Never underestimate the power of the kiss of death
Twenty20 finals day, Edgbaston
Well, first things first, I, and just about anyone else talking about it, got the predictions completely wrong. Now, I’m not so full of it so as to think it was my kiss of death that did for Lancashire and Sussex, but a combined effort from the entire cricketing media (moreorless), was certainly working in Gloucester and Kent’s favour.
Seconds things second, what a great day of cricket! I had planned to keep updating the site throughout the day, but couldn’t tear myself away from the action. 21,000 people in the Edgbaston crowd were treated to some fantastic cricket (not to mention a few million more watching on the TV) - the fact that things didn’t turn out as might have been expected was all the better for it.
I asked for a great day of cricket, and that’s what we got. Which means, hurray, I can say it! Cricket was the winner yesterday*.
Having seen the final, the semi-finals are all but a blur. Lancashire were out of sorts and a fired up Gloucestershire, led by a remarkable innings from Spearman saw them home with more than 3 overs to go. Sussex vs Kent was a similar story, where an innings from Kent captain (and man of the match) Rob Key saw them home relatively easily. If it feels like I’m skirting over the details of the semi-finals, it’s because I am. Put simply, Gloucester and Kent deserved to be in the final and the teams that were tipped for the spots barely turned up. Such is the nature of Twenty20, I suppose, but we certainly were not denied a thrilling final. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Gloucester get off to a slow start. Somehow manage to claw it back. Ryan Mclaren gets a hat-trick. Post a modest total of 140 odd. Kent start well but get pegged back. Handbags and toys thrown from the pram as Rob Key showed his displeasure at getting out. Finish goes down to the last over, with Kent needing 13 from the last 6 balls. The first ball disappears for 4. 9 from 5. Dot. 9 from 4. No ball! Hit for 4! KENT WIN!
Incredible. Not so incredible? Hamish Marshall getting booed as he went to collect his runners-up trophy, considering that he was arguably “man of the day”.
Nevertheless, a fantastic day of cricket.
Tags: cricket, domestic-cricket, hat-trick, kent-win-twenty20, rob-key, ryan-mclaren, Twenty20Related Stories
POSTED IN: Cricket
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