April 2008 Archives

Northamptonshire 35 for 0 (13 overs). Peters 23, Wakeley 12.

Steady progress by the home side. Zondeki bowled just one over and has since only fielded, nursing a sore finger courtesy of a short ball from Lucas this morning.

The Declaration of Arbroath was prepared as a formal Declaration of Independence. It was drawn up in Arbroath Abbey on the 6th April 1320, most likely by the Abbot, Bernard de Linton, who was also the Chancellor of Scotland.

The Declaration urged the Pope to see things from a Scottish perspective and not to take the English claim on Scotland seriously. It used stong words, indicating that without acceptance of the Scottish case that the wars would continue and the resultant deaths would be the responsibility of the Pope.

It all ended quickly after lunch as Zondeki slapped the first ball after the interval to point and Daggett edged Boje to slip for 1.

So the Bears 243 all out and, despite this morning's resistance, trail by a meaty 142. If Northamptonshire bat well for the rest of today, Warwickshire will have a lot of batting to do tomorrow.

Stephen Crook will take no further part in the game, having pulled a hamstring.

Part of the reason for the steep decline in the number of willow warblers could be because they nest low and much of terrain appropriate to such techniques of nidification has been lost over the last 40 years.

Northamptonshire 8 for 0 (2 overs). Peters 8, Wakely 0.

Lunch: Warwickshire 242 for 8 (89 overs). Salisbury 54, Zondeki 9.

All three gentlemen to wield the bat for Warwickshire this morning have done so impressively. Carter took his time intelligently before carrying out an effective counter-attack, Salisbury has played barely a false-shot on his way to 50 on his Bears debut and Zondeki got stuck in there well to see his team past the requsite 236.

Warwickshire 238 for 8 (83 overs). Salisbury 50, Zondeki 9.

The follow-on is safely avoided thanks to Carter and Salisbury. The blow that took Warwickshire past the required 236 also took Salisbury to an excellent debut 50.

Salisbury has batted superbly this morning - solid and watchful he has also punished the bad balls, not least when he flicked Klusener nonchalantly for six over long-leg.

Salisbury, by the way, is one of two current county cricketers whose surname is a cathedral city. The other?

Well I put the kybosh on Carter. The next ball he faced he was done by a slower ball from Klusener and scuffed it to extra cover to perish for 47.

Zondeki's first ball faced for Warwickshire was a textbook forward defensive stroke.

198 for 8 (71 overs). Salisbury 22, Zondeki 0.

Another 38 to reach the follow-on figure, though it's doubrful Northants would enforce.

Warwickshire 196 for 7 (70 overs). Carter 47, Salisbury 22.

Carter and Salisbury have batted very solidly this morning and now Carter is climbing into a counter attack. He swung Klusener over fine leg for six and has just thumped him for 4,4,6, dot, 6 off five balls. The first 6 was an outrageous swat over long leg off a straight ball and the second, in the same direction, they are still looking for in the road outside the ground.

Boyd Rankin needs a shoulder operation and will be out for three to six months. Probably the whole season, basically.

Warwickshire 154 for 7 (63 overs). Salisbury 18, Carter 16.

Salisbury was dropped at slip by Sales off Wigley before a run had been added this morning but, that apart, the batsmen have been littled troubled so far.

Talking of anniversaries, 2008 is the 25th anniversary of Wayne Larkins scoring six in each innings for Northants aginst Warwickshire in a championship match here at Wantage Road.

Grim news for Warwickshire. The weather is fine, with light cloud. Play will start on time.

Now, when the going gets tough...

The close: Warwickshire 129 for 7 (57 overs). Salisbury 4, Carter 9.

Powell's plucky resistance ended at 24 (98 balls, 101 minutes) with an edge into the slips off Wrigley.

"Have a safe journey home," said the P.A. man in friendly tones. Evening sunshine is bathing the ground. A delightful scene.

But a shocking day for Warwickshire.

It makes me want to go to Arbroath Public Library and get a book out.

Now I'm no expert and Ant Botha is a fine cricketer with far more expertise and experience than I will ever have but I am a little surprised that, at 116 for 5, with the Bears in terrible trouble, he tried to tried to slog Boje out of the ground.

He skied the ball to the wicket-keeper.

Warwickshire 115 for 6 (50 overs). Powell 23, Salisbury 0.