Ciderset (A)

[nat]

Tonight's massacre will be live on Sky Sports unfortunately.

I suppose there is no chance that they will produce their normal minefield for matches against Essex?!

[dazedpenguin]

Looking at their squad it looks seam heavy, so probably not much joy for Harmer, Critchley and Benkenstein.

[dazedpenguin]

Essex lost the toss and will field. It's the same team.

Rossington, Elgar, Pepper, Cox, Walter, Critchley, Sams, Harmer, Benkenstein, Allison, Beard

[nat]

Going well.

[nat]

Elgar excellent

[nat]

Win or lose that was a good batting effort.

[Slogger]

I don't subscribe to Sky, but my son has acquired a stream for this match. I must say I'm astonished by the banality, inaccuracy and down right stupidy of much of the commentary. I think the high point was Lydia Greenway stating Essex had played Surrey in a quarter final. A bit difficult as both are in the southern group. None of them seem to have worked out Elgar's status either.

[nat]

I don't subscribe to Sky, but my son has acquired a stream for this match. I must say I'm astonished by the banality, inaccuracy and down right stupidy of much of the commentary. I think the high point was Lydia Greenway stating Essex had played Surrey in a quarter final. A bit difficult as both are in the southern group. None of them seem to have worked out Elgar's status either.

Expect nothing else with Nick Knight and Dom Cork on comms.

[nat]

Not much in it. Fine margins and all that. Always thought Sams is overrated and I haven't changed my mind.

[smandlej]

We got a Now Day Pass and watched it, but we don't listen to the commentary, use the BBC one instead.  It also has the added benefit of muting the endless advertisements.

We did wonder why Beard wasn't given a fourth over.

Lynda and Steve

[vim]

I watched part of the game with little or no sound on a stream from someone's phone abroad for the gambling opportunities. Sky are usually quick in taking these down. Is domestic T20 no longer a priority for them now.

[dazedpenguin]

You can always find streams for any Sky coverage, you're just dicing with malware and viruses and the quality isn't always great. I have a monthly NowTV pass, but that doesn't always work if I'm out of the UK.

As for the game, maybe a few different bowling changes could have made a difference, but probably not and it's so difficult on a ground like Taunton and easy to say in hindsight. I thought Beard bowled well and Benkenstein continues to look promising and I hope they persist with him. I would still rather see one of the younger players get a chance rather than Elgar, but no denying he played well. I just think his strike rate at the start of his innings puts more pressure on the other batters. Is several breezy 20 or 30s better than 70 odd accelerating after a slow start?

But it's early days and I think this team will put some wins together. Essex are masters of turning things around after a slow start to the tournament.

[bwildered]

 Think if we play like that against any other county would probably had beat them. Bowled the spinners one over too many. Gregory played a decent knock to see them home comfortably in the end .
 
Anybody visit the County ground to see the residential Middlesex side play hosts ? Weather was pretty autumnal for end of spring ! Wondered if the crowd matched to England Women game the previous day .
 

[JasonP]

Think if we play like that against any other county would probably had beat them. Bowled the spinners one over too many. Gregory played a decent knock to see them home comfortably in the end .
 
Anybody visit the County ground to see the residential Middlesex side play hosts ? Weather was pretty autumnal for end of spring ! Wondered if the crowd matched to England Women game the previous day .

I was there yesterday but only watched a bit of women?s match on tv.  The crowd yesterday was nowhere near that.  From the main scoreboard up until the sight screen in the Hayes Close none of the seats were used at all.  I'm no good at estimating numbers.
I presume the same pitch will be used for tomorrow but the playing area will be quite a bit smaller as there was no seats on the outfield in front of the pavillion like there is when Essex play T20s.