Week 5 - Voting

Northern league:

Match 1 - Warwickshire vs Yorkshire - Toss won by Warwickshire

Match 2 - Lancashire vs Leicestershire - Toss won by Leicestershire

Match 3 - Nottinghamshire vs Durham - Toss won by Durham

Southern league:

Match 1 - Hampshire vs Surrey - Toss won by Surrey

Match 2 - Essex vs Middlesex - Toss won by Middlesex

Match 3 - Somerset vs Sussex - Toss won by Somerset

Damn first time I've lost the toss, and in the most crucial game

Match 1
Hampshire vs Surrey

The toss proves crucial in this one, with the dual Surrey spin attack proving the thorn in the Hampshire side. Mahela top scores in the Surrey innings, Khan the man in the wickets for Hampshire, Jadeja enjoys a magnificent debut with 3-20 off 4 overs with the other bowlers containing Hampshire, giving Surrey the win.

Surrey Win

Match 2
Essex vs Middlesex

Rankin's radar is a bit off which Sachin takes advantage of, but the other batsman struggle around him, particularly with the opening burst from Finn and Vettori's middle overs. Some late order hitting gets Essex to a competitive total, but the kiwi pair of McCullum and Guptil get Middlesex off to a flyer after the early loss of Watson, and despite a middle order wobble, they get home.

Middlesex Win

Match 3
Somerset vs Sussex

Levi and Kallis enjoy the flat nature of the pitch, and go to town at the start of the innings. Levi goes to Murali's 2nd spell, Tiwary follows soon after but Prior and Russell provide Sussex with some explosive shots at the end of the innings.

In reply, Gayle and Trescothick are firing on all cylinders early on, but Kallis removes Gayle. Panesar bowls a great spell with Russell also looking impressive. Trescothick is still there towards the end but when Steyn removes him in the 18th over, it leaves Somerset a bit too much to do.

Sussex win(Just!)

Northern league:

Match 1 - Warwickshire vs Yorkshire - Toss won by Warwickshire
Nice default win for Yorks

Match 2 - Lancashire vs Leicestershire - Toss won by Leicestershire who bowl first
After the openers fall early to Leics' quicks Willliamson drops anchor at one end while Ross Taylor plays a few shots at the other. They build a decent satnd through the moddle overs, but after they ball another collapse ensues, and Lancs get through to 130/8. The Lancs reply begins in similar fashion with Anderson picking up Sanga and O'Brien. Some loose bowling from Johnson lets Gambhir and Raina get in amongst it, and they play a few shots to get ahead of the run rate. Once again a mini-collapse follows their departure, but their batting depth sees them home in the 19th. Win to Leicestershire by 3 wickets

Match 3 - Nottinghamshire vs Durham - Toss won by Durham who bat first
Durham's openers fall to Swann, but after an economical over from Malinga Broad is taken to by the batsmen. The end of the powerplay and the arrival of 10 overs of spin makes life pretty tough. Collingwood digs in, but wickets fall regularly at the other end. Botha has a flurry at the death, and Durham stagger through to 125/9. In reply Warner falls early to Botha, but Lumb and Rahane make good use of the outfield in the powerplay to start setting a base. ABdV also plays well after Lumb goes, and careful rotation of the strike agains the spin ensures the run rate required stays within reach, and there are enough wickets in hand at the death to come home. Notts win by 4 wickets.

Game 1 - Toss is crucial, Surrey get a par score, thanks to good batting by Jadeja and Roy, before their spin duo strangle the Hampshire batsmen with Kartik ably supported by Jadeja. Toss proves crucial.

Surrey win by 15 runs.
MOTM: Jadeja.

Game 2 - Essex get off to a decent start but struggle to score throughout the middle overs and lose regular wickets thanks to some superb bowling. Middlesex do well throughout and are always in control, but some good death bowling means its down to Vettori and Yuvraj who seal victory off the last ball.

Middlesex win by 4 wickets.
MOTM: Yuvraj.

Game 3 - Levi gives Sussex a great start, but the middle order struggles to kick on until Russell comes in with a brilliant cameo and lifts Sussex to a par total. Gayle and Tresco both hit rapid fifties but both fall in the same over to Panesar. Trott and Ponting struggle and Sussex succeed in getting the run rate down. However, Somerset are still favourites and a few boundaries by Buttler and CK lead them to victory.

Somerset win by 6 wickets.
MOTM: Gayle.

Surrey Vs. Hampshire

Hampshire get over the disappointment off losing the toss quickly, as Khan, Bravo and Dimi enjoy the green conditions and get the ball nipping everywhere. Mahela and Huss stand firm though, but struggle to get things away. There patience is rewarded as it gets easier to bat on, although Briggs proves a handful as the pitch begins to bite and picks up Mahela. Some late hitting from Mathews and Woakes gets Surrey up to a interesting 145, which looks gettable.

The PP proves expensive for Surrey as the pitch isn't offering the movement to the seamers it was earlier on. Adams falls in the fifth over, but Vince comes in at looks in good form. Jadeja and Karthik come on and look immediately threatening as Jadeja gets both Smith and Vince in his first over. However, Clarke is at his masterful best against the spin, using his feet brilliantly like we have seen countless times and handing out a lesson on how to play on a turning deck. Wickets fall around him, but he guides his side home in the last over with a scintillating 85*.

Hampshire win by 2 wickets. MOM: Michael Clarke.


Essex Vs. Middlesex

When Finn picks up Tendulkar off a skied leading edge in the first over, it looks ominous for Essex. Batsmen look like they are in, but keep getting out as Shah, Chandimal and Hodge all get starts but don't kick on. O Brien and Coles both hit cameos late on as Essex limp to 130 with Vettori as economical as ever. In reply, Guptill and Watson get Middlesex off to a flyer with luck on their side. But they both fall before the end of the PP, leaving Middlesex 54-2 after 6. They are ahead of the run rate though which is crucial and although Narine causes some panic with 3 wickets, Middlesex get home comfortably in the end.

Middlesex win by 4 wickets. MOM: Shane Watson.


Somerset Vs. Sussex

Levi gets cracking immediately and takes a liking to Murali on this flat deck. Nash knows his role and just ticks the singles over and gets Levi on strike who just keeps going and propels Sussex to 65-0 off the PP. Nash falls to Dockrell in the 8th trying to up his won rate, and big Jacques comes in. He settles down immediately and plays to his strengths. Levi is finally dismissed in the 16th by Murali for a majestic 104, and this allows the rest of the Sussex line up to tee off and push them up to 210.

Somerset get off to a flyer, with Tres and Gayle going brilliantly. Kallis gets Tres in the 5th over with some extra bounce for 28 but Gayle is still going but Trott just can't get the singles to get him on strike. Trott eventually gets run out for 7 off 13 with isn't good enough chasing a score this big. And when Gayle falls for 76 it appears the dream had died. But Buttler strikes 46 off 22 but Somerset just don't have the length of batting with him to keep off a clever Steyn at the death and he bags 3 wickets in his last two overs including Buttler in the 20th going for a huge slog needing 22 off the last. Somerset fall agonisingly short.

Sussex win by 9 runs. MOM: Levi.

Match 1: Yorks by Default

Match 2: Leics by 3 wickets.

Lancs - 131-8 (Willamson 43, Morkel 3-18)
Leics - 132-7 (Sangakara 63*, Anderson 3-25)

Match 3: Durham by 2 runs

Durham - 154-8 (Pollard 51*, Swann 5-12)
Notts - 152-6 (Rahane 47, Botha 4-14)

Match 1: Yorks by Default

Match 2: Leics by 5 wickets.

Lancs - 153-6 (Willamson 77, Morkel 3-28)
Leics - 154-5 (Sangakara 89, Anderson 2-35)

Match 3: Durham by 10 runs

Durham - 134-8 (Pollard 31*, Swann 3-20)
Notts - 124 all out (Rahane 27, Botha 6-10)

Warwickshire Bears v Yorkshire Carnegie

Yorkshire win by default. The Yorkshire team looks strong - the only thing I would change is to swap Dhoni and Samuels

Lancashire Lightning v Leicestershire Foxes

Morkel is outstanding and sends back Ryder, Mustard and Williamson in his first spell on this pitch. Tremlett also picks up Maynard to leave Lancs in massive trouble. But the Leics back-up bowling is less strong. Trego, Allenby and Langeveldt don't have the pace for this pitch and Ross Taylor has one of his better days, making 80 off 50 balls, in alliance with the steady Karl Brown. An eventual total of 150-5 is reached.

Anderson is a top bowler, and after going for 10 from the first three balls, gets Sangakkara out caught slip. O'Brien skies one, and Harris bounces out Raina. Gambhir plays a superb innings, taking 20 from one of Piolet's overs, and Trego and Cobb contribute cameos. Johnson goes for 13 off the 19th, to leave Leics needing 9 from Anderson's last over. Gambir is bowled, leaving just too much for the lower order to do.

Lancashire Lightning win by 4 runs
Man of the Match: Ross Taylor

Nottinghamshire Outlaws v Durham Dynamos

Malinga nabs Stirling in the first over, and thereafter it is trial by spin for Durham. Finch, Gibbs and Pollard are all tied in knots by Swann. But Patel doesn't get the same turn the other spinners does and Collingwood and Blackwell successfully counter-attack against him. Beer breaks the partnership, and goes on to take three wickets himself, before Malinga (and Broad) at the death prove impossible to get away. Durham can only make a well under par 95-9.

Lumb and Warner take a liking to Mark Davies, and get their eye in so that Botha doesn't trouble them that much. Scoring becomes more difficult after Lumb departs, and Warner falls to Stirling's part-timers later, but de Villiers and Rahane are too classy and get Notts across the line by 8 wickets.

Nottinghamshire Outlaws win by 8 wickets
Man of the Match: Graeme Swann

Just Finished watching Extreme Rules

Lancashire Vs Leicestershire

Lancs 168/7 - Ryder 67, Nannes 3-23
Leicestershire - 169/6 - Trego 58, Warne 2- 24

Leicestershire win by 4 wickets

Notts Vs Durham

Durham 145/6 Broad 3-25, Gibbs 42
Notts 142/7 Gul 2-27, De Villiers 49

Durham win by 3 runs

Sorry its so short but knackerd!

Surrey beat Hampshire

Middlesex beat Essex

Somerset beat Sussex

Scores with 3 votes to come in are:

Spoiler:

Surrey
Middlesex
Somerset

Can we get votes in from Shanks and MFC by the end of the day

Surrey vs Hampshire: Surrey win

Surrey's top 6 looks quality to me, and on a decent pitch for batting I fancy them to post a big score despite Zaheer Khan's best efforts. In reply, Karthik and Jadeja throttle the chase in the middle overs, and Dernbach makes sure at the death as Hampshire never really get going. Surrey by 20 runs.

Essex vs Middlesex: Middlesex win

Middlesex just seem stronger in both the batting and the bowling to me. I fancy Vettori and Watson to be especially effective on here and restrict Essex, for whom Shah and Hodge are the main contributers. They finish on 130. In reply, the Middlesex openers enjoy the pace of Pattinson and Sidebottom, and get off to a great start. With the req RR not a problem Middlesex cruise home by 7 wickets with two overs to spare.

Somerset vs Sussex: Somerset win

A fun game to watch for those who enjoy seeing the ball disappear to all parts. Levi gets Sussex off to an absolute flier, smashing 50 off 28 balls, and though Dockrell keeps things tight the other bowlers get whacked around as Prior and Russell indulge in some big hitting to set up a total of 180. Somerset though have one of the strongest batting line-ups in the competitions, and after the openers tee off, Trott plays the anchor role, allowing the middle-order to play their expansive games around him. It's left to Thomas to hit a couple of fours in the final over to get them over the line by 4 wickets.

Just Shanky to vote, scores are:

Spoiler:

Shanky said that he is going to vote for Notts. Did no-one else hear this?

pretty sure he said Durham, not Notts

Mad for Chelsea wrote:pretty sure he said Durham, not Notts

I thought he said he'd vote for whoever had voted for Essex

Oh dear. That was looking close for a while, but in the end its ground lost rather than gained on my main rivals

Massive win for The Foxes!!!

Any chance Fists could vote this week?

Gregers wrote:Any chance Fists could vote this week?

If he's willing to do it I don't see why not. Shanky last logged in yesterday lunchtime UK time, it's getting on into the evening for him now.

Right thats it, Fists if you're around could you please vote on the Northern League matches!

Results, updated League Table, injuries and pitches for the next fixtures up this evening.

Kiwi, number for this week:238019

Apologies chaps. Been busy with exams.

Oh okay, can you vote now?

Apologies once again. Just havent had the time.

Notts win. The rest of the votes tomorrow. Apologies for the delay