Middlesex CCC
Panthers denied by Shark Attack
Best batsman
By Fozzie
June 17 2011
Fozzie's debut report on another fairly crushing defeat. This makes depressing reading again but tells it exactly like it was.
After the debacle at the Old Deer Park on Tuesday it was back to “the best beer garden in London” ™ to see if Panthers could pull off an unlikely double over the Sharks, who were coming fresh from a strong Ollie Rayner-inspired win over Somerset.
Despite heavy rain in London throughout the day the weather was dry. Going to Lords straight from work, I was in a suit and tie, which is not my favourite attire for watching cricket and seems particularly incongruous with T20. So I decided to make a virtue of necessity and watched the game with the suits in the upper tier of the pavilion. It’s a view of Lords that always makes me appreciate what a special ground this is, and how lucky we are to be able to watch our team here regularly.
As expected, Steve Finn was in the team having hot-footed it from the Rosebowl, though he was replacing Dial M rather than Anthony Ireland. This posed the question as to what role Ireland would be playing tonight – specialist tail-ender and boundary-patroller, perhaps, or would he actually be allowed to bowl?
Dex won the toss and decided to field first. “Good”, a neighbour said with feeling, “at least we won’t be home by 8.30 again”.
Nash and Wright opened the batting for the Sharks. Crook again opened the bowling from the Nursery End, and for the third consecutive home match dismissed an opener for a duck, yorking Nash after already beating him twice. Joe Gatting, nephew of Mike, came in, and promptly pulled Finn tamely to Tom Smith, who held on to the catch after a heart-in-mouth juggle. At 2-2 it was an excellent start for the Panthers.
Lou Vincent and Wright counter-attacked, and the match began to swing Sussex’s way in the 5th over when McLaren entered the attack. Seventeen came off the over, in which Vincent hit a towering skier which Chris Rogers, running back, got both hands to but could not hold. This was even more costly than first seemed, for Rogers left the field shortly afterwards and would play no further part in the match.
At the end of the powerplay Sharks were 44-2, and the introduction of Smith and Ireland saw them put them put the foot down hard with 27 off the next two overs. For Ireland this would be the only over he bowled, and realistically it’s difficult to see how many outings he can have when his captain appears to have lost confidence in him. Tom Smith, however, came back strongly, bowling Wright in his next over with the score at 71. Bowling four consecutive overs from the Nursery End, he recovered well from his expensive start to finish with 1-29 while runs were flowing freely from the other end. He also impressed in the field, taking a second catch overhead on the boundary to dismiss Vincent and generally fielding well when the overall Panthers’ standard was somewhat erratic.
But by now Murray Goodwin was taking control. What a player to come in at number 5 – eschewing fireworks and slogging, he played tidy, orthodox shots and ran well between the wickets, and had reached 20 almost without anyone noticing. Dex meanwhile was ringing the changes, again using seven bowlers. There were seven consecutive changes of bowlers from the Pavilion End after Finn’s opening spell, but it all seemed rather frenetic and hoping for something to happen.
By the penultimate over a score of 180 looked possible, but McLaren finally partially redeemed his poor figures by bowling Goodwin for 48 and then Ollie second ball. Ollie had received a warm welcome from the PA announcer, and I could hear a cheer from the direction of the Middlesex Room, though nobody in the pavilion seemed to have much idea of who he was. Then a tight final over from Finny, culminating in a good catch by Scott Newton to give him well-deserved figures of 2-19, restricted the Sharks to 165. So the Panthers started and finished well, but the suspicion was that a target of 166 might be beyond them, especially if Rogers was unable to bat.
This seemed likely when Simmo instead came out to open with Paul Stirling. Stirling immediately tucked his first ball for 4, and when Ollie opened from the Pavilion End swept him for another boundary. Encouragingly, both seemed measured strokes, whereas Paul often gives the impression of simply wanting to hit the ball as hard and high as possible. But Ollie’s next ball was a looping off-break which turned and bounced more than Paul expected, cramping him up as he attempted to cut and instead gave a straightforward catch.
13-1, and Crook again came in as pinch-hitter. Simmo was playing some searing shots, and a lofted cut off Wright for 6 again raised hopes that a realistic challenge was on. But he was caught in the same over off another uppish shot, and when Crook went in the next over it was 35-3. Crook’s T20 career average is only 12, and the jury’s still out on whether his promotion to number 3 is really an experiment worth continuing.
At the end of the powerplay Panthers were 41-3, and to loud cheers Monty Panesar came on. His first ball held up on Dex who pushed forward and was caught and bowled, prompting the trademark Monty celebrations. Suddenly our new record lowest score seemed to be under threat, and Scott and Dalrymple focused on shoring up the innings. Panesar and Ollie sped through their overs, while the predatory close fielders cut off singles and the out-fielders turned likely boundaries into 2s. Scott played two fine reverse-sweeps for 4s, but Dalrymple seemed becalmed, and at the halfway mark the score was only 61 – 105 still to win, a tall order indeed.
After a conference they clearly decided it was now or never, and both hit big sixes. The 50 partnership came up in 44 balls (quicker than it seemed at the time), and with five overs left 61 were needed. At least a second consecutive record lowest score had been averted....
Then Naved returned to the attack, immediately bowling Jamie having a wild heave. The end was nigh: McLaren went quickly, and by the start of the 19th over it was starting to rain heavily. Scott was bowled for a decent 44, and with both teams giving the impression they were keen to get off the field as quickly as possible Ireland and Finn both fell for ducks, with Rogers unable to bat. A total of 116 meant defeat by 49 runs.
So - another heavy defeat, consigning Panthers to the foot of the table while the Sharks’ excellent all-round team performance took them to the top. I didn’t find this performance as depressing as that against Glamorgan: until the final few overs the batsmen didn’t surrender their wickets, while any team would be handicapped by the unexpected loss of their best batsman. But a comparison with the Sharks in the field gave pause for thought. Sharks had a game plan, fielded with intent and used only five bowlers, all of whom contributed well. Overall, I don’t think there will be many Panthers who will look back on their own contributions with much satisfaction.
Our T20 campaign now looks to be pretty much beyond hope. Let’s hope we can get our Championship promotion bid back on course against Kent, and that Chris Rogers’ injury isn’t serious
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:21:16:06:21 by BarmierKev.
Great report.
I note the game looked just as bad from where you were in The Upper Tier of The Pavilion as where we sat in the Lower Tier of The Tavern Stand.
I must say though I find this game just as awful as the Glamorgan game at Richmond.
Other than the great company it has been a truly miserable two games to watch.
"Tom Smith, however, came back strongly" - this is one Smith's key strengths, he seems to keep his head up (metaphorically) and you are guaranteed a response from him.
Otherwise, found it all too depressing to come on and comment before now (I did have a rant drafted on the tube home but slept on it!). The Sussex game plan you allude to and their strong running between the wickets (note, from the very outset of the innings) shouldn't be beyond us.
Onwards to Sunday...
Concur with you as regard the fielding. They closed down a number of 4 bound shots and turned them into two's.
One also felt that their field positions, gave them more chance to do that.
Their spinners, tho only picking up 2 wickets, went for 52, off 8 overs, so sixish, below the rate required.
The quicker bowlers were just that, too quick.
Well done on your first report!! Ha we've got you now and will be coming back to ask you again!!
A great report on a not so great game!!
Kimmy
Which idiot wrote this? What a doofus...
