Obviously disappointed but I thought justice was done this morning. I know it’s not always popular (!) but looking at the statistics for the series it is quite remarkable that until this morning we were leading the series 2-1.
Mohammad (?) Siraj has been immense for India and I was pleased that he personally was able to put the icing on the cake. I wonder if he fancies returning to these shores next summer for a stint with the greatest cricket club in the Garden of England.
I wonder if there’s ever been a crowd that size for the last day of a Test Match when only about an hour’s play could reasonably have been expected?
Siraj was fantastic. He has got better and better during the series and probably eclipsed Bumrah. You want him on your side, never facing you, he is relentless. I see he is an honorary Deputy Superintendent in the Hyderabad Police. Pity any criminal if he ever goes full-time policing after cricket.
For anyone interested in a live game of cricket tomorrow (August 6th), England take on USA at over 60 level at Winchmore Hill Cricket Club. The match starts at midday so I presume is 45 overs per side. Bar open from 11am. Free entry.
Next Sunday, Monday & Tuesday (10/11/12 Aug) Bucks take on Cambridgeshire in the Minor (National) Counties Championship at Chesham Cricket Club (HP5 1NE).
Play is from 11am to 7pm each day & it’s two innings per side. It’s a great ground to watch cricket & entry is a voluntary £2 match programme. Plenty of food & drink available at this very friendly club. Bring a folding chair & watch from the top of the bank by the football club - it’s a great view! Well worth seeing this one. Come on Bucks!
England (353-7) beat the USA (104) by 249 runs. A one-sided game but with quite a bit of pageantry & an excellent camaraderie between the sides. Played at the lovely Winchmore Hill ground with special guests Earl & Lady Howe.
The Bucks batting proved brittle again, just two knocks over 50, including an impressive first innings 71 from 21 year old Rehaan Evadalath, under contract at Worcestershire. Conner Haddow returned match figures of 13 wickets for 211 runs off 68 overs. Bucks rely too heavily on him.
Some positive news to start the day, yesterday Bucks won their 3 dayer against Staffs at Stafford, by just one wicket. In a low scoring game, Bucks were set 225 to win and lost the ninth wicket on 224.
That wins puts Bucks top of the table and a win in the final game, against Lincs at High Wycombe CC starting 31 August, would see them through to the championship final next month.
The Bucks squad for the three day championship match against Lincs at High Wycombe CC, starting tomorrow, Sunday, at 11am. A win for Bucks would make them champions of Eastern Division 1, and they would go through to the final on 7-10 September at West Bromwich Dartmouth CC.
If you fancy a cricket/footy combo, I will be watching the game but will break at lunch to go to Beaconsfield Town for the Chairgirls’ opener at 2pm.
Close, Bucks 13-0 off 6 overs, in reply to Lincs 306 all out off 69.3.
Bucks batted well to see out a tricky last few overs. Earlier Bucks openers left Lincs on 76-4 but a fifth wicket partnership of 100, and then a remarkable last wicket partnership of 62, in which 11th man Tite contributed just one run, saw Lincs recover well. The other half of that partnership, Joe Pocklington, scored a superb 153 off 149 balls, including 21 fours and five sixes. Teddy Fleming took 4-83, Ed Bragg 3-26.
Due to rain delays, play starts at 10:30 tomorrow, but the rain forecast is not good for the next two days. Quite a few have travelled down from Lincs, they need to win to avoid relegation.
If anyone fancies this there’s a cup final at Chesham CC (HP5 1NE) this coming Thursday (September 4th).
It’s the National over-70s knock out cup final between Kent & Berks/Oxon combined. 45 overs per start, starting at midday. Free to get in. Should the match be affected by rain the reserve date is Thursday 11th September.
Play abandoned at HW, match is a draw. If Staffs win against Cambs at Peterborough, they go through to the final, otherwise Bucks go through. Staffs are currently 152 ahead with 6 wickets remaining. They will no doubt set Cambs a target.
Due to the wet weather the over 70s cup final at Chesham has been put back a week. It will now take place at Chesham Cricket Club on Thursday 11th September at midday.
