County Watch Extra 13 - Ger Siggins

WORRYINGLY, with the World Cup coming up fast, George Dockrell has lost his place in Somerset’s 50 over XI, but this week he turned out for the county 2nds against Gloucestershire Twos.

He didn’t get much chance to show his skills. On a seamer’s pitch Glorse were dismissed for 182 (Scotland’s Josh Davey taking 5-42), and then Somerset made 321-6 declared (Davey 95no).

George finally got his chance in the second innings but his six overs went wicketless for 16 and Gloucester were beaten by an innings within two days.

Andrew Balbirnie is keeping his hopes alive with consistent displays for the Middlesex shadow side. In the Second Eleven Championship game against Hampshire he bowled in both innings (7-0-12-0 and 8-0-18-1) as well as scoring 5 (out to West Indies star Ruel Brathwaite) when he missed out in an innings of 456-9.

In the second innings, chasing 126 in 17 overs, Balbirnie gave Middlesex a quick start with 33 off 24 balls before he was stumped off Crane, but his county won in the last over. In a 50 over game against the same side Balbirnie made a duck.

The Pembroke man also turned out in a game to celebrate the county’s sesquicentenary at Lord’s. His selection included former club greats such as Mike Roseberry, Angus Fraser and Norman Cowans. Chasing 167 in 40 overs, Balbirnie came in No.7 with the score on 116-5 and put on an unbroken 51 stand with Jamie Harrison to win by five wickets. Balbirnie scored 37no in 20 balls with 3 sixes and 3 fours.

The trio at Durham continue to make waves and hopefully Barry McCarthy and Peter Chase will pick up something permanent for 2015 when the contracts are handed out this month.

Stuart Poynter continued his great recent form with an unbeaten 58 against Nottinghamshire in the Second Eleven Trophy on Monday. He and McCarthy (39 off 39 balls) had a partnership of 87 for the seventh wicket in 13 overs but once McCarthy was run out the rest of the batsmen were out in the same over and Durham lost by 29 runs.

Earlier McCarthy bowled seven wicketless overs for 41. In the Championship game Chase opened with 19-0-66-3 while McCarthy bowled 16-3-61-0. Durham were all out for 208 (Poynter 1, McCarthy 18, Chase 0no off 21 balls) and, following on, 150 (Poynter 6, McCarthy 0, Chase 11no) as they lost by an innings and 27 runs.

Meanwhile, Ireland U17 player Sonny Cott top-scored for Leatherhead with 85 last weekend in a Surrey Premier Division game against Reigate Priory. Sonny hit 12 fours in his 138 ball stay, but his side were thrashed by ten wickets thanks to an unbeaten 87 by Chris Murtagh, brother of Tim.