings)
Best bowling: B Amarasinghe 5-99 & 4-65
Man of the Match: B Amarasinghe
Summary: Middlesex set a tough target, thanks to a great performance by Barmy they were restricted to a chaseable total. With 6 fifties and a forty by the one batsman who didn't manage a 50 is was a good allround batting performance. Finally a win!

Somerset (349 & 404) beat Nottinghamshire (304 & 275) by 174 runs
Somerset XI: Francis, Wood (c), Kemp, Durston, Hildreth, Edwards, Trescothick (wk), Hunter, Reed, Amarasinghe, Munday
100: Hildreth 151 (2nd innings)
50: 1st innings: Hildreth, Edwards, Hunter, Reed; 2nd innings: Durston, Trescothick
Best bowling: B Amarasinghe 4-99 & 5-90
Man of the match: J Hildreth (220 runs in the match)
Summary: Somerset posted an acceptable total, thanks to a great 8th wicket partnership between Hunter and Reed. The top order managed only 76-4. Seven wickets for the spinners gave Somerset a first innings advantage. At 2-32 Francis and Durston were in. After their partnership Hildreth came in and partnered with Durston, Edwards and Trescothick. Reed was injured during the Notts innings, but 8 wickets for the spinners won Somerset the match.
Note: Richard Osborne was dropped for this match as his batting isn't good enough. Trescothick will be keeper for the time being.

Challenge Trophy

Somerset (392/7) beat Glamorgan (174) by 218 runs
Somerset XI: Francis, Wood (c), Kemp, Durston, Hildreth, Trescothick , Laraman, Reed, Johnson, Osborne (wk), Amarasinghe
100: J Kemp 132 not out
50: J Francis 58, M Wood 53, A Laraman 53
Bowling performances: B Amarasinghe 4-0-25-3 A Laraman 1.1-0-7-2
Man of the match: J Kemp

Surrey (185/4) beat Somerset (184) by 6 wickets
Somerset XI: Francis, Wood (c), Kemp, Durston, Hildreth, Trescothick , Laraman, Reed, Johnson, Osborne (wk), Amarasinghe
50: M Trescothick 58
Bowling: Not good enough
Man of the match: M Ramprakash (Surrey)
Summary: Somerset gave their wickets away, Surrey chased easily.

Somerset (303/9) beat Middlesex (261) by 42 runs
Somerset XI: Francis, Wood (c), Kemp, Durston, Hildreth, Edwards , Hunter, Reed, Osborne (wk), Amarasinghe
100: J Kemp 107
50: N Edwards 67
Bowling performances: B Amarasinghe 8-0-55-3 J Kemp 6-1-33-2
Man of the match: J Kemp
Summary: Seemingly unchaseable target for Middlesex.

Somerset (228/7) beat Ireland CC (227/8) by 3 wickets
Somerset XI: Trescothick, Wood (c), Kemp, Durston, Hildreth, Trescothick , Laraman, Osborne (wk), Hunter, S Francis, Amarasinghe
Bowling performance: J Kemp 10-1-44-4
Batting performances: Trescothick 43, Kemp 36, Durston 44, Laraman 43*
Man of the Match: J Kemp
Summary: A good allround performance by Justin Kemp saw Somerset home by dismissing the entire middle order and scoring 36 before being run out. Ireland was dangerous with Pakistani spinners Mushtaq and Boom Boom Afridi.

Somerset are now fourth on both the tables.