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THURSDAY 23 AUGUST 2001 Since my last article we haven't played as well as we would've liked - which has been a little disappointing - but we only have ourselves to blame. In the Cheltenham & Gloucester quarter-final against Leicestershire we didn't play as well as we had been leading up to the game. They are a good, well balanced side and are playing well this season. They also won their semi-final and are the favourites going into the Final at Lord's on 1 September. In our quarter-final against these guys, their overseas player Shaid Afridi got them off to a great start scoring 68 off about 45 balls. There was little we could do; with the field up in the first 15 overs, we tried a few things and, even though he played and missed a few times early, he had put his side in a good position by the time he got out. They went on to make a good total, whilst we lost wickets early and never really threatened their score. It was disappointing to lose because the boys were hyped up for a big day. In the CricInfo Championship we have lost a bit of ground too. We've played 3 games in recent weeks, drawing one and losing the other two. In all three matches we played some excellent cricket but lost the honours on one day of each contest, and the games therefore slipped away from our control before we could pull it back. It's something we have done almost all season: just losing our concentration for a few hours of the game and things have got away from us. It has been the difference between finishing at the top of the table or halfway down. But all is not completely lost and we still have a lot to play for yet. Albeit that we need a fair bit of luck if we're going to gain promotion from our division. In the National League one-day competition we're still placed second with four games to play, and we sit just two points behind Durham. Jimmy Maher's team (Glamorgan) is the one to watch as they're currently third with six games left. We have yet to play them at home so I'm looking forward to this clash, especially as we have only played each other twice this season and the results stand at one apiece. It's a game we must win in my books because Jimmy will never forget this encounter! One of the three games we have played recently was unfortunately rained off at Lord's, leaving us and Middlesex with two points each. Another was against my good mate Stuart Law down in Essex, which we lost. Even though I didn't get the prize scalp of Stewie's, I managed to grab a few wickets myself. The greatest thing of all was that I finally got myself a hat-trick. Ok, I got one at school when I played, but I don't think that counts! A hat-trick has been something I have always wanted to achieve at this level and finally I don't have to put myself under pressure any more. The funny thing about it is that I have been on so many and never got one. I have achieved three wickets in four balls quite a few times. Day-night cricket in England is under the microscope at the moment. But I must say I have played in three day-night games this season and all have been excellent. The problem they are having here is the team that bats first more often than not wins. The lighting is probably one problem that needs to be addressed: they only have four light towers on the back of trucks which Sky Sports move from ground to ground. For me, all three occasions have been very enjoyable from a player's perspective and people at these grounds have liked what they have seen. We were very lucky with the weather for two matches (even we weren't interrupted by any rain!), even if the game in Manchester brought extremely cold conditions at night. Our day-night match at Worcester was a huge success for the club because it was a top of the table clash with Durham. They made 274 runs from their 45 overs, and we got the runs with two overs remaining. It was a fantastic night for all the Worcester supporters even though there were a few complaints made about the fireworks that were going off every time we hit a boundary. In my experience, there should be more day-night cricket in England. Elsewhere in England, the Aussies have won the series but I feel that I have been let down after my prediction that they would win 5-nil. Obviously it was not to be; after an excellent declaration by Adam Gilchrist and his team that set England 315 to win on a fifth day wicket, someone was going to have to play well. After watching the first 15 overs when McGrath and Gillespie were bowling, how Mark Butcher survived I will never know. But survive he did and full credit to him because he played a superb knock for his country. It was something very special and his innings will not be forgotten for many years to come. Anyway, the Fifth Test is about to get under way and hopefully the lads will win this one and to go home 4-1 will be fine, I'm sure. Until next time, see you later! Andy Bichel
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