13 man squad:-
Rhodes, Benjamin, Bresnan, Briggs, Burgess, Hain, Holder, Johal, Lamb, Miles, Norwell, Sibley and Yates
I would guess Benjamin and Johal will miss out?
"You can take the boy out of Atherstone, but you can never take Atherstone out of the boy !"
"The Bears and the (footballing) Foxes for ever !"
Yeah I'd say so
Bald_Reynard wrote:
13 man squad:-
Rhodes, Benjamin, Bresnan, Briggs, Burgess, Hain, Holder, Johal, Lamb, Miles, Norwell, Sibley and Yates
I would guess Benjamin and Johal will miss out?
Bresnan and Johal in the end. I'm pleased they've given Benjamin go in red ball, we'll see his adaptability. We won the toss and batted.
Sibley (again) and Yates fell very cheaply. Benjamin and Hain stabilising things at the moment.
"You can take the boy out of Atherstone, but you can never take Atherstone out of the boy !"
"The Bears and the (footballing) Foxes for ever !"
Not sure how others feel, but from watching the stream. This feels like a century partnership that’s never been settled if that makes sense. Lancashire always seem close to getting a wicket. Plenty of plays and misses or edges to third man. But at the same time, some wonderful shots have been played.
In my mind it seems like one of those times you have to just take your luck and run with it. Because other days they’d be 4 or 5 down.
I'm at the ground, it definitely felt as though we rode our luck early on. And Benjamin chanced some ludicrously tight singles! Looking good now though...
So pleased Benjamin made his ton. Can't believe we found this jewel - and no other County spotted his potential. Clearly a latish developer, but still years ahead of him - in red as well as white ball?!
"You can take the boy out of Atherstone, but you can never take Atherstone out of the boy !"
"The Bears and the (footballing) Foxes for ever !"
To think there were some here against giving Benjamin a chance, due to the nationality of one of his parents!.
A great championship debut from Chris, and even betetr to see Sam Hain get a century again.
About as good a day as anyone could have hoped for today. I severely doubt they’ll get back out. Lancashire look like they’ve had enough, and just want to hit the reset and try again tomorrow.
I assume they’ll try bat big, bat once, as they haven’t scored particularly quickly meaning getting 4 innings or max batting bonus points in the time will be difficult.
Bald_Reynard wrote:
So pleased Benjamin made his ton. Can't believe we found this jewel - and no other County spotted his potential. Clearly a latish developer, but still years ahead of him - in red as well as white ball?!
How on earth he's made it to aged 22 and not been picked up until 6 weeks ago is truly amazing.
Possibly because after finishing his High School education in South Africa he chose to come to England and study at Durham University for four years. He's skilled in the lecture room as well as at cricket, in many ways his path into the professional game wasn't all that unusual a few years ago.
A very good day for us and I did think that once we were 2 down we might capitulate but well done to the Benj/Hain partnership. Onwards and upwards.
Getting bogged down somewhat this morning. Very slow scoring now Hain is out for 118. Currently 282/5 after 105 overs. 18 needed off 5 overs to secure a 3rd batting point.
Shameful,idiotic batting from Lamb and Burgess.I have never seen such rubbish ever..
Did we not get the third bonus point?
I assume those attacking Lamb and Burgess would also attack them if they went for the third bonus point and got out.
Only time will tell, but after 2 quick wickets, and a relatively long tail, I’d rather miss the bonus point and go score 400. A big first innings score means a win is more likely. And those extra points for a win will be worth more than a single bonus point.
As I said time will tell, but it appears my definition of shameful differs to some in here. I might direct it towards some of our supporters who only seem interested in forecasting losses and criticising players at any opportunity.
Thought they dug in pretty well, Avoided exposing the tail to Saqeeb with the newish ball
Now have the opportunity to bat Lancs out the game get to 400 + and finish Day 2 350 ahead would make it very difficult for Lancs to manufacture a win. Be interesting to see how Holder goes with the new ball later
It would seem some here fail to realise you can't score runs sat in the pavillion, that there are two sides in the game trying to get a result.
The points for a draw, or better the win are of more benifit than a single bonus point.
This isn't a 20 over slog, we have four days play to get a result, a big first innings and bowl the oppositin out twice is a method used throughout the history of the game, because it works.
Well documented that bonus points don't determine the destination of the pennant so I'm minded to agree with those who said slowing up was the correct thing to do. What you can't prove, at least easily, with data is whether bedding in gives the initiative to the opposition and allows them to regroup, allows them to gain confidence. As I type 340/7 so it was no guarantee that a blockathon would deliver a 400 score. Its not as simple as saying bat slowly = less chance of losing wickets.
These last two wickets may yet put on a few runs but from a fantastic platform of 244 for 3, not reaching 400 would be a disappointment. The slow scoring did rob the innings of some momentum. That's a platform middle order batters dream about.