|
T20
Sept 15, 2020 19:05:08 GMT
Post by procswrongfoot on Sept 15, 2020 19:05:08 GMT
What a dramatic turnaround in the last few weeks. After the BWT trouncing at Taunton, we follow up with the T20 campaign starting with the Northants washout and then the home defeat to Glamorgan. Pretty demoralising stuff, so who would have ever predicted that we could then go on an amazing run of 6 consecutive T20 victories.
Quite easy to pick out some stand out performances.......520 runs have been scored between Ian Cockbain (265) and Chris Dent (255), with importantly their runs being scored at a blistering pace, up front. Chris Dent has seemingly re-invented himself.......a traditional accumulating opener in County Cricket, to suddenly having an absolute blast in the Blast.
The bowlers have had decent totals to defend. Leading wicket taker Ryan Higgins (13) with our slow bowlers keeping up the pressure with 20 wickets between then.... Tom Smith (11) and GvB (9).
Additionally, it has largely been well supported by some sharp fielding. Overall, some excellent team performances.
Seems rather strange that Captain Jack and Chris Dent appear to have exchanged roles. Chris Dent with his gung-ho batting and a very restrained Jack seemingly content with run a ball accumulation.
Footnote A few days back, I did see someone quote a rather interesting stat. Who in their career has hit the most sixes for Glos in T20 cricket? Not surprisingly the answer is Ian Cockbain, but I was frankly astounded to see a figure of 95 sixes quoted. If this figure is true, then with his 4 sixes today, he is now on 99.
|
|
|
T20
Sept 16, 2020 7:42:51 GMT
via mobile
Post by scrumpjob on Sept 16, 2020 7:42:51 GMT
We look a strong t20 side. Dent's reinvention has certainly strengthened us as well.
|
|
|
T20
Sept 23, 2020 11:57:12 GMT
Post by procswrongfoot on Sept 23, 2020 11:57:12 GMT
Well, I have deliberately managed to avoid commenting for a few days. Rather sadly, derby day victories has increasingly tended to bring out the worst in me.
So I am determined to avoid any gloating. Accordingly, I refuse to mention...."Five in a row"....."Five in a row"....."Five in a row".
Just think. Our victory off the final ball prevented Somerset from qualifying (rather than Northants). Had they done so, then presumably we would have ended up playing them at home in the quarter final !
Our Grockles friends remain such a strange bunch. Subsequently perusing their forum, my favourite quote during the match was as follows: "The Bristol ground looking decidedly desolate". (What an amazingly insightful comment. Presumably, news of the actual consequences of the worldwide pandemic has not managed to reach as far south as Taunton).
Pretty sure that there are also a number of fair minded Somerset supporters, who lose with civilised good grace. Shame that their voices/comments are rarely heard. Anyway...........WELL PLAYED GLOS.
Trying to take a somewhat impartial view of the quarter final draw. Personally feel that it is rather a shame that you can actually be drawn against a team that you have previously played in the Group stage.
Sincerely hope that at long last we can overcome our recent last eight hoodoo, and go on to reach Finals Day.
Finally......Ian Cockbain......take a bow Sir. Fantastic achievement to overtake Maxy and become our highest ever T20 run scorer. (Additionally, he has now scored 102 sixes in his T20 career with us).
|
|
|
T20
Sept 23, 2020 20:19:57 GMT
via mobile
Post by scrumpjob on Sept 23, 2020 20:19:57 GMT
Cockbain was superb. Dent has also been great throughout the group stage. Not many better batsmen about.
Payne, Smith, Howell, Higgins and van Buuren is a great attack as well.
|
|
|
T20
Sept 27, 2020 8:57:08 GMT
via mobile
Post by scrumpjob on Sept 27, 2020 8:57:08 GMT
Northants in the quarters then. They've got a top order packed with big hitters like Stirling, Levi, Cobb and Rossington and a very good attack. Plus they bat all the way down as we seen last week. I think if Stirling goes early though the rest of their batting has looked out of form so our tails will be up.
As such the bowling of the quintet mentioned in my last post will certainly be key and I think it's with the ball we need to win this match. Smith and van Buuren have been outstanding economy wise and have made up for what has been some occasionaly expensive bowling from the seamers so a big game from all 5 required.
Dent and Cockbain have been absolutely superb throughout this Blast campaign but my concern would be that if both go cheaply we are yet to see any of Hammond, Bracey, van Buuren, Higgins or Taylor reach the same heights this year though all have played useful knocks. However along with Howell we've seen plenty of flashes so there is potential there. They've numerous slow options in Cobb, White, Sole, Zaib and Stirling so will fancy their chances of strangling us.
Fascinating stuff, I think whoever plays the spinners best could take a low scoring affair.
|
|
|
T20
Sept 28, 2020 8:19:43 GMT
Post by procswrongfoot on Sept 28, 2020 8:19:43 GMT
Really good summary Scrumpjob.
Fully concur that Northants are a dangerous side. They started off the T20 Group stages very strongly, followed by a wobble in results which seemed to co-incide with the time when one of their squad tested positive for covid.
Selection wise, rather think that 10 of our players pick themselves. The final place must be down to a choice between Scott, Matt Taylor or Shaw. Basically, a choice between a pure bowler or another all rounder and will be interesting to see who we actually decide to pick.
Part of me is rather inclined to make a minor tweak to the batting line up, with Benny batting somewhat higher. Appreciate that this goes against the grain of not tinkering with a winning formula. Of course, given the actual nature of our batting line up we could be somewhat flexible depending on the stage of the match.
My biggest concern at present is a rather dubious looking weather forecast for later this week. Sincerely hope that the end of this very late season is not totally ruined by the weather.
|
|
|
T20
Oct 2, 2020 10:19:32 GMT
Post by procswrongfoot on Oct 2, 2020 10:19:32 GMT
Must confess, my pre-match nervous anxiety increased significantly yesterday afternoon, when Northants won the toss and decided to bat. (This season, our T20 Group success has been built around batting first).
However, absolutely no reason to worry in this instance. I won't look to pick out individual performances. This was an excellent team performance, a classic Glos stranglehold from the off. Bowlers fully backed up by tight fielding and regular wickets taken. In fact rather amazingly, Northants went 14 overs (3.5 to 17.5) without hitting a boundary.
So Finals Day at long last and very richly deserved. Perhaps fitting that all 3 Group winners have reached Finals Day, although I felt really sorry for Leics who were desperately unlucky against Notts last night.
Finally, a couple of moans: 1. When the last Group match was on Sunday, 20th September, why was it necessary to have such a delay in staging the quarter finals? Could have easily finished the whole competition by the end of September and avoided the awful weather that is forecast for this weekend. 2. Could Sky TV (and the actual scheduling of the matches) not have made more of an effort to provide coverage of the Quarters?
Anyway....... C'mon the Glos.
|
|
|
T20
Oct 5, 2020 16:13:17 GMT
Post by procswrongfoot on Oct 5, 2020 16:13:17 GMT
Rather deliberately, I have held fire from commenting, until the dust from yesterday had somewhat settled.
What a great shame that the weather played such a significant part in the proceedings for Finals Day.
Most unfortunate to be drawn to play in the first semi. Exacerbated by then losing the toss. Batting first in damp conditions on a track that had been under covers for very many hours.......quite impossible to predict how it wold play and how stodgy and difficult batting first would be. (No great surprise that the biggest beneficiaries were Notts, who could sit back, observe and adapt their subsequent strategy).
Overall, thought we put up a spirited and battling effort in subsequently trying to defend our sub par total.
Anyway, congratulations to Nottinghamshire on winning the Final. (A few years back, did we actually sign an overseas T20 player who masqueraded by the name of Dan Christian. Seem to remember his signing, accompanied by a typically bullish Bracewell fanfare. Turned in an absolute dismal set of performances for us.....being kind, a complete and utter flop. Somewhat ironic to watch his Man of the Match performance in the Final yesterday).
In summary......proud of our players.....proud of my team.......proud of my county. Hold your heads up high everyone. We certainly have a competitive formula for T20 cricket, which allows us to mix it with the "big boys". Long may it continue.
Given the completely unprecedented circumstances this year, it is frankly amazing that our county has provided us with some really exciting cricket to follow.
|
|