I haven't been to cricket in years but really enjoyed that despite the result. I fear I have unearthed a latent cricket-fiend in my son who watched the match in near frenzy and spent the entire drive home quizzing me on it - this was apparently to keep me awake but was having the opposite effect. He appears to have memorised the entire team and was giving me his in-depth analysis, haven't seen him like this since Charlton's 2012 promotion season. God knows what he'd be like if Kent had won.
T20 at Canterbury is a rather surreal experience - look one way and there's a a giant TV encouraging you to send your 'big screen selfies', Tshirts being thrown to the crowd, free hats and dance music, look the other way and there's a fella sat at a picnic table with his dog, smoking a pipe, half of ale, picking twigs out his beard.
Canterbury is a great place to watch county cricket as is Tunbridge Wells; certainly far better than somewhere like the Oval. As for the match we rather through it away after a good start. Billings should be dropped, either completely or at least batting 6 or 7, he is so out of form and his shot selection is dire. He tries all the fancy shots that may work when your in form but not on the form he is at the moment. He was out at Beckenham on a reverse sweep and last night seem to want he can play it from the off again - which he couldn't.
On the positive side was very impressed with the spinner Quayum.
I noticed Riley was playing for the seconds, is he still not fit or just behind Quayam at the moment?
Riley had two injuries last season too. He has been bowling well for Bexley in the KPL this season and in this week's 2nd X1 game he had figures of 32-8-63-4 so, hopefully, is on his way back. One would imagine, if that is the case, that Tredwell will be released at the end of the season as he will be 36 soon and has indicated that he isn't prepared at this stage of his creer to play second fiddle.
Tredwell is not a great wicket taker but is an excellent one day bowler. As good as anyone in the country. I would hope we can get a situation he players one days and Riley and Quayum learn their craft in the 4 day game.
Well that was fun. Pretty much spitting rain most of the Kent innings then came down hard towards the end. Neesham carving Jordan for 12 off the last 2 balls was great. Jordan was bowling some junk. Didn't think we would get a game and spent the next almost 2 hours in the pub drying off. I thought Sussex would win easily off the last 6 balls and even managed to bowl a wide too. Might aswell have stayed in the pub and got the shared points anyway.
Comments
Billings 64, Neesham 51no, Sam's best innings this season?
Easily the best I have seen him bowl, granted on a very bowler friendly track.
He ended with figures of 4 overs 3-7 on an ultimately losing effort, but on that showing he his finding his groove again.
Unfortunately his periods of form are just too rare.