Sellsy's Sunday Supplement

This week Somerset had only 11 fit players to pick from for the match against Durham, now somehow I think selection could be quite easy, even though Brian Rose may be a little frustrated.

Rose should think himself lucky, I remember the days at Over Stowey when we struggled to find 11 players, and if they were fit or not was another matter. With a couple of pints down their necks, they were soon match fit and off we went to play the game.

Stowey actually managed to get a game in yesterday, which is some sort of minor miracle having seen the ground on Thursday evening, the ducks were still enjoying themselves out on the square, quacking away as if they had not a care in the world.

However the weather intervened for the better, a fresh wind and some yellow thing in the sky appeared (I believe people call it the sun!) and the ground took a turn for the better, but how do you prepare a pitch in less than 48 hours – over to you head groundsman Mark Sortwell!

Well prepare he did, and didn’t Stowey respond to the game being played. Ok, I know I mentioned a couple of weeks ago there were (and still are) a lot of low scores around the County Championship, well it has seemed to off rubbed off on the West Somerset League, in particular the Over Stowey matches on Saturday.

Normally a score of 111 would be quite gettable, that what both Stowey’s 1^st and 2^nd XI posted on Saturday, how bizarre. Even more bizarrely that total proved to be enough at the Stowey won by 51 runs and 65 runs respectively, would have been funnier if the opposition was bowled out for the same score, would of made my life easier  writing out the match reports this morning.

Anyway, both Stowey sides won on their first outing of the season, now when did this last happen, or has it ever happened, anyone got any answers for me, I expect the West Somerset League would have old records somewhere, best I ask them.

So the hero’s for the weekend:

• Micheal Barrow – 1^st Team – 6-11
• Phil Rich – 1^st Team – 39
• Julian Pocock – 2^nd Team – 4-13
• Ben Enever – 2^nd Team – 36
• Carl Woodley – 2^nd Team – 34
• Rhys Satchell – 2^nd Team – 3-4
• Ryan Dray (on debut) – 1^st Team – 29

The real hero, shall I give him any credit? It pains me to do it, Mark Sortwell, head groundsman, and to all his team of helpers in getting the ground ready for Saturday. Well done.

Back to Somerset, a tame draw, with two days being washed out, it was hardly surprising. Poor Craig Kieswetter, with a Championship ton beckoning, Somerset’s number 11, Dockers, get run out, leaving Kies stranded on 96; best you make up for it today Craig. Somerset remain fourth in the table, nicely poised…. I hope, come on the Set.

Well, it’s that time of day, 10.57,best I have a Thatchers at The Cottage Inn, hopefully it will help cool down my sunburn!