DCSIMG

View from the Blues: Teamwork the secret to Steelbacks' success


Published on Thursday 4 June 2009 09:25

So, as our soon to be elected Euro MPs begin to rub their hands in anticipation at the chance to get at the honey pot of European expenses (our domestic MPs' sweet jar is nothing compared to Brussels!), the mighty Steelbacks were also in the mood to cash in.

We are sitting atop of our Twenty20 group going into tonight's game at the NCG (still tickets available!) and looking good to go all the way – although we have said that before.

Last year we also cleared the first four fences with ease, but started thinking about the winners' enclosure far too early, me included, before ploughing through the fifth fence in MK in spectacular style – and then every other fence soon after, doing a Devon Lock in the quarter-final at Chelmsford.

Last year, I foolishly thought we would make finals day because of the names on our teamsheet alone – this year I believe we will make it because it's a team at last.

The South African hubris has been diluted by proven T20 winner Ian Harvey and some improved English pluck in the side, the two surely connected.

The moment we signed the Aussie, I grabbed our 28/1 odds at the bookies. First up were the Glamorgan Dragons, who are as dodgy as the SWALEC wicket these days.

Northants chief exec Mark Tagg's smile was as big as John Prescott at a free buffet as a heaving crowd bathed in cracking weather at the County Ground.

It was also good to see the club merchandise being sold on concessions around the ground and the punters on best behaviour for a Friday night, with the new stand and 'take in' beer-ban diluting the rabble.

There was late drama when Monty was pulled after hurting his finger (extracting it from his backside?), with Steven Crook mysteriously added to the 13 to take his place in the team as a batsman only, the named batting replacement ignored.

The balance is much better without Monty fielding, with Andrew Hall taking a remarkable and desperate sprawling catch like he had nearly dropped the wife's best china tea set!

Two home games to kick-off proceedings worked well for us, and in hindsight the games in MK last year were effectively away games and clearly hindered the team's rhythm.

But not so this time.

Two matches, two wins, with the Welsh swept aside for the second time this season by the Steelbacks, Harvey once again the hero, but big contributions from the whole team this year is the difference as they gather some serious momentum.

A total of 195 for three first up was more like it, 50s for man of the moment Harvey and in-form Riki Wessels. The kid is having a great season after being freed up from the gloves.

Rob White continued with his impressive pinch-hitting with 33 from the off – Zorro is born to play T20 – while Johan van der Wath was pleasingly booted up the order to exploit the pace bowling off the final overs with his sweet hitting reaping 27 not out.

One criticism would be that we weren't aggressive enough in the middle overs with so many wickets – and good ones too – in hand.

But 195 was always too many for a hopeless Glamorgan side, with Aussie Cosgrove carrying the weight of the Dragons attack (most of it around his waist) top-scoring with 40, but once he was out the job was done for the Steelbacks.

Van der Wath and Harvey mopped them up with three for 20-odd each as nine wickets fell for just 76 pathetic runs.

These guys were no match for the boys, the steel returning to the team’s backs.

The Worcestershire Royals were next for the chop; with them being bowled out by Ireland in the Friends Provident Trophy for just 58 all the encouragement we needed. After two games we knew the Steelbacks could defend scores but could they chase? The Royals set us 140 on a slow and unentertaining pitch, with left-arm seamer David Willey the man with an amazing three for nine off his three overs and the sole reason for the gettable total.

Monty made a dramatic recovery from his digit displacement to play, with Stephen Moore top-scoring with 62 not out.

It’s noticeable that first innings scores are falling in this year’s competition, and it’s no longer just a batter’s game as groundsman prepare pitches that give both teams a chance.

But it is sacrificing the boundaries the punters want to see.

The Steelbacks seemed reticent to explode early on in pursuit, with Niall O’Brien’s last game before Ireland’s T20 campaign producing a tactical 48 not out to keep one end going, before someone pulled the pin on van der Wath and he smashed that amazing 29 off just 11 balls to steal the game – nearly demolishing the brand new 2m pound Graeme Hick stand that had just been opened by the great man.

That line was the clear highlight of Radio Northampton’s increasingly amateurish coverage of the Steelback games, with yours truly turning down the FA Cup Final commentary to tune into the bumbling.

With the Steelbacks batting all the way down, it seems no one can contain us now. This was our first successful chase in some 28 one-day matches, our first in the T20 for 17 games!


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