The B&H Cup (now called the Friends Provident Trophy)

[Yorkshire Blue]

Essex play Somerset needing to win and preferably handsomely, as its all very close and far to complicated to work out.

Somerset have a ridiculous top 6 of Trescothick, Trego, Langer, Hildreth, White and Blackwell. Their keeper Kieswetter at no.8 is also adept at applying the long handle. This is a batting line-up capable of scoring 350+ on its day, particularly on pitches like Chelmsford.

Saggers is looking like an inspired signing though, and has got Trescothick early.

 

[Grayson]

33-2 after 10 overs, Trego out for 6 now too.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

3 down for 49, Napier has just snared White in his 1st over

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

3 down for 49, Napier has just snared White in his 1st over

Massive wicket that. Cameron White is a very dangerous batsman if he gets in.

The top 4 are all equal on 5 wins. It looks like Hampshire (who also tied a game and so are a point clear) will top the group as they have Statski's boys, sorry Surrey, in trouble at 37-6.

Essex obviously need to win, so the other game we are interested in is Second place Kent playing fourth place Gloucestershire. These two teams are equal on points with Essex. Kent have a marginally better run-rate than Essex, so Essex either need a bigger win than Kent, or Gloucestershire to win, but not too easily.

 

[Grayson]

Surrey are 44-6 against Hampshire, so it looks like Hants will win so they'll be through. Kent are playing Gloucs, who are both on the same points as us but beat us, so they're above on head-to-head. So, basically, unless that's a tie we're out.

EDIT: Ah, YB beat me to it, but looking at the tables the head-to-head rule is in force.

EDIT AGAIN: Sky Sports just said that most wins is the first determining factor, so I think we're still out on that?

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Surrey are 44-6 against Hampshire, so it looks like Hants will win so they'll be through. Kent are playing Gloucs, who are both on the same points as us but beat us, so they're above on head-to-head. So, basically, unless that's a tie we're out.

Ah, YB beat me to it, but looking at the tables the head-to-head rule is in force.

I hope you are wrong, as IIRC the two games we lost were against Kent and Gloucs, and so would need Essex to win and their game to be called off, or a tie.

According to the Beeb:

If teams finish on equal points then the one with most wins will go through

If they are still level, the team with the higher net run-rate in the group matches will be placed in the higher position

If still equal, the side with the highest number of wickets taken per balls bowled in the group games in which results were achieved will be placed in the higher position

In the event that teams cannot be separated by any of these, lots will be drawn

 

[Grayson]

Even on most wins we're likely to go out too, though, if Surrey lose, correct?

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

No, we would be level on wins with whoever won the game between Kent and Gloucs, so we could really do with a Gloucs win, as I can't see them making up the NRR diff if we win.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Do I presume that, since wickets have fallen, we're not playing on the car park which doubles up as the square at Taunton...?

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Even on most wins we're likely to go out too, though, if Surrey lose, correct?

I think its the top two who go through, so assuming Hampshire and Essex both win the table will be

Hampshire 14 pts
= Essex and the winner of Kent v Gloucs 13 pts

Both teams will have 6 wins.

Essex' NRR is currently 0.94, Kent's is 1.15 and Gloucs 0.03.

Obviously these will change depending on today's results, but if Kent win, Kent are likely to go through, baring Essex thrashing Somerset.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Do I presume that, since wickets have fallen, we're not playing on the car park which doubles up as the square at Taunton...?

I thought this match was a Chelmsford.

Welcome back Andy Bichel to the Essex colours.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I thought this match was a Chelmsford.

Welcome back Andy Bichel to the Essex colours.

Another wicket for Essex. Hildreth caught behind off Danish. Somerset 102-4. A couple of quick wickets here - particularly Langer's - might yet give Essex a chance of beating Kent's NRR.

 

[Grayson]

Cheers for clearing that up for me. Come on Gloucs!

 

[MrB]

My head hurts.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Too much lager last night ?? :)

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Gloucs in the process of setting Kent a reasonable target

154 -3 off 33.3 overs

Somerset 122-4 off 30

 

[Grayson]

Danish has got Parsons out. 134-5 off 33.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

We still need Langer out though...

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I'm surprised Ravi hasn't had a bowl, he always seems to have this habit of picking up wickets in his first over

 

[Grayson]

We still need Langer out though...

Danish obliges! 158-6.