Despite not seeing the greater part of the final of the 20 20 competition at Edgbaston I had a very enjoyable day, despite the difficulties of getting to the ground, and then getting back to Perry Barr where I was staying overnight, and despite the constant drizzling and later heavy rain. I had prepared well for the kind of day it became with waterproof leggings and the thicker top water and wind cheater purchased at Croydon, the fake straw hat and the small umbrella that quickly became damaged in the wind and needs to be replaced, something io forgot to do when going to the supermarket yesterday evening after an excellent day watching cricket back at Durham Emirates International ground at the Riverside.
In the first game 20 20 semi final last Saturday Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to bowl. Essex lost Smith when the total was only 13 and were contained for the great part although Rutherford hit 2 fours and 2 sixes. Pettini made 3 fours, and Bopara disappointed with just 1 and 14 runs. It was the arrival of Napier joining Foster who potentially changed the game with Napier 38 from only 15 balls which included 3 fours and 3 sixes while also got 3 boundaries and one six in his 32 from 24 balls. The total appeared likely to be around the 140 until the contribution from Napier and the innings ended 168 for 5 and with everyone amazed that the game had proceeded without rain interruption.
It was Northants opener Levi who impressed, as someone who did not feature in the quarter final at Northants with 4 fours and 4 sixes making 57 from 35 while it was White who made 4 of each in his 57 against Durham, assisted in the first semi final with 36 from 25. It was his not out partnership with Crook who had been run out by Collingwood for a duck, who made 46 with 3 fours and 4 sixes to see Northants home with the first ball of the eighteen over having lost only the 3 wickets. Kyle Coetzer who had opened well for Northants against Durham run out Mustard 44 this time was out when 18.
Essex who had been the favourites to win this game left as did many of the supporters from the seats in the same row as me
With Lancs looking strong candidates for promotion back to division 1 of the Championship with six wins from 11 played, Northants are looking best placed to join them some 27 points ahead of Gloucestershire with both having also played 11 and Essex with a chance having played one game less and 27 points behind. They are also in with a chance of reaching the 40 40 quarter finals with Notts on 17 points and they have 16 both away playing away their last game on Monday afternoon.. By one of those quirks of the fixtures Northants are at Essex this week into the second day of their important championship game, they are 530 for 9 with peters 101 and Sales 131. They only added 1 and Essex started badly losing 5 wickets for 187 but yesterday appears to have been badly rain effected so a draw is the most likely for them. I am not sure if they have effectively two sides one playing 20 20 and another the Championship. I know that Kyle C was injured during the 20 20 final’s day.
There was no hesitations about who I supported in the second semi final after lunch when the weather improved with some sunshine where Surrey, my boyhood club was playing Hampshire who I have still not forgiven because of the way we were treated at 20 20 Finals day. Surrey won the all important toss and elected to field. Apart from Ervine with 47 from 32 and 2 fours and 3 sixes, Hants never looked like gaining ascendancy, losing their first wicket at 8 and three down for 38. It was Mamood with 2 for 9 from his overs who did the damage. They were 9 down for 142 which I felt was 20 to 40 runs short of a winning first strike.
Surrey who only scored 1 six at the end nevertheless always looked the likely winners playing strong batting strokes than cow corner slogs. It was former Somerset’s De Bruyn who made 41 not out with 4 fours who steered he club to the final, getting the required runs with 4 balls to spare in what became a close game after the fifth and sixth wickets fell within one run when the total had reached 111. De Bruyn was assisted by Ansari making an excellent 21 from 12, getting the only six of the innings plus 2 fours. All credit to the Hants supporters behind who stayed for the final determined to make the most of teir day.
I explained in the first piece that I felt shattered, laying on the carpet in the Real Ale Lounge for the greater part of the 90 minute interval before the 20 20 Final as the rain fell strongly and I had not enjoyed a small burnt burger costing £6. When the game was interrupted by what appeared heavy rain I took the decision to leave and return to the Hotel before darkness and listen to the commentary on radio having left behind the headphones required. Because of the problems encountered in trying to return to Perry Barr I arrived only to hear the hatrick which ended the game in favour of Northants, It was not until returning home the following day that I was able to watch the highlights.
The final was extraordinary with Northants put into bat scoring a significantly above par total of 194 for 2 from the shortened game fo 18 overs because of the rain delay. When Levi went with the total only 14 Surrey and their supporters would have felt they made the right decision Willey who had not been required to bat against Essex and only opened because of the injury to Coetzer. He smashed 4 fours and four sixes in his 60 in 22 balls and was thn followed by Wakely 59 from 30 and 7 fours and two sixes while White provided another good innings with 54 from 39. The total if 194 would have daunted any team, especially in the final.
Surrey were never at the races and were all out for a pathetic 92 in 13 ,3 overs a good half an hour earlier than anticipated whereas had I got back to the hotel in the half hour to an hour anticipated I would have been able to listen to almost all the game after the rain delay. Willey took 4 wickets for 9 runs in 2.3 overs including the hatrick which ended he game. He also made one catch and was responsible for the running out of Davies for the second wicked at 39. Needless to say be was the man of the final and has got the whole fo cricket talking. For Northampton this was their first trophy in two decades and their first success in this competition and it always pleasing when a team that beats your own goes on to success.
Last Saturday week plus a couple of hours I had a good sleep having enjoyed a bottle of Pepsi and a Snickers on return and made up the remaining bread rolls with the salami for lunch which I eat at the Wakefield service area having also had a comfort break at the first service station on the M42 which i joined from 453. I was back around 2.30 after briefly stopping at Morrisons Sunderland for petrol and a shop for milk and two cartons of red grapes for £3. Because of fine weather there was a crush of cars along Seaburn, and before this I had noted that a huge Tesco Extra is now opened replacing most of the former premises on the site close to the Football ground at one end and the Blockbusters site at the other. There was the annual visit of the Romaney’s with the picturesque small caravans, some dozen plus the horses and traps who I had noted on my way out but whose numbers had increased significantly by the Sunday. Because of the traffic I entered the Morrisons site from the back rather than taking a close look at the changes made to the sea front promenade and which I will walk one fine day later in the year. All was well when I arrived home.
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