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

[tonka998]

Yay! Great to hear this story is back! And a good first post back!

 

[Deleted member 13648]

What a lazy update

 

[Pakistani Army]

Great update mate. You will be fine.

 

[Highlander999]

Thursday 11th April


I made a descision that my main priority in this spell would be to keep the number of runs down to a minimum and any wickets I picked up would be a bonus Of course we wanted a couple but if I tried too hard it might result in me be taken to the cleaners. David had already said that myself and Andy would be bowling the last few overs, so I had to back up his faith in me by showing what I could do.

My first few overs were of the highest quality. I didn't get hit for a single boundary with the batsmen just nurdling the ball around. This really fired me up and I was steaming in. Perhaps this made me slightly too cocky as I put the first ball in my third over short and wide and watched as it was crashed towards the boundary with a square-cut by Bell. He was now looking in extremely good touch and we would want his wicket soon.

Eventually my spell came to an end. I had bowled 5 overs, giving away just 17 runs. David gave me a quick pat on the back and told me I had done a good job. I was pleased to have given such few runs away but was slightly disappointed not to have got a wicket 31 overs had now been bowled and Warwickshire were 84/3. They would have to start hitting out soon or else they would have a much too low total.

Amjad has had much publicity regarding being a possible England candidate. He has mainly been focusing on just recovering from his knee operation and taking it easy in a few matches. You would not have thought however that this was someone taking it easy. A nice little scrap developed between him and Bell with Amjad eventually being the victor.

Bell advanced down the track to him and smashed the ball back over Amjad's head. I jogged over and had a word with him,

"Hey mate. Look he is going to start getting cocky. If you see him advancing towards you next ball, bowl it short and wide. See what he does."

"Alright Tom, worth a go "

That very next ball as Amjad was nearing the pop up crease, Bell began to shuffle forward, Amjad obviously saw as he did exactly what I said, just as Bell started walking forward. Bell sort of swayed back into his crease and tried to run it down to third man. All he ended up doing was edging it to Martin at gully :happy

We all went running and celebrated with Amjad who gave me a massive high-five. It was exactly what we planned and showed what a good team we were.

When the 36th over arrived, David called me over

"Right Tom. You and Andy are going to finish the innings of for us now. Try and focus on getting Powell out as he is the danger-man but I'll take Brown. Just make sure you keep it so tight, they'll think you are a miser "

"Ok, skip. I'll do my best!"

I was very excited with the repsonsibility of finishing of the innings for Kent with such a good bowler as Andy. Warwickshire were 97/4. If we weren't careful they could easily score an extra 100 runs.

I kept it very tight for a few overs, but still no wicket At the beginning of my third over in this spell, I had a chat with Andy,

"What do you think is the best way to get a wicket?"

"Hmmm. I think the best thing to do would be to stick with the yorkers. It's a tricky ball to bowl but it really limits the amount of runs they can score and also really increases the chance of getting a wicket."

"Ok, let's see what happens."

I started that over by giving Brown a long stare. He knew he was in for it. I decided the third ball would be the yorker. The first two balls he had big swing's and misses. After the second ball, I exchanged a few words with him. He wasn't looking confident. As I was walking back I winked at Andy. He knew what was going to happen. I made a big show of putting two fielders back on the hook. I was trying to double-bluff him. Sure enough the yorker worked. It sent his off-stump flying out the ground and his middle-stump went flying forwards.

"COME ON!!!!!!!!"

"Nice yourker, Tom. I told you they were effective "

The whole team exchanged high-fives and we waited for Piper the Warwickshire wicket-keeper to come out. We were very confident at this stage.

The 43rd over soon arrived. My final over! I was determined to keep the amount of runs given away as low as possible. I had drawn the short straw in gettting Powell, but I was confident.

 

[Spoobir]

Choke! Choke! Choke! Just kidding.

Nice update KUTGW!

 

[treva]

Great to see this back Tom

Maybe in future we can start to see some higher scores Good yorker to get rid of Dougie Brown!

 

[Highlander999]

Cheers. I've found a new patch, which makes the AI bat so much better. I really don't know why it hasn't got much publicity??? I'm still using Tutsi's for batting with though

 

[Pakistani Army]

That's the way to do it Tom. Full and straight. He misses you hit!
Brilliant update Tom. I am sure your last over will be a tight one.

 

[thesweepmaster]

Fantastic wicket mate. We really could do with you at Warwickshire right now!

Stunning update, keep up the good work!

 

[Karachi Xpress]

Great to see this story back Tom

Low score there by Warkwiks...

 

[formula1man]

top class story mate keep it up.
nice wicket KUTGW

 

[Jit]

this is great story mate and great update nice bluff

 

[Kiko_97]

Hooray, great bowling Tommy lad, congratulations on the wicket. KUTGW.

 

[PaulNixon1]

Your yorkers maybe are good but i could do better any day

KUTGW

 

[Highlander999]

Thursday 11th April


As the fielders changed for my last over, David and I discussed the plan. It was decided that I would either bowl bouncers or yorkers. I must not give him anything on a length or else he would just smack me to the boundary. I manged to over-ride David and have a short third-man put in. I hoped having Martin there would reduce the chance of a single.


First Ball


I went in to bowl the first ball of this over with a certain amount of apprehension. It is quite a nerve racking feeling bowling at the death and I really did not want to screw this up. I decided I would go for a short delivery. I was hoping it would surprise him and even if it did not, I had 2 guys back on the boundary.

I came running in...... I released the ball. It was on a good line and was the right length for a bouncer. Powell I think picked it up late. He got into position on the back-foot and tried to pull me away. However, the ball was seaming and it missed his bat. It touched his glove!!!!!!!!!!!

"HOWZAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The umpire however did not even move. I was shocked. Andy had come running in and was now having some sort of argument with the umpire It was clear even to a blind-man that that ball had brushed his gloves, it had clearly moved of it's path. Powell gave me a grin. He knew it was out.

My First Delivery. Should have been a wicket (:happyAnimated:happy)

Second Ball

I was now annoyed as I got ready to bowl the second ball of the over. Martin was frantically shining the ball trying to get one side shinier than the other. I had already decided that I would bowl a yorker for this delivery and get the wicket of Powell, which to be honest, I had been cheated of. I began my run up, with my blood boiling. Just as I reached the crease, however, Powell stepped backwards. The umpire stuck his hand out, but I couldn't stop in time and I slipped. I flew into the umpire and sent him flying over the stumps :laugh

It took a couple of minutes for order to be restored, with half of the team helpless with laughter. People would later say I had done it on purpose to get revenge on the umpire. I actually hadn't but it is strange how karma always comes around.

I had to focus myself now. I came running in again. It was not a good ball unfortunately. I pitched it to short and it sat up perfectly for Powell, who planted his left leg forward and smacked the ball back over my head for 4 I was not at all impressed and kicked a huge tuft of grass out of the outfield.

I get hit for a 4. I'm not impressed (:happyAnimated:happy)

Third Ball


David came over for a quick word,

"Right Tom. Don't dwell on that. It was a poor delivery and everyone has them. Just make sure you put this ball right in the block hole."

"Aye, skip, he won't be hitting any more runs today :"

The key to bowling at the death, is to get it either right in at the batsmen's feet or so short they can barely get any leverage on the ball. This ball was going to be a yorker and I was determined it would be perfect. I had a quick fiddle with the field, bringing Amjad straighter back at deep mid-on. I came thundering in this time. It was another disaster. The ball slipped in my hand and was much too full, around ankle height. Powell just calmly swung the bat at it and whistled past me. I turned and watched as it sailed through the air and hit the sight screens. A Six!!!!!!!! :

"BLOODY HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I was really angry with myself. I had now let 10 runs be scored and had only bowled 3 deliveries. David came over to try and calm me down. It didn't work.

Hit for Six! I'm furious (:happyAnimated:happy)

Fourth Ball


The next ball, I was determined that Powell would not score a run of me. He would be getting a ball right at his neck and I was aiming to take him down. I wanted to hurt him! This was very unsual behaviour by me as I normally am quite a calm guy but this guy had made me become some sort of Andre Nel wanabe. I signalled for Martin at short third man to be ready and also gave a knowing glance at Jimmy and Matty, the two sweepers, on the leg-side. They knew what the plan was.

I came running in and released the ball. It was maybe to far down the off-side, it however completely took Powell by surprise and it hit him on the gloves, with the ball trickling down to Martin. Finally a dot ball and I spent 10 seconds just staring at Powell before he wavered and looked away fiddling with his pads. Andy was shouting,

"That's the stuff Tom. Give him a couple of broken fingers to take back to mummy "

Powell had made a big mistake in getting me this fired up.....

Finally a dot ball for me (:happyAnimated:happy)

Fifth Ball


My lack of experience now showed. I wasn't entirely sure what delivery to bowl. I called Andy over and Darren also came over.

"What do you think guys?"

"Hmmm. Well you know what I always say Tom. Yorkers have worked for me in this situation many times. I think it's your best bet."

"Ok, cool. What about you Darren?"

"I'm going to go with Andy here. If I was batting now, a well placed yorker is not what I would want to be facing."

So it was decided. I would bowl a yorker. The thing about a well placed yorker is that it is extremely difficult to score runs, with a ball landing a couple of inches from your toes.

Infuriatingly I mucked up again : I don't know if there was some dew still remaining on the grass which the ball had picked up, but it once again slipped out of my hand as I went to release. Powell gleefully slogged it to the boundary. I just fell to my knees in despair and thumped the ground. 14 runs had slipped through the net. I was ruining my figures!!!!!! :

I get hit for another 4 : (:happyAnimated:happy)

Sixth Ball

I can honestly say I don't think I have ever been so angry with an individual in my whole life. I didn't give a damn anymore about my score, I just wanted to hurt him!!! : I decided I was going to bowl a bouncer and it was going to hit straight on the helmet. That would show him. Of course if I had been older and wiser I would have realised this was exactly what he wanted me to do. So I shouldn't have been surprised when a very well bowled shorter ball, was hooked away for a one bounce 4. I just slumped onto the ground and it took a bit of time for Andy to coax me back up. I had ruined my figures, giving away 18 runs

"It's ok Tom. We all have bad overs."

"I was in shock and could not respond."

Pulled for 4 and I am distraught (:happyAnimated:happy)

With me now having screwed up, Kent needed Andy to bowl a really good final over. He did just that picking up the wickets of Piper and Powell. It really was a big eye opener for me, on the ways in which you should bowl. It did make me feel slightly better knowing that Andy had repaired most of my damage but it still left me with a really bad feeling in my guy, knowing I had let Warwciskhire back into this game. It was however selfish of me to dwell on my own miseries when Andy had just got 2 wickets, so I put a brave face on and gave him the high-five and laughed with the rest of the guys. I was not cheerful though and I think Andy knew it. He gave me a slap on the back and said he would buy me a pint

Warwickshire finished the innings on 145/7. On a road of a surface that was a sub par score and we had a really good chance of winning this match. The Warwickshire batsmen had just been too slow in scoring their runs and had left it too late before they began to hit out. Andy had bowled superbly well in picking up 3 wickets for just 26 runs. Amjad and Jimmy had kept it very tight and both deserved more than 1 wicket apiece. Martin had been a wee bit expensive and my figures were ruined by that last over :

Back in the pavillion, as David and Matty got ready to head out, Martin came over to me,

"Tom mate. Don't beat yourself up over this. So you screwed up with that last over. Apart from that you had done a great job. You need to put that behind you and score a fair amount of runs in this inngs."

Martin was right. I decided I would stop moping around and cheer up. David and Matty headed out. I was next in and was planning on making amends.