held the innings together

By comebackgatt
July 11 2009

comebackgatt reports from Grace Road on the first day's play between Leicestershire and Middx. On a day when sixteen wickets fell, the match swung as much as the ball. Dawid Malan made a welcome return to form to hold the innings together. Read comebackgatt's report of this fluctuating and enjoyable days cricket.

Rather fancy this a must win game if we are to ignite our fading promotion hopes. We haven’t done too well at Grace Road over the last few years, lost by 6 wkts last season (despite 116 from Ace) in 2007 it was a rain affected draw, in fact we haven’t won there since 1992 when we won by 10 wickets, with Embers scoring a hundred and taking 8 wkts in the match. I set off early Thursday night, staying in a rather nice Travelodge motel. The forecast for today is sunny intervals, with heavy rain on Saturday.

On arrival, the weather was okay, a few dark clouds around but fingers crossed. I reckoned that whoever won the toss would probably insert the opposition. Well I was wrong there then, Shaggy won the toss and batted, as expected Burton left out and one point of interest is one of the umpires is Martin Bodenham, who was, of course, a footie ref. And appointment to the first class umpires list for this season.

 Sluggish start by Billy and Compo, impressed with O’Brien, the first time I have seen him, bowls straight and moves it a bit. Took six for last time out. There, as soon as I praise him, what does he do but trap Compo plumb in front and we are 15-1. Ace comes in and hits three four from his first five deliveries. Could be fun. Not to be though another straight yorker from O’Brien pings back Ace’s off stump and he has gone as quickly as he arrived. 27-2 now. Should we have bowled first?

Lunch and the joys of following Middlesex. Playing the bottom of the league, a team I heard described “as low in confidence” on local radio this morning and we are 80-4 at the break. Billy went for a painstaking 12, lbw to Allenby’s 11^th ball, and then after Morgan looked like he would see us to the interval, back came O’Brien to have him caught in the slips for 30. I still say we should have fielded, there is some cloud cover and O’Brien is moving it about. Well off to fill me face now.

After Lunch got into a nice conversation with a very pleasant lady who turned out to be a Middx member, although not, well not yet a MTWD member. We were just wondering what on earth had gone on this season when things went from bad to pathetic in front of our eyes. Nash (9), Berg and Udal both ducks went and that old familiar sinking feeling swept over us. Young Dawid Malan at least showed some character and Kartick kept him company for a short time adding 30 for the 8 wicket, but once he left the end was long in coming with Dial M and Finny out cheaply. 159 all out, I ask you 159!! O’Brien picked up six wickets for the second match in a row and young Malan was stranded on 67 not out.

 Tea was taken but it was hard to swallow the cake!!!Straight away things got better, first Boyce trapped fair and square in front by Finny for 0 and then Dippenaar beaten for pace by the same bowler and Lesser are 11-2. Young Cobb, who scored a double hundred for England under 19s last week and the ever dangerous Ackermann are at the crease. Could be a cracking last session. Oh yea of little faith, Finny and Dial M started to get some swing, Ackermann neatly caught by The Iceman and then Tim whipping out Allenby’s middle stump 38-4!! A pitch inspector’s visit? Just the batters unable to cope with swing the real problem it seems to me.

 Taylor soon followed giving Finny his fourth wicket to make it 53-5. It looked like we were going to get a narrow first innings lead, but then Leicester’s two young guns repaired the damage. Joshua Cobb really impressed me with a splendid knock, solid correct defence, mixed with controlled aggression (hit both Finn and Kartick for six), but credit to Tom New who kept the scoreboard ticking over.One can’t help feeling, with due respect to Gareth Berg, that we could have done with another front line seamer, the Iceman didn’t really look like getting a wicket, and there was nothing in it for the spinners. Shaggy finally enticed New into a false shot and he was caught by Berg at short mid wicket having made 42, but Cobb and Walker saw them through to stumps at 132-6 with the young opener 65 no. 

Highly entertaining day, with the game switching one way and then the next, never a dull moment really. Difficult to say who the player of the day was really, with O’Brien, Cobb, New and our own Dawid Malan all doing well, but it was nice to see Dawid back in the runs again. A few early wickets in the morning would be helpful.Well it’s the long and winding road (s) for me then.