Surfeit of T20 cricket takes over

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Last Thursday saw the end of a complicated saga involving the county second eleven T20 competition. It does seem incredible that the finals day of this national contest should be held at almost the most southerly first class ground in the country. The long journey, and short notice following Durham's withdrawal, obviously did Yorkshire no favours. However Warwickshire's 155-7 in the first semi-final was enough to see them through to the final thanks to a top score of 66 from Matthew Montgomery, a former South African under 19 captain. Middlesex's strong looking batting line up were then bowled out for 137. Leading wicket taker was the forgotten, other Ryan Sidebottom, an Australian, with 4-28.

Yorkshire struggled in the second semi-final, making only 134-6 with Matt Revis top scoring with 40. Sussex fielding an impressive top three of Salt (58), Travis Head (66*) and Ravi Bopara, coasted home to win by nine wickets. Strangely the Sussex side for the final omitted these three to be replaced by younger, local lads which seems to me to be the purpose of this competition. However in reply to Warwickshire's 155-7, which again depended on Montgomery's 66, they collapsed to be bowled all out for 95.

George Garrett gets an lbw decision to win the match for Warwickshire.

Warwickshire's success was largely due to George Garrett, a largely unknown seam bowler outside Birmingham, with outstanding figures of  5-19. So perhaps in the end a deserved victory for the men from Edgbaston, even if they needed the assistance of two South Africans and an Australian. This does raise the question of the purpose of this competition and whether there should be some restriction on overseas players as well as regular first team members.

At first team level the T20 Blast lumbers on with matches coming thick and fast. Some producing exciting close finishes, notably the three tied matches involving Nottinghamshire, but many others rather more one sided which leaves little excitement for the viewers or the actual spectators at the grounds. This week's sight of hundreds of students celebrating end of term in typical fashion at both Edgbaston and the Riverside were not great adverts for the game or for the common sense of all those ignoring social distancing.