Surrey defy the odds to reach final

by Tom Huelin

 

With all the pre-finals day hype focussing on the retirement of Hampshire’s Twenty20 skipper Dimi Mascarenhas at the end of this season, it was Surrey who emerged victorious from a low-scoring semi-final, on a dank Saturday afternoon at Edgbaston.

Vikram Solanki, the Surrey captain in the place of suspended Gareth Batty, was naturally delighted at the end of a tense match that Surrey won in the end by four wickets.

“We’ve worked extremely hard throughout the campaign,” Solanki said just after Zafar Ansari had clinched victory with a four off Sohail Tanvir. “It would have counted for little had we not got over the line. Our bowlers have been outstanding as they’ve always been, although we put ourselves under a little bit more pressure with the bat, but it doesn’t matter how you do it.”

Looking forward to the final, Solanki reflected on the state of the pitch. “I thought it had a little bit more pace in it than we thought it would during the first semi-final, but it is a good pitch. What effect the drizzle will have on it for the final, who knows.”

As one all-rounder – Mascarenhas – bowed out of Twenty20 cricket today, another in the shape of Ansari delivered when it really mattered, scoring 21 at the end, whilst taking the wicket of Liam Dawson in the first innings. “He’s an intelligent man, and he obviously worked it all out before he went out there. He didn’t go after some of the wides (bowled by Tanvir), but then decided to attack Wood in the penultimate over.” 

Ansari may have led his side to their first Twenty20 final since they won the competition back in 2003, but Solanki was keen to pay his respects to Mascarenhas, one of this competitions greats since its inception 10 years ago. “He’s just an outstanding performer isn’t he? He’s a great guy too, and I’m sure everyone at Surrey would join in me in congratulating him on a fantastic career.” 

Mascarenhas was left to rue a disappointing performance with the bat, his side failing to live up to their pre-match billing as competition favourites, falling 20 runs short – at least – with the bat. “We saw in the first game that 160 was a par score,” a deflated Mascarenhas said. “Three wickets in the first six overs was a huge loss for us. They bowled really well and that won them the game. Our batsmen just didn’t turn up today.”

It’s important to remember of course that Hampshire still have the chance in the YB40 competition, the Royals currently lead Lancashire by three points at the top Group B with just two games remaining. “The opportunity to win trophies is what every county cricketer strives for, and we’ve still got an opportunity at Lord’s.”

Hampshire have a fine balance of youth and experience in their side, something that has often been lauded. With Mascarenhas not available from the end of this year, the mantle now passes to the likes of Wood, Dawson, Vince and Briggs. The question Royals fans will be asking however is, are they ready? “The young guys are still learning,” Mascarenhas confessed. “I know they’ve played a lot of cricket, and a lot of finals, but they are still learning their games. As we’ve shown over the last few years, it’s been mainly the older players that have got us through in finals, but there’s no doubt they’re getting better.”

Surrey see off champions in tight semi-final

by Tom Maston

Surrey secured their place in the Friends Life t20 Final for the first time since 2003 as they came out on top in a low-scoring encounter against Hampshire.

After electing to field first, Surrey made almost the perfect start as Azhar Mahmood began proceedings with only the fifth maiden in Finals Day history.

The pressure created by the Pakistan seamer began to tell on the Hampshire batsmen as first James Vince was dropped at extra cover before Michael Carberry fell the following ball as he drove straight to Jason Roy off Jon Lewis.

With the in-form Carberry gone, the Royals’ hopes then hinged on Vince, and they seemed well-placed as he hoisted Chris Tremlett back over his head for the first maximum of the encounter.

Jimmy Adams also got in on the six-hitting act, but the introduction of Jade Dernbach to the bowling attack soon took the wind of their sails.

The England man began by bowling Vince with his first delivery before deceiving Neil McKenzie with a slower ball to trap him leg before.

Dimi Mascharenhas’ side were in a spot of bother at 39-3 from their six-over powerplay, and it was down to Adams and Sean Ervine to rebuild the innings.

That they did for four overs until Adams was undone by a near-perfect yorker from Zander de Bruyn to again leave the champions tottering.

That wicket prompted a counter-attack from Ervine, who hit Zafar Ansari for successive sixes. Any momentum gained from that, though, was quickly extinguished when Liam Dawson was caught at cover later in the over.

Adam Wheater came and went, and on his final day as Hampshire skipper, Mascharenhas was tasked with supporting Ervine as best he could.

The veteran did his upmost in helping the Zimbabwean towards a par total, but when the left-hander was caught on the fence off the bowling of Mahmood the writing was on the wall.

Despite some lusty blows from Chris Wood, the Hampshire lower-order could only raise their side to 142-9, with Mahmood finishing with figures of 4-1-9-2; the second most economical on Finals Day.

Behind the eight ball, the Ageas Bowl outfit showed why they have been so successful in this competition as both Surrey openers fell to the medium-pace of Mascarenhas and Wood.

First Jason Roy picked out Dawson on the mid-wicket boundary before Davies tried to lost Wood over mid-on, only to pick out Mascarenhas.

That brought Vikram Solanki to the crease, and despite some nice touches, the Surrey captain was lucky to survive twice before Danny Briggs trapped him in front.

That left the promoted Glenn Maxwell to try and take the attack to his former side, but when he holed out to Ervine at long-off the Lions were in a bit of trouble on 71-4.

It was down to Zander de Bruyn to hold his nerve, and along with Gary Wilson he kept the score ticking along at a rate where the required rate never got out of hand.

Alec Stewart’s side were in control requiring 32 from the final four overs, but when Wilson became Wood’s second victim with some help from a superb McKenzie catch and Mahmood was run out without facing a ball some belief returned to the South Coast side.

That quickly evaporated, though, as Zafar Ansari drove Wood back over his head for a six and a four before sealing the win with a top-edged hook to the boundary.

The Cambridge University student made an unbeaten 21 from 12 deliveries while de Bruyn finished on 41.

Wakely: Semi-final hero Crook is our Botham

by Tom Maston

Steven Crook’s thrilling 46 from just 24 balls was the catalyst that saw Northamptonshire reach their maiden T20 Final, and skipper Alex Wakely was full of praise for the all-rounder.

Crook, who joined the Wantage Road outfit for the second time in his career after being released by Middlesex at the end of the 2012 season, was in blistering form as he transformed a match that was slipping out of reach for the Steelbacks into a relatively simple victory.

Captain Wakely revealed that Australian-born Crook had had quite an impact since he arrived back at the Club.

“He’s been outstanding for us. The talk of the town is that he’s the Northampton Botham!” he said.

“In all forms of cricket he’s been brilliant for us. He plays the same every time and just goes out to smack it. This year it’s paying off for him.

“He can’t do anything wrong at the moment. I’m really happy he’s done this on the big stage because the season he’s had so far has been fantastic,” he added.

Despite coming out second best at Edgbaston, Essex skipper James Foster was also in awe of Crook, and even speculated that he should be recognised by international selectors.

“It’s a big game so for someone to come in and do that is special,” he told a press conference.

“I do believe England should be taking a look at Crook. He’s having an exceptional season this year, and I know England will look at him and want him to back it up, but he’s one of those players who will come at you.

“He bowls pace and people who can strike the ball out of the park are few and far between.

“He was out of the game a few years ago and not enjoying it but now he’s got that care-free attitude and he’s been exceptional in all forms this year.”

Northants will be hoping that the once wannabe rockstar Crook can repeat the dose in the Final later on Saturday evening.

Steelbacks seal final spot

by Tom Huelin
 

Northamptonshire’s excellent season continued as they won the first semi-final at Edgbaston, beating Essex by 7 wickets.

Northants skipper Alex Wakely won the toss and elected to field, with rain interruptions and thus Duckworth-Lewis expected in Birmingham today. It turned a pretty astute decision as, although the rain failed to fall, a torrent of boundaries from first Richard Levi and then Steven Crook and Cameron White sealed a place in tonight’s final for the Steelbacks.

Essex started their innings with a huge slice of good fortune, as New Zealander Hamish Rutherford edged David Willey behind without a run to his name, Cameron White dropping a sharp, one-handed catch low to his right at first slip. It was a chance Northants regretted instantly, as Rutherford smashed a six next ball.

Greg Smith didn’t get going however, falling second over as he top-edged Steven Crook to third man for 2. Rutherford looked in the mood, a glorious straight drive back over the bowler Azharullah for four the pick of his innings, before falling for 36 off 19 deliveries to the same bowler, Azharullah’s 25^th of the competition.

Pettini fell for 27 in the 11^th over to leave Essex 44-2. Essex needed a big innings from their powerful middle-order, but it wasn’t to be for Ravi Bopara, as the England hopeful fell next over for 14, Kyle Coetzer taking the wicket in only his third over of the competition to date. Ten Doeschate and Foster almost fell in the same over, offering half-chances to the part-time medium-pacer. David Willey returned to the attack for the 14^th over, the final ball of which was paddled round the corner by Foster, the first boundary in six overs, Essex 99-4. 

After some tap from James Foster, Azzaullah returned to take the key wicket of Ryan Ten Doeschate, as the Dutchman guided one aerially down to third man, Richard Levi taking the catch. 

Graham Napier then got to work in the 19^th over, hoisting David Willey for an almighty six over the square leg boundary, before being dropped on 15 at mid-on, either side of two further boundaries. 

Essex’s penultimate over went for 17, before Napier and Foster brought up their 50 partnership off just 24 deliveries, 37 of which went to Napier with Essex finishing on 168-5, a competitive total after the final two overs went for 36. 

Northants began their reply cautiously, with Levi and Coetzer taking just one run off David Master’s first over. But Levi came to the party in the second, bowled by Napier, as he launched a big six down the ground, before guiding four down to third man. 

Masters third over proved costly for the Eagles, going for 21 including two fours and a pair of maximums as Northants reached 49-0 after five overs. 

Young left-arm seamer Reece Topley was the pick of Essex’s bowlers however, coming around the wicket and cramping the right handers, Kyle Coetzer offering up a sharp chance to Pettini at mid-wicket which was put down. Northants were on top already, Levi bringing up his 50 up from just 27 balls, a score that included four fours and four sixes, the Steelbacks hoping they wouldn’t forfeit this strong start. 

Topley it was who made the breakthrough when, in the ninth over, Coetzer (18) drove to Bopara on the offside. That brought Australian batsman Cameron White to the wicket, who played and missed at his first ball, Essex fans hoping for another breakthrough to get their side back in it.

Topley duly obliged, as he snared the key wicket of Levi for 57, as a fullish delivery from the young left-armer did him for pace, Levi lofting a drive into the grateful hands of Hamish Rutherford. Masters returned to bowl his final over in the 12^th, and the monkey was finally removed from his back as the veteran took a return catch from Steelbacks skipper Alex Wakely, who fell for just 3, his first finals day wicket in seven matches.

The sixteenth over was a pivotal one, White hitting a straight drive off bowler Phillips for six, before Crook did the same for another maximum. Crook then slog-swept another maximum – the third of the over – to leave the Steelbacks needing 36 off 24 balls. 

The 50 partnership was brought up off just 26 deliveries, Crook scoring 31 of them, as even Topley struggled to stem the Steelback charge towards the final. Four boundaries came off his final over as the Northants passed the 150 mark after just 102 deliveries, leaving a run-a-ball target with three overs remaining.

The excellent Crook it was who hit the winning runs of the match, an attempted hook flying over the keepers head for four, securing a fine win for the Steelbacks.