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This is our story: Somerset Visually Impaired CC
The Somerset Visually Impaired Cricket Club was officially formed in 2011.
This is their story!
Everything you need to know about Somerset VICC can be found via the link below.
The team got their season underway last week.
Here is a report of the game written by members of the team:
Somerset have begun the 2024 season on the road, with their first National League Division Two game in Surrey.
There was some trepidation before the trip as Somerset could only muster nine players for a potentially tricky fixture as the hosts have improved every time they faced each other. The game might not even have gone ahead as the forecast predicted rain throughout most of the day, but plucky Somerset took the decision to travel up anyway and hope for the best. They are always keen to get as much cricket in as possible and have never turned down a game unless the ground staff intervene.
Captain for the day in Ed Hossell’s absence, Kathryn Jelfs-White lost the toss and the visitors were put in to bat. Taking a positive attitude Rob Crisp and Mikey Contreras were tasked with opening and aiming to score quickly to take the pressure off some inexperienced players following them. Sadly, Contreras nicked the first ball to keeper Ryan West but undaunted Crisp and first total in the lineup Steve Cook played with intent and kept the scorer busy. Unfortunately they were dismissed within seven balls of other; Crisp caught behind for 86 and Cook bowled for 16. West would take three caught behinds in the game, whilst Shaquir Iqbal took 3/18 off his seven overs to fluster the Somerset batters.
The middle order kept up the fight as debutant Dan Russell smashed his way to 25 giving the runners some much needed rest as only three players were legally able to run for the team. A quick fire seven from Alan Mabey, 4 from daughter Sharnie Mabey and 7 from the skipper gave Somerset a decent total of 209 all out. The dressing room was quietly confident of getting something out of this game and retook the field expecting a decent contest under increasingly blackening skies.
Star bowler of last season Contreras took the ball first in concert with Cook and began to tease some loose shots out of the openers. They soon settled and had the team 50 up within the opening four overs. First bowling change saw Crisp coming on to add some pace into the mix and he took revenge on catching keeping West to bowl him in his second over. Adam White came on at the other end and restricted the new batter and his partner, whilst Crisp bowled Surrey skipper Hassan Khan and finished off Russell’s fabulous run out of Iqbal in his third over. Despite several boundaries there was great effort and determination in the field with the Mabeys and Dave Ridgway making some great blocks and everyone chasing every lost cause and never quitting.
The game was finely in the balance when the first few raindrops were felt. Daves Lewis and Allen were keeping the scoreboard ticking but not at a rate that worried the travelling team too greatly. The precipitation persisted and the umpires had to bring the teams off. The rain became too heavy and the light too poor and it soon became clear that the game would not finish. As more than 10 overs had been bowled a draw was possible to call so the captains shook hands and were both pleased with how much of the game had been played considering the forecast and the efforts that both teams made. All things considered, a pretty decent opening salvo from Somerset as they look forward to the rest of the season.
