Kiwi County Tour #4 (Royal London One-Day Cup)
Sexy.
The Kiwi County Tour hits one-day mode as the Royal London One-Day Cup sparks into action. One would have thought that trying to get as many kiwi lads playing County cricket, more specifically some one-day cricket over in England would have been hugely beneficial to the Blackcaps Champions Trophy preparations but instead, Lord Jeetz is the only Blackcap named in the Champions Trophy who is currently playing one-day cricket.
For the Kiwi County Tour, this is all good as we're getting to know each other far too well. For the Blackcaps, well their Champions Trophy prep is filling me with as much confidence as Lesson themselves. We did see Matt Quinn earn some game time with Essex though, opening the bowling alongside Neil Wagner.
James Franklin
Middlesex vs Sussex (April 27 England Time)
Quite a few of the opening round's games couldn't get a result thanks to the weather, but that didn't stop James Franklin hitting 69 off 60 balls to help Middlesex reach 341/5 off their 50 overs. Only 4 overs were bowled in the second innings so there's not a whole lot to report here.
Franklin came in at No.6 and hit 5 sixes. All four of Middlesex's major contributions (Franklin hit the third top-score) came with strike-rates over 100 and Franklin was eventuall bowled by former England international Ajmal Shahzad.
Middlesex vs Gloucestershire (April 30 ET)
Middlesex suffered defeat in their second game and Franklin failed to back up his impressive knock from the first game as he managed a 3-ball duck. Aussie Adam Voges led Middlesex to 256 and Gloucestershire chased it down with 5 wickets and 6 balls to spare.
Franklin used himself as the fifth seamer, taking 1/45 off his 7 overs @ 6.42rpo.
Jeetan Patel
Northamptonshire vs Warwickshire (April 27 ET)
Rain impact this game as well, however there was a result thanks to ol' mates Duckworth and Lewis, who shortened each innings to 30 overs. With Northamptonshire batting first, Jeetan Patel took 2/25 off 6 overs, conceding 4.16rpo.
Lord Jeetz has been in fine form with the bat definitely wasn't required as Warwickshire chased down their 159-run target in 26 overs, without losing a wicket.
Matt Quinn/Neil Wagner
Essex vs Hampshire (April 30, ET)
Essex got their tournament off to a fine start and it was largely thanks to the best kiwi bowler, who won't be playing at the Champions Trophy. Batting first, Essex reached 304/7 off their 50 overs with our kiwi lads Matt Quinn and Neil Wagner not required to bat. These two instead came out and dismissed both Hampshire openers, to leave them 36/2 after 7.3 overs in pursuit of that big ol' total.
Wagner finished with 4/41 off 9.2 overs @ 4.39rpo and skittled the stumps of former England opener Michael Carberry, while also dismissing Aussie George Baily and South African bowler Kyle Abbott. Quinn bowled 9 overs, 1/50, conceding 5.55rpo and his wicket also saw him skittle the stumps.
Wagner's late wickets helped seal the win for Essex as they dismissed Hampshire for 279 in the 49th over.
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