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'Sex in the Afternoon

Doubtful
By Grockle
September 15 2007
Although Andy H has named an unchanged side for this afternoon's Middlesex clash there are rumours about Andy C's shoulder so we will wait and see. Notice the innnuendo in the title? Clever Huh? As long as we do better than Durham this afternoon I believe the Pro402 title is ours. Updates from the ground...technology permitting.

v Middlesex Pro402 @ Taunton Saturday 15 September 2007

Scorecard

The same side face Middlesex and clinched promotion against Surrey on Tuesday but they need to keep their wits about them because Middlesex are stronger opposition than Durham face at Chester-le-Street this afternoon.  If we win we win...if we don't then we'll go up but it will be a season that was 'merely' wonderful rather than 'truly' great.  We'd all like to see the iciing put on the cake this week and a victory against the 'Sex followed by beating Notts in the last Championship game woould do that.

More from the ground I hope...see you there.

A lot of people in today, most of the car parks full by just after 11 and queues at the turnstiles from the 10:30 opening time. And why not? The wether is beautiful and we have a chance of going up in both forms of the game as CHAMPIONS.

There's a buzz about the place becase we know we have a strong side at this end of the season. No changes announced, we win the toss and decide to bat.

Out we come, Marcus Trescothick and Craig Kieswetter continue their opening duties as everyone comes out in the same kit!! Middlesex, the umpires and the batsment are all wearing the same colour blue with slightly different red bits. We know who the batsmen are because they've got red pads on - and thedy come out of our dressing room of course! Coloured clothing to distiguish between the sides my backside!!

Murtagh bowls to Banger , his first is well fielded on the boundary as Marcus goes straight into boundary mode. But it's only 4 off the first. Finn opens the bowling at the River and wed are treated to a great boundary from Craig as his first real shot in anger. Unfortunately, his second 'shot' goes into the hands of the keeper and we are 12 for 1 before the end of the second. Peter Trego supercedes his captain in the order and while he is strolling out, Middlesex take their first drinks break......Why? But he brings no sanity out with him as Marcus skies an innocuous ball int the middle of the field and is caught by Joyce. Absolutely no reason for it. It was neither a full bodied attempt to reach the boundary or sensible placement. 12 for 2 and we are all praying that Glamorgan beat Durham.

Langer decides to come and put the sense back in our innings and he joins Trigger and they take us to 23 off 5. But the problems continue as the Middlesex press frustrates Peter , who comes down the wicket but misses the ball. Doesn't miss the stumps though and we are 3 down with a mere 25 to our name. This brings in Mr McKenzie but at the moment it's like battingin treacle and we've ammassed the massive total of 37 off the first 25% of our innings. Pray for a Welsh miracle people!!

Dalrymple is on at 13 with 40 on the scoreboard snd Langer brings up the Somerset 50 with a 6 into the graveyard off the same man but we've still only got 58 at 15 and we need a solid base for the last 10. Kartik is introduced at the River in the 16th and his first loverly full toss is dispatched ot the boundary by McKenzie so things are looking up. Joyce arrives as their 5th bowler which shows the limited resources the visitors have but you only need 5 bowlers if they are doing their job and they are at the moment.

The 50 partnership is achieved in the 19th but although the rate is rising, is was low to start with and it isn't rising anything like fast enough. We pass 3 figures finally in the 25th. And we await Justin's decision to step on the gas. Unfortunately he isn't going to be there to mastermind it because after going to 50 with a mammouth 6 off the Botham stand, he skews one and goes to an excellent catch for 54.

This brings Ian Blackwell in wth a 'gem' needed from him. Mckenzie goes to a solid 50 off 78 balls at 128 but there is no 'gem' because Ian goes tamely to Strauss in the midfield off the bowling of Joyce before he gets started. James Hildreth is in with just under 8 to go and 144 to our names. 200 is looking a long way away. Is the pitch really that difficult and the bowling that good? Well we'll have to wait and see I suppose. Not looking promising I'm afraid.

We pass 150 in the 34th and then the guys start to let loose (no option really) taking 17 off the next to move to 169. Kartik is back at the River as Dalrymple has been bowled through for 43 off his 8. A quiet over and the opening boys return after that with Murtagh back from the OP and 173 up. Hildreth splits the field on his first ball and McKenzie puts his helmet back on as Hilda puts another one to the boundary. They are running well between the wicket and take 13 off the 36th to move to 186. Kartik full tosses and Hildreth murders for 6 into the Brewhouse. They go after the spinner who provides some rubbish but in doing so we lose McKenzie for an anchoring 86 as we pass 200. Wes joins the fray and snicks a four off his first but plays on to Murtagh at 208 in the 39th. In comes Jonah and out he goes bowled by Murtagh without bothereing the scorers 208 for 8. Caddick comes in as our last credible man with the bat, sees out the over and gives Hildreth the strike but he goes striking for the boundary - the fielder almost dropped it but pouches it on the second attempt. In comes our last man.....but he's not on strike and there are 4 balls to go. A single brings him on strike a swing and miss keeps him there. He repeats the shot next ball and is still there and nce again means we finish on 211. Not enough unless we field and bowl like demons. It's going to be a close run thing even if we bowl well and we are going to earn this title if we managed to win this afternoon.

Willow opens with Caddy in the slips and produces an excellent first over yielding just one run.  Andy starts at the River and goes for 4 off his first but then pulls it back together and both bowl tightly.  Even though the 4th over doubles their score they only have 16 off the first 4 and 18 by the end of the 5th.  The problem is that neither Joyce nor Smith look in any real trouble with the ball, it's just that our front two keep them from getting it away. Joyce puts CW into the Brewhouse car park at the start of the 7th but we keep a lid on things but without wickets that simply isn't going to be enough.  Peter Trego spells Caddick after 4 and Jonah takes over from Charl after they have moved past 50 in the 12th.  Unfortunately they take a liking to the Welshman and take him for 10 off his first 3 and have moved to 73 by the end of the over.  We simply can't afford that and we all expect spin to be introduced as soon as the fielding restrictions are removed because no pace man is looking like taking wickets on the dry pitch.  It may have been moving about a bit this morning but it certainly isn't doing much of anything now!When spin does come, it is in the form of Wes Durston from the OP and although he holds well they still move past 82 by 15 and celebrate 100 with Joyce's 50 off 51 balls (1 six and 6 fours).  Smith joins his team-mate soon after off 57 balls (with the same number of sixes but half the fours).  It's all becoming a bit disappointing and inevitable.  Although Langer is moving his bowlers about, the fact is that none of them are looking menacing and we have two batsmen well set and opponents who find themselves needing 87 runs off 18 over’s with 10 wickets remaining.  It isn't a situation you come back from that often.As 150 goes past we all wonder if we will even take a wicket.  Ian Blackwell has been brought into the attack now and lo and behold he C&B's Joyce on 77.  It's 154 for 1 in the 28th and in walks....Andrew Strauss.  Justin immediately re-introduces Caddick from the OP end and soon after he C&B's Smith (it's a case of catch the ball or have a hole drilled through your guts but he holds on)!  168 for 2...do we have any 'Get out of Jail Free' cards still in our locker we all wonder?In comes Morgan and he soon becomes one of those who misreads the nature of a Somerset fielder.  He pushes one into the open and has Steffan running for it.  One run is on but Steff hasn't got there when they turn for a second.  Unfortunately, just after turning Jones has the ball and Morgan is run out as he whips it in and Kieswetter breaks the stumps with the Middlesex man absolutely nowhere.  Surrey starts to float into people's minds but 170 for 3 doesn't leave us anything really. Dalrymple joins his England mate and although Caddy asks some searching question there are too many wickets and too few runs.Needing 32 off 6 we are still in it but when smacks the big man for 6 and takes another boundary in the same over we are stuffed.  They don't need to do anything drastic and they know that.  A two here and a two there and before we know it's just 4 needed as Charl comes back at the River.  He comes into bowl, Strauss starts to charge and CW holds the ball and doesn't deliver.  Justin brings the keeper up to keep Strauss in his crease and the delivery comes.  Strauss just smacks it for four anyway.  Shakes hands and we go up as runners up (Durham have beaten Glamorgan).On this showing that is what we ought to be happy with.  I'll debate the nature of our one day form at the end of the season but I think we should be thankful that we got an automatic spot and are in Division 1.  How long we can stay there with our present line-up and tactics I am not sure but it will be a hard task next season whatever the plans are in the winter.

 

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