Well done Mala

By Rogers and out
July 5 2015

Rogers and out reports on a gripping days play which started badly and finished wonderfully, As well as the cricket we get a travelogoue, a diversion via Chesterfield and thanks to Kev some evidence that we are not the only side that struggles with over rates. All enough to put the T20 nightmare out of our heads.

Middlesex ended day one at Nottingham on 312/7 thanks to an unbeaten stand of 147 between Dawid Malan and James Harris. Mala, in particular, was imperious with an undefeated, career best effort of 159 on a tricky pitch when we looked like we might succumb to a total of less than 200 at one stage.
After the disappointment of watching consecutive nights of T20 *cough* action, it was a blessed relief to head for Trent Bridge to see if we could maintain our fine form in the four day game.
It didn't seem possible to get to Nottingham from London in time for an eleven o'clock start on a Sunday by train.  Therefore, I tempted fate by flying to Leeds on the Saturday afternoon in order to meet up with my nephew and his mum before travelling down to Trent Bridge on Sunday morning.

The tourist bit

This time, my flight actually managed to land at Leeds/Bradford airport, and I had a splendid Keralan meal in Leeds city centre with my relations in the evening.
My journey to Nottingham the next morning involved a change of trains at Chesterfield. As luck would have it, my first train was delayed and so I had an extended stay at the home of the Spire-ites.
Stranded in Saltergate does not have the same ring as Seattle, but I did get a great view of the crooked spire. I can also report for fans of comedy that the loveable scallywag from Merseyside Jimmy Tarbuck will be appearing at the town's Pomegranate Theatre on 25 July for the bargain price of £20.
A cab was required to get to Trent Bridge without any further delay, and I was disappointed to see that we were 8/1 having been inserted by our hosts, with Mr. Burns having been castled by Luke Wood for five.
The pitch had a distinctly green hue and it was unsurprising that we'd been asked to bat. Robbo had looked in reasonable form with a couple of boundaries when he was adjudged leg before to Jake Ball for 15, leaving us on 25/2.
Dawid Malan joined Nick Compton at the crease and the pair of them had issues with movement behind the bowlers' arm at the Pavilion end, much to the chagrin of the home crowd.
After a lengthy discussion as to where spectators should be sitting, AC narrowly avoided being out LBW off Brett Hutton.
In the 21st over, Compo was dropped by Brendan Taylor in the slips from the bowling of Hutton. His reprieve was brief as he was caught behind for 19 the very next ball and we were 63/3.
Taylor then managed to spill an even easier opportunity given by Morgan in the next over and we took lunch on 88/3 after 29 overs.
After a quick pint in the Trent Bridge Inn with the usual suspects, I returned to see Eoin Morgan caught at slip by Wessels off Harry Gurney, but to our relief, it was a no ball.
Unfortunately Morgan did not profit from this let off as he soon fell to Wood for fifteen caught behind and both Franklin and Simpson followed shortly after, both victims of Gurney.
At 132/6, we were looking in danger of making a score below two hundred, although Mala brought up his fifty with some fine cut shots behind square.
Ollie Rayner was now in and performed some stout, rearguard action before he was very well caught by Taylor at short extra cover, which very nearly made up for his dropped catches earlier.
My pessimistic prediction that Mala would make a century but we wouldn't get two hundred proved happily incorrect as the man from Roehampton brought up three figures in the 63rd over and we took tea at 202/7.
There had been a prodigious amount of swing and movement all day but this seemed to lessen as the day progressed and both AC and James Harris looked more in control than we had in the previous sessions.
The boundary was now being found regularly by the boy Malan and the boyo Harris. A rain delay came when we were 277/7 and at this point I had to leave to catch my train, but play did resume and we put on another thirty odd runs without loss, leaving Harry unbeaten on 68.
It had been a terrific comeback and we look to be in a strong position going into the last three days.

Negatives :
The usual transport difficulties getting to a game
Having a prior engagement and thus not being able to see Tarby at the Pomegranate on 25 July

Positives :

As good an innings as you'll see on a tricky wicket by Dawid Malan
Great support by Jimmy Harris
Not a charlatan in sight

Ed note: Not just us with an over rate problem: