Middlesex CCC
The Buck Stops Here
Match Saving Innings
By Seaxe Man
August 14 2011
Seaxe Man gives a detailed report that captures a match saving day for the Middle. We also hear a bit of gossip re injuries
Synopsis
Weather allegedly set fine and for the most part it was. Met/Jub Lines running.
Overnight match situation.
Middx 317 and 58 for 4. Northants 399. Deficit of 82 on 1st innings reduced to 24 for the loss of 4 wickets. Vass and Hall doing the damage. The first session will be critical for both sides. Overnight not out batsmen...Rogers on 27...JD...on 15.
Doubling up jobwise. I was MLO for the day. Had a word with the lads in the Middlesex Room before the start of play to get the latest gossip. Was able to add a little of my own.
Bergie will feature next week for the seconds. His prob is holding a bat which he now says he can do. Bowling ok. Will only be a 'risk' selection for 1st XI it is thought. Crook has deputised well wicketwise. Ireland has ankle injury.
First session
Daggett from N.E. Rogers on strike. Buck had to break off for a mo, as a wasp was buzzing around his helmet. Vass resumed from the P.E. With the score on 78, still 4 adrift of the deficit, Vass bowled JD for 23. The time was approx 11.25am. So not the start either I or the punters in the Middlesex Room wanted, tho it was conceded that if only one wicket fell before lunch. That was very satisfactory.
Simmo then got off the mark with a push for a single. Rogers scored a two to bring the scores level. Effectively, we were 0 for 5 in over 32. So a bit of work to do. A cracking ondrive for 4 by Rogers, the highlight.
Rogers reached his 50 (89 balls) with a straight driven 4 and a pulled 4 off Daggett. After which Hall replaced Daggett at NE. 100 was brought up by Simmo with an edged 4 which bounced in front of and over the slips. Survived a huge lbw shout next ball. Bowler Hall. (A big let off). White at 2nd slip dropped Rogers off a lifting ball from Hall. Score 118. Rogers 61.
Lee Evans had replaced Vass at PE. Field: fine leg, 3rd man, mid wk sweeper, 2 slips plus inner ring. Spin at last appeared at Pav End in the form of Middlebrook. 46 over mark. More close fielders came in. Evans switched to other end. 150 came up at 12.30. Rogers 80 Simmo 20.
100 partnership was reached from 136 balls. Rogers 90 Simmo 32. Wakely was brought on for the pre lunch over of spin. Rogers promptly despatched him for consecutive sixes over midwicket to reach a well earned century. This being his 3rd century of the season.
We lunched at 192 for 5. Roger 102 Simmo 32. We scored 134 runs in the sesh for 1 wicket. Caredul batting with odd flamboyant boundary had served us well. The Middle's sesh.
2nd session
Simmo on strike. Middlebrook the bowler. Immediate misfield by Wakely. Single. Vass was now at NE during which time 200 came up in over 56. A beautiful and well timed straight drive by Simmo reached the Pavilion Steps. Northants captain Andrew Hall continually kept ringing the bowling changes in pace and spin at either end seeking a breakthrough..
Daggett was pulled imperiously for 4 by CR to bring up the 150 partnership. 232 for 5. 150 lead. Overs remaining 57. Still a bit of work to do lads. Field was now fine leg, inner ring, short leg, silly mid off. Captain Hall then dropped Simmo on 41 at slip off Middlebrook. We were riding our luck a touch. Score still 232.
Simmo then reached his 50 off 92 balls with a glided 4 through gully. With the score on 266, after escaping an edge which dropped between 3 fielders, Buck (or Roy) was out lbw to White to a ball which kept very low. A superb 145 which like his 148 at UXB had kept the ship afloat and in the right direction. The stand was worth 188. The lead at thisi point was 184 with 42 overs remaining.
Crook was next in facing an all spin attack. Middlebrook and White were starting to cause problems. The new ball was then taken at 86 overs. Score 280 for 6. Vass at PE. Last throw of the dice? Daggette at NE. things then perambulated along to tea. Taken at 284 for 6. 92 runs added for Rogers wicket. Simmo 68 Crook 8.
Third and final match session.
The main interest in this sesh, was whether or not, Simmo could reach his ton. Started with a 3 to the cover boundary which was cutoff. 5th ball of that over, Crook was taken at 2nd slip for 12. ct Hall b Daggett from a lifting delivery. Score 291. Murts then got off the mark with a 3 to midwicket. Simmo's ton was not to be, as on 72 with the score at 296, a ball from Evans feathered the stumps and dislodged a bail. a second valuable half ton in this match. Both well well needed. 296 for 8. TRJ emerged. 4 byes brought up the 300 which included 12 byes. N. O'Brien not having a good day. Another 4 byes conceded. 305 for 8.
Murts slashed a 4 through gully and there was then a hold-up after he was struck on the body by Evans. A bevy of fitness men then appeared with the usual accoutrements. After awhile he resumed for the final two balls of the match . Handshakes allround. Match Drawn. Middle 8 pts Northants 10 pts. Middx 313 for 8 dec.
Summary.
After losing 50 overs on day 1 between two evenly matched sides, a draw was the likely outcome. Fair play to the Middle. After losing the toss. Northants enjoyed the better bowlong conditions on days 1 and 3. I think I am right in saying, that all of our drawn games have been weather affected. At anyrate, with other results going our way, we have a tidy cushion and a game in hand. C'mon The Middle.
Seaxe Man. 10th August 2011 from the Upper Edrich Stand at Lord's.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:08:17:07:06:29 by BarmierKev.
Hopefully we will be reading division one reports on MTWD next season.
I have not taken the comment on another thread of 20 over declaration seriously.
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
His temperament and experience have been invaluable ,a top guy as well.
I hope his stay with us is a long one...
Owais who......?
It is great that Chris Rogers is doing excellently in his role as overseas player.
