A complete change of lineup for rhe second game today - and very likely to be our regular 2nds T20 team. Probably 9 of the 11 won't get near the Blast team for a while:-
Ethan B
Bethell
Benjamin
Rhodes
Shaikh
A Khan
Miles
Simmons
Johal
OHD
Theo Wylie (all rounder at Shrewsbury School, who plays for Shifnal and has turned out for Shropshire Students in the Bunbury Festival).

Of those, I would imagine only Bethell and Miles have much chance of an early appearance in the Blast. Perhaps Benjamin and Rhodes might later on, if batsmen get injured or don't show any form.

We lost the toss and were put in the field.

Northants finished on 154 for 8. Inevitably, their only likely Blast player - Willey - was top scorer on 79 off 48 balls.

Ali was our standout performer - 3.3 overs, 5 for 14! Also wickets for Henry B (but very expensive - 1 for 39 off his 4 overs - getting blown away a bit, by Willey) and Garrett (1 for 16, off 2.3). Mousley was first change again - and bowled fairly economically (4 overs for 21), but Briggs was thumped (by Willey again) - 3 overs for 37 (12.33 an over - with 4 wides!), Jake L (just) went for 9 an over off his 3!

We won the toss and got a huge 232 for 4 in our 20. Against another 'proper' 2nds Northants team though.

Stirling failed (again) with 1, but another big score from Davies (95 off 44 balls) and Hain (72 off 32), Yates was also good (39 off 34), with Mousley (13) and Barnard (4) unbeaten.

The_Lickey_Banker wrote:

Team for the first T20 this morning:-
Stirling
Yates
Davies
Hain
Mousley
Barnard
Henry Brookes
Ali
Briggs
Garrett
Lintott

I think that lineup gives a few more indications for the initial Blast team. From that XI, I'd suggest Brookes, Briggs & Garrett will be replaced by Bethell, Miles & Woakes on Saturday? With Brookes being brought back when CW is called up by England.

I think the first 6 batsmen in today's 2nds (first) T20 lineup against Northants could be indicative for the Blast:-
Stirling
Yates
Davies
Hain
Mousley
Barnard

I reckon Bethell will be added to that (with Barnard at 7) and the other 4 bowlers will be Woakes & Miles - with Lintott & Ali (who are also playing today)? No Burgess, with Davies keeping wicket again. Henry B will probably come in for CW, when he's called up by England.

Team for the first T20 this morning:-
Stirling
Yates
Davies
Hain
Mousley
Barnard
Henry Brookes
Ali
Briggs
Garrett
Lintott

We won by 72 runs - Gloucs were 129 for 8. No surprise, given how many likely First teamers we had playing - and Gloucs were a 'proper' 2nds lineup.

Bowlers did well. Miles probably best, with 2 for 13 off 3 overs. CW, 1 for 28, Ali, 2 for 43 and Jake L, 2 for 25 (2 stumpings by Davies!); all off their allotted 4 overs. Mousley was first change with his off spin (3 overs for 14 runs) and Barnard, 2 overs for 6 runs. Oh and Davies did a very smart run out, taking a good throw from Burgess (at mid on, I think!)

Our best bowler in the 2nds T20 v Gloucs today - 3 overs, 2 for 13. I think he is seen as mainly a white ball guy now.

As Gerry says, there are a few pointers I think in today's 2nd's T20 team:-
Yates
Davies (Captain & Keeper!)
Mousley
Benjamin
Bethell
Burgess
Woakes
Barnard
Ali
Lintott
Miles.

I'd guess that a good number of those will be in be First team on Saturday. Certainly Woakes won't be there (England duty) and Hain will probably be in for Benjamin (who's form this season for the 2nds is atrocious). Stirling could come in for Burgess (given Davies having the gloves today). Miles will probably stay in and if Henry B is available, he might come in for CW. I'm not sure whether Briggs would come in, Lintott may stay (with Mousley & Bethell, we probably only need 1 front line spinner?).

And we did pretty well, batting first (Gloucs won the toss and put us in) - 201 for 8 in our 20.
Bethell, probably the star of the innings - 47 in 29 balls (4x6's), but good knocks from Yates (37 off 25), Davies (43 off 24) and Mousley (34 off 17). Only Benjamin (a duck again - the third this season for the 2nds) and Burgess (2) failed to score, amongst the batsmen.

Pretty much a first team out there today - in preparation for the first Blast game on Saturday:-
Yates
Davies (Captain & Keeper!)
Mousley
Benjamin
Bethell
Burgess
Woakes
Barnard
Ali
Lintott
Miles

I see Savin Perera is in the team. Left handed opening bat and off spin bowler. Played for Middlesex Seconds, Berkshire and England Under 19's.

Also, Josh Croom is back playing (he played a couple of matches for us last season - and did OK with the ball). An all-rounder and left arm seamer, who has played for Hampshire Seconds and Wiltshire.

Blimey, Henry finished with 6 for 20, off 12 overs. He's never got anywhere near that in red ball cricket - in his whole First class, or even, 2nds career. What has happened to him, in just a couple of days in Derby - some inspirational coaching advice, or just a VERY helpful wicket?!

Another defeat - by 103 runs - but at least we put up a better show than against Somerset.

Our stand out bowler was Briggs, with 8 wickets in the game. Henry B & Rory Haydon bowled well in the 2nd innings, Garrett & Miles did OK in the 1st, but Miles was very disappointing in the 2nd - getting clouted for nearly 5 an over and only 1 wicket.

Best batsman throughout, was Amir Khan (83 & 48), though Ethan B and (Captain/Keeper) Benjamin both got 50's.

Mikkyk wrote:

I wouldn't have thought so Lickey but then they do have some decent players in their seconds! Players who will definitely feature in first XI when they lose some to England.

Somewhat surprised by the changes, I have to say. You would've thought Simmons and Johal need as much game time as possible.

I wouldn't be surprised if Simmons is injured (again!) - as he did OK against Somerset (unlike most bowlers, with the exception of Brookes), but I reckon Johal was dropped. Haydon is a decent medium pacer and Nicholls, a very promising all rounder, with a good batting record for Glamorgan 2nd's & Wales NC and some useful off spin.

Rory Haydon and Callum Nicholls (ex-Glamorgan 2nd's & Wales NC all rounder) in for Che Simmons & Manraj Johal. George Garrett in the bowling side, Callum Nicholls in the batting.

We won the toss and put Surrey in. Henry B and Miles taking an early wicket apiece, but Surrey have recovered, now on 77 for 2.

We can't do much worse than against Somerset 2nd's ..... or can we?!

Mikkyk wrote:

All out for 64, whoops

Absolute disaster with the bat today, even Hamza didn't add to his score.

Somerset didn't enforce the follow on -presumably to get some batting practice (and seemingly not bothered to win) - and its paid off this morning - 90 for 1 - with only Henry B getting an early wicket (our old friend, Andy Umeed, who never seems to get runs against us). As posted, he has looked back to his old self in this game.

(Another) bit of a bowling disaster against Somerset. Following on from the Firsts struggling to get late wickets on Sunday, the Seconds did the same. Somerset were on 118 for 6 (with Henry B and Chas Simmons picking up 5 of them) - but finished on 342, with bowlers Green and Thomas putting on a century for the 7th wicket and Green finishing on 129 NO. Miles was particularly hit - 10.5 overs going for nearly 6 an over (for 1 wicket).

All that, was compounded by an almost disastrous total batting display by the Bears - finishing on 56 for 5 - with only Hamza Shaikh getting any runs (33 NO) - Maddy, (Captain) Benjamin and Daniyal Khan getting quacks.

Phew - just about did it - an Innings and 14 runs in the end, with hardly any time left. They really put us under the cosh - but we (just about) held our nerves.

ExiledBrummie wrote:

Exiled Bear wrote:

I think a result is still possible, but it will involve making Kent follow on

Very likely now, some impressive and aggressive cricket today.

Yep, a FO is very likely. Just a shame the weather tomorrow, looks decidedly iffy.