Super Bat

By Bluebadge
April 14 2011

Bluebadge reports on day 1 of mixed fortunes for the Middle on a chilly start to the season. 

**Pre-match**

The weather's overcast with a bit of a chill and we leave for the ground hoping to see Finny bowl at former teammate Billy the Kid but it's not to be. Essex win the toss and choose to field. 

**Morning Session - Teen Tyro Topley Takes Two**

Play begins after an impeccably observed minute's silence to remember those stalwarts of each county, Fred Titmus and Trevor Bailey. The players line up in front of the pavilion and the crowd of a few hundred stand. For myself, too young to have watched either play, I think about Bailey's part in England's triumph in the Ashes in 1953.

The Middle have a left-handed opening pair of Newman and Rogers. Masters opens from the Pavilion End and beats the bat of Newman three times in a first over maiden. At the other end Chambers doesn't seem so threatening but runs are hard to come by and the first boundary doesn't arrive until the 8th over when Newman cuts Chambers for four.

Masters continues to beat the bat but doesn't have any luck and after 12 overs Middlesex old boy Chris Wright comes on for Chambers followed by Reece Topley for Masters at the Pavilion End. I look in Playfair to see if Topley is the son of Don but he isn't even listed.

Topley's a rangy left-arm quick who soon settles into a groove and bowls a maiden  first over. Murts, Finny and Colleymore come onto the outfield and perform
some stretches Merv Hughes style.

Wright loosens Essex's grip and the 50 comes up off 95 balls. Middlesex have been unspectacular but solid, the openers rumbling along like a pubrock bassist in a Canvey Island boozer. Rogers smacks a cover drive for four and there's the first cry of 'Come on the Middle...!'

Bopara comes on and immediately the run rate accelerates, his first ball going for 4 leg byes and runs coming all round the wicket. Rogers, who has looked the less comfortable of the openers, goes to a catch at slip off Topley for 25 and Newman follows soon after to the same bowler, being caught at the wicket by Foster.

So a decent start squandered just when it looked like we might make it to lunch without losing a wicket. It's down to the youngsters, Malan and Housego to steady the ship.

Between them they biff a few fours, shot of the morning being a Malan punch to the leg-side boundary off Chambers. Malan brings up the hundred with an on drive for four in the 28th over and it's beginning to look easy for the Middle.

Essex bring on Westley with a bit of off spin before lunch and Foster misses a thin edge from Malan. At the break Middlesex are 110 for 2.

**Afternoon Session - The Iceman Go-eth**

Shortly after lunch Middlesex go to lunch. Masters bowls Malan, a full delivery thunking into the base of the off stump. Dex goes lbw in the same over for nowt and gloom descends upon the Allen stand. I've been holding out against my first pint of the season but I don't think my resolve will last long if a further wicket goes.

Housego is Housegone for 20 as he toe ends a pull off Topley to square leg. Yup, I need a pint. Or two. Maybe three if another wicket goes.

To the Middlesex crowd's relief both Simpson and Berg get off the mark and start to rebuild the innings, Simpson hitting a succession of straight drives as Topley and Masters keep a full length, looking for swing. Berg is less fluent but appears to relish Chambers' shorter stuff when he comes on and he stonks his first  ball through square off the back foot.

The cricket turns attritional with Berg and Simpson gradually developing a decent stand, few boundaries but willing running ticking the score slowly upwards. However, the Essex pressure pays off. Wright returns and takes a brace in one over - Simpson is trapped lbw and the Iceman misses one and is bowled off stump. With both of them out in the thirties once more Middlesex are left with a fresh pair of Murts and Rayner (on full debut) having to build a stand from nothing. 

Dial M cracks a nice couple of boundaries to leg to cheer us up and Middlesex go into tea on 210 for 7. It looks like we'll be cheering on Finny v Billy the Kid soon, if the light holds out.

**After tea - Finn can only bat better**

I go up to the Pavilion to see what the ball is doing in anticipation of Middlesex bowling soon. Masters is swinging it but Rayner slaps a half volley straight for four. Oh dear, Murtagh goes lbw first ball to Bopara.

Ashes winner Steven Finn comes to the wicket. 

What a pleasure to write those words.

Rayner swipes at a wide one from Masters and gets in a cob on with himself...I'm liking the passion. Next up he spanks a drive through Topley at mid-off for four. Rayner (possible nickname Pepe?!) looks a capable lower order batsman and with Finn thrashing anything that comes within range they put on 50 in 56 balls.

Finn's luck doesn't last, when the end comes it is comprehensive - middle stump knocked back; but a great knock to make the score respectable. Collymore doesn't last, and Rayner is stranded on 32. Topley picks up a well deserved fifer just days after doing the same against Kent.

A score of 277 all out doesn't look good enough considering plenty of batsmen got a decent start in this game, and we don't get to see how Middlesex can exploit the conditions as bad light stops play after a couple of overs.

One Middlesex fan was overheard in the Pavilion as saying, 'What a score...it's almost like finishing last year and starting the same this'. I beg to differ. The tail wagged and the team look fresh. I back our boys to knock Essex over and give us a shout of a win.