Kiwi County Tour #17
Chops ... Taka's finest
After a few lean weeks, relying on Jeetz to hold things down for the Kiwi County Tour, we've been graced with the presence of a few more gang members and a newbie as well. Jeetan Patel was joined by James Franklin, Hamish Marshall and Neil Broom on the Kiwi County Tour bus with Auckland batsman Craig Cachopa making an overdue appearance with Sussex.
Middlesex vs Warwickshire
The two Wellington lads on the Kiwi County Tour went to battle with Jeetz and James Franklin facing off. Jeetz played host with Middlesex first up to bat, Franklin came in at No.7 and hit a cheeky 29 before getting trapped lbw as Middlesex were dismissed for 242. Jeetz only managed a single wicket, taking 1/74 off 18 overs.
Franklin didn't need to use himself as a bowling option too much, as Middlesex skittled Warwickshire for 172 with Franklin bowling 3 overs for just 6 runs. Jeetz came in at No.9 and was sent back to the sheds for a golden-duck. Middlesex had a little lead and built on that, declaring on 267/7 to put Warwickshire back in chasing 338. Jeetz took 3/92 off 29 overs, dismissing 3 of Middlesex's top-4 batsmen - he couldn't take Franklin's wicket in either innings though.
Warwickshire finished up on 120/4 and this one finished in a draw, with Patel yet to bat and Franklin not needed at the bowling crease.
Jeetz now has 58 wickets ... 58 wickets! 58 wickets in 14 games, at an average of 25.58 and 2.73rpo. All hail Lord Jeetz.
Jeetan Patel: 1/74 off 18, 0, 3/92 off 29.
James Franklin: 29, 0/6 off 3, 5.
Sussex vs Kent
Craig Cachopa has been patiently waiting for a spot on the Kiwi County Tour bus and after playing two games for Sussex 2nd XI, Cachopa got the call into the Sussex middle order for their game against Kent. Cachopa was required early, coming in at No.5 with Sussex in trouble and he fought off 65 deliveries only to be dismissed on 19 as Sussex were all out for 180.
Kent then took a big lead, hitting 496 in their first turn to bat and unfortunately for Cachopa and Sussex, they could only muster another 189 as Kent's bowlers did the trick, twice. Cachopa did top-score for Sussex in their second innings though, hitting 34 and at a much better tempo as that 34 came off just 42 deliveries.
Cachopa has dished up a mixed bag with Sussex in limited overs cricket. In his last three T20 innings he hit 5, 18 and 45 while in his last game for the 2nd XI, Cachopa hit 58. Another interesting note is that Cachopa had been keeping-wicket for Sussex in their limited overs stuff and in his last 2nd XI game, but he only played as a batsman in this game.
Craig Cachopa: 19, 34.
Derbyshire vs Gloucestershire
We were blessed with another kiwi battle which is always a fun time on the bus, as Neil Broom's Derbyshire took on Hamish Marshall's Gloucs. Broom was first up to bat, hitting Derbyshire's second best score as they were dismissed for 242. Unfortunately, that was just 36 and despite having two kiwi lads in this game, neither put up a notable score in the first innings as Marshall could only manage 11 with Gloucs grabbing a handy lead, all out for 331.
Broom picked it up a little in the second dig, hitting 42. That's two fairly solid returns without a half-century and given that Broom has largely struggled on the Tour, I'm happy with a few solid scores. Derbyshire were dismissed for 360, setting Gloucs 272 to win and with no play on the final day, Gloucs were left stranded on 10 after 5 overs.
Neil Broom: 36, 42.
Hamish Marshall: 11.