Who takes us over the line with what appears to be a controlled innings - plenty of singles - Woakes of course to add to his match count of 6 wickets!!

Why are England playing a 5 dayer as if it's a white ball game. Scoring at nearly 5 an over is the way luck plays a bigger part and wickets fall. 57 to win with 4 wickets in hand should be easy but.............

UrsaMinor wrote:

My main beef with quarter finals is that the one-a-day format means that there is a week in high season when most county grounds are just left idle. If you have to have QFs, at least play them on the same day and leave room for another CC round.

I think Sky might have something to say about that idea!!

Game is live on you tube - sky cricket section.

Sky TV are showing the Bears game on Thursday. Does anyone know if that will prevent You Tube showing it?

Do others agree with me that Davies should continue as captain and Moeen, if available, should replace Benjamin?

What will be the chances of this being on you tube or will Sky block it?

Four down in the first over and we pulled off a great win in a crazy match

Innings defeat avoided.

I did think Essex may have avoided imposing the follow on and batted out today and possibly an hour in the morning. That would gert them at least 400 ahead and ensured Warks batted last. Now we will bat all tomorrow and in to the 4th day getting about 150 ahead when we will take advantage of the 4th day wicket and win by 35 runs. Think positive!!

The Hundread "followers" are those that just want to see 6s and 4s with a fire display each time with plenty of pop music. Once the novelty wears off (6s being scored all the time gets boring) the numbers attyending the games will reduce. One thing not mentioned - how many attendees are there on a free ticket?

A Director of one of the teams who doesn't know if the competition is profitable or making a thumping loss and yet says it is funding the sport! Given the millions paid to the 18 counties I cannot see how the competition can be generating a profit. Also it will be interesting to see if TV continues covering the game when the contract needs renewing as I suspect once the novelty factor deminishes viewing figures will fall to an unacceptable level.

paulbear wrote:

Yes, I can only agree with how good it is to see us making runs without Hain. Thought Maxwell was going to go big last night, that's always the problem with being one six-hit away from a landmark, the temptation to get it with one hit but he did play well and kept the impetus of the innings going. Not sure what the crowd numbers were last night but I am sure some of the 'Bearboffins' we have out there will know.

After the performance last night is there room for Sam Hain ???????? Only joking but there is an argument for sticking to a team that scores in excess of 200 and wins by a big margin.

The crowd looked big on you tube - the Hollies looked absolutely packed and the bar takings must have been exceptional.

From my distant armchair I get the impression with Brookes he is not coping when under pressure - has looked vulnerable bowling at the death or when he has been tanked. As a result when watching last night I was surprised he was given the ball for the last over especially as the spinners had really got the better of the batsmen.

Must comment on THAT catch - quite simply the best I have ever seen. Even the Yorkshire commentators asked for it to be shown again - praise indeed!!

mad wrote:

I'm thinking this past week has been a strong reason we should return to one single 18 team county championship. Firstly the format itself when played with no fear just kicks the crap out of any of the shorter format flotsam and jetsam.

Secondly, if and I say if the result no longer matters and it's entertainment that is THE key thing and if it's okay for England to lose 5-0 this series - so long as we've been entertaining - then I see no reason whatsoever why county cricket cannot return to the glory days of one single division 17 rounds of 4-day fixtures loads of festival grounds being used to host the matches no relegation so all youngsters can be given carte blanche to show what they can do and everyone have a similarly jolly time watching county cricket as 25,000 were able to yesterday

Grasp this opportunity while we can. County CHAMPIONSHIP CRICKET is the next best thing to what unfolded these past 5 days and must be restored to the centrepiece of the domestic season immediately.

I agree about the merits of the 4 day game but would prefer a 2 division of 9 teams playing home and away. However, the one day game is here to stay and will always draw the bigger crowd. The T20 has proved its popularity and should be the white ball game of choice. The trouble is the ECB have tried to cram in too many formats and keep trying to reinvent it (the Hundread being the latest with city teams). If the 18 counties played just CC and T20 both in a 2 division league structure with a T20 Finals day to end the one day season a simple fixture list would tell people when to expect games.

Should ALL Ashes games be played at Edgbaston? We do seem to produce the nailbiters!!!

Interestingly scores were neck and neck at 6 overs, 10 overs and 15 overs. Once again our performance in the final 5 (69 scored) won us the game

Interestingly scores were neck and neck at 6 overs, 10 overs and 15 overs. Once again our performance in the final 5 (69 scored) won us the game

Given how much these games will bring to the area should the club not ask for a contribution such as reducing the debt the club has to the city

bad light halting our march. Should have put the spinners on.