The Bears/Pears/County Cricket Thread 2015

[PGW]

Day 4 Highlights
youtu.be/PNU9yY-Fpeg?a

Hopefully!!!

[PGW]

That didn't work did it....i'm crap at posting things like that.

Anyway other Div 1 scores
Worc following on 150 behind are 125-4
Sussex following on v Notts are 153-3 still 204 behind
Hampshire 292-6 replying to Durham 421

In womens ODI England 104-4 (25) responding to Aussies 238-9 (50)

[spangley1812]

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU BEARS !!!

Made hard work of it

Anyway moving on anyone know ?

a) Is Porterfield injured ? or why isn't he in the squad for the T/20 2moro as he cant be on Ireland duty anymore

and

b) How far Wright and Rankin are from playing again

Thanks

[Villafirst]

Why is Lewis is in against Northants? Surely Woakes should be in the eleven?

[adrenachrome]

Bears 55 for 0 after 7 overs.Highlight has been hilarious drop of McCullum at deep square leg. McCullum just caught at backward point.

[taylorsworkrate]

Chopra needs to get his arse in gear here. Hurting us at the moment

[taylorsworkrate]

Why is Lewis is in against Northants? Surely Woakes should be in the eleven?

Extremely odd. I can understand resting some of the other bowlers, but surely it would have been beneficial for Woakes fitness and the team if he played?

[ACVilla]

If you could have put a mature head on Rikki Clarke's shoulders 10 years ago he would have played 150+ ODI's for England. Absolutely phenomenal T20 bowling.

[taylorsworkrate]

Just about got away with that one!!

Home quarter now. You Bears!!

[Villan For Life]

Well that ended up being closer than it should have been. I thought OHD & Gordon were going to blow it for us but Gordon managed to turn it around off the last 3 balls.

A home quarter final secured. YOU BEARS!!

[Richard]

I like Gordon but I think Woakes needs to come back in for the knock out stage especially as that adds to the batting

[adrenachrome]

Edgbaston.com

Match Report: Birmingham Bears vs Northants Steelbacks

Report by Brian Halford

Reigning NatWestT20Blast champions Birmingham Bears booked a home quarter-final this time round by beating Northamptonshire Steelbacks by one run in a thriller at Edgbaston.

Set a target of 154 for a victory which would have booked their own place in the last eight, the Steelbacks needed 23 from the final over, from Recordo Gordon - and almost got them.

But despite the heroics of Alex Wakeley (51 from 42 balls) and Rory Kleinveldt (29 from 11) they fell just short so must win their last game, at home to Durham  on Friday, to be sure of qualifying.

The Bears hopes of a valedictory Brendon McCullum masterpiece in his last home game for the club floundered when he perished for just 26 but captain Varun Chopra's 54 (48 balls) assured the Bears a decent total, albeit one that looked a little below par.

But the loss of early wickets undermined the Steelbacks' pursuit and it was only down to that spectacular last over that they came so close.

The Steelbacks chose to bowl and face the threat of McCullum straight away, a decision they might have questioned when he cracked four of his first ten balls for four. That was as far as his boundary count went though before he was superbly caught at point by Kleinveldt off Steven Crook.

It was left to Coventry-born youngster Tom Lewis to show McCullum how to clear the ropes, but that blow was one of only two sixes hit by the Bears as the Steelbacks'  seamers, led by Azharullah (4-0-24-1), bowled an excellent length.

Chopra hit five fours and a six before becoming one of three victims for Steven Crook.

On a good batting track, the Steelbacks began their reply as slight favourites but lost early wickets. David Willey, Ben Duckett and Richard Levi all went for broke in the first six overs and sent up catches, the latter superbly taken by Lewis at deep mid-wicket.

Another fine opening spell by Rikki Clarke (4-0-16-0), providing more ballast to those who believe he is worth an England recall in limited-overs cricket, cranked up the required run-rate and spinners Jeetan Patel and Josh Poysden maintained the pressure to send the Steelbacks into the last six overs needing 69.

That came down to 23 from six balls and when Kleinweldt clobbered the first two for six it was game on - but, with four needed from the last ball, Gordon held his nerve, just and conceded only two to long on.
 

[Rotterdam]

Gordon really does not inspire confidence in me...good win though.
Anyone heard anything about McCullum staying on or returning for finals day?

COYB!

[Lsvilla]

Does anyone know - is the draw on Friday night on Sky after the last round of games ?

[Villan For Life]

Gordon really does not inspire confidence in me...good win though.
Anyone heard anything about McCullum staying on or returning for finals day?

COYB!

As far as I know he isn't contracted to return and the Kiwis start a one day series against Zimbabwe and South Africa on 2nd August.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/match/fixtures.html?team_country=5;future=1

Looking at those fixtures, he would almost certainly miss the quarters which are split over 4 days from 12th to the 15th August but he could presumably be back for finals day on the 29th August. I'm sure the conversation will be had, the Bears seem much more efficient than the Villa!!