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Post by hhsussex on Apr 22, 2015 6:12:58 GMT
It's going to take me a while to recover from having a post complimented by jonfilby, and I can only rue the rashness of actually responding to one of fraudsters outpourings and await the arrival on my doorstep of a demented herd of emus. I think it must all be attributable to having that second calva after dinner. Nevertheless I'm looking forward to this final day of the match, and also almost the last of the fine, dry weather spell. My sympathies are with Andy Mackay and while the team trudges up to an inevitably damp Durham I shall be dancing in the showers at the allotment, assiduously replacing all of the parched seedlings.
Agreed that there have been some big disappointments in this match, the catching being one, the continued failure to build successive partnerships another, and finally the niggling feeling that there has been just a little complacency about the bowling attack. Entirely agreed that Hobden really does look tbe business this year, Magoffin still bowls with the ball on a long thread that he skilfully weaves in and around the groping batsman, that Shahzad has real energy and zip,and that Mills is a fantastic, awe-inspiring prospect, but given all of those attributes the attack just hasn't quite knitted together and only threatened in brief spells. That may be in part because of the injury list, but if so that would suggest at least one of the above-mentioned would not have played if Anyon and Hatchett had been fit. I'd find it hard to be quite so enthusiastic about an attack consisting of Magoffin, Shahzad, Anyon and Hatchett and doubt they would have bowled out Hampshire, or produced the aggression of Tuesday morning in the current match.
Now we have the prospect of a further injury to Mills and I see that one of the journalists at the game has tweeted "Something of an injury crisis for Sussex = in the bowling department. Robinson says they may look to loan if someone appropriate available". I don't know where we would start to look at this point of the season. Most counties have their overseas signings lined up for the T20 next month and have their chosen squads hopefully knitting together at this stage, with no obviously excluded players of proven ability unable to get in. What about our triallists in the practice game against Surrey and in the Second XI match last week? Could one of those step in and do a job for a few weeks?
Meanwhile we have a match to win today and all the fit bowlers will have to contribute. At their best I'm sure they can do it and I'm sure that a hardened pitch with indentations from the first day or so now dried as lumps and mini-craters will work as well for pace bowlers as for spinners. I'd still like to see Zaidi grab his chance as firmly as Machan and Hobden have done, because the opportunities for him can never have been more pressing nor more tantalising.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 6:27:20 GMT
I'd be very surprised if it is the spinners paradise that borderman suggested. I think that the result will be a lot more closely contested and will offer him a bottle of his favourite tipple (note: proprietary blends only, no obscure vintage single malts) if his depressing prognosis is confirmed! You don't have to take my word for either the "depressing prognosis" that Worcs a re firm favourites or that the spinners were getting unprecedented turn and bounce for mid-April, which led to a medium-pacer who only took up the twirling art this year bowling what was almost certainly a match-winning spell. It seems to be shared by most who were there yesterday. Let's hope Jon Filby is right and Zaidi and Wells can also take seven between them today to give Sussex a fighting chance. Steve Hollis in the Brighton Argus: Sussex left in a spin by Senanayake and Kervezee"Sussex face an uphill battle to avoid defeat on the final day of their Championship clash with Worcestershire at Hove. Worcestershire will start as strong favourites to wrap up victory in the morning needing another 200 runs with ten wickets in hand...Sussex will also be hampered by the absence of a frontline spinner on a pitch where Sachithra Senanayake and Alexei Kervezee claimed seven wickets in Sussex’s second innings. " Paul Weaver in The Guardian : Worcestershire well placed to beat Sussex after Alexei Kervezee excels"The man who set up a match-winning situation for his side was the very occasional Dutch off-spinner Kervezee.The 25-year-old had taken only two first-class wickets in his career, at an average of 89.50, before this match and last season bowled only seven overs. He is playing for Worcestershire only because Moeen Ali has left to join up with England in the Caribbean. He took three wickets for 72 in 20 overs. He turned the ball but what was most impressive for a player who had bowled only 38 overs in his life at this level was his patient control." Tim Wigmore on cricinfo: Worcestershire favourites after Kervezee's surprise"Sussex have Ashar Zaidi's left-arm darts and Luke Wells' legspin, which claimed two wickets in the first innings, but Hove has become greedy for more venomous twirlymen. 'Mushtaq Ahmed would be nice right now,' Luke Wright said after the close. In his absence, as Wright conceded, Worcestershire should be considered slight favourites to chase down an even 200 on the final day." Bruce Talbot: Spinners Sachithra Senanayake and Alexei Kervezee put Worcestershire in control"Worcestershire spinners Sachithra Senanayake and Alexei Kervezee shared seven wickets to put their side in contention for a first LV County Championship win of the season against Sussex at Hove. Sri Lankan Senanayake picked up 4 for 50 but it was Kervezee, in a 15 over spell either side of lunch, who was their unlikely hero as he claimed the first Championship wickets of his career. Kervezee made the most of his “surprise” call-up into the Worcestershire attack to give his side the chance of a first Championship victory since promotion against Sussex. The 25-year-old only switched from bowling seam to off spin this year but took advantage of favourable conditions to remove Ed Joyce, Luke Wright and Matt Machan – his first Championship wickets – as he took 3 for 72 from 20 overs. He said: “I must admit it was a surprise when (skipper) Daryl (Mitchell) asked me to bowl and I was delighted with how it went. I have tried to bowl a bit quicker and there was some rough to aim for and I’m pretty chuffed to have got Joyce and Wright out – they are not a bad couple of scalps for my first Championship wickets." |
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Post by hhsussex on Apr 22, 2015 6:41:03 GMT
I make that one "set up a match-winning situation", one "slight favourites", one "strong favourites" and one "in contention". That's pretty much the same balance as I put forward, that Worcestershire have played the conditions better, and have had the balance of any luck that's going, particularly with dropped catches and even physical injury, thinking of the start of Kervezee's innings, which might prove to be as much of a turning point as his bowling.
Against all that, I still maintain that there's a match to be won, as well as lost, today and I hope that all of the available Sussex bowlers will rise to the challenge. My bet is still on if you fancy matching it, winnings to be handed over at the Middlesex game from 10th May?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 6:59:41 GMT
Happy to take up your bet.
But Worcs need 200 runs in three sessions with ten wkts in hand on a pitch which has seen 1071 runs scored over the first three days.
Like Luke Wright, if we had Mushy in the side I'd feel the game might still be in the balance!
As I think I said last night, for Sussex to win from here needs not only Wells and Zaidi to bowl exceptionally well but for Worcs to bat very poorly. They're a fighting side who (despite their defeat to Yorks last week), know how to get over the line - eight LVCC victories last year in their promotion campaign - and their self-belief is strong.
Good luck to Sussex today, and to Zaidi and Wells in particular. But as Steve Hollis says,it will be "an uphill battle".
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Post by hhsussex on Apr 22, 2015 7:06:10 GMT
Happy to take up your bet. But Worcs need 200 runs in three sessions with ten wkts in hand on a pitch which has seen 1071 runs scored over the first three days. Like Luke Wright, if we had Mushy in the side I'd feel the game might still be in the balance! As I think I said last night, for Sussex to win from here needs not only Wells and Zaidi to bowl exceptionally well but for Worcs to bat very poorly. They're a fighting side who (despite their defeat to Yorks last week), know how to get over the line - eight LVCC victories last year in their promotion campaign - and their self-belief is strong. Good luck to Sussex today, and to Zaidi and Wells in particular. But as Steve Hollis says,it will be "an uphill battle". Fine, my choice would be a nice bottle of Amarone, similar to that I offered you for Sunday lunch last autumn. It will be tough, and I think Sussex will have to look more to Magoffin, Shahzad and Hobden than to Zaidi and Wells, and to their own self-belief. Looking forward to another fun day, and sorry to miss your company this time around. |
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Post by jonboy on Apr 22, 2015 7:10:38 GMT
I was fortunate to be able to enjoy the first two days of this game, and what a pleasure it was, watching a fluctuating match, bathed in early spring sunshine. To witness Machan's first innings knock was quite something, technically one of the best innings I've ever seen, from anyone anywhere. It really was that good. I do think him and Hobden are the real deal, and Hobden has bowled superbly in this match, without too much luck. Without taking anything away from Worcestershire, who have played competitive cricket throughout, it's probably a combination of bad luck, and carelessness in equal measure that has left us with it all to do on the final day. I saw Worcestershire at The Parks a couple of weeks ago, and was impressed then by the positive cricket they played, even though it was only a Uni game. We need a session this morning, as scintillating as that first one, if we are to win this game. Here's hoping we can make it two out of two
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Apr 22, 2015 9:36:52 GMT
A couple of quick wickets this morning and it's game on. Worcestershire still have their Yorkshire demons to overcome. If
not then "an uphill battle".
edit: There's the first one - Mags strikes. Let the demons begin. 57/1 - Mitchell lbw Magoffin: 21
edit: Now the second! Game on...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 10:14:24 GMT
At least Mills is on the field but I don't think he will be allowed to be bowled for an hour or so, after not taking the field last night.
Hope I'm wrong that the target Sussex set is 50-60 runs short and Worcs collapse. Mitchell lbw to Mags is a good start...
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Post by hhsussex on Apr 22, 2015 10:29:35 GMT
Two down...that bottle is coming off the shelf....  |
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Post by pompeymeowth on Apr 22, 2015 10:35:04 GMT
Two new batsmen at the wicket, time to send down a few Ear flickers.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Apr 22, 2015 10:46:35 GMT
Yippee! As a past poster would say... 7 to go. No WAIT! 6 to go. Shah-zad, Shah-zad, Shah-zad!! What a signing.
The Worcestershire demons are abounding.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 10:49:36 GMT
Great bowling by Shahzad by the sound of it. His stomach upset yesterday seemsd to have done him the world of good!
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Post by howardh on Apr 22, 2015 11:06:19 GMT
Great start. Keep it up, lads!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2015 11:09:15 GMT
Zaidi on after just over an hour's play. The introduction of spin is the crunch moment, I think.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Apr 22, 2015 11:16:25 GMT
5 to go! 91-5, Hob-den, Hob-den, Hob-den.
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