Middlesex CCC
Colonel Jim Bowie's Last Stand at The Alamo.
By Seaxe Man
August 18 2012
SEAXE MAN GIVES A DETAILED REPORT ON THE EVENTS DAY BEFORE THAT LED TO OUR 8 RUN DEFEAT.
Travel/weather
Met Phil 'The Power' Taylor on The Snake at Baker Street. We arrived at 10.40ish. Cloudy but dry and later turned into one of the year's hottest days of which we have seen few. After scoffing a pork roll in the Pavilion. Took up position on the shelf at approximately long on to the righthander.
Overnight Surrey 144 and 86 for 1. Middlesex 232.
1st session
Scores were level at the end of the first over. The overnight Mexican batters being Burns and Harinath. Two through the slips to third man. Sparsish crowd at start. Murtagh and Rojo were the bowlers. So far the wicket suggested few gremlins from the previous days for the pace attack. Hard graft looked to be the case.
Field 2 slips, gully, square leg, mid on, mid off, fine leg and short mid wicket. 100 up in over four. Harinath pulled TRJ behind square leg to bring up his 50 in over 6. Similarly, Burns reached his 50 with a similar shot off Murtagh. Good stop by Smith at square leg. Crook replaced TRJ at the OCS end. Legside ball hit for 4 by Harinath. Dex from Pavilion End. Predicted rain absent. Sun out. Good batting conditons. 12'o'clock 135 for 1.
Batsmen in little trouble. Burns did edge Crook but not sure it carried to second slip, if it did, it was v.low. Tom Smith then at PE. Got one to lift on Burns. Beat bat several times. Good over. 150 up in over 20. Lead 68. A raised shot by Harinath just wide of Murts at long on. Not a chance. 150 partnership at 12.30. Balbirnie on at OCS end. Spin at both ends.
Too many balls pitched on lefthanders middle and leg, so 4's conceded through fine leg . We have leaked a large number of fours in that area. 174 for 1. Under the cosh with a wicket as likely as an icecream in the Sahara at this point. 100 lead posted followed shortly afterwards with the hosts 200. Runs were starting to flow like wine. Denly replaced Balbirnie at OCS. Burns then reached his 100 with a single off Malan who came on a PE. Harinath on 98 reached his 100 with a 2 off Denly. This was his maiden first class hundred. At lunch Surrey 210 for 1. Lead 122. Very much their morning. For The Middle, our Alamo at the mo. A wicket in the morning session never looked likely.
2nd session
Resumption. Mexicans on 210 for 1. Single first ball off Smith from OCS. Field could be described as defensive, apart from a slip and short leg. Crook at PE. 200 parnership arrived shortly after restart. Driven four by Burns off Crook. Wickets still looked a scarce commodity. Finally, 230 for2, Harinath was taken for 109, a catch by Rogers at slip, from a parry from Rossington. Bowler Crook.
The 217 stand was reported by some as being a new second wicket record in Surrey/Middlesex matches. The veracity of which I don't know. Smith back on at OCS. Straight driven 4 off Crook. De Bruyn the new batter. Edge off Crook who stuck to his task well in the blazing heat, evaded the slips, low and may not have carried. 250 up. Over 45. Lead 162.
New ball taken. Murts from PE. Sliced 4 by Burns. Drop in slips. Not good. Burns. A driven 4 followed by De Bruyn of TRJ from the OCS end. At last a 3rd wicket. Burns lbw to TRJ for 121. Score 264 for 3. Ham-Brown next batter. 267 for4. De Bruyn taken at gully off TRJ for 23. Bowler TRJ. Jason Roy next up. Straight lofted drive by Roy off Murts. Ham-Brown removed lbw by TRJ for 2. Score now 278 for 5. This should have been 278 for 6, as Roy edged TRJ behind and was walking, until be realised Umpire Llong had'nt given him out. So walked back. Buck put in his twopenneth.
Roy was then lbw to Crook for 17. 291 for 6. He had replaced Murts at PE. 300 up in the 63rd over at 3.57pm with an off driven 2 by Davies. Drunken stag party in the cheap seats, one as Banana man, another as Frankenstein, keep chirping. Good beer. Tea 303 for 6. Some brownie points for Crooky. Kept running in on a wicket doing little for the old ball. TRJ 4fer. Well done mate. Lead 218.
Taking 5 wickets in that session in sweltering heat made this the Middle's session. The Mexican hordes were being repelled at the gates of the Alamo.
3rd session.
Crook opened from PE. to Davies. TRJ then sent Batty's off stump cartwheeling for 3. 307 for 7. Kartik arrived at wicket. After a 4 from Davies, Kartik departs for2, trapped lbw by Crook, well deserved wicket in the baking heat. 318 for 8. Replaced by Linley. Smith OCS and Crook continues to sweat it out at PE. Off drive for 4 by Davies. 328 for 8. Lead 240. At this point Davies did'nt know whether to twist or bust as he sought to protect Linley. So, some singles ignored.
When the opportunity occurred, Buck crowded the bat when Linley was on strike. He called for helmet for Robbo at short leg for Smith. Murts replaced Crook at PE. 1st ball hit by Davies for 4, in repeating the stroke he was caught next ball by Crook for 44 at mid on. Dernbach the last batsman. Lead 253. He eventually edged Smith to backward point for no score. 254 to win in 110 overs. How would we fare?
Middlesex 2nd innings,
Rogers plus Robbo opened. Buck took strike from Dernbach from OCS. An edgy first over. Linley from PE to Robbo. A 2 to fine leg. one and two's accrued until Robbo found the boundary at fine leg. A great off-drive by Buck for 4 off Dernbach, followed by one a bit more square. Kartik then on for Dernbach. Trouble? Not initially as he was pulled for 4 by Robbo. Then a lovely cut by Buck off the same bowler reached the boundary through the gully area. Kartik then bowled a maiden. Onto the last over to be bowled by Batty. Controversy immediately here. To the accompany of many oohs and ahs from the Mexicans close field, Cowley gave Buck out lbw. Apart from looking outside the line of off stump, from my perch, some bat looked to have featured.
Buck was not impressed and to those in the Bedser Stand, a lot of noise was heard emanating from the dressing room. So 45 for 1 and a further 209 required from 96 overs. Goes without saying a couple of batters need to put their hands up
Observations.
Full marks to the bowlers for gutsing it out on one of the hottest days of this belated summer. Crooky kept going and must have had a good night's sleep. A strong man. TRJ with his 5fer was the pick on the day. Well done mate. Over to the batsmen. The Surrey members around me, fancied us to win as they said the wicket had eased and we had plenty of time. They said they thought their lead should have been over 300. They agreed though that both sides stronger suite is the bowling.
Seaxe Man from the hacienda at the Alamo.
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Discussion started by Middlesex till we die , 18/08/2012 23:49
Middlesex till we die
18/08/2012 23:49
18/08/2012 23:49
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:08:20:22:10:57 by BarmierKev.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:08:20:22:10:57 by BarmierKev.
Apparently some of the Surrey fans are bemused (as I was) by being referred to as Mexicans, but say that if they are the Mexicans then the Alamo that they are besieging should be Lord's.
Adelaide
Adelaide
A good and detailed report Seaxe Man. I have come to expect nothing less from you. Despite the fact that 3 of our top 5 have not had a good summer I would have to say it was the bowling that let us down- not the seamers ofcourse. Before a ball was bowled this was, rightly or wrongly, being flagged up as a spinners wicket. The fact Kartik and Batty took 16 wickets between them would seem to confirm this (although I still can't work out hoe come TRJ and Murts worked out how to survive against them!) Our spinners managed 1 wicket (that of Dernbach). Well as TRJ in particular bowled some wickets should have fallen to spin, but they didn't.
Chunky. Balbirnie's inexperience showed with his line to the lefthanders. I would say Smith put in a shift but as we know does'nt turn the ball sufficiently in 4day cricket.
As we chatted with the Mexican's around us: the general point was made that their spinners were better quality than ours.
You have to add to that, that our batsmen play spin poorly. They don't know whether to twist or bust and probably foot movement or the lack of don't help much. Plus shot selection.
We look as though we need to buy a strong experienced number 6 bat and a spinner if we are to survive for a long spell in this division.
In such a tight game, the triggering out of Buck to the Mexican Chorus, a poor decision, and Llong's inability to confirm Roy's edge, which Roy was well aware of, was the diff.
As we chatted with the Mexican's around us: the general point was made that their spinners were better quality than ours.
You have to add to that, that our batsmen play spin poorly. They don't know whether to twist or bust and probably foot movement or the lack of don't help much. Plus shot selection.
We look as though we need to buy a strong experienced number 6 bat and a spinner if we are to survive for a long spell in this division.
In such a tight game, the triggering out of Buck to the Mexican Chorus, a poor decision, and Llong's inability to confirm Roy's edge, which Roy was well aware of, was the diff.
Balbirnie's selection surprised me. I wont be harsh on a debutant, but he quite often keeps wicket for the seconds, which proves how part time his part time spin must be.
One other point I forgot on the number 6 batting position chunky. Is Paul Stirling currently injured.
He should be given a shot in the middle order. He is also a spin option probably as likely as anyone else we have.
A cameo 30 or 40 from Paul would have turned a couple of recent losses into wins.
He should be given a shot in the middle order. He is also a spin option probably as likely as anyone else we have.
A cameo 30 or 40 from Paul would have turned a couple of recent losses into wins.
As comprehensive as ever SM. Sorry to have missed you but I was, for once, occupied by things other than the cricket during most of the moprning and afternoon sessions.
I am pretty sure that the edge to slip in the morning carried off Crook and I know one in the afternoon did, because I asked him.
I am pretty sure that the edge to slip in the morning carried off Crook and I know one in the afternoon did, because I asked him.
Thanks to sm for another great report! Glad you survived your trip.
Chunky Andy only keeps wicket if both rosso and London are unavailable..... And his batting and bowling in the seconds have been good. He's young (think he either finished school or uni before joining us?) to be asked to debut in a derby must have been quite frightening for him! Don't slate him too much please
Kimmy
Always look on the bright side of life... de dum de dum de dum de dum dum
Chunky Andy only keeps wicket if both rosso and London are unavailable..... And his batting and bowling in the seconds have been good. He's young (think he either finished school or uni before joining us?) to be asked to debut in a derby must have been quite frightening for him! Don't slate him too much please
Kimmy
Always look on the bright side of life... de dum de dum de dum de dum dum
kimmy- It wasn't intended as critisism of Balbirnie- but 3 part time spinners, Denly, Malan, Balbirnie, don't make one good spinner between them. I would have preferred the specialist 2nd team spinner Patel. We can't replay the match to see if he would have done any better, but as a specialist he might (stress might) have been able to break the Burns/Harinath partnership. I would say it's better to go for the specialist rather than try to have it both ways, but clearly a need to do something about the batting meant Balbirnie got the nod.
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