Invaluable experience

Sunday 01 June 2008 | Steve Finn | 1 comments

Another gloomy day greeted us for our Friends Provident clash at home to Essex - our last of the season - and with scattered showers predicted all afternoon it was no surprise this match was settled via Duckworth Lewis.

We won the toss and elected to bowl first and with the white ball nipping around from the start we had Essex on the back foot - Dirk Nannes striking in his first over, then Vernon Philander in his.

I bowled first change from the Nursery End. I usually bowl from the Pavilion End, but with it nipping around I was able to nip it up the hill, which is what I am comfortable doing naturally.

I trapped Ravi Bopara LBW in my first over, which was a great feeling seeing as he had put us to the sword the previous Sunday. I bowled a fuller length due to the conditions which I found meant I was always in the game.

However, the batsman also feels in the game and anything slightly over-pitched was driven, hence my economy rate of 5.2.

It was nice to get a 'caught Godleman, bowled Finn' combination too, to remove Varun Chopra, Billy taking a very good one handed slip catch to his left.

Ryan ten Doeschate played very well for his 97, saving the Essex innings. He came in at 61 for 4 from 20 overs and with James Foster put on 100 for the fifth wicket. That meant Essex finished on 244 for 8.

With the light not great, we went about negotiating the tricky conditions and batted well. Leaving the field at 120 for 2 from 25 overs, when the heavens opened, the match was brought to an abrupt halt with us above the DL par. Godleman, unbeaten on 42, and David Malan, two not out, at the crease.

All in all I was happy with my bowling performance in the game, feeling rhythm and generally bowling good areas.

It was a good end to a slightly disappointing Friends Provident Trophy campaign but the invaluable experiences gained will only help a young side for the rest of the season and years to come.

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