Associate player roundup from Round 4 of the Bob Willis Trophy

The final round of the Bob Willis Trophy before a break in the schedule, due to the Vitality Blast starting on the 27th August, provides another chance to observe the Associate Nation talent on display.

With teams making a number of changes to allow for player rotation, players were going to have to adapt to different roles in the side, plus the inclement weather during the round once again meant conditions were less than ideal. 

Michael Jones (Scotland / Durham)

Jones played his first game for Durham this season in his sides match against Derbyshire at Chester-Le-Street. Durham was put in to bat by Derbyshire, who at the start of play were top of the North table.

Durham quickly found themselves one down after former Kent batsmen Sean Dickson was out LBW in the third over.

Unfortunately, Jones was unable able to make an immediate impact for his side also caught LBW by Derbyshire all-rounder Luis Reece who made an impressive century to go with his two wickets.

Jones took a good catch off the bowling of Matthew Potts to help his side break opening partnership between Reece and Billy Godleman.

Unfortunately, rain would be the real winner of this contest as play was consistently disrupted. The match was not able to get past Derbyshire’s first innings meaning that Jones and Durham were not required to bat again. 

Colin Ackermann (Leicestershire / The Netherlands)

During the four day encounter against Nottinghamshire, Ackermann lost the toss and Leicestershire were asked to bat first.

Ackermann came to the crease in a difficult position with the scoreboard reading 21-3. The fantastic early bowling performance from the Nottinghamshire side continued as Ackermann was unable to help the team rebuild.

The dutchmen was the third wicket picked up by veteran Peter Trego during a fantastic opening spell as Ackermann edged a ball that was well caught by Steven Mullaney at second slip. 

Ackermann played his usual role during the second innings, once again bowling a handful of overs during the Nottinghamshire innings. Ackermann bowled seven overs during the innings conceding just the 19 runs. Ackermann also took a good catch to mark the end of Ben Slater’s fantastic innings off the bowling of Tom Taylor.  

Moving into the second innings, Ackermann came in looking to aid the team in overturning the first-innings deficit and turning it into a second innings lead. Ackermann batted with class during his well-paced innings scoring 65 which featured nine boundaries as he built partnerships with Sam Evans and George Rhodes. 

Ackermann will be now switching his attention to white-ball cricket and will be a player to watch out for during the Vitality Blast.    

Prior to Leicestershire’s Bob Willis Trophy match against Nottinghamshire, Ackermann and the team played two T20 warm-ups against Northamptonshire where Ackermann impressed in both games.

During the first game, Ackermann bowled tight as he only conceded 13 from his two overs. An economy that was especially impressive considering the Northamptonshire team finished on 188/5 at a run rate of 9.4.

Ackermann then scored a run a ball 14 during the Leicestershire run chase before he was caught by Northamptonshire’s white-ball captain Josh Cobb off the bowling of Graeme White.

Ackermann then found his timing during the second warm-up game scoring a fantastic 42 off 29, including four boundaries and one maximum. The enthralling innings which really showed off his T20 capabilities ended when he was clean bowled by fellow Dutch international Brandon Glover. 

The Dutchman again bowled well during Northamptonshire’s run chase as he conceded 17 off his two overs. 

Timm van der Gugten (Glamorgan / The Netherlands)

Van der Gugten arrived with the Glamorgan team in good stead ahead of the team’s fixture against Northamptonshire contributing with both bat and ball during his appearances so far this season.

Van der Gugten would first be in action with the bat after Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to bat. Van der Gugten came in at number 8 for his team and looked to dig in and help the team recover to post a decent first innings score.

Unfortunately for the Glamorgan team, van der Gugten was only able to add four runs before he was caught behind by Vasconcelos off the bowling of Blessing Muzarabani.

Thanks partly to a fantastic last wicket partnership between debutant Callum Taylor and Michael Hogan, Glamorgan were able to post 259 all out. This gave the Welsh side a defendable total to bowl at.

Van der Gugten kept up his fine wicket-taking form and was arguably the pick of the Glamorgan bowlers. The Dutchmen claimed three wickets in the innings taking the scalps of Ben Curran (82), Luke Procter (3) and Saif Zaib (8) over the course of the Northamptonshire innings finishing with figures of 22-4-64-3 in what was a fantastic display of first-class bowling.

Glamorgan’s second innings was in dissaray as Van Der Gugten came to the wicket at
at 28-6, Van Der Gugten was only able to add four runs to the tally batting with Dan Douthwaite who would make a gritty 86 batting with Merchant De Lange who scored 113 batting at 10 to once again give Glamorgan a target to bowl at.

Moving into the final innings of the game, Glamorgan were defending 188. Van der Gugten shared the new ball with Michael Hogan but thanks to some fantastic Northamptonshire batting and difficult on-field conditions did not have as much success.

The Dutchmen picked up the early wicket of Curran as he remained alert to take a good catch off his own bowling. However, after the initial breakthrough, van der Gugten was not able to have the same effect as he did during the first innings finishing with figures of 11-3-53-1 as Northamptonshire won by six wickets.

Roelof van der Merwe (Somerset / The Netherlands)

Van der Merwe’s Somerset welcomed Gloucestershire to The Cooper Associates County Ground. Somerset was asked to bat by Gloucestershire meaning that van der Merwe’s first involvements for the match would be with the bat.

Batting at eight, the batsmen’s stay at the crease was cut short as he was only able to score one before being caught by George Hankins off the bowling of David Payne. 

van der Merwe had not yet been called into the bowling attack by Somerset captain Tom Abel and once again remained unused during the Gloucestershire first innings.

Van der Merwe was also not required to bat during the Somerset’s second innings as the team declared one wicket down. Van der Merwe’s quiet game continued as he was not needed to bowl during what was an emphatic victory for Somerset.    

Josh Davey  (Somerset / Scotland)

The bowling of Josh Davey was one of the key contributors that helped Somerset record victory. The Scotsman had been in fantastic form all the way through the Bob Willis Trophy and the game against Gloucestershire allowed Davey to continue his fine form.

Davey would be given the opportunity to extend his wicket-taking form as he was given the new ball during Gloucestershire innings. It didn’t take Davey long to pick up his first wicket as he took the opening wicket of the game when Ben Charlesworth (3) edged to the slips. Davey then trapped Josh Shaw (0) in front followed by Matt Taylor (12) flashing at a ball which was claimed Tom at point to give the Scot his third wicket.

The Scottish bowler finished with fantastic first-innings figures of 12-7-21-3 helping his side to dismiss Gloucestershire for a measly 76 runs.

A healthy first innings lead meant that Somerset declared one wicket down in the second innings.

In the final innings of the match, Davey was able to help make early inroads for the team as he once again picked up early wickets. Davey picked up the wicket of Ben Charlesworth (1) edging behind to give Davey his first for the day. The right-arm then picked up the wicket of Tom Lace (8), bowling Lace with a fantastic delivery.

Graeme van Buuren (15) then became Davey’s third victim manufacturing an edge which carried through to the wicketkeeper. Davey’s final wicket of the innings was secured when Gareth Roderick (0) was caught at mid-wicket.

Davey’s impressive second innings figures were 11-3-25-4 in what was a perfect display of new-ball bowling to dismiss Gloucestershire for 70. Davey finishing with seven wickets for the match.

Ian Holland  (Hampshire / USA)

Hampshire and Essex played in a heavily rain-affected game at Arundel Castle. Only one innings was possible in the game but there was still opportunity for Holland to perform with the ball.

Holland picked up Hampshire’s first wicket with a fantastic ball that found the edge of Paul Walter’s bat (43) with Tom Alsop taking the catch.

There were only 78 overs of play possible during the game, however, Holland bowled 17 tight overs to finish with figures of 17-6-25-1.

Despite the rain-affected match, Holland has had a Bob Willis Trophy to remember and has really shown himself to be a high-level performer. 

Brad Wheal (Hampshire / Scotland)

Wheal opened the bowling along with Holland and bowled 14 overs over the course of the 78 overs of play during the match.

Wheal toiled to finish with figures of 14-2-62-0 in what was a frustrating appearance for both teams.

Delray Rawlins (Sussex / Bermuda)

Rawlins (main picture taken during T20WCQ) was part of the Sussex team to play Middlesex at the Radlett Cricket Club. Rawlins came in at number 7 for his team and continued his fine form from his second performance during his previous match.

In a fluent innings, Rawlins scored a stunning run a ball 46 with his usual array of flamboyant shots. The innings consisted of five boundaries and two sixes in a display that will excite fans with the impending T20 competition.

Rawlins again featured with the ball for his team, his left-arm orthodox bowling has become commonplace during the Bob Willis Trophy; and during the Middlesex first innings bowled five tight overs only conceding 15. 

Rawlins again was in the runs during Sussex’s second innings as he scored a momentum-changing 33 from just 40 balls. Rawlins once again found the boundary with aplomb during his innings as he hit seven fours during his innings.

Rawlins appeared to be one of the only Sussex batsmen who adapted to the conditions and continued to play his trademark brant of positive cricket which should be applauded. 

Rawlins looks like he has found his form with the bat at a crucial point for the team with the upcoming Vitality Blast beginning this week. 

Ryan ten Doeschate (Essex / The Netherlands)

Due to wet weather during the contest, ten Doeschate did not enter the field of play during the game with Essex 3-249 before the match was called off due to incessant rain.

There were some fantastic performances during this round of the Bob Willis Trophy with some more memorable performances from Associate Nation players.

There promises to be more exciting performances from Associate Member players during the upcoming Vitality Blast with a number of exciting Associate talents joining teams across the competition.

Players to watch out for include Scottish international George Munsey who recently signed for Hampshire for the campaign alongside the Irish trio of Paul Stirling, Gareth Delany and Andrew Balbirnie who will be playing for Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Glamorgan respectively. 

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