Highveld wrote:

Kelley isn't getting any runs in the B'ham league, despite being allowed to bat in the top 5 for his club.

A back up keeper and asome back up for Briggs have to be a priority over the winter.

Kelley has actually batted quite well this afternoon. He's made a game of this. We were struggling at 256 for 8, a lead of only 127, but he made 35 NO and took the target to 213. At least we have a chance now.

The Yorkies got a 1st innings lead of 131 in the end. Only our experienced bowlers made much of a mark - Sidebottom, 4 for 42 (off 21) and Norwell, 3 for 35 (off 19.3). Yates, Johal and Roshan Balaji did pick up a wicket each though.

In our 2nd Innings, at last, Yates and Malan got their act together, putting on 71 for the 2nd wicket (so far !); Yates, 36 and Malan, 31. Dom S failed again though - just 2 !

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

We won the toss and chose to bat.

Currently, we're 34 for 3. Yates, Malan and Ethan B, all out in single figures! Sibley, hanging around, as he can - and McGladdery in.

We made 135 (in 60 overs !) - mainly due to 31 from Sibley and 20's from McGladdery, Benjamin and Roshan Balaji. Kelley struggled to get a duck (from 12 balls), adding to a major lack of scores in his time in the 2nd's - clearly he can't fulfill the batsman role (and he has lost the keeping job), so I guess he won't with us next season ? Malan also only got 1 and has a lot to do now, to prove his signing was worthwhile.

As Highveld says, the Yorkies are on 14 for 2 (off 13 overs), so it is obviously a bowling wicket. It should be interesting to see if they can overtake our score today.

We won the toss and chose to bat.

Currently, we're 34 for 3. Yates, Malan and Ethan B, all out in single figures! Sibley, hanging around, as he can - and McGladdery in.

Yates is back from injury - opening with Sibley. Benjamin stays as Captain and Keeper, Kelley in just as a batter.

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Looks like we're going to win this - fairly easily. Great batting by Montgomery, great bowling by George Garrett (at long last).

Yep, won by 54 runs. 2nd's T20 CHAMPIONS !

Montgomery 60, Ethan B 25 and KVV 28 NO were top scorers. GG 5 for 19, Sidebottom 2 for 16, KVV 1 for 11, OHD 1 for 12 and Johal 1 for 15.

Sussex didn't have their top batters in the Final, but it was still a first class win. A great all round performance - on a difficult wicket by all accounts.

On the basis of this match, Matt Montgomery has to be given more 2nd's opportunities. And after some wonderful displays over the last few weeks, KVV (as an all rounder) and Chris Benjamin (as Captain, Batsman and Keeper) fully deserve a contract of some sort. But I think Dan Lincoln's time with us is up and on todays performance, we remember why Andy Umeed was released. As for Dom S, where IS he going ?!

Looks like we're going to win this - fairly easily. Great batting by Montgomery, great bowling by George Garrett (at long last).

As we expected, we are playing Sussex in the Final - they stuffed Yorkshire by 9 wickets.

We won the toss and chose to bat. Same team as the Semi. 54 for 2 off 8. Sibley out early again (3) and Captain Benjamin (11). Montgomery and Andy U pushing it on a bit now.

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Highveld wrote:

Matt Mongomery is a former South Africa U19 captain, whos spent the summer with Notts 2nd team.

That's 3 South African born players in the team today - Montgomery, van Vollenhoven and Chris Benjamin (who I see is Captaining again - and taken 3 catches behind, so far). KVV and Benjamin have UK passports though, so that helps if we decide to offer them a contract (I hope we do); I'm not sure about the status of Montgomery.

We made 155 for 7 in our 20 - top score for Montgomery (66), double figures for Sibley (16), Benjamin (10), Ethan Brookes (16), Dan Lincoln (20 - who's back in as a specialist batsman this time) and George Garrett (13 NO). 5 for Andy U !

Middlesex are on 114 for 5 after 16 - so need 10 an over. 2 wickets for Sidebottom, 1 apiece for KVV (ending on 1 for 24 off 4 overs), Montgomery (1 for 23 off 4) and Ethan B (1 for 10 off 1).

Montgomery is a European (German) Passport holder - so I guess he has some employment status (if he applies for it under the EU settling scheme). He's studying at Loughborough Uni and playing Club Cricket for Kegworth. Before Uni, he played cricket in Yorkshire - and I think went to school there.

We won by 18 runs. Middlesex ended on 137, the last 5 wickets to go were taken Johal (ending on 2 for 13 off 2 overs), OHD (1 for 26 off 4) and Sidebottom (4 for 28 off 4). The Final here we come ! Given the Sussex squad, I guess we'll be playing them. Their Semi, against Yorkshire, soon.

Highveld wrote:

Matt Mongomery is a former South Africa U19 captain, whos spent the summer with Notts 2nd team.

That's 3 South African born players in the team today - Montgomery, van Vollenhoven and Chris Benjamin (who I see is Captaining again - and taken 3 catches behind, so far). KVV and Benjamin have UK passports though, so that helps if we decide to offer them a contarct (I hope we do); I'm not sure about the status of Montgomery.

We made 155 for 7 in our 20 - top score for Montgomery (66), double figures for Sibley (16), Benjamin (10), Ethan Brookes (16), Dan Lincoln (20 - who's back in as a specialist batsman this time) and George Garrett (13 NO). 5 for Andy U !

Middlesex are on 114 for 5 after 16 - so need 10 an over. 2 wickets for Sidebottom, 1 apiece for KVV, Montgomery and Ethan B. Should be a close finish ?

FarmerPalmer wrote:

That's a very good interview on ESPN.

A brilliant interview. I had chance to have a chat with him at Portland Road last summer. He's such a nice, level headed guy, but so ambitious and driven. Given all the knockbacks he's had in his County career (Somerset, Hampshire and Gloucester), it's amazing how positive he is. Farbs and Pop have really found a diamond there - and I'm sure he'll repay their faith in him. He's already pulling up daisies for us - as witnessed by how we missed him, up at the Riverside a few days ago. Long may his 'wristies' wreak havoc for us - and not just in white ball games, I hope he gets a chance in the CC in a couple of weeks - he's got the ability and dedication to also do well in the long game.

Chris Benjamin is Captain today in the 2nd's T20 game against Glamorgan (and 146 NO off 63 balls at the moment - going in at 3 - with 12x4's and 10x6's !). I would say that might indicate a contract offer soon ?

We won the toss and chose to bat. Smale in for Bethell as the only change from yesterdays Friendly.

We are 187 for 3 after 16 overs. Norwell (7) and Lamb (32) opened. Chris Benjamin is 125 NO off 56 balls ! Ethan B got 18, Roshan Balaji is the other NO bat. Interestingly, Benjamin is Captain today - I would guess another contract might be in the offing (after Simmons) !?

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Highveld wrote:

Lost by 1 run, Velani making the most of his chance by scoring 62 off 54 balls, and was run out off the last ball.

Game 2 starts at 2:30

Van Vollenhoven left stranded by the Velani run out - but he finished on 32 NO. Although he only bowled 1 over today, he got 1 for 22 in the last game, with his 'leggies'. He has got to be worth a shout for at least a summer contract (before someone else snaps him up !) ? The same with Chris Benjamin - who got 24 earlier (batting at 3) - who has also got biggish scores and performed well behind the stumps ?

Let's see how they do later.

Later, in the second game today:-

Gloucester won the toss and elected to bat first. Henry Brookes and Velani are not playing, replaced by George Garrett and Roshan Balaji.

They are 89 for 7 off 14 overs. Van Vollenhoven has bowled his 4 overs - taking 3 for 20 ! He's down at 3 in the batting order, lets see how he does higher up.

Highveld wrote:

Lost by 1 run, Velani making the most of his chance by scoring 62 off 54 balls, and was run out off the last ball.

Game 2 starts at 2:30

Van Vollenhoven left stranded by the Velani run out - but he finished on 32 NO. Although he only bowled 1 over today, he got 1 for 22 in the last game, with his 'leggies'. He has got to be worth a shout for at least a summer contract (before someone else snaps him up !) ? The same with Chris Benjamin - who got 24 earlier (batting at 3) - who has also got biggish scores and performed well behind the stumps ?

Let's see how they do later.

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

BristolBear wrote:

Did anyone ever find out what happened to Van Vollenhoven? Had a great knock then disappeared.

Benjamin out cheaply today as well, 2 off 4.

Interesting to see Lamb opening. If Malan doesn’t score today, is he the next option whilst Hose is injured?

Matt Lamb 85 NO off 59 balls. Got to be a good candidate for Hose's place, instead of Malan?
Another great win for us in the 2nd's T20. I think that's 8 wins from 8 games. 2 games left - I guess a Semi Final place is already booked.

As I said, Lamb 85 NO; others in double figures, were Sibley (26 off 14 balls), van Vollenhoven (18 off 11) and Norwell (23 off 19). We made 176 for 6.

We bowled Somerset out for 90 (in 17 overs). Wicket takers were OHD (2 for 7), Johal (3 for 6 - at last, decent figures this season), Bethell (2 for 6), van Vollenhoven (1 for 22) and Matty L (1 for 4 with his new 'leggies' !).

Apparently, van Vollenhoven has not been playing any cricket (for us or anybody else !), since his last game in mid May, but taking (and revising for !) exams. They're over now and I guess he'll be a regular in the 2nd's for a while. He certainly is justifying that selection - and promises much for the future (hopefully with us !).

Benjamin didn't do anything with the bat today (though has got some decent scores in recent games), but took 3 catches behind, to add to some fine performances behind the stumps, so he too is justifying a few more games to see if he's got it for backup Keeper.

BristolBear wrote:

Did anyone ever find out what happened to Van Vollenhoven? Had a great knock then disappeared.

Benjamin out cheaply today as well, 2 off 4.

Interesting to see Lamb opening. If Malan doesn’t score today, is he the next option whilst Hose is injured?

Matt Lamb 85 NO off 59 balls. Got to be a good candidate for Hose's place, instead of Malan?

Highveld wrote:

Another round of the SE T20 today, to be played at Moseley CC.

Expect to see some new faces in the squad, as the T20 specialists will be with the first team.

Lamb and Sibley opening. Van Vollenhoven in the side again. We're batting first.

Andy wrote:

Pollock
Hose
Hain
Mousley
Rhodes
Burgess
Brathwaite
Bresnan
Briggs
Lintott
Miles

Dan is unlikely to be in the team soon. He's having an atrocious season for the 2nds in the T20, often struggling to get into double figures. In 5 matches batting, his scores are 1, 13, 8, 48 and 10 - and outshone by most others in the batting lineup. It is possible he might get in, in place of a seam bowler - probably OHD - and play as a third spinner, but I can't see that.

As I've posted on a couple of SET20 Forum pages, Chris Benjamin is beginning to look a great prospect as a potential new (backup) Wicket Keeper / Batsman. He has already scored some big scores in the 2nd's (including a 95 NO), took 3 stumpings in two T20 matches and has taken 3 catches behind today. Kelley is a decent Keeper, but a poor bat (often going in at 9 or 10), Benjamin seems to know how to do both roles. It is early days (about 4 games in), but if he carries on as he has, I'm sure a contract might be in the offing. The only snag, could be the fact that he is South African born (Jo'burg, 1999), but I don't know if he has UK Passport status.

He played for a couple of years for Essex 2nd's, but never really got near their 1st's (though they did have a few Keepers on the books) and was at Durham MCCU, but again, never pulled up many daisies there (but being at Durham Uni of course, might indicate or help his residential status). Perhaps he's matured a bit now though and/or got some decent Coaching (with gloves and bat) - and Frosty / Trotty might have helped recently ? We desperately need a promising back up to Burgess - Benjamin could be that. And I'm sure it might help, that our Director of Cricket was a Keeper as well - and could spot the skills needed !