Held Kent up

By comebackgatt
September 12 2009

comebackgatt reports from Uxbridge on the third day of the C.C. match against Kent. Despite Neil Dexter's career best against his old team, Middlesex have it all to do to avoid an innings defeat We hear all about events on the field as well as why Middx may have to play more than half their Championship matches away from Lords, Murli Kartick's plans and bread pudding. Read on

Closed the office a bit earlier Thursday evening and set off to the joys of the M2, which was remarkable quiet. Arrived at my sisters about 8.00pm she lives right by the common, a “Blacksmith” six-hit from the ground.

Strolled into the ground just as the umpires were coming out. I shall say this just the once I like Uxbridge...each to their own. After Kent’s record breaking day it is a back to the wall job for us as we resume on 109-4 with Dexter 27 and Simpson on 12, needing a mere 293 to avoid the follow on

Found my way to the press tent and exchanged a few words with Lee who had that smug look on his face as all Kent fans (and reporters) have at the moment. Decided to start watching proceedings with him. Mahmood opens the bowling, whilst Tredwell, who bowled unchanged for 20 overs yesterday, returned at the other end. Things moved smoothly on but at 128 Mahmood bowled a shortish delivery on leg stump and Robbo didn’t really play it well and hooked  a catch to Northeast on the  mid wicket boundary

Enter the Iceman to a few cheers (led by Kimmy no doubt). Key set an interesting leg side field for him when Mahmood was bowling, with three fielders fairly close in. Lee showed me the ECB press release about next season’s internationals, and it looks like we will have to play at least half our C.C. matches away from Lord’s and a fair number of one dayers. Food for thought there.

Also it seems Kartick would like to return next season but possibly only for the 20/20.

Berg and Dexter were settled in to a good partnership, and Key switched his bowlers around, Cook and Khan coming back for a short burst before the double spin attack of Tredwell and Ferley were back in harness. The Iceman played the spinners extremely well and went through to a fine fifty (could this be the day he gets his first hundred? Or have I jinxed him again)

 Lunch arrived at 240-5, Dexter 85 and Berg 63, including 10 x 4’s.Walked back to my sister’s house to have a lovely salad lunch and check out all the other scores from around the country. A most welcome mug of tea as well, having to lay off alcohol at the moment, on tablets due to the return of my shoulder injury. Armed with a large chunk of her homemade bread  pudding, I returned to the fray.

Okay folks, I am really sorry about jinxing the Iceman, bowled by Ferley for a fine 67 and we are 249-6, looking down the barrel of following on. My lips are sealed about Dex.! Next to go was the skipper caught by Northeast in the covers off the bowling of Khan for just 1 and we are 257-7.

 But Neil Dexter carried on and went through to a fine hundred, his first for the Middle, but I must say I was felt there was a bit of a lack of enthusiasm with some of the Kent fielders to applaud him, not all I must say.  Dial M was in to keep him company. I decided to have a gentle wander around the boundary, saw a few friendly faces and had a chat about our season and MTWD!  Naturally the discussions ranged from whether we should change the captain (no) to where we would play our out ground matches next season. The normal, pointless argument about Southgate e and Uxbridge, after all the only two choices at the moment, rained so I made my apologies and moved on.

Dexter still playing well, nice to see him get some runs, it may be on a feather bed, but hope fully if he stays fit we may see the best of him next season.Key then brought Van Jaarsveld into the attack, and he started bowling his off spinners. This brought almost instant success when he trapped Dial M leg before for 22 and we were 318-8, which 14 runs later became 328-9 when Silverwood advance down the track and was stumped by Jones the keeper.

Dex then passed his previous career best of 131, before he was last man out for 146 caught in the slips by Key off Khan’s bowling. A magnificent knock, Finny 10 not out, all out 356, 296 behind the follow on is nigh.

Tea

.Had my superb homemade bread  pudding, washed down with a cup of tea. Had returned to the press tent and Lee looked enviously on at my snack. Looked at the other scores, Northampton doing pretty well at the Hovel, but Essex are going well too, so should be quite a match next week at Chelmsford. Sadly the wooden spoon looks ours.

 Play restarts and trouble at mill, after just four balls of the first over we are 0-1, with London trapped in front by Mahmood ,by one that seemed to keep low, who opened the bowling after being third change yesterday. The sun has gone in, the clouds are coming over a bit, enter stage left Simon Cook ex Middle who has very much a bit player until now, within 9 balls he has taken 2-2! First scattering Housego’s stumps for 19 and then repeating the feat knocking out Compton’s off stump for just 9 and we are 33-3. Dexter reappears. Kent set an ultra attacking field but Dexter and Malan held firm until stumps with score 89-3, Dexter 39 and Malan 16 not out.

So we need 207 to avoid the innings defeat, i.e. bat all day.That was my last day of watching Middlesex this season, and what a disappointing time it has been for all of us. Back to my sisters for a late tea, and then drive home. Off to Sussex tomorrow for a bit of FA Cup magic.