Paul Grayson blames top order for quarterfinal defeat – Cricket News Update
The Essex County Cricket Club’s head coach, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adrian-Paul-Grayson-c42130 on Tuesday blamed a fragile top order for his side’s quarterfinal oust in this year’s Friends Life T20 tournament.
While chasing a respectable 20-overs total of 175 for 6 set by James Hildreth led Somerset, the Essex batsmen looked totally out of flare, except http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RN-ten-Doeschate-c2338, as the whole side was bundled out in the penultimate over for 148. Seven of the visiting batmen failed to enter double digit figures.
Among the top five players, only http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 ODI skipper, showed some resilience, with 27-ball 28, while the rest of the batsmen fell for scores inside 13.
Grayson lamented that his top order batting miserably misfired while chasing a target which looked no more than a par score in Taunton’s extremely batting friendly conditions.
"We’re happy at the halfway stage,” said the Essex head coach. “But you can't win games from 23 for three. Once again our top order failed to deliver when it matters most,” Grayson rued.
Ryan ten Doeschate led the fight back with some late blitz, to give the tourists a glimmer of hope of a rare win, but Somerset’s wrecker-in-chief http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Max-Waller-c1935, on the third ball of the second last over, to seal the deal in hosts’ way. Doeschate plundered four fours and three sixes in his brisk 47, which came off just 24 balls.
"Ten Doeschate showed what was possible at the end. It was a fast outfield, decent pitch and a small boundary on one side,” said Grayson.
The head coach also had a word of praise for Suffolk medium-pacer Reece Topley, for keeping the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Somerset-c843 batsmen under check.
“Reece Topley has been our stand-out performer in the competition this season and he again bowled very well,” said Grayson.
Somerset will play http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Hildreth-c1647 said that they will do everything right to make their fourth successive finals day appearance count big time.
"We’ll treat Finals Day as if it were our first appearance in it,” said Hildreth after the 27-run win over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Essex-c783.
“All our focus will be on our strengths as a team…if we perform to our maximum we are capable of beating anyone," he added further.
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