Middlesex CCC
The Ins and Out of It
More in than out today
By Seaxe Man
May 4 2012
Seaxe Man gives a virtual ball by ball commentary on the 40.3 overs possible today and a decent day for Middlesex in spite of losing the toss yet again.
Preamble
Arrived 10.40ish. Purchased prog and scorecard. Did a rerun of Durham game and did MLO stint with report. Found spot in Middlesex Room. The drought forecast was'nt good, but it managed to more or less stay dry though there was grey cloud cover all day and we never saw the sun.
Saw a couple of old faces in Mx Rm, Beefy and lower pav.
Worcs won the toss and as you would expect inserted The Middle. Conditions were ideal for bowling under heavy cloud cover.
For us, same team as for Durham. Corey was again rotated, but seeing as Finny can only play two out of three, understandable that he played this one and not at Trent Bridge.
Teams:
Middlesex: Strauss, Robson, Denly, +Rogers, Malan, Dexter, *Simpson, Berg, Murtagh, Roland-Jones, Finn.
Worcs: + Mitchell, Klinger, Solanki, Ali, Cameron, Pardoe, *Scott, Kapil, Lucas, Jones, Richardson.
A return and welcome back to two old boys Ben Scott and Alan Richardson formerly of this parish.
1st session
Start was on time. As stated, weather grey cloud. Richo opened from the NE to Strauss. He wisely let 5 balls go and played only the 4th ball. There was a 3 slip cordon.
Ex Northants bowler David Lucas from PE to Robbo. Similar over. Much hands on heads by the slip cordon. First runs to Strauss, flick off legs for 4 to pavilion ropes.
Smattering of 'diehards' around the ground. A couple of singles in 4th over plus an edge by Straussey off Richo, which kept low and went through the slip cordon, one of whom got a hand to it. I would add, it was going at the speed of light and was very low. Not a gimme, fielder probably thought he could have dived forward.
Strauss then moved to eleven, with a thick edge which evaded gully, then an off driven 4. Robbo in the meantime was off the mark with a 3. By over 10 The Middle had reached 27 for 0. Strauss 18 Robbo 9. Jones RMF a 6'2" locally born bowler had replaced Richo at NE. Lucas was still at PE and conceded 2 consecutive 4's by Robbo, a flick off the legs and a square cut. This was followed by a square cut for 4 by Strauss. The 50 came up in the 15th over, a pushed single to Robbo. Strauss 23, Robbo 24 with 3 extras.
Mitchell was continually switching his bowlers from end to end. Excellent off-drive by Andy S moved us to 64-0, and his score to 34. This was over 17, near 4 an over in unfriendly batting conditions, would as chunky would say, was nae bad. Worcs had a reasonably attacking field. An imperious pull for 4 off Richo, took Strauss to 43. Strauss then moved to 49 with a square cut and a glided 2, which was kept to that with a sliding tackle by Richo at fine leg. At the conclusion of over 20, Middlesex were 80 for 0. Strauss 49 Robbo 28.
Kapil, a 18 yr old RFM from Wolverhampton and according to Don Shelley's notes, has England U19 pedigree replaced Jones at NE. His second delivery to Strauss was adjudged lbw. Strauss 49. Mx 80 for 1. Disappointing for Straussey, he had batted well in difficult conditions and really did deserve a 50, but not to be.
He was replaced by Denly. His first delivery was a widish ball which he drove at loosely with not a lot of foot movement but fortunately without damage. He survived a lb shout from Richo's slip cordon. Everyone then disappeared at 12.30 for bad light. Mx 81 for 1. Robbo 29 Denly 0 off 22 overs.
Given the bowler friendly conditions, a more than satisfactory session for the Middle. Good to see Straussey get some runs. Hovercraft on Mx 83 for 1.
Second session.
Umpires re-appeared at 1.20. Difficult to see light had improved. A further announcement said the situation was being 'monitored'. No break in clouds. At 1.45, Mick Hunt and his crew, rolled out the covers, implying a long delay. At 2'o'clock an umbrella appeared as did the umpires in conversation with Mick Hunt. Light rain could now be seen. Next announcement said an early tea at 3.10. Umpires re-appeared at 3.10 Restart at 3.30 announced. Light had brightened and hovercraft made ready to move.
Third session.
At 3.25 umpires were on and Worcs were ready to go. Overs remaining 50. A large number of punters had quit and gone home as Robbo and Denly resumed. Kapil to Denly. dot ball, 4,4. Superb 4 through mid wk by Robbo brought up he 100 in the 25th over. An edged 4 through the slip cordon, now numbering 2 in number. A cut through 3rd man brought up Robbo's 50 ( 6 4's) . Score 111 for 1. At 3.50 overs 27.1 everyone disappeared. Mx 115 for 1. Robbo 53 Denly 10.
Light whilst not good, no worse than most of Surrey, Durham games, the second of which was interrupted by rain for the most part. Announced situation being 'monitored'. Clint Dempsey is alleged to being 'monitored' by Arsenal according to the Torygraph's inhouse Arsenal fan Jeremy Wilson. My advice is don't do it son. A poisoned chalice. Remember Roy Hodgson. I digress. Our reluctant duo re-appeared at 4.04. The light meter was immediately consulted but play restarted. 42 overs left. Denly facing, aimed a wild slash at the first ball. Progress was mainly by singles now. At 32 over mark, Mx 125 for 1. Denly 14 Robbo 59. With the slip cordon now back to 3, Richo got Robbo to edge to the 3rd of these. 125 for 2. Robbo 59. Buck replaced him. Denly with 4,4 and a 2 took 10 off the next over from the PE. Runs were coming slightly easier. 3 slips and a gully for Buck who managed to get off the mark with a guided 3 through that area.
At 5'0' clock bad light intervened. This time it was dark to be fair. At 6'0' clock play was called off for the day.
So we trudged home, Middle 142 for 2, Denly 30, Buck 3 or at least that was my take before the scoreboard disappeared.
Postscript.
A bit like a calendar with flatulence, we were in and out all day. The third intervention was justified. Credit to the Middle in reaching that score off 30 odd overs after a first day washout. Our 4th losing toss in a row. It can only get better. The drought forecast for the next few days ain't encouraging
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Discussion started by Middlesex till we die , 04/05/2012 22:38
Middlesex till we die
04/05/2012 22:38
04/05/2012 22:38
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:05:07:08:59:14 by The Diamond ruled ok.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:05:07:08:59:14 by The Diamond ruled ok.
The article on Middlesex's official website about Steven Finn's availability says that he will be able to play next week v Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge if he is omitted from the England Lions squad for their match v West Indies (which he was) and does not exert himself much v
Durham (a match in which he bowled 24 overs) and Worcestershire (a match in which he is yet to bat or bowl). Hopefully he will be available, although if not, I am confident Corey Collymore could do a good job instead.
The report is an accurate description of today.
Durham (a match in which he bowled 24 overs) and Worcestershire (a match in which he is yet to bat or bowl). Hopefully he will be available, although if not, I am confident Corey Collymore could do a good job instead.
The report is an accurate description of today.
Thanks Seaxe accurate and to the point as ever.
I do wish this weather would improve but then again it is England in early May (delete /insert ... June/July/August/September).
I do wish this weather would improve but then again it is England in early May (delete /insert ... June/July/August/September).
My apologies lads and lasses. the final score should have read 148 for 2 Buck 3 Denly 34 overs 40.3.
My excuse is, that with the constant in and outs and after the last, I got to exchanging Middle information with a couple of Middle lads from Reading.
I misread the final 5'o'clock stats.
My excuse is, that with the constant in and outs and after the last, I got to exchanging Middle information with a couple of Middle lads from Reading.
I misread the final 5'o'clock stats.
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