Boys' Own Cricket

Saturday saw the final days of the T20 competition. After weeks of glorious weather, rain returned in the couple of days leading up to the final Saturday. The four sides who travelled to the Rose Bowl had played 16 gams to reach that point. In the semi finals Hampshire (the outsiders) defeated Essex, and in the second semi final many peoples favourites , Notts met Somerset. Now Notts were able to recall their England stars Stuart Broad and Graham Swann, and it seemed they were on their way restricting Somerset to an average total and progressing towards that target. The game changed when West Indian international Kieron Pollard plucked a stunning catch out of the sky, one handed, on the boundary rope at long on. The game was interupted soon after by the rain that was a regular visitor across southern England. The game somewhat unsatisfactorily was decided by the D/L method.

The final would therefore be Somerset v Hampshire. The Somerset batting looked by far the stronger, and Marcus Thescothick started the innings by hitting two well placed sixes, Kieswetter carried on the good work, and when he was out, Pollard despatched two huge sixes into the grandstands. In the 18th over with Somerset well set, the game was changed by a short pitched ball by veteran Cork, which smashed into Pollard's helmet. The grill did not save him and pollard was led from the field his eye already swollen and closed.

The Somerset innings limped to a close and perhaps more significantly they lost pollard's 4 over spell, meaning a part time bowler would have to step forward. Hampshire started well and seemed on course when in the 17/18th overs wickets started to tumble. In a frenetic last over , runs were run to the keeper. The last ball and the game still in the balance, Hampshire -one run and victory, even though the game would be tied they win it on losing fewer wickets. Somerset needed a dot ball. The ball was fired into the batsman's pads , lbw was the appeal as Hampshire ran a leg bye. The umpire turned down the appeal, and Hampshire who few gave much hope to were champions.

So many twists I doubt many would have written such a script.