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Very nice win for Somerset yesterday, great chance of winning the group. Also impressed by Derby beating Durham. I thought at the start of the season, Ricki Clarke was a gamble as captain but it looks like paying off. The North group looked tough but its now wide open.
Glamorgan’s win today has opened the south west divison up, they ripped through Somerset’s top order but i still think Langer’s men can reach the next round.This wednesday Somerset host Hampshire in the county championship, before today i would have been pretty confident of a victory but with todays setback and Hampshire’s win over Gloucster
im not so sure, especially with the news of Pieterson playing and Caddick still struggling with a back injury.Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Somerset v Hampshire should be a cracker. I agree that Caddick missing is a blow but this is a real test of their Div One credentials and they should still have that early season keenness about them.
A very well done to Scotland today in the FP for beating Lancashire, it’s the third time they have won at Old Trafford, incredible stuff. i would laugh only they have humiliated Somerset a couple of times aswell in the past.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
That did’nt exactly go according to plan on day one for Somerset a complete batting shambles, at 23-6 i was fearing the worst innings total vs Hampshire was coming 37 all out and that happened twice in 1955 and 1956, was happy to pass 100. Fair play has to go to the lad Tomlinson for his 8-47, and to think Hants were missing Bond, Tremlett and Mascarenhas. Early signs of a recovery were soon blown away by Crawley and Pieterson
I thought all the drama was coming from Taunton untill i saw the mess at Old Trafford (were they playing on the same wicket as they did scotland
) pitch inspection awaits, stewards inquiry. Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Yeah not the best looking pitch at Old Trafford by the looks of things. The thing that strikes me there is the pretty disappointing figures for Steve Harmison on what looked like a very bowler friendly wicket. After all the shouting he’s been doing in the press lately 1-49 off 18 on that wicket Isn’t the kind of form that’s gonna get him back in the England set-up.
Hampshire aren’t a bad looking team on paper and were always going to bounce back from the humiliating thrashing they recieved at Headingley a couple of weeks ago.
The second innings did’nt get any better for Harmison 0-51 off 13 overs compare that to Flintoff, 1st innings 4-21 off 11.1 & 2nd innings so far 3-7 off 6 overs. With the pair at Notts Sidebottom & Broad and Yorkshire’s Hoggard bowling well i think Harmison might be falling further behind the pecking order.
If Somerset can bat all day tomorrow(and i wont be holding my breath) they might be able to salvage something, but it’s a long shot.Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Strange wicket indeed at Old Trafford. Agree with the point made about Harmison. That was one of the few grounds in the world where he has been consistently successful. I would be astonished if he ever played for England again.
Real gutsy effort from Somerset today, though there is no way they should have been torn apart yesterday by a man with a bowling average of 47! In fact, when I was looking at this game, the main feature of it was the relatively poor bowling attacks – I’d have given Somerset the edge in that department (Willoughby and Munday are useful) as well as in the batting department. Don’t know much about the pitch conditions but is there a suspicion that Tomlinson capitalised on some early moisture or something, because it has looked easy enough to bat on ever since. Would be tempted to back the draw but the in-running markets on the exchanges have so little liquidity.
And like a fool, I had backed Kent again (I will have to cure myself of this dangerous affliction) though was pleased to see they have got themselves back into the game.
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire (FPT) 9th May
The underestimating of Glamorgan continues and I was astonished to find them at 2.32 on the exchange this evening. I can only assume it is based on last year’s form. I’d have these teams very closely matched but give the home side the slight edge given the new more positive atmosphere about the place (aside from Robert Croft) I think they’ll unveil their new stadium with a win.
The Kent game could go either way, but Notts seem to be the in form team at the moment.
The pitch at Taunton has’nt seen much sun until recent and was sightly greener then normal, but nothing to suggest the score Somerset got 1st innings. It was baking hot yesterday and Hampshire won the toss so perhaps there was a bit of moisture early doors.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire (FPT) 9th May
The underestimating of Glamorgan continues and I was astonished to find them at 2.32 on the exchange this evening. I can only assume it is based on last year’s form. I’d have these teams very closely matched but give the home side the slight edge given the new more positive atmosphere about the place (aside from Robert Croft) I think they’ll unveil their new stadium with a win.
I would agree with that, Glamorgan are a hell of alot better then last season, and i believe Gloucestershire have’nt got the same team spirit these days as when they had Russell, Ayellene, Harvey and co.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
You cant win them all Andrew, i watched some of the Glamorgan innings and they kept losing wickets just when they looked like getting a good partnership developing.
Kent look poised for victory just as long as they dont do anything silly tomorrow morning.
Why cant Somerset bat like this in the first innings, two matches and only 1 batting bonus point. Fantastic day today though Hampshire’s bowling attack truely exposed this time around, could be a big day tomorrow. Trescothick & Langer’s partnership of 272 was Somerset’s highest for the 2nd wicket in 84 years, with only the 290 from J.C.W. MacBryan + M.D. Lyon vs Derbyshire at buxton in 1924 scoring better.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Solid effort from Somerset to get back into the game and give themselves a chance of winning it. Both sides were fielding weakened bowling attacks so I guess it was always going to be hard to claim twenty wickets once the flat nature of the wicket established itself.
Good win for Kent today, it looked in danger but they dug in very well to beat a good Notts side.
i have a feeling for Gloucstershire tomorrow, good win the other night, top the group, home advantage, fresh arms and legs compared to Somerset in the field all day today for one wicket, hard four days battle vs Hampshire, no Caddick, i can see Somerset scoring runs but it will depend on the bowlers. Gloucster at over evens might be worth a small bet.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
As with all these games, it depends on the teams that they play, but I would agree with you that on the face of it, over evens on Gloucester would appear to be good value. Haven’t had much of a chance to look at tomorrow’s matches yet, but will try to do so tomorrow morning.
Having had a chance to go through the likely teams, I’m less keen on Gloucestershire. Yes, Somerset have had a long hard Championship game but at this stage of the season, they should still be relatively fresh. And Somerset’s team is better in all departments in this kind of cricket. I had Gloucester at something like 6-4 or thereabouts, but they are much shorter this morning and the odds look about right.
Had a frustrating time trying to get team news as well – many of the counties have flashy websites with lots of exciting features except team news. Leicestershire and Hampshire are the worst offenders.
Im never keen on backing Gloucestershire, but unless Somerset’s batsmen get the runs, and for all the talent in the top order can still be hit and miss, the bowling and possible fielding isnt quite good enough. i thought 290 would have been enough and Gloucester’s winning total was the highest winning total batting second for a team against Somerset in the FPT, C&G, Natwest competition.
Uphill task to get through now but i will keep the faith and hope Caddick recovers soon( will be missing for CChampionship v Sussex). I think the bookmakers over-estimated Somerset at the start of the season, making them second favs for FPT and twenty20, but having said that they are capable with that batting line up.
No excuse this day and age for not putting team/squads up on the internet websites.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Glamorgan’s win today has opened the south west divison up, they ripped through Somerset’s top order but i still think Langer’s men can reach the next round.
im not so sure, especially with the news of Pieterson playing and Caddick still struggling with a back injury.
) pitch inspection awaits, stewards inquiry. 
If Somerset can bat all day tomorrow(and i wont be holding my breath) they might be able to salvage something, but it’s a long shot.
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