WORCS v SOM 2nds, Kidderminster, 5th - 8th Aug 2003
Another visit to one of my favourite venues for second XI fixtures.
Day 3. The game is finely balanced; the hosts declared on 400 for 6, giving our chaps a slim 50 lead on first innings.
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Edwards b Harrity 18 Wood c&b Mitchell 124 Suppiah c Pipe b Mitchell 177 Webley c Pipe b Wigley 9 Parsons not out 52 Bryant not out 50 Dutch (capt) Gazzard Gilder Tucker Thornburn
All have contributed well on the first 2 blisteringly hot days, and morale is very good. Edwards and Wood (52) have been dismissed in the second innings, and Dutch has promoted himself up the order partnering Bryant (47*), and we're currently 130 for 2, a lead of 180, with approx another 100 overs tomorrow (it's been 110 overs per day, but not sure what happens on last day). Fingers crossed!
Day 4. Well it ended in a draw, but was an absolute delight to watch. Dutchy's captaincy was spot on and well judged. He decided our second innings total of 297 for 4 (Dutch 60, Bryant 121) was enough to tempt Worcs into going for a win, requiring 348 off approx 68 overs, on still a very good pitch and still blisteringly hot conditions. A strong second-wicket partnership between Singh and Kadeer Ali brought remarks from the bar that Worcs were going to achieve the target relatively easily.
The rate wavered around the 5.5 an over mark for most of their stay, and only when they'd departed through some excellent field placings and bowling by Dutch, did things start to look as though we may get our deserved draw. Subsequent partnerships were built, but the rate rose above 9 an over and all looked ok for the draw, before some big-hitting actually brought the requirement down to just over 7 and it was looking to slip away again (just to reiterate, it was a belter of a pitch), then 3 more wickets were grabbed at crucial times, and there was even a hint that there may be a Somerset victory in the offing. It wasn't to be, and, after Edwards was brought into the attack and yorked Davies (I think) for 40 with his first ball, a handshake followed and a draw agreed with about 6 overs to go, the draw being about right, both teams having competed and entertained extremely well. Some good bowling by all:
Gilder, Thornburn, Tucker (yes, Tucker, who says he his keen to prove his fitness), who all bowled fairly rapid stuff, with Keith Parsons also a yard faster than I've seen him bowl before. Along with some excellent spin from Dutch, Suppiah, plus the one ball from Edwards which I couldn't tell whether it was spin, but was pretty accurate! There may also have been an over or two from Webley on day 2 which took place during my lunch break at a local pub!
Somerset, 450 for 4 dec (Suppiah 177, Wood 124, K Parsons 52*, Bryant 50*) and 297 for 4 dec (Bryant 121, Dutch 60, Wood 52), drew with Worcestershire, 400 for 6 dec (Moore 113, Kadeer Ali 60, Davies 51*) and 291 for 6 (Kadeer Ali 81, A Singh 70, Dutch 3 for something).
