England 3-2 Sweden: Game, Set and Match

The experience of watching an English team play football is usually a traumatic one, and this was no exception. On this occasion though, it reminded me of another experience. England's Yes-No-Maybe-Yes win against Sweden had all of the qualities of a Tim Henman match at Wimbledon. Like Tim so often did, England today took the first set, through a flying Andy Carroll header, but after a 15 minute rain delay, or half time, they side came out all dazed and confused to quickly drop sets 2 and 3. Staring down the barrel of defeat, a scrappy fourth set saw England draw level, before a serve-and volley master-class from Danny Welbeck saw them home 3-2. Throw in the actual weather delay during the France / Ukraine game and all this evening was missing was strawberries and cream and some overpriced Pimms!

Essex v Gloucestershire - Pro 40, 4/6/12

On a cold, but thankfully dry, Jubilee Day at Chelmsford, Essex attempted to kick-start their season with an 8-wicket win over a Gloucestershire side, who were distinctly second best on the day.

The day began well for the Eagles with Graham Napier twice beating Will Gidman’s bat before bowling him out for a duck. Gidman’s opening partner, Hamish Marshall, who may well have inspired David Luiz’s haircut, made it to 24, but through a series of unconvincing shots, including more than one boundary that he inside-edged past Essex keeper Foster, and he never threatened to build a substantial innings. He was eventually bowled by Tymal Mills, backing away, trying to slash through the offside.

The Essex bowling remained tight for the majority of the innings, forcing Gloucestershire to consolidate after the loss of early wickets, scoring at less than 4 an over for more than 30 overs. The mainstay of the innings, and the driving force behind their competitive total, was Kane Williamson. A New Zealand international, Williamson showed glimpses of his class, and much of his patience. Starting conservatively, before launching an assault at the tail end of the innings, Williamson struck seven 4’s and a 6 in his 73 ball 77?

The respectability was brought to the score line by a dramatic increase in the death overs.  Essex had no answer to the combination of the Powerplay and short boundaries, Mills, Napier and David Masters all saw their figures take a hammering as Ian Cockbain brought up his half century in 44 balls.  Young Jack Taylor chipped in with a career best 22 not out and Gloucestershire posted 224 – 5 from their 40 overs.

Essex’s response started badly, but predictably. I asserted with confidence that former captain Mark Pettini would score nought, and he duly delivered the expected duck. After this early stutter though, the game was a one-way procession. On a pitch that Gloucester had managed to look trialling, Pettini’s opening partner Ravi Bopara and Tom Westley put on a partnership of 185 at a good pace to set up victory for the Eagles.

Wesstley’s innings came to an end at 85, but this was more to do with the pressure to score quickly if he was to reach a hundred due to Bopara’s strike rate, than any pressure from the West-Country side’s bowling prowess. Westley’s departure only delayed the inevitable though, and Bopara, returning from injury, completed his hundred as he guided Essex home. He was ably assisted by Owais Shah, fresh from a successful time at the IPL, but this was Bopara’s day. Finishing on 120 not out, Bopara had once again caught the eye of international selectors striking the ball cleanly, scoring all around the ground and displaying the class that cricket fans nationwide are all well aware of.