super cup match
v surrey
was always going to be a tough game, and the team is as follows
j stephenson
a grayson
a flower
a habib
n hussain (skipper)
r irani
j green
j foster (keeper)
j middlebrook
a cowan
m llott
coach bugs malone spoke to me yesterday about trying to not worry too much just to go oit and do what we know i can do.
my thoughts, j green
i as nervous but was determined to start showing the people who have so much faith in me to make it count. i had been selected again to play surrey and was just honoured, its all a bit too weird at the moment playing along guys that 5 weeks ago i wanted autographs from.
lets hope i can do my side and coach proud by producing some uns.
game highlights
essexwon the tossand batted on what looked like a great deck.stephenson went early for 10 (16) and we where 1 - 14 of 4 overs. a flower was next up.we build up a good partnership and where 1 - 49 after 10 overs. grayson was next to go after he started to open up the shoulders and he fell for 40 (51) whilst taking the score to 2 - 87 ofthe 19th over. habib didnt last long and it was the skipper out in the middle. i was getting nervous know, after 25 overs we where 3 - 114 and really needed to get a move on, hence if i go out i will need to pcik up the pace and play some risky shots that might leed to my down fall, but every one was saying dont worry about selection, just play your natural game. flowe fell for 46 (64) and irani was in, we where 4 - 119 of 26 overs. irani and hussain, probably one of the 2 more experienced players where batting like champs, god it was good to watch, we hit 4 - 219 after 40 overs with hussain going at better than a run a ball 65(55) and irani also 50(52), they where really setting up a big final 10 overs. i was quite happy to sit there and watch, hussain fell in the 42nd over for 69(61) and i was in, 8 overs left, irani on fire, i just wanted to nudge it round and let him do all the destroying. as i walked out the home crowd cheered me on but i felt like a lonely figure, irani met me out in the middleand had a few words, told me not to let surrey get the better of me being young and relatively new, and they where in my ear, it was all about pressure and stepping up to the plate. we pushed em around and i supported irani best i could but i fell to a catch in the outfield in the final over, i went for 18(28) and the score was 6 - 256. had i done enough for my side, walking of i knew i was in a tough situation, but it was exciting, then i looked to the gate before i walked of and seen my long time girlfriend sitting with my parents, they made the trip out to watch, it made me feel a lot better. in the dressing rooms i congradulated theskipper and he said i did good considering the late part of the innings, coach bugs said the same so i was happy, just wanted the ball to take a magical 5 for or something. we finished up being 6 - 265 with irani and hussain the stars. irani finished un beaten on 71 (78). we gave thm a total that we could easily defend.
i had a nice lunch in the break and met the new puma rep who was considering asking me for a sponsorship, wow is this really happening.
we had a team chat and where really fired up for the 50 in the fireld knowing that surrey could defenately chase this total and do it easily so we knew we had a fight on our hands.
in the field
llott opened up with irani and surrey got off to a flyerand where 37 without loss after 5 overs until irani bolwed stewart for 14, surrey 1 - 37. needing 229 at 5.1 per over. irani 2 overs later picked up the price wicket of ramprakash for 6 (8) caugh by flower, surrey 2 - 45, the 2 they had at the crease though where of qaulity players, g thorpe and m butcher. 2 overs later irani then looked at me and said, buddy this is for you, butcher caught behind for 25 (21) surrey 3 - 50 and irani was on fire.llott was bought off he struggled with his length and had 0 - 37 of 6, butcher took to him early. middlebrook was bought on by hussain and as he was about to start he looked at me and gave me the warm up sign. wow i was fired up.i was tossed the ball in the 13th over and we chatted about fielding placements. once that was dne i steemed in, first 2 balls went well, then i hit thorpe with an off cutter that took middle stump, wooohoooo i ran passed him in a very happy mood, he looked at me and nodded his head, good ball kid, i was too happy i was high fiving every one. surrey 4 - 58. hollioke was the next batsmen in, even thought they where 4 down we still knew they had depth.
middle brook and i bowled in tandom for a while and i then seen one of the best catches ever by flower, in close diving one handed he got it in his finger tips, i had only seen 1 catch similar and that was when i was home watching tv and warne got his hatrick against england with d boon taking the catch. anyway surrey 5 - 80 and we where playing well.i was bought off after 5 overs with 1 - 31. bowled ok, hollioke ook to me a little and i got a little frustratedwith a catch being put down, but you learn from that. cowan replaced me whilst middlebrook was still going. surrey had reached 5 - 118 after 23 overs sill needing a further 148 at 5.5 runs per over but we hadnt won yet.middlebrook picked up hollioke for 54 (50) and surrey had reached 6 - 159, middle brook took some slack with 2 - 50 with 4 balls remaining and cowan wasnt bowling well, skipper asked me if i was readt to come back on with irani . i said give me that pill skipper. irani and myself come back on and i took a little bit more punishment so i spoke to llott and we changed my length a little and next ball i got bicknell for 16 (22) surrey where know 7 - 187 and they needed over 6 runs an over. we had not won but it was ours for the taking. irani finished up his overs with 3 - 43 of 10. cowan was bought back on and then i picked up mushtaq for 30 of 16 balls, i finished with 3 - 56 of 10 overs, surrey only needed 40 of 8 overs and we needed 2 wickets, what a finish.llott then picked up ormond for 14(21) 9 - 245 21 runs needed of 5 overs, 1 wicket in hand. what a finish. very next ball llott finished it up with an lbw, surrey all out 245. essex win by 21 runs. man of the match r irani for his great batting and magical 1st spell. we got the 2 points which puts us in 2nd spot in group b.
it was a good win for the boys, with a bit of pressure put on us. but we will or i know i will learn from hat.
after i showered i went and seen the better half with the family, and had a great dinner at a nice restuarant, to top off a great day. but can not have a late night we have recovery sesion early morning.