2020: Trescothick returns to CG

Taunton: Somerset v Northamptonshire
Trescothick sinks Northants

The long suffering Somerset supporters finally had something to cheer about today at Taunton with the return of local legend Marcus Trescothick and of course the arrival of Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

Electing to bat first, the runs flowed for Somerset as Trescothick found life easy back at the county ground. Openers Carl Greenidge and Johan Louw were punished for some largely wayward bowling

At one stage, with the rate above ten an over, the crowd were expecting a score of around 230. However once again the spinners were to peg things back, with South African star Martin Van Jaarsveld snaring Ricky Ponting. After a couple of run outs, there was a period of consolidation, but the final total of looked to be a winning one.

David Sales and Van Jaarsveld led the Northants reply, and memories of Ian Thomas's assault on the Somerset bowling the week before would have been fresh in the minds of many of the fans, but tight spells of bowling from Aaron Laraman and Keith Dutch sealed the victory in the dying stages of the match

Somerset 211-5
Trescothick 56, Phillips 2-33
Northants 207-5
Van Jaarsveld 61, Sales 60, Dutch 2-25

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Warwickshire
Warwickshire sneak through in a tied game

A dramatic set of run outs enabled the Bristol crowd to witness the first ever tie in a Twenty20 game.

Set 136 to win, Nick Knight was the mainstay of the Warwickshire batting, however two run outs and the failure of Dougie Brown and Brad Hogg to hit boundaries in the dying stages of the match saw the game end in a tie. A doubtlessly relieved Warwickshire scrape through on a technicality.

Due to losing more wickets in their first innings, Gloucestershire find themselves losing their second game in a row. Warwickshires Alan Richardson returning the impressive figures of 3-13.

Gloucestershire 135-7
Hussey 32, Richardson 3-13
Warwickshire 135-5
Knight 63, M Smith 2-21

Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire
Match abandoned without a ball being bowled


Southampton: Hampshire v Kent
Spitfires downed by Aussie firepower

Hampshire have Aussie imports Shane Watson and Michael Clarke to thank as they set a commanding 177 for Kent at the Rose Bowl.

Watson stuck an impressive 97 from 68 balls and Kent succumbed to the pressure of the chase. Matt Walker the only batsman offering much resistance with 38.

Hampshires Chris Tremlett returned the incredible figures of 2-1-2-1 and Dimi Mascarenhas was once again in the thick of the action with three wickets

Hampshire 177-3
Watson 97, Clarke 38
Kent 113-9
Walker 38, Mascarenhas 3-20

Lord’s: Middlesex v Surrey
Holders take command in the London derby

Adam Hollioake was the star for Surrey today as they beat hosts Middlesex in Lord’s tentative first steps in Twenty20 cricket.

The right hander hit 65 from 41 balls, and Middlesex struggled to chase a commanding 184 to win.

Lance Klusener gave the crowd a glimpse of his hitting potential, hitting 53 in quick time before being cleaned up by Hollioake, however Middlesex fell 37 runs short.

Surrey 183-5
Hollioake 65, Ramprakash 38
Middlesex 146-7
Klusener 53, Doshi 3-26

Worcester: Worcestershire v Glamorgan
Davies and Wharf leave Worcestershire reeling

An impressive spell of quick bowling by Andrew Davies and Alex Wharf left Worcestershire’s batting order in tatters at New Road today.

Earlier, Glamorgan had Matthew Maynard to thank for a commanding 44 at the top of the order.

Glamorgans 140 was more than sufficient as Worcestershire were left to lick their wounds, at one stage the home side were 46-7.

Kabir Ali gave the innings a semblance of respectability, and later threatened a surprise result, before being caught off the bowling of Davies one short of an impressive half century.


Glamorgan 140-6
Maynard 44, Batty 2-14
Worcestershire 120
Kabir Ali 49, Davies 3-17, Dale 2-26

Chester-le-Street: Durham v Yorkshire
Durham make light work of 126

Durhams fast bowlers produced an impressive display of Twenty20 bowling at the Riverside today. Yorkshire’s innings was only given any real impetus by a 44 from Vic Craven, which was scored at less than a run a ball.

126 was never going to challenge Durham once Philip Mustard had constructed an impressive 42. And they reached their target with nearly two overs to spare, Breese and Gary Pratt finishing off the job.

Yorkshire 126-7
Craven 44, Davies 2-14, Killeen 2-35
Durham 129-3
Mustard 42, G Pratt 35

Posted by RichardHi