The Foxes are T20 champions! Yes they did it, the Leicestershire Foxes, the underdogs of the competition, claimed the T20 trophy for the third time. Winners are grinners. A common phrase that the Foxes use and one which definitely sums up their mentality and will to succeed. The whole team knew they could do it, I knew they could do it, it was everyone else who had tipped Somerset for the win, but to prove them wrong in such a fashion was… well it was just fantastic! Their faces were a picture, and let’s just say their Tweets said it all. It really has been the highlight of the County Season for me.
So semi number 1 – Leicestershire Foxes v Lancashire Lightning
The rain was a continuous guest during Finals Day, so Leicester managed 132-6 off 18 overs (D/L), and that was after poor Josh Cobb was out first ball edging one to the ‘keeper. How he must have been feeling as he left the field I have no idea but it wasn’t the perfect start for any team. So after Cobb’s early dismissal Lancashire were able to restrict the Foxes to 132, a score that everyone thought was just not enough to get them through to the final. That was before the rain intervened once again leaving Lancs 80 from 11 overs to gain victory, so there we are the last ball of the last over with 7 needed. I covered my eyes with my hands as I was a nervous wreck but knowing that the Foxes were through, but that’s what I thought. Gareth Cross smashed a six off the final delivery levelling the scores, my jaw dropped, they had tied. TIED! What was to happen next? Well it was you call a… wait for it – A One-Over Eliminator. The rules are that each team selects three batsmen and one bowler, once the opposition has two wickets that’s your over finished – simples! By this time I could hardly bring myself to watch, for Lancashire Moore and Croft were to set the total, with Moore hitting a six and a four off the first two balls. But never fear, as Claude Henderson is a special slow left-armer reducing their total to 13 runs finishing with two dot balls. 14 to win, I just said to myself we can do this or more likely, they can do this! Jefferson after a great first innings was promoted to open with Cobb, and as Jeffo took the first delivery he dispatched it for four, with the next being hit straight down the ground. The last ball a four was needed so the rather tall, I say rather he is 6’10”, frame of Jefferson got down on one knee and struck the ball over into the midwicket stand for 6!! The players and the crowds created mad celebrations; I on the other hand was speechless screaming yesss at the top of my voice… I think the whole ground willed on the underdogs – well apart from the Lancashire fans of course. The Foxes had made it to the final but who were they to face?!
Finally semi number 2 – Somerset v Hampshire Royals
A repeat of last year’s wild and bewildering final these two teams were both as eager to get themselves a final place, especially Somerset as they wanted to rid themselves of the bridesmaid tag! But as usual the rain returned in this second semi-final, Hampshire after a stop-start innings racked up 138-4 from 15.5 overs, with a glorious 80 runs off only 42 balls from Afridi. This resulted in Somerset chasing down a target of 95 runs from just 10 overs due to rain, a mammoth task but with their line-up of Trescothick, Kieswetter, Trego, Buttler, Pollard et al, this target was nothing! Or so we may seem, with Kieswetter going early and Pollard and Tresco falling in successive balls to spinner Tahir the target was getting further out of sight. Welcome England’s recent call-up Jos Buttler, at just 20 years of age I thought the pressure would be too much for him but how wrong was I?! Taking on the spinners Buttler hit a blistering 32 from 16 balls with a magnificent strike-rate of 200, Somerset were close to finishing now but as soon as Buttler fell to the pace of Corky the sheer disappointment was evident across his face. He thought he had lost at the final hurdle, and one run was needed off the last ball… Cork however surprisingly ran out Suppiah meaning only one thing, the game was once again tied. A super-over was by the only means necessary to solve such a problem, my excitement levels were now soaring – and as the ECB Facebook page so eloquently put it ‘Super overs are like buses… you hardly ever seen any, then all of a sudden two come along at once!!!’ It was Buttler and Kieswetter that were the two danger men for Somerset, mounting a huge 16 runs from their one over. Along with this Trescothick made what seemed to be a magic decision, to bowl Alfonso Thomas, the bowler who can defy even Afridi and Adams the winning runs. Reducing them to just 5 runs off their eliminator, propelling Somerset to their third T20 final for the third consecutive year but could they claim the title?
The Final!
After a very unproductive day doing nothing but watching cricket it finally came to the time when after winning the toss Somerset took to the field. Cobb departed early once again but not before this time making rather an impact with 18 from 10. So with the batting rearranged for no apparent reason it was Razzaq and Jefferson at the crease, Razzaq didn’t look his best only having a strike-rate of 100 and Pollard was too good for him giving him a caught and bowled chance for 33. Just over an over later Jefferson was continuing his striking from his first innings, Suppiah however soon had him LBW on 35. With a good start under their belt, they soon came to a halt in the middle overs and the Foxes looked worried to as whether they had made the right decision to alter the batting order. With Nixon’s last innings for the Foxes in England over for 4 runs, it was left to young Taylor and McDonald who had a strong 6th wicket partnership, I’m telling you it was odd to see Taylor coming in at number 7 but that’s a final for you. Ending their innings on 145-6 with a final push from Taylor and White I must admit looking once again at Somerset’s line up, I was a tad worried to how well Leicester could defend the runs.
It was a slow start for Trescothick and Kieswetter who were both dismissed in the space of 7 overs, but it was Trego and Hildreth who posed some sort of resistance. So who do the Foxes hand over to but part-time spinner Josh Cobb, the unlikely hero for Leicester along with sub-fielder Matthew Boyce and not forgetting Nico (Paul Nixon)… these three set the game alight, it truly was an astonishing few overs. First up Hildreth who hit into the deep aiming for the boundary rope, only to find Boycey poised for the catch, this breakthrough only brought danger man Pollard to the crease. With one to his name he edged White which allowed Nixon to pull of the catch of the season. It was a one-handed grab seemingly pulled out of the air; he leapt so far I just gasped in utter disbelief. The players and supporters went berserk Taylor and White jumped into his arms, the catch was only made better that it was off the most dangerous man in the T20 competition, in fact it made it all the sweeter, Nixon will always be remembered as a legend but even more so for this stunner of a catch. After the players seemingly stopped their hearts from racing, young Buttler was the next big power hitter to grace the field, at 89-4 there was still a mountain to climb for the Leicestershire Foxes with Somerset trailing by 56 runs!
Cobb was the man to start Somerset’s downfall, Trego the man who topped scored with 35 was the one batsman who had to remain, but deep midwicket was calling him and as soon as the ball left the bat Boyce was there to take the catch for the second time off Cobb. Suppiah was an unlucky man, at the non-strikers end you would think he was safe, but not if that had anything to do with Josh, rapidly fielding the ball off his own bowling he executed a stunning run-out in such a short period of time, it was hard to believe what had just happened. This was two balls later and the belief that the Foxes could actually win this was drawing closer, my heart was beating that little quicker, and the nerves were again kicking in. But this was nothing, you should have seen me when the third time in the match it was c. Boyce b. Cobb and this time it wasn’t just anybody it was Buttler the man who can deny any team victory when they think they have it in the bag, I punched my arm into the air… ‘Oh my God did that just happen? Am I dreaming this?’ Buttler out for 12 with two new batsmen at the crease! The Foxes dreams of winning another Finals Day was becoming more of a reality, but not all was done yet… oh no that was still to come.
Cobb managed to pick up the eighth wicket of the day, and you guessed it, whose hands picked up the catch, yes it was the always reliable sub Boyce… who if you didn’t know once picked up the MOTM award last year as a sub, I know it’s unbelievable isn’t it, it could only happen in cricket! So with eight wickets already down 31 runs were required from only 10 balls, Meschede was Somerset’s last hope and amidst all the hype, the cheering crowds and questionable music, he just couldn’t concentrate. Razzaq cleared him up, with Taylor the shortest man in the side or probably any side :) taking an amazing towering catch. Nine down, four balls, twenty-four runs needed. It was impossible for Somerset to do; the Foxes had victory in their grasp, like Bumble said ‘They’re playing like champions here’…
I sat there as the final delivery was bowled total delight was all I felt, one run was all they managed. Cue the celebrations, the backroom staff charged onto the field (as well as many supporters!) everyone amalgamated into one huge huddle and I cheered so loudly, the feeling was incredible, to have been there would have been fantastic. The atmosphere looked amazing and the players were ecstatic, the fairy tale for Nixon had come true, upon retirement the club he had been with for over 20 years had lifted the most coveted prize in the county scene. As all the formalities were over with, and Cobb received the MOTM for his outstanding performance, it was time for the players to get their hands on the prize and boy did they relish the moment! A lap of honour was given and Nico gave time to his fans, fireworks lit up the sky and the whole ground took in that moment, it looked truly spectacular.
Good Luck to Paul Nixon on retirement he has been a key part of Leicestershire’s success, but for now roll on next summer because I sure can’t wait!
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Caught At Slip 