PHILINFRANCE

A mainstay of the NZ one day teams - a fine wicketkeeper/batsman. Though not for us this evening - out first second ball!

Is this anybody from here?

The top two teams go through, so, realistically, two of Somerset, Glos. and Hants. In the final round of matches, Somerset are away to Surrey at The Oval, whilst Glos. host Hants at Cheltenham. Assuming no strange results, Somerset should qualify with a draw and, in reality, Hants would probably need to beat Glos., who are currently ahead of them on points. As a Somerset fan, I am hoping for a Hants win, as half the points scored in the group games are carried over in to the final group.

Well Done Glos. Now looking forward to an interesting (nailbiting) final round of matches.

8 wickets down now, but rain is apparently on the way.

Middlesex now 241/6 - two wickets in two balls! 34 overs still to go. Where is Amla when you need him? 8 wickets down now!

??

Not looking good. Assuming Glos beat Middlesex, that would leave Hants needing to beat Glos in the last game to finish (hopefully) second - we don't really want Glos to go through due to their superior points against Somerset. Match Drawn - Amla 37 from 278 balls!

Would be nice, but I fear that Surrey are destined to lose some time later today, despite racing to 73/5 with Hashim Asla still there on 22 (off 159 balls), and Gloucestershire will surely beat Middlesex later today/tomorrow. Draws all round in the final round of matches would be most welcome, though, although most important is that Somerset don't lose (against Surrey) with Glos and Hants playing each other.

Apparently Stumps at Taunton.

They have just come back on, so the pitch might have livened up a bit.

Surrey holding on bravely; 13/3 off 28 overs. Given the position in Cheltenham, we really could do with a Hampshire win.

Five sessions; they only started on Monday.

Still on the subject of players called up by the ECB, whilst I am not surprised he was not called up (given his unfortunate previous appearance), in normal circumstances James Bracey, currently 83NO for Glos, should have been called up. As it stands, he could well be instrumental in Glos winning their game against against Middlesex and threatenting Somerset's position - I know Glos and Hants play each their in the last round of matches.

Quite subtly, ECB also took two Middlesex players away from their game against Glos (Somerset's CC rivals, bowled out for 248 yesterday), whereupon Middlesex collapsed today and will struggle to bowl out Glos a second time without one of their best bowlers, Tom Helm. It could well be Somerset and Glos in the top two positions going in to the final round of matches, with Somerset dependent upon Hants to beat Glos in the final match.

Right arm, medium fast. He has done well for the seconds and also for England U-19s. I was watching on the live Somerset stream, and he he does not look at all out of place, beating the bat on quite a few occasions.

A promising start for COVE's replacement, Kasey Aldridge.

He was batting well, as well, 69NO.

I feel for poor old Tom Banton. He returned from overseas early as he was struggling mentally with bubbles etc., was withdrawn from Somerset just as he was coming in to some kind of (excellent) form, only to spend a few days sitting in a pavilion, as a result of which he now has to isolate and self-confine for a week.

I am worried that COVE might miss out on what appear to be excellent bowling conditions this morning.

So, will we see COVE bowling in excellent conditions this morning, or is he going to be withdrawn?

Finished with 7/19 off 10 overs. Not bad for an old man!

We could do with a similar spell at Taunton in a few minutes time.

So, Somerset have declared at 416/9. A good hour's bowling before rain is predicted for approx. 16H00 - should be interesting.

Well, what an extraordinary and thoroughly enjoyable morning's cricket. 166/1 off 31 overs, a run rate of 5.35! From 242/7 to 408/8, with an additional 4 batting points. I am assuming a quick thrash after lunch, but even should Somerset declare now Leics. need 259 to avoid the follow-on. Additionally, it is difficult to envisage a Surrey win at Southampton with Hants already 368/9, shame about Surrey's third bowling point that came in the 107th over.