England versus WI Third Test

[Dutch]

We will need 202 to win this one. It took me ages to get off the mark. They bowled well and there was some deceptive bounce to deal with. Scored a really satisfying on drive but then played too late back to one that bounced on me and got the thinnest edge through the keeper. I wasn't sure I had nicked it but I was given out.

My fan @disco123 will be pleased with my strike rate though!

 

[disco123]

We will need 202 to win this one. It took me ages to get off the mark. They bowled well and there was some deceptive bounce to deal with. Scored a really satisfying on drive but then played too late back to one that bounced on me and got the thinnest edge through the keeper. I wasn't sure I had nicked it but I was given out.

My fan @disco123 will be pleased with my strike rate though!


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That’s more like it , you just need a picture of Sir Geoffrey on your bedroom wall now

 

[Dutch]

How is Caoimhe doing? Great, she is alive and well. Some people might find these screenshots interesting for various reasons.

 

[Ed Smith]

The pitch is cracked?

 

[Dutch]

The pitch is cracked?

It's all that cocaine she shoots up between innings!

 

[Dutch]

So I had to restart my career with Caoimhe because of various issues but hopefully we are up and running again. So to recap, Caoimhe plays for Taunton in the South West of England. She is around 18 years old as far as I can tell and just starting out on her career path. Hopes to play at county level someday and who knows. She is a real traditionalist and loves the longer format but is trying to adjust to the shorter game as well.

 

[Dutch]

So our first match is against Gloucester, a three day game so that will suit us fine. A grassy pitch with a little bit of bounce and some unevenness.

 

[Dutch]

So Gloucester put on 351 after we put them into bowl. A very decent effort by them under cloudy conditions. We could have bowled tighter and we were looking down the barrel at 232 for 2 but we clawed our way back with a better effort later on.
Bit of butterflies as we walk out.....here we go......

All the noughts!



Tricky cracks to cope with!


A beautiful ground at Gloucester

 

[Dutch]

First runs......


Textbook!



Leading edge......got away with it

 

[Dutch]

So just a re-cap on how I am playing this: I am not allowed to press x whilst batting in career mode. I follow what my batting partners are doing. Even if I am out I might watch a few overs before simming. In bowling/fielding mode I might play a few overs in the field. As I am not bowling at all that's fine. I might sometimes just let the game play itself out as I am doing other stuff and take a glimpse of the action every now and then. I want to develop some story lines as we go along and give some content and depth and context to fellow players and partnerships and rivals and such like.

 

[Dutch]

It's tough going. There is quite a bit of bounce and the ball is coming of the pitch fast and they have a couple of girls with some real pace. I am getting pushed back in the crease a bit trying to give myself some space and extra time. Just had another leading edge that luckily went to ground.....I keep trying to flick across the line to leg...got to be careful!

Getting stuck in the crease a bit! get forward girl!



There is plenty of grass on top, its cloudy and damp......


Breathe girl, breathe...relax!



That's it, wait for the right ball! Trust your technique!

 

[Dutch]

Amy and I are both struggling to cope with the pace and bounce and it is gloomy so you are seeing the ball late. Amy just got dropped in the slips. Man that was a heart in mouth moment. We had a little chat in the middle to settle again. Amy and I have got this running competition going on who can get the most runs this season. She really is a lot more aggressive than I am. I am more of a steady accumulator. She just seems to have a split second more time than most of the other girls I have seen playing. Wouldn't surprise me to see her going places someday!

 

[Dutch]

Well that was that then! Driving at one a touch too short...could have left it forever.... A Jason Roy special.......little flick behind off an inside edge and it's the long slow walk back to the dressing room........

 

[Dutch]

Will have to see how Amy gets on. the great thing about Amy and me is that we are a left-right handed opening pair. Makes it a little trickier for the bowlers to find a consistent line if you can juggle the strike a bit. Eliza Alex joined us this year. She comes in at three and bats left-handed too. She loves to get runs flowing as quickly as possible.

Well Amy is on 16 so that puts her ahead in the runs competition! Good luck to her. No jealousy on my part. Me and Amy grew up playing cricket together and both want to see the other doing well.



Bugger two down, great catch in the gully but Eliza was pushing too hard at that one....softer hands would have seen it safe.

 

[Dutch]

They are really tightening the screws. This Baird lass is a right handful. Great numbers! Some pace and swing. We are struggling to get off the green.