Cricket News

Simon's tourettes took the form of unprompted breakdancing...

Jones back on song...

So then, another busy weekend of cricket?

Yep, it was a Friends Provident Trophy frenzy.

So fill me in.

Ignoring the Craig David lyric, I’ll start with Friday’s game in Cardiff, where Glamorgan were beaten by Gloucestershire by six wickets. Craig Spearman’s knock of 66 from 81 balls saw the visitors reach the target of 203 with six overs to spare.

And just the one game Saturday too?

Yep. While you were sitting idly on the beach all day, 11 South African Kolpak players took part as Leicestershire played Northants in the Midlands division.

That’s a lot of Proteas action. Did any of them make an impact?

Hylton Deon Ackerman, known to his pals as HD, scored 169 of Leicestershire’s total of 268, setting up an exciting finale as Northants’ Irish left-hander Niall O’Brien scored 95 to set the home side on their way. But despite a late stand from Monty Panesar (17*) and Johann Louw (35*), Claude Henderson’s economical bowling saw the visitors grab the victory.

How about Sunday? When my tan was slowly turning a wrong shade of red…

I told you to stick with factor 40. Anyway, staying with the Midlands division, Leicestershire couldn’t continue their winning streak as they lost to Notts by two wickets, while Northants got over their loss the day before by beating Warwickshire by five wickets, thanks to a 144-run stand between Riki Wessels and Stephen Peters.

And what about up North me lad?

Well you can’t get further north than Scotland, where Durham survived an early scare to see of the Scots by 46 runs thanks to the good old Duckworth Lewis method. Despite reducing Collingwood and co to 181/9, Scotland’s batsmen collapsed to 52/5 before bad light ended play.

Probably a good thing really. What happened in the Roses derby?

Lancs won it at Old Trafford, as Yorkshire could only manage 204/7 as their 50 overs was reduced to 45 because of a hail storm, with Kyle Hogg the pick of Lancs’ bowlers with 3-27.

Don’t tell me, Mal Loye knocked off the winning total in no time?

Actually, no. In fact Lancs were deep in the brown stuff at 76/5, with your boy Loye only managing 15 runs. But it was yet another South African, Francois Du Plessis, who rescued his side with 77 not out, as Lightening reached their D/L adjusted target of 216/7 in the 44th over.

So Lancashire Lightning win thanks to lightening? Brilliant!

Well, no. That’s not what I said was it? Just a bit of hail.

Spoilsport. Tell me about the Southern West Division’s results…

OK. In form Craig Spearman guided Gloucestershire to another win, this time over Somerset, where his 140 not out saw the home side win with ten balls to spare, despite Justin Langer’s 112 helping his side set an imposing total of 290. And Hampshire were spanked by nine wickets as Ashes 2005 hero Simon Jones took 5-32 for Worcestershire.

Call him up Pete!

Indeed. His performance restricted Hampshire to 209 all out, and Vikram Solanki (81 from 59 balls) Steve Davies (76*) and Moeen Ali (42*) saw the job through with ease.

And to wrap it up, in the South East Division…

Sussex were also on the end of a hiding, losing by 9 wickets to Kent, and Essex’s phenomenal total of 391-5, with Mark Pettini and Jason Galliani putting on 269 for the first wicket, was never going to be trouble by Surrey, who were bowled out for 235.

I like your style.

Thanks. I’ll take it you’re off back to the beach now?

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