What a wild thing that is to say about England – I’ll never get my heed around it. Anyhow, thanks all for your company and comments – Geoff Lemon will be here shortly to coax you through England’s inevitable collapse. Peace out!
Netherlands will know they’re not even close to a competitive total, but you never know – an early wicket or four, and they’re in the match.
England need 236 to beat Netherlands!
41st over: Netherlands 235-7 (Van Beek 30, Snater 17) Oh I forgot about Willey, and it’s he who’ll bowl the last over; Van Beek slices its first delivery, but running back from cover, Morgan can’t quite catch up with it, the ball missing his outstretched hand as the batters run two. A single to midwicket follows – Van Beek just hasn’t been able to locate the middle of his bat – then Snaker cuts two to deep backward. He too can only follow a brace with a one, muscled to long on, but good on Logan Van Beek, he the final rock of the over is right in the slot and he’s not discouraged from going at it, carting six over long on!
40th over: Netherlands 223-7 (Van Beek 22, Snater 14) Two overs to go and Carse returns to bowl one of them – it’ll be Moeen or Livingstone to finish off. After two dots, Van Beek hauls around the corner for one, then Snater does likewise to midwicket – this isn’t what Netherlands need, and though Carse hands them a wide down leg, they can only manage three more from the two balls that remain.
39th over: Netherlands 217-7 (Van Beek 18, Snater 13) Van Beek in the house! It took a while, but here’s Van Beek dancing down at one given a bit more flight, flaying through the line and out of the ground for six! Various groundstaff are in the bushes seeking the ball so the DJ sticks on another banger, then we go 1, 2, 1, 2, the last of those testing Willey’s arm a second time. This time, the bounce takes the ball over the stumps, then Van Beek adds another single to long off. Rashid finishes with 9-0-50-2.
38th over: Netherlands 204-7 (Van Beek 8, Snater 10) YMCA time over the PA – after a slow start, this is turning into something of a party. Topley, into his eighth and probably final over – I’d expect Rashid to be the man who gets nine – is turned away for two by Snater, who then works a single to long on. That gives Van Beek another go and he finally musters a shot, clipping two to midwicket. A shovelled pull adds one more and brings Snater back on strike – he misses ioth a colossal mow but comes down next ball and absolutely knucks six over midwicket!
37th over: Netherlands 192-7 (Van Beek 5, Snater 1) Snater sweeps his first ball around the corner for one, but all that does is bring Van Beek onto strike, who still can’t find the little red thing. He’s now five off 21 and he can’t even get himself out to give someone else a shy.
WICKET! Pringle b Rashid 0 (Netherlands 191-7)
The pressure’s been increasing these last few overs and when Pringle looks to work Rashid away into the on side, turn and a wrongun he wasn’t expecting means he’s clean bowled, his d’boo innings lasting two balls and accruing zero runs.
36th over: Netherlands 190-6 (Van Beek 4, Pringle 0) That wicket might just signal the end of this match as a potential contest. Van Beek has struggled to get anything going in the 17 balls he’s now faced, playing away four dots before taking one to midwicket, and Pringle can only defend the final delivery of Topley’s seventh over.
WICKET! Edwards run out (Willey) 78 (Netherlands 189-6)
Rashid bowls a flat one that Edwards schleps to midwicket, and when the batters come back for a second, a terrific through breaks the stumps! It doesn’t look out, but the replay shows that it is, ending a very fine innings that Buttler applauds while Roy taps its maker on the back.
35th over: Netherlands 189-5 (Edwards 78, Van Beek 3) The DJ is getting this going; the over before last, he dropped Freed From Desire, prompting someone in comms, I forget who, to celebrate 1999 saying it was the year he finished school. Sadly for him, those of us who finished school in 1997 and purchased an entire holiday to Lloret de Mar, flights, accommodation and insurance, for £250, know that he’s two years out. Anyway, Rashid’s latest over yields four singles from five balls, then the batters take another from the last, Willey shies, hits … and we’re going upstairs!
34th over: Netherlands 184-5 (Edwards 75, Van Beek 1) Edwards has batted beautifully today, and aware that Morgan has packed the on side, he gets square-on, swaps hands, and reverse-ramps Willey for six over third man! I know, he really did! That is a wondrous shot not unlike Joe Root’s the other day, and he adds to it next ball with a twizzle to backward square for two; two singles and a leg bye follow. Eleven from the over, and Netherlands need to find more like that.
33rd over: Netherlands 171-5 (Edwards 65, Van Beek 1) Rashod returns and Edwards sweeps him for one, then Van Beek misses with a sweep before forcing a wrongun away into the one side for one more; Edwards adds another single to backward square, and that brings us to the powerplay…
“Following on from Jeremy Boyce,” emails Andrew Small, “for me the equivalent was one-day games at the Oval in the 80s. Trying to follow the ball from side-on when Sylvester Clarke was bowling completely impossible. Even clearer just how quick he was when watching Graeme Dillley later in the day where you could track the ball quite easily. One remarkable bowler one very good one, both gone far too soon.”
32nd over: Netherlands 171-5 (Edwards 63, Van Beek 0) That last partnership was 73, and has given Netherlands some kind of chance. But they’ll want another hundred off the final 10 – good luck with that, old mates – and Willey’s getting just enough movement to work over Van Beek, who’s beaten three balls in a row. Back to McCartney, the older I get the more apparent it becomes that he was and is the best Beatle by far. His ability to simplify music when he talks about it, and his recall for music-related things that happened 50 years ago is astounding – check out the Rick Rubin doc if you haven’t already.
WICKET! Nidamanru b Willey 28 (Netherlands 170-5)
Nidamanru, who’s batted well, has a swing, is deceived by a smidge of in-duck, then hears the death-rattle behind him.
32nd over: Netherlands 170-4 (Edwards 63, Nidamanru 28) As Hey Jude plays over the PA – on Paul McCartney’s 80th, noch – the crowd wade right on. It’s lovely.
31st over: Netherlands 169-4 (Edwards 62, Nidamanru 28) Here we go, Edwards comes forward to Carse and swipes him dismissively over midwicket for four – that’s another fine shot. Two singles follow, then a wide – gosh, that was a long way away from leg stump, not just a wide but a very wide – while in comms they wonder why Buttler, who might be nursing a finger injury, is keeping when Salt can do the job. So Carse does what he does, amping up the pace; Edwards misses his drive outside off, then his run-down to third. He manages the latter, though, off the over’s final ball to retain strike.
30th over: Netherlands 161-4 (Edwards 56, Nidamanru 27) Willey returns so Nidamanru has a look, then clatters hard and rolls wrists over the ball, earning four to deep backward. He might fancy a dart at Willey, who bowls most of his overs at the start for a reason, so goes again only to edge; they run, Buttler fields … and misses with his shy. He hits and it’s gone, but instead has to wear a single before Nidamanru misses a full-bunger and he misses an awkward bounce which costs him four byes. The platform has been contsructed; can Netherlands build something decent upon it?
29th over: Netherlands 151-4 (Edwards 55, Nidamanru 22) Carse returns and Nidamanru turns to square leg for one, then Edwards hangs back and swings big, absolutely cleansing a full one back over the bowler’s head and into the stand for six and raising his fifty in the process! Not bad – he’s played nicely – and two more singles mean that’s 10 off the over.
28th over: Netherlands 142-4 (Edwards 48, Nidamanru 20) This is impressive from Topley, who’s doing a decent job of cramping the batters. Three singles from the other, and Netherlands are running out of time to set something competitive.
“Hmmm Daniel,” chides Richard Hirst. “Bicknell was a very clever bowler who could manipulate the ball: inswing, inswing, outswing … wicket.”
I agree – didn’t say he was rubbish, but he’d not be getting picked in this era and in his, things improved a lot when Gough and Caddick turned up.
27th over: Netherlands 139-4 (Edwards 47, Nidamanru 18) Four singles make this another decent over for Livingstone … until he gives its final delivery some air, so Edwards waits before collaring a ball that a big stride turns into a half-volley, sending it over square leg for another six!
“Speedsters,” begins Jeremy Boyce. “I once had the pleasure of watching Thommo, at Headingley when Geoffrey scored his 100th hundred. We were on the Western Terrace looking from the side, best place to see his magnificent slingshot action. But you never saw the ball until it either hit the wicket/batsman, was hit, or was in the keeper’s gloves. I’ve seen plenty since, but he was the speediest by a mile. And, like Hadlee, off about 14 paces.
26th over: Netherlands 129-4 (Edwards 39, Nidamanru 16) Topley returns, replacing Moeen – who went for 30 off four. That makes a lot of sense for England, bringing on their opener as Netherlands look to crack on, and shonuff a tight return yields just three – all of them to Edwards.
25th over: Netherlands 126-4 (Edwards 36, Nidamanru 16) Nidamanru looks good out there and comes down to take one to long on. Toe more singles, spit by a leg bye, come next, then a beauty from Livingstone grips, turns, and beats Nidamanru’s outside edge, followed by his off stump. That was a lovely globule, but in the meantime this partnership is worth 29 off 26.
24th over: Netherlands 122-4 (Edwards 34, Nidamanru 15) Let’s hope so! Nidamanru zetzes four to the midwicket fence then, after a single to Edwards, absolutely caresses Moeen for six down the ground! A single follows, and the sprint for the line is on!
23rd over: Netherlands 110-4 (Edwards 29, Nidamanru 8) Nidamanru backs away, then wallops Livingstone over mid off and to the fence; a pair of singles and a two follow. I keep saying this, but can Netherlands build on that and increase the rate?
“I lived with Bas (and missus) for a summer when he came to Perth to play for the mighty Balcatta Cricket Club,” says Jake Santa Maria. “Good to see him get a run here – it’s a shame back injuries have hampered his bowling, but as much as the first game was a mismatch Netherlands just need to be playing more, they have some quality there if it’s nurtured.”
I agree. The more they play better opposition, the better they’ll get, and the better they get, the even better this thing of ours will get.
22nd over: Netherlands 102-4 (Edwards 28, Nidamanru 1) Nidamanru gets away with a single to point, then when Moeen goes slower and wider, Edwards aulls him around the corner for a lofted four to deep backward square.
21st over: Netherlands 97-4 (Edwards 34, Nidamanru 0) If they weren’t in trouble before, which they were, Netherlands would be in trouble now, which they also are.
WICKET!! De Leede c Willey b Livingstone 34 (Netherlands 97-4)
That is, I guess, why Netherlands haven’t taken many risks. De Leede comes down, chucks everything … and sends a skier directly to Willey at mid on. Well done Eoin Morgan for keeping him in a catching position, and that’s the end of a 61-run partnership.
21st over: Netherlands 97-3 (De Leede 34, Edwards 24) Livingstone continues and surely, if Netherlands are to have a serious dart at this, he’s the man they’ve got to go for. But instead the batters milk him for singles – four of them off the over’s first four balls.
“I was wondering what kind of heat Carse is generating?” asks Tom van der Gucht. “I think I’d read he was quite pacey. There’s always something thrilling about a genuine speedster and I’m similarly keen to see Jamie Overton get the nod at Headingley this week.”
Yup, he’s got gas, and is a solid unit too.
20th over: Netherlands 93-3 (De Leede 32, Edwards 22) Nice from De Leede, who shimmies down, then then flicks Moeen over midwicket, flamingo-style. A sweep for two follows, then three singles, and that’s a bit better; nine off the over, can Netherlands build on it? Well, like all big journeys, it’s going to start with a drink.
19th over: Netherlands 84-3 (De Leede 24, Edwards 21) James Debens’ Livingsstone comes into the attack and De Leede runs him down for one, then Edwards stretches into a reverse for two.
“In honour of the newly-single-and-devilishly-handsome Matt Dony,” says Mac Millings I’ve put together an all-time Shakespearean XI. Eagle-eyed readers will spot that I haven’t picked a keeper. It was too tough a call. YJB, or AB deV, that is the question.
1 If it were done when ‘tis done, then there well it were Dom Sibley
2 Thou art too full of the Michael Henry Denness to catch the nearest way
3 Out, damned Trott!
4 Fair is foul, and foul is Fairbrother
5 Cry “havoc!” and let slip the dogs of Warne
6 Beware the wides of Archer
7 What’s in a name? Ambrose by any other name would smell as sweet
8 Shall I compare Lee to a summer’s day?Thought art more lovely and more tender, Brett.
9 What Best through yonder window breaks?
10 s this an Aggers which I see before me?
On stand-by:
Now is the Ashwinter of our discontent
The Broady doth review too much, methinks
18th over: Netherlands 81-3 (De Leede 23, Edwards 19) Moeen into the attack, and he’s worked around for four singles. Surely Netherlands have to start throwing hands, though – we’re nearly halfway through, and I don’t totally understand their caution at the same time as understanding it completely.
“I’m a confirmed atheist,” says Richard Hirst, “but you’re making Judaism sound quite attractive – so far we’ve had sex (well, relationships) and alcohol.”
Here’s a tune to cement things.
17th over: Netherlands 77-3 (De Leede 21, Edwards 17) Netherlands have got to free their arms because otherwise this just isn’t a game. And, as I type that, Edwards follows a single to De Leede with a sweep yanked from outside off all the way to the fence at deep midwicket, one bounce; a single and a wide follow, which means that after five overs, Rashid has gone for a relatively expensive 27.
16th over: Netherlands 70-3 (De Leede 20, Edwards 12) Edwards takes a single into the off side, but will know that the current run-rate of 4.53 won’t make a game of it. Carse responds with two dots, De Leede glides one more into the covers, and two from the over isn’t enough for Netherlands. Back to the bowler, though, I wonder if he might force his way into the Test reckoning soon. It’s hard because England have so many quality quicks these days, which is baffling to type for someone who grew up with Pringle, Igglesden, Mallender, Ilott, Bicknell, McCague, Agnew and so on.
15th over: Netherlands 68-3 (De Leede 19, Edwards 11) Edwards nudges a single to mid on, then have a look! De Leede waits, gets down on one knee … and absolutely annihilates a six over long off, cracking the commentary box window, Tino Best-style! That’s a ridiculous zetz, but Rashid does really well to respond with four dots.
14th over: Netherlands 61-3 (De Leede 13, Edwards 10) Edwards shovels a pull away to deep midwicket, Salt chasing around the rope to save a boundary with a dive as they run three.
REVIEW! NOT OUT!
Nope, the ball was missing leg stump, just, so a leg bye is added to the total.
14th over: Netherlands 58-3 (De Leede 13, Edwards 7) Carse’s latest over begins with two leg byes and a single, then a fuller one catches Edwards on the pad as he comes down. They run one, but when England’s appeal is rejected, they review once more.
“Enjoying your o-b-o here in the cool and dark indoors,” says Jeremy Boyce. “It’s hot as heck in the south of France.Anyway, in all this talk of bowlers, tactics, technique, ability, isn’t it true that one of England’s best ever ODI bowlers was the legend that is Dermot Reeve and his legendary dibbly-dobblers ? Did he have a plan? Or was he just living in the moment? We may never know.”
What an era that was, Ealham, Austin, Capel and all the rest. I feel whatever the opposite of nostalgia is.
13th over: Netherlands 54-3 (De Leede 13, Edwards 6) Edwards forces two to backward square, then one to point.
REVIEW! NOT OUT!
Impact was outside the line, it was missing leg stump and there was no edge. Other than than that, though, a fine use of the tech.
13th over: Netherlands 51-3 (De Leede 13, Edwards 3) I fear I did Jos Buttler a disservice. He didn’t miss the stumps, he just didn’t hit them hard enough. Whoops. Anyhow, De Leede knocks Rashid to mid off, Salt shies, hits, and they take a single as the ball disappears. Next delivery, Edwards wears on the pad again, just – it hits the outside – so England appeal, for lb or caught behind I’m not sure, and when the umpire says no, they review. I doubt they’re getting this.
12th over: Netherlands 50-3 (De Leede 12, Edwards 3) I like the look of Carse, who’s taken for a single then digs one in a brute; Edwards narrowly avoids wearing it on the teeth, a 91mpher follows, then a single then three to deep midwicket. This is a huge partnership for Netherlands.
“Went to see Bruce at Wembley on the Born in the USA tour,” says Richard Hirst, “and smuggled gin, tonic and ice in, via a thermos flask – very civilised.”
Mt wife and I went to see Beyoncé at Olimpico in Rome, got in dead early to get to the front, it’s hot as hell … and the bars are only taking cash, of which we had none.
11th over: Netherlands 45-3 (De Leede 8, Edwards 2) Edwards sweeps for one, then De Leede digs out a half-volley and is zips awat for four through cover. Good shot, and a drive to cover has the batters sprinting – Roy leaps to make a brilliant stop, throws in superbly … and somehow, Buttler goes to break the stumps and misses! What an oversight that is!
NOT OUT!
Umpire’s call on impact, but just turned enough to be missing off. That’s a very good review, because it looked plumb in real time.
NETHERLANDS REVIEW!
Good luck old mate.
WICKET! Edwards lbw b Rashid 1 (Netherlands 39-4)
Edwards leaves a straight one, it hits him low and in front; he’s got to go!
10th over: Netherlands 39-3 (De Leede 3, Edwards 1) We see that the wicket-ball was clipping leg, so ultimately Cooper did well to take his leave. Edwards gets away with a nudge to leg as we see Carse in slowmotion – he takes a huge leap into his delivery stride and has a pretty fast arm, finding enough bounce to contact De Leede’s splice; an inside-edge brings two.
“OBOs, MBMs etc. tend to be full of socially inept, awkward people who are nonetheless very funny, incredibly (oddly) passionate, well-read and interesting,” says . (At least, that’s the impression from the emails that get past the rigid editorial selection process.) A Blind Date/OBO/Soul Mates mash-up seems so obvious! Why hasn’t it been done before! Matt ‘Newly-single-but-considerably-less-handsome-than-Foakes’ Dony.”
This would make me very happy.
WICKET! Cooper lbw b Carse 17 (Netherlands 36-3)
Carse gets movement off the seam back into Cooper, who misses with his swish and wears the ball on the knee-roll in front of middle. I’d have reviewed on height, I guess, but more because of the situation than any conviction. But Cooper walks off, and Carse has a wicket with his second ball!
10th over: Netherlands 36-2 (O’Dowd 17, De Leede 1) Carse into the attack…
9th over: Netherlands 36-2 (O’Dowd 17, De Leede 1) I seem to say this so often, but I’m not having that Rashid isn’t England’s best Test-match spinner. He cedes two more singles, De Leede off the mark with a nurdle to leg and Cooper driving down the grounds, making for a decent opening over of 1-3.
WICKET! O’Dowd c Malan b Rashid 7 (Netherlands 34-2)
Rashid tries a fuller, wider one, and O’Dowd miscues a slog-sweep, allowing Malan to dive high, snaffling a beauty at square leg. Netherlands have a problem.
9th over: Netherlands 34-1 (O’Dowd 7, Cooper 16) That’s the end of the powerplay, so it’s Rashid into the attack and Cooper takes a single to long off.
8th over: Netherlands 33-1 (O’Dowd 7, Cooper 15) Cooper isn’t waiting to be asked, twizzling off the pads for two, then spanking to cover, top of the bounce, for four. That was a decent delivery, but the track is true and the ball’s coming on, so it’s possible to trust it and play shots. A miscued pull for one follows, and Netherlands are improving.
“ I am with a Dutch friend who has never been to the cricket,” says Eva Broer, “so I am doing a lot of explaining (she is taking to the beers at 11 like a duck to the proverbial, mind). Apart from the *handsome* men we are sat with a female cricket team from Leiden who have invited us to their next game. Very excited. They are all about Reece Topley, lacking Mr Anderson he is the most handsome in the field. Everybody is pleasantly drunk, by the way, because of the late start.”
Next: try her at synagogue, where liquid is also served early doors, except it’s not beer it’s whisky.
7th over: Netherlands 26-1 (O’Dowd 8, Cooper 7) Cooper nudges to cover and gets off the mark with a two, giving him 1000 ODI runs, after which he and O’Dowd both add a single. We then learn that Topley’s last over was the serieseseses’ first maiden, O’Dowd works one more to off, then Cooper retreats in his crease, elevates onto tippy-toes, and punches to the point fence for four. That’s a lovely shot, a single follows, and nine runs off the over is a ot more like it.
6th over: Netherlands 17-1 (O’Dowd 6, Cooper 0) I like the way Topley’s bowling here, really digging into the pitch and cramping the batters. I’m not at all sure what England’s attack will be in India – you’d expect Stokes and Archer, not playing today, to be part of it, and Wood and Woakes have great shouts too. But Topley looks a terrific option, especially for the subcontinent where his lefty angle will offer important variety, and this latest over is a maiden.
5th over: Netherlands 17-1 (O’Dowd 6, Cooper 0) Looking at the wicket again, the ball got a bit big on Singh, bouncing higher than he expected – but if he unloads the suitcase at it, he clears the fielder and survives. Still, that’s an excellent over from Willey, one run and a wicket coming from it.
WICKET! Singh c Carse b Willey 10 (Netherlands 17-1)
Clever from Willey, a surprise short one tempting Singh, who hooks but doesn’t commit, lobbing up for Carse at square leg. He takes a few little steps back then pouches.
