worcestershire head coach kevin sharp gave his reaction after the 141 run defeat by somerset in the specsavers county championship at New Road today.
alex milton scored 104 not out on his championship debut and shared in a last wicket record-breaking stand of 141 with steve magoffin as worcestershire were dismissed for 301.
sharp said: “it was heart-warming to see what happened in those last two or three hours. for the bottom five batters to play the way they did, and particularly alex milton fantastically supported by steve magoffin, is just great to see.
“it got somerset a little bit worried i think! could they do it? that in itself is heart-warming but it’s right to say we’ve been outplayed in this match.
“they’ve probably been a bit more disciplined generally than what we have, probably been a bit harder to get out man for man in both innings.
“it’s always a mixed bag with dismissals but i think maybe we’ve had more than our fair share of softish dismissals which do cost you in the end.
“we know that and it’s something we have talked about and addressed and we have to move on.
“in the last game against notts we had a fantastic scrap and saved the game on the last day and that’s the beauty of it. it’s not through lack of effort. it’s just that sometimes things have a knock-on effect occasionally.
“has milton a future as a batsman? yes. will he be considered for the next championship game as a batsman? i’m sure he will be.
“it’s three weeks away. there is cricket to be played before that. alex has had an interesting journey. he has been with the club since academy days and wasn’t taken on contract at the end of his schooling.
“he went to cardiff university, he played some cricket for mcc young cricketers, he trialled a bit for glamorgan and he has found his way back to us.
“we didn’t sign him on when he left school and i was really surprised he wasn’t picked up elsewhere to be honest because i’ve known him since he was at malvern college.
“for me he is just a wonderful, determined skilful, mature young man and to have him back here, and no-one else picking him up, has been fantastic.”
