365 Sporting Days

A crazy busy sporting weekend which involved a trip to Canterbury for this match, The Challenge Cup Final at the New Spurs Stadium, then Middlesex v Glamorgan at Radlett, followed by a Tuesday evening watching Essex again, means it’s taken ,me until now to have photos edited. The night of Essex’s trip to Glamorgan, a game that as I write isn’t going too well at all. And Glamorgan were pretty woeful against Radlett, the joys of T20 cricket! Both this and the Hampshire match are going to be more of a phlox than a blog. There was a time when I put my camera away for the second innings of a T20 match, then I went on a photography course and learnt about ISO etc. Hopefully the results are ok.

Canterbury is one of my favourite places to watch cricket, and my goodness the surrounding area is beautiful, I stayed in an Airbnb which could have easily been in Devon, the drive there took me through stunning countryside, narrow lanes and the greenest views. There were Highland cattle in the fields nearby, a return visit is needed minus the sport. Not that that sort of thing happens often in my life!

And so to the cricket, Kent had a decent start, reaching 62 for 1 in the 7th over, the opening pair made the most of the powerplay. Zac Crawley who hadn’t had the best of County Cricket starts ended with 40 from 29 balls and Daniel Bell Drummond who was out first scored 31 from 21 balls.

Crawley was out in the 10th over and that brought Sam Billings, a man who much have the snazziest shoes in cricket, out to join Joe Denly. The pair put on 40 in some style, although I am an Essex fan, they’re 2 players I really enjoy watching and they didn’t disappoint. Denly scored 35 from 24 balls before he was caught & bowled by Essex’s T20 signing Daniel Sams.

Jack Leaning was next up, and also next into the dressing room as a great Simon Harmer catch from the bowling of Matt Critchley saw him heading back to the dressing rooms after just 4 balls with 2 to his name! George Linde in at 6 hit a quick 23 from 11 balls. Billings was not out 48 from 31 balls and Kent had 184 for 4 from their 20 overs.

Will Buttleman and Adam Rossington the Essex openers came out all guns blazing and had 48 on the board within 4.3 overs when Rossington was out having scored 29 from 16 balls. This wasn’t to be Michael Pepper’s night, he faced 8 balls for his 6 runs. That took Essex to 76 for 2 in the 8th over. Buttleman was out in the 9th having scored 37 from 24 balls. At that point it did feel that the game was running away from Essex.

Matt Critchley is fast becoming a popular player at Essex, he scored 18 in 11 balls before Matthew Milnes took his bails. That took Essex to 112 for 4 in 11.3 overs.

Paul Walter had come in at 5 and was joined by Daniel Sams, Sams isn’t a player I know, he’s a 29 year old Australian, who’s listed as an all rounder, he’s a right hand bat and a left arm fast medium bowler. He has 2 IPL teams to his name and 2 Big Bash. An average of 13.48 in T20 with the bat and 101 wickets at an average of 25.05 with the ball. His 3 from 6 balls didn’t improve his average. That added up to 120 for 5 in the 14th over. Essex needed runs and quickly!

As good a cricketer as Tom Westley is I’m not sure T20 is his best format, he did score 15 from 10 but Sam Billings, very good, stumping was possibly one of the best things that could’ve happened to Essex. Sorry Tom! That brought Simon Harmer in to join Paul Walter. The pair scored 27 runs in 15 balls to get the job done with 2 balls to spare.

And as I polish this one off, Essex have been beaten by Glamorgan by 6 wickets in the 17th Over, not a match where Essex shone. Matt Critchley top scored with 38 from 26 balls. 8 players didn’t get into double figures. Next up from me, Essex v Hampshire.