A brief look back at the women’s Euros semi-final between England and Italy that took place last night and a large photo gallery.
Last night saw the first semi-final of the women’s European Championship, between England and Italy in Geneva, which lies near the base of a mountain pass connecting Switzerland to Italy. This post looks back at the match.
SO NEAR AND SO FAR
Italy took the lead just before half time, through Barbara Bonansea, against the form books, which made England firm favourites. They held on to that lead until close to to end of normal time. 19 year old Michelle Agyemang equalized in stoppage time, of which there was quite a lot. Extra time saw a lot of pressure from England and a lot of resistance from Italy. However, just as Italy were reckoning they had got themselves a shoot out and England were resigning themselves to going to penalties once again, a penalty was awarded to England. Chloe Kelly took responsibility for taking the kick. The Italian goalkeeper kept the penalty out but the ball rebounded into Kelly’s path and at the second time of asking she did put it in the net, and England were through at the last gasp, and had avoided the necessity of a second successive penalty shoot out. The final will take place in Basel on Sunday.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
The butterfly that appears in this picture and the next was a new sighting for me.This picture and the next four show three six spot Burnet moths that were on teazel heads only a few feet apart – two on one and one on the other.Two egrets at the Nar Outfall.
A look at developments between Somerset and Surrey in the current round of championship fixtures, a revisit to and modest revision of the all time XI of players whose surnames begin with H and a large photo gallery.
Another round of county championship fixtures got underway yesterday, and in so far as circumstances allow (yesterday and tomorrow are work days) I am following Somerset v Surrey.
YESTERDAY
While I was at work yesterday Somerset were all out for 170 in the first innings. Surrey last four wickets in response, before Latham and Jacks steadied the ship. Surrey were still in arrears by the close, but had every chance of a substantial lead given their great batting depth (any side with Gus Atkinson at number nine have a lot of batting depth).
TODAY
Latham and Jacks continued to bat well, though each just missed out on a ton, both falling for 99. Gus Atkinson showed that he is better than a regular number nine, and Daniel Worrall played a classic tail enders cameo, swinging hard at pretty much everything and connecting a few times. Matt Henry took 6-80, while Craig Overton, with 0-106 had the misfortune of registering the only individual three figure tally of the innings. Surrey were all out for 368, a lead on first innings of 198. At present that is how it remains, rain preventing the start of the Somerset second innings. However, it is still only day two, meaning that it would be asking a lot for the rain to save Somerset.
ONE FROM THE ARCHIVES AND PHOTOGRAPHS
On this day last year I created my all time XI of players who have surnames beginning with H. I have concluded since creating that XI that I have to bolster the bowling, even though it means dropping an ATG batter to do so. I regard Hutton, Hobbs, George Headley, Hammond and the left handed Hussey as indispensable, so Patsy Hendren, the third leading scorer of FC runs and second leading scorer of FC centuries in history misses out, having to settle for an honourable mention, and the number six slot goes instead to George Hirst, a right handed batter, left arm fast medium bowler and brilliant fielder. This means that the frontline attack now comprises Holding, Hadlee and Hirst to bowl pace/ seam/ swing and Harmer and Herath to bowl spin, with Hammond now more realistically positioned as fourth seamer should such be required. The revised XI in full: JB Hobbs, *L Hutton, GA Headley, WR Hammond, MEK Hussey, GH Hirst, +IA Healy, RJ Hadlee, SR Harmer, MA Holding, R Herath. Now it is time for my usual sign off…
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