Taylor calls for games to start earlier

GLOUCESTERSHIRE captain Jack Taylor believes some Vitality T20 Blast matches are starting too late for them to be proper contests.

Taylor’s side edged to victory by two runs under the DuckworthLewis-Stern calculation against Middlesex at Radlett on Thursday evening, but neither skipper was particularly happy about the way things unfolded.

Taylor, pictured said: “The umpires were stuck between a rock and a hard place – it got pretty dark early on. In white-ball cricket, you try to stay out there and they obviously wanted a full game, but I think to be honest a lot of it’s down to the start time.

“I don’t think we can start at half past five any more, without lights. Ultimately we all want to play good, full games of cricket and that (the increasing darkness) tarnished some of the cricket we played in the first half.

“We had a similar thing at Glamorgan last week – the floodlights weren’t working so we started at 5.30pm and the last half hour of the game was too dark.

“The way the game panned out in the end, we’re obviously happy to be on the right side of it.

“We knew where we were at the end of each over with DLS and we knew we needed a big one, so we were very happy to see it (the last ball) go over the rope.”

Middlesex and England skipper Eoin Morgan also complained about the conditions, saying: “The more frustrating thing from my side was that it was so dark so early. The fact you’re forced to bowl spin, as a captain, when it’s probably not the best option at that time – your hand is forced.

“The light was questionable the whole time, but there are two very experienced umpires out there and you have to trust them. Given the situation we found ourselves in, the right decision was made.”

Ian Cockbain hit his first halfcentury of this year’s Blast to earn Gloucestershire victory as rain prevented a nail-biting finish.

Cockbain and Ryan Higgins, who top-edged the final ball of the 18th over from Steven Finn for six, did just enough to edge their side ahead by two runs under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern.

Until then, Gloucestershire had been behind the rate, but then Cockbain, who finished on 62 not out from 39 balls, tilted the battle in their favour as they reached 157 for five when a downpour halted play.

Middlesex had posted 179 for five after being put in, built around Joe Cracknell’s 41-ball 67 – the 21-year-old’s second halfcentury in succession.