Middlesex CCC
Peters and "Lee" on song
What a knock
By steelbacker
April 25 2010
Report with a difference as we get a Northants slant on proceedings as Steelbacker reports on a remarkable last day's play at Wantage Road. We follow how his mood changes through an extraordinary's days play
This is my third day of this match, the second with my wicked uncle (know to you as comebackgatt). I decided not to go and watch Kettering Town at Salisbury and instead spend a day in the sunshine.Arrived nice and early and had a bit of a stroll and watched a bit of the Middlesex players in the nets.It would need some determined batting by the boys if we were to save this one. 29-0 overnight having been set a mere 395. I reckon if we can get to Lunch with only a couple of wickets down we have a chance.
Peters and Loye came out and Murtagh and Finn opened the bowling, although I though young Evans might, he certainly gave our batsmen a bit of the hurry up on Thursday. As expected Udal set a very attacking field as it seemed he had plenty of runs to play with. Things went smoothly until with the total on 43, Finn got a delivery to lift and found the edge of Loye’s bat and Strauss took the catch at slip. Seemed like there was still something in the wicket at that point. In came Alex Wakely, at this junction I should explain that a group of us have nicknamed him “Lee” after a mate of ours with the same surname who is in the Army. Peters and he started to find the wide gaps in the field and boundaries stared to flow.
Just before Lunch Peters was put down at leg slip by Newman off Udal, a sharp chance true but... Lunch arrived with the total at 143-1, Peters 71 and Wakely 45. Morning to us I think with only one wicket down, pretty confident we can save this.
Wandered into my local (I work very close to the ground) for a ploughman’s lunch and have a chat with Elly the lovely red haired barmaid. She asked where my uncle was, knew I shouldn’t have told her he was a theatrical agent!! Could she send him some of her modelling photos!!! This was getting too much to bear. Politely gave her his email then texted him with the score, cricket wise and otherwise.
Back to the cricket and things were going along very nicely, with runs come at a fair rate, despite the field being not so attacking. Suddenly Daggett, the 12th man, raced onto the field and Peters changed his gloves, I noticed Nicky Boje giving a signal from the balcony, where we going for it??
200 up in the 50th over and suddenly Middlesex looked like
a side running fast out of ides, Murtagh was still bowling tightly but runs were coming too easily from the other end. Malan who bowled one over before Lunch came back into the attack.Peters through to his hundred, texted CBG who texted back to say he was in Margate, no not on the beach but covering footie there.
Daring to think if we have 250 on the board at tea we could win this. Thought that even more when Peters was dropped twice more, again off Udal by Newman easier chance this and then later a tough chance put down by Simpson off Malan. Finally the visitors got a breakthrough when Finn sent a yorker through Wakely defence 222-2, “Lee” making 87. Entered David Sales, just the man for this situation. Just before the interval Murtagh was unable to hold on to a sharp catch and bowl.
Tea came at 253 -2 with Peters 120 and Sales a quick 20, 142 to win. OMG I think I am going to witness an incredible victory. Even the news that Kettering were losing didn’t bother me.
After tea, I have to be honest and say, Middlesex became a ragged team in the outfield, and didn’t seem to know where the next wicket was coming from Evans only bowled 8 overs but was carted all around the outfield and looked a broody, sorry young man. At 269 Sales was given out LBW off the bowling of Malan for 30, he didn’t look best pleased. That brought in The Secret Lemonade Drinker (White) who went for the bowling from the word go. He smashed Finn for six over midwicket, after a quick fire 40; he went bowled by Finn going for another expansive off drive. Enter Andrew Hall who immediately stuck a couple of fours. This was getting a bit embarrassing. Finally Peters drove a straight four to win the game with over 9 overs left. Peters 183 not out, a carrear best.
Summary
Well you could have knocked me down with a rhubarb sandwich that we won this, after being out played for three days. I was impressed with the Middlesex youngsters, London, Malan, Simpson and Evans although he seemed to”lose it” when being belted around the park. Time to text CBG and gloat that we have now won the last three meetings in a row.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:04:26:22:36:42 by BarmierKev.
1. Their target was below 400 and the rate required below four an over
2. Overnight, their score was 29-0 off four overs, run rate 7.25
I got the idea about the benefit of psychological advantages while following today's one-day match from Wantage Road as once Northamptonshire fell to 90-7, I sensed an opportunity for Middlesex to restrict them to below 160 (which would have meant Middlesex had to score at four an over to win), and thus I felt sure that Northamptonshire would have got a sense a satisfaction had they reached 160.
Thankfully, they made just 146, so Middlesex need just 3.68 an over to win. However, it wouldn't surprise me if by the time people read this Middlesex would have once again cocked it up, not that I'm expecting anything other than a Middlesex win.
Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford
(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)
I feared the worst overnight, as there is a bit of a history of Middlesex failing to show the same penetration in the fourth innings as they had in the second. I wouldn't want to blame anybody, but I've noticed that Danny Evans's not infrequent first innings Michelles tend to be followed by getting knocked about in the second knock, and that seems to have happened again here. Experience, I suppose, but sometimes you just have to keep it tight on good wickets.
Adelaide
