To be fair, 14 of them were no balls. And I think I saw much later that the total was still 31.
This coming Sunday (June 8th) Bucks play their first match in the National Counties T20 competition at Chesham Cricket Club. The format consists of 2 x T20 matches played back-to-back, the first starting at 11am. Bedfordshire are the opponents.
Admission is a voluntary £2 programme and there’ll be plenty of food & drink available. Lots of parking by the football ground too. Satnav: HP5 1NE
A nice day out at a lovely cricket ground with great bus connections too to the Wycombe area.
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One win each yesterday.
Any concerns that the previous day’s rain would delay the start were unfounded, it was a lovely sunny start to the day, on time, at picturesque Chesham. This was Bucks’ opening T20 day, Beds arrived having won both their games against Wales. Bucks Coach Jason Harrison picked a younger looking side, with some established players rested.
In the first game, Bucks were put in and soon found themselves in trouble at 35-5 in the eighth over. Former Sussex and Leics pro Abi Sakande did most of the damage, with three wickets in the opening overs. Bucks recovered well with Captain Alexei Kervezee, 65 from 48 balls, and Ed Bragg, 31 from 30, putting on 61 together. The 124 total seemed 50 runs light, but Bucks bowled well and Beds only won with three balls to spare.
In the second game, Bucks won the toss and elected to bat, taking a very aggressive attitude. Opener Aadi Sharma, a delight to watch and who recently made his County Championship debut for Northants, was the pick with 67 off 39 balls, including four sixes. The lower order chipped in well and Ed Bragg hit two sixes off the final two balls of the innings, to reach a stiff total of 182 for Beds to chase. Beds kept up eight runs an over in the chase but kept losing wickets, and we’re all out 33 runs short. Joe Johnson, with an impressive 62 from 38, had kept their push going but he fell in the 18th over to Teddy Fleming, who took four wickets.
All in all it was an entertaining day’s cricket, good batting, bowling and fielding. Next Sunday, Bucks travel to Didcot CC to face Oxon in the next double header, 11am start. On Sunday 29th June, Bucks return to Chesham to face Berks.
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At Didcot, Bucks won the first T20 after being put in.
They made 219-5 thanks to a superb 92 off 40 balls from captain Alexei Kervezee, ably supported by Ryan Friend, 69 off 46. They put on 164 off 74 balls. It’s quite a small ground, Alexei hit eight sixes.
In reply, Oxon made a good game of it, thanks to Hayden Rossouw, 86 off 44, with Dylan Driscoll, 56 n.o. in support, but they fell 14 runs short, at 205-3.
Bucks are fielding in the second game after Oxon won the toss and elected to bat.
Game two, Bucks won by two wickets with two balls spare.
Oxon 165-8 off 20 overs, Bucks 167-8 off 19.4.
Bucks made a good start, going along at 8/9 an over, but wickets fell and it got very tight, ending up with 13 runs needed off the final over. Kervezee, a class act, hit two consecutive sixes to win it, and finished on 68 not out, off 31 balls. Earlier, Aum Raykar, currently playing for Northants 2nd X1, scored a very quick 40.
Game 1: https://play-cricket.com/website/results/6780493
Game 2: https://play-cricket.com/website/results/6780497
The two wins today we’re needed, with favourites Berks coming up, followed by a tricky trip to Ebbw Vale. Berks won their two games against Wales today.
Table, top two progress: https://ncca.play-cricket.com/website/division/127344
Boundary Park is an impressive municipal sports complex, nine years old, hosting cricket, rugby and football. It has a first floor bar and large terrace, perfect for watching cricket from. A very enjoyable day’s entertainment in the sun.
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I forgot all about the Test Match against India yesterday until the evening news bulletins mentioned that Ben Stokes had decided to field in sub-continental conditions. I wasn’t surprised that the Indian batsmen took full advantage.
I switched the tv on around 12.30 just in time to see three of the wickets England took before lunch. Cloudy conditions making batting very difficult. Just checked and 9 wickets now down. 6 wickets for 39 runs.
Will be nerve wracking watching England bat this afternoon.
Terrible decision to have a bowl yesterday
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An enthralling days play yesterday. Bumrah really is a special bowler.
We need clear skies to gain parity or go beyond.
As ever the 3rd innings will be critical.
The New Howard Stand is very impressive and provided a great view from seats or the concourse, coupled with it being out of the sun, we couldn’t have had a better day!
England’s session this morning too.
Deficit almost obliterated.
Fantastic bowling at the death by Jasprit Bumrah. I sometimes think there’s a hint of throwing but he must have the fastest arm in cricket so it’s extremely hard to judge.
Have any of you ex cricketers/experts with better knowledge and eyesight than this old geyser ever thought that might be the case? I think there were suggestions in the past that the Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga’s much more round-arm bowling action was “illegitimate” but it was demonstrated that his arm remained straight throughout his bowling action. And no doubt slowed down footage of Bumrah’s arm would show the same.
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You are allowed up to 15 degrees of bend from when the arm reaches shoulder height through to the point of delivery.
Common misconception comes around the wrist, which is allowed to flex or rotate at point of delivery, which can make it look illegal but it is not.
This was often where the argument for Murali centred as I believe he had “double jointed wrist” or a medical condition that allowed him to rotate his wrist more than would seem possible but his arm was typically inside the 15 degrees except when he bowled one specific ball, which he then needed to stop bowling.
Another great days play and should be a great test match with both sides finding there way after recent retirements. England in the bowling department and India in the batting.
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Its a mixture of bowling front-on and his elbow ‘hyper-extends’ (I think thats the right term) which allows him to hold the ball and bowl his deliveries much closer to the batsman even tho they are fair deliveries.
If he bowled side-on (traditional style) then the arm & ball comes from much further back.
Does that make sense?
It does. The pace of his arm is phenomenal.
Should be a great days play tomorrow
Everything to play for. 1 thing is certain, a draw isn’t going to happen as with England’s approach & batting style, I can’t see them holding out for 6 sessions
Tomorrow is day five. Only three sessions required!
I can’t see it being a draw unless there’s rain
Next Sunday (June 29th) Bucks take on local rivals Berkshire in a double header T20 fixture at Chesham Cricket Club (HP5 1NE).
After last week’s brilliant double win over Oxfordshire at Didcot CC, Bucks go into this match with a 3-1 winning record.
The first match starts at 11am and the second will start roughly at 2.30pm. Entry is by a voluntary £2 donation for a match programme. The bar will be open for tea, coffee or something stronger. Bring a folding chair and picnic and enjoy some entertaining cricket for very little cost.
Via TMS:
‘Ben Duckett’s 137 is the second highest score by an England opener in the fourth innings of a test. He is second to Mike Atherton’s 185 not out in 1995.‘
I remember Atherton’s 185 very clearly.
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85 needed from 30 overs. Root and Stokes at the crease. Let’s hope common sense prevails. No need for flashy shots, reverse sweeps, paddles or whatever. Tension is unbearable.
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