Kartik Volunteers To Open

By Winsky Minor
August 30 2009

Winsky Minor reports on a far from minor day at Lord's, as Middlesex stomp into an excellent position against Gloucestershire. A report on the Ladies Day aspect of this Saturday should follow shortly on MTWD from an appropriate source, but for now you can read all about an exciting day of cricket, including an unusual opening pairing. Many thanks to Jonathan Winsky for the report.

On a glorious summer's day which was equally matched by a superb performance by Middlesex, I took my normal seat five rows from the front in the centre of the Grand Stand. Noticeable were the numerous ladies in attendance waiting in anticipation for the free champagne and other goodies which were going to be served later in the morning in the Harris Garden.

Gloucestershire started day 3 on 196-9, but in the fourth over of the morning Tim Murtagh removed Steve Kirby, who took his overnight score from 6 to 18, caught in the slips by Neil Dexter and they were all out for 210 with a big first-innings deficit of 132. Murtagh's final figures were 4-61.

Middlesex started their second innings at 11:25am, but Nick Compton was partnered by Murali Kartik, clearly to cause the minimal disruption to the batting order as Sam Robson was unable to bat having apparently chipped a bone in his elbow in catching Steve Adshead the previous day. Although I am unaware of the severity of his injury, I was not particularly surprised that Robson didn't open as he did not do any more fielding after the catch. The promotion of Kartik exceeded a lot of people's expectations as the pair put on 128 for the first wicket either side of lunch, the partnership coming to an end when Kartik walked past a delivery from Richard Dawson, and was stumped by Adshead on 57.

Next to fall was Adam London who was run out by Adshead for 11 in attempting a second run when looking to increase the scoring rate and Middlesex were 150-2.

Five runs and seven balls later, Compton was caught by Ian Saxelby at midwicket off Hamish Marshall for 83, which came off 131 balls with nine fours. The ball initially dropped out of the fielder's hand, but he caught it at his second attempt.

Dawid Malan fell to Chris Taylor's occasional off-breaks when on 20, playing on, making the score 184-4. Tea was taken seven runs later.

The last session was the most exciting. Dexter pulled a six into the Grand Stand the first ball after tea followed by another pull shot for four the next ball. It was clear the instructions were for Middlesex to get as many runs as possible on the board before a making a declaration. The figure I had in my mind for the declaration was 267 as that would mean Gloucestershire have to chase 400.

With the runs flowing freely for the Middlesex batsmen, Ben Scott lost his wicket trying to up the tempo, edging to Dawson at slip off Saxelby for 22 (226-5) and Gareth Berg followed soon after caught behind off Kirby for 7 (237-6).

This brought Shaun Udal to the crease, and he scored 26 off 15 balls including two sixes, one of which cleared the Grand Stand. He enjoyed himself so much that he batted on past 267, but when he was caught by Alex Gidman off Kirby to take the score to 273-7 he declared, meaning that Gloucestershire would have to get 406. Dexter chipped in with a handy unbeaten 39.

This left 16 overs for Gloucestershire to negotiate. Rob Woodman hit the third ball of the innings for four, but the next ball was lbw to Murtagh.

Two balls later Marshall was caught behind by Scott for a duck and Murtagh had taken two wickets in an over.

In the eighth over of the innings the score became 21-3 as Gidman was adjudged lbw to Steve Finn on 7.

Gloucestershire closed on 55-3, with 351 still required, while Middlesex need seven more wickets to secure a first home win in eleven attempts.