April 2008 Archives

...on the day, I mean, although it could apply to the Bears.

Bad light has stopped play and there's a storm brewing.

Warwickshire 110 for 6 (46 overs). Powell 20, Botha 6.

The follow-on figure is 236.

Warwickshire 102 for 5 (42 overs). Powell 16, Botha 2.

Ambrose looked in good nick with three fours in 15 but then played a horror of a shot, top-edging a sweep at Boje and skying the ball to Panesar at square leg.

Powell is looking rock-like though.

Tea. Warwickshire 73 for 4 (31 overs). Powell 6, Ambrose 0.

Bell, having played beautifully and greeted Panesar into the attack with a glorious six over long off off the spinner's sixth delivery, fares less well in Boje's first over. To the Northants captain's third delivery, he plays back and is adjudged lbw.

The follow-on figure of 236 is starting to look a rather long way away.

Warwickshire 55 for 3 (22 overs). Bell 30, Powell 0.

Trott, having dug in for 13 overs and 39 balls for six, perished in the cruellest way. Bell struck a glorious straight drive off Klusener and the bowler stuck out a foot and diverted the ball on to the stumps with Trott stranded miles out of his ground.

Trott was, of course, run out against Worcestershire last week courtesy of a dodgy call by Tony Frost. Not having the best of luck right now is Mr T.

Warwickshire 25 for 2 (8 overs). Bell 8, Trott 0.

Westwood, on 4, was dropped third ball by wicket-keeper Wessels, a straightforward chance down the leg side off Crook. But there was no reprieve for Maddy, on 2, when he edged Crook to Boje in the slips.

And, soon enough, Westwood fended a lifting delivery from Logan into the hands of first slip and was on his way for 11.

Maddy has started the season with 8, 9 and 2, Westwood with 0, 9 and 11.

A willow warbler has just fluttered across the ground, left to right. It looked worried - and wouldn't you if 60 per cent of your species had disappeared since The Beatles cut "Hey Jude"?

Northamptonshire 385 all out.

What happened was there was a proper shower - a heavy one - and off they went, rightly so. But then it cleared up very quickly and the sun came out but whereas it had taken them 5.7 seconds to leave the field it took them a good 15 minutes to return to it even though the sun was beating down.

Then when they resumed, Wigley edged the very first ball, from Carter, to Ambrose and everyone trooped off again and now the sun is beating down on any empty field again for the interval between innings!

Zondeki 19-2-125-4. 19 no balls, two wides.

There was an announcement at 1.40pm that play would resume at 1.40pm so we all looked at our watches which said 1.40pm and said "It is 1.40pm - but they are not out there". At 1.46pm we were informed that the resumption would be at 1.50pm with a scheduled finish tonight of 6.28pm.

There never was any rain beyond a spot or two so basically lunch went on for 70 minutes and the spectators were robbed of half an hour's play for absolutely no reason.

There has been a power cut in the pavilion. The occupants of the press box have been ordered not to use the electric fire in case it trips the switch. After long negotiations we have been granted permission to use the kettle.

Second ball after the resumption Boje drove Daggett to extra cover. Out for 105 - 380 for 9.

Lunch: Northamptonshire 375 for 8 (96 overs). Boje 101, Panesar 7.

No rain has stopped play. That is, I think one spot of rain fell at deep mid-wicket and, incredibly, the umpires and players left the field in a hurry.

The theory is that it allows the groundstaff to get the covers on in advance of pending rain but that rain has not arrived yet as the players take an early nosebag. Basically the paying punters have been deprived of 20 minutes cricket.

It was entertaining stuff this morning too as the home side batted positively. Won't do any harm for misfiring Warwickshire to get in early and regroup though.

Northamptonshire 357 for 8 (93 overs). Boje 89, Panesar 0.

Lucas rather disrespectfully attempts to smite Zondeki back over his head and holes out to Carter at mid-on for 10.

The Bears should get Maddy on. Maddy, after all, was the first bowler to dismiss Panesar in first-class cricket - here at Northampton (Northamptonshire v Leicestershire) in August 2001.

Northamptonshire 340 for 7 (85 overs). Boje 85, Lucas 4.

The Bears have been badly roughed up this morning with 88 runs from the first 14 overs but Zondeki has just delivered a much needed breakthrough.
He was roughed up a bit too first. He took the new ball and was spanked for three fours in his first over by Crook and 20 runs in a two-over spell. Zondeki then switched ends and immediately bowled Crook who, confidence probably higher than at any stage in his career, essayed a big drive and was bowled for 63 (77 balls, 11 fours).

Partnership of 111 in 23 overs. Lucas came in and promptly clobbered Zondeki to the point boundary.

Northants were 127 for 5 at one stage, of course.