Story Three Lions on the Shirt? - Match Day: Northamptonshire fight back!!!

[Highlander999]

Working fine for me

It says IE can't display this page. School comps are so crap :

 

[Ollie_H]

It says IE can't display this page. Internet Explorer is so crap :

Lets Re Phrase that.

 

[Highlander999]

Monday 7th April

69/5 and we were in trouble. Myself and Andy had to have a big partnership here or else we would be doomed to bowl with no runs to spare. However with the conditions improving maybe there was a chance for the batsmen to get more of a hold on this game?

The next hour was some of the hardest batting I have ever done in my short career. I said earlier how the conditions had slightly improved. Don't let me lull you into a false sense of security. It was still bloody hard work. There were numerous play's and misses by myself and Andy. Either one of these could have caught the edge but luckily we escaped. The bowlers however were getting frustrated. We slowly began to increase the score, single by single with the very rare boundary. There were numerous bowling changes made but they could not find a breakthrough in the mentor/mentee partnership. As our confidence grew we hit some much more agressive shots. In this match, driving was like playing Russian Roulette. There was a big chance you'd lose your wicket. However we began to read the pitch better and Andy particular hit some very nice looking drives. I broke my promise of going big and slogged Chandana for a one bounce 4 and instantly went back into my shell. I just had a moment of agression and that was enough for this particlar innings Finally nearly an hour and a quarter after Andy had arrived at the crease we reached the 50 partnership :happy It had been hard work but we were really pleased. We got a big cheer from the team. It had been a good job.

Amazingly it seemed, Gloucestershire seemed to wake up once we reached the 50 partnership and not a single run was scored in the next twenty minutes all the way up to the tea break They had come back strongly, but myself and Andy had survived a tricky twenty minutes. After I had given Lewis another dead bat, the umpire knocked the bails of and myself and Andy walked off with the score 112/5. We were pleased and gave each other high fives. It had helped to build us up a solid lead but we were not finished yet. We still needed to score a lot more runs. But for now we had done our job I needed a beer

I got a massive slap on the back from David. He was pretty pleased to say the least,

"Great stuff Tom. We needed a wonder innings and you've built a solid foundation. Congratulations. You've got some food waiting for you and a cold bottle of Stella."

"Exactly what the doc ordered Dave. Cheers mate."

I probably should not have been drinking in the middle of my innings but it was really refreshing after a hard slog. The rest of the team were still talking about the crazy guy. Matty filled me in,

"Well Tom. It appears this guy was the ex of the gal Cooky was attempting to pull last night. He's apparently a nut job and stalks her everywhere. He's going of to a secure facility tomorrow. Trust Cooky to find the nutters, eh! "

"Aye, that boy is a magnet for trouble. He'll either end up dead or in prison "

Eventually the umpires came back and said it was time to begin play. I got a lot of shouts to play well, but my own targert was to make my maiden FC half-century. Hopefully I could do it. Wish me luck!!!

Brief Scorecard

M. Walker 14 (30)
D Fulton 8 (17)
M. Carberry 11 (26)
M. van Jaarsveld 8 (9)
T. Baker* 34 (60)
D. Stevens 0 (1)
A. Hall* 19 (53)

Total: 112/5 Lead of 135 Runs

 

[treva]

Great work with the bat so far Tom, just need that fifty and it will be a huge innings. I can't see Gloucestershire winning this one unless they skittle you out quickly after tea.

Great work Tom, lovely reading

 

[vaibhav mehta]

Nice work Tom.Love to read your story.
Look out you should not miss that 50..

 

[tonka998]

Great works as usual Tom and a great yet patient innings! Keep it up!

 

[freddiw]

awesome tommy.....good work and although you should not be drinking get 100

 

[Karachi Xpress]

Now thats what the team wants from you both! Great batting by you so far. A 50 will turn this into a superb inning under pressure!

Great presentation!

 

[biks76]

In this match, driving was like playing Russian Roulette.

Thats a good one, mate!!

I probably should not have been drinking in the middle of my innings but it was really refreshing after a hard slog. The rest of the team were still talking about the crazy guy. Matty filled me in,

Never drink and drive...

"Well Tom. It appears this guy was the ex of the gal Cooky was attempting to pull last night. He's apparently a nut job and stalks her everywhere. He's going of to a secure facility tomorrow. Trust Cooky to find the nutters, eh! "

I would love to see Cooky's reaction.
Eventually the umpires came back and said it was time to begin play. I got a lot of shouts to play well, but my own targert was to make my maiden FC half-century. Hopefully I could do it. Wish me luck!!!

I am sure you will get that. Done the hard work, don't throw it away.

 

[freddiw]

good luck tomster in making the 50.....sad cooky didnt get an pullage really

cant wait for teh next KUTGW

 

[Manly]

Good Luck

(as usual, KIU mate)

 

[Kiko_97]

Fantastic updates Tom KUTGW

 

[Highlander999]

Monday 7th April

Walking to the crease I could feel a slight chill in the air. It felt like rain was coming I am no weather-man so it was equally likely to break out into sunshine The big target for me this evening would be to make my maiden, FC, half-century. I had heard the comments saying I wasn't suited for FC cricket and I was looking to prove them wrong. The evening session is one of the hardest session's to bat in as you are normally quite tired, there is quite a bit of cloud cover and the pitch is beginning to get a bit unpredictable.

Myself and Andy started from where we had left of. The plan was to bat out the first few overs and get the rhythm going again. We did this exactly to the letter, frustrating the Gloucestershire bowlers. Eventually we began to accelerate the run-rate. I was now nearing my half-century. I soon hit a single and kept the strike I was on 49!!!!!!!!!!! Chandana was the bowler the first 4 deliveries nerves got the better of me and I played and missed. The fifth ball I thought "What the hell" and decided to just slog it. Caveman tactics worked as I connected with it perfectly and crunched a massive six :happy My first FC half-century. A very nice milestone to achieve.

Andy came towards me to shake my hand,

"Well done Tom. The first of many, eh? Keep up the good work and bring on the three figures "

I was really pleased. I could see the team standing up and clapping and I raised my bat to them. Now the fun and games could begin. Throughout our partnership I had been scoring at a much quicker rate than Andy. This soon went out of the window as I just attacked the bowlers and creamed them to all sides of the ground. They really had no answer to me. I could go from one shot where I smashed it over the fielders for a one bounce four to then playing a delicate glance of my legs. I was in fine touch, without sounding too arrogant The ground was filling up with people arriving after work and they were appreciating my innings. Andy, I expect, did not mind letting the youngster do the hard work. The Gloucestershire boys were beginning to look a bit depressed. They could not stop the boundaries and were being made to run all over the ground.

We were now nearing the 100 partnership I had done nearly all of the work but Andy had done his job in staying at the crease and giving me as much of the strike as possible. He had hit a few agressive shots but I was the star of this show I still had been trying too avoid playing to square of the wicket and I don't think I even scored a run behind square on the off-side. I just did not want to risk an edge.

Eventually I cracked a lovely cover drive which beat the fielders and the PR system announced the 100 partnership. The master and mentee hugged. It was a great moment.

"Great stuff Tom. England here we come!"

"Cheers Andy. I couldn't have done it without you. Next target's are my century and your half-century. We have plenty of time so we should be able to do it."

We were now leading by 184 runs. We had really saved Kent with this partnership. We were giving our bowlers something to work with. The umpires called for drinks. The twelth man, Niall, came out with a message.

"Skip says to keep up the good work but not too go to fast. He says remember you have a lot of time still to play with. Just keep up the solid work and you'll be fine."

Nice to know our work was being appreciated. The big thing for me was. Could I make my century?



Brief Scorecard

M. Walker 14 (30)
D Fulton 8 (17)
M. Carberry 11 (26)
M. van Jaarsveld 8 (9)
T. Baker* 73 (85)
D. Stevens 0 (1)
A. Hall* 27 (76)

Total: 161/5 Lead of 184 Runs

 

[Karachi Xpress]

Now thats a good lead...Great 50 for you Tom! Now get a ton!

Great presentation as always...

 

[madmusician]

PR system? Think you mean PA system!

Seriously, another great update, a story I look forward to reading every day...