True. A good all-round performance from the bowlers, although the radio commentators reckon Somerset fielded better. Didn't hear enough to judge myself.
Glamorgan win. Disgraceful that we can't defend 332. Topley and Abbott ****ing abysmal at the death. I would be ****ing livid if I was Vince.
Gut-wrenching to take, but a brilliant chase. No question where the game was won and lost though. We scored 32 in our final four overs, which included TWO no-balls and thus free-hits; so actually it more like 28 runs scored in 4.2 overs. One single solitary boundary scored in those four overs, and we only finished 6 down. It's not like we had numbers 10 and 11 out there, just trying to see us through to the end. In modern day one-day cricket, that is an awful finish. They scored 61 in their four overs, with a ball to spare. So 29 extra runs, in three fewer balls. We lost to Essex because we had no-one who could match what Zaidi did at the death. We lost to Glamorgan because we had no-one who could match what Cooke did at the death. And what makes it worse, is that McManus isn't even a good white-ball keeper. So many extras conceded and stumpings missed (even today, despite taking three, he still missed one). At least Bates could do that side of things. Not replacing Wheater is really going to cost us in white-ball cricket.
The only consolation is that it probably doesn't affect our chances of a top three finish - absolutely affects our chances of a top two finish yes, but not really a top three finish. Sussex and Surrey are the two challengers for that spot, and they are our last two games. Win them both, and we get top three regardless of today. Lose either of them, and we'd probably have finished outside the top three even if we'd won today.
Not difficult this season, unfortunately. Whilst we generally have been much, much better this season than last, our fielding has been abysmal over this opening month or so. Dropped catches, missed run outs, failing to stop the ball, sackful of extras, missing stumpings. I'm struggling to recall seeing a Hampshire team who field so poorly. Abbott should have a few more Championship wickets than he already does, no doubt.
Back to the XI that beat Somerset, so Fidel and Berg in for Topley and Holland. Absolute must-win for Surrey. Must-win for us too, if Sussex beat Gloucs (and even if they don't, it's still effectively a must-win for us).
Game being streamed on Surrey's website: https://www.kiaoval.com/main-news/live-stream-surrey-v-hampshire/
Sussex all out for 240. If Gloucs chase that down, then mathematically we will take this to the last game. But if Surrey win with a load of overs to spare, it will only be a mathematical chance, because realistically the NRR difference between Surrey and us would be too great.
