Key wickets

By Beefy Roberts
September 1 2011

Beefy Roberts reports from Lord's on Day two of the match v Leicestershire. Another great day for the home team, follow with another of Beefy special reports.

Its a warmer day today with higher cloud and hardly a breeze as the flags are limp all around.We are greeted by Mr Perambulator who,for the first time gets his speech correct,unlike yesterday when he said its Middlesex v Derbyshire before correcting himself.
 
370-1 overnight and it will be good to reach the magic 400 mark without losing another wicket,Taylor has 3 balls remaining from the over the day before after the bad light.
Hoggie from the Nursery End and Taylor from Pav end,we have Strauss and AC picking singles off when needed and reaching the boundary when they felt like it.Hoggie has a good over,as Strauss has a few play n misses ,but last ball a square cut to the grandstand for 4 runs and reaches 192.Strauss reaches 196,AC on 37 as we get to 400 and that needed 5th batting point in the 97th over,AC a lovely shot for 4 to long on that leaves the fielder Cobb laying on the floor just watching the ball fly to the rope.Hoggie is again bowling to Strauss,who,has a couple to close to mention as he edges nearer the magic double ton,and loads of cameras are focusing on him,he then has a cut to deep square leg for 4 more runs,cameras all click and the whole ground stands as Andrew Struass reaches the milestone of 200 not out,a truly superb innings and a joy to watch.
411-1 and a huge LBW appeal from Buck at Struass but it was really the bowler begging for a wicket as we continue to roll on we reach 427-1 as Hoggie is again bowling to Strauss(he wants the wicket,you can tell)and a close call as Hoggie shouts out " oh,my giddy aunt",LP reckons the umpires are going to question the light!
Still no breeze,but lumpy gr clouds are building up,surely on rain today please.
A wicket goes,438-2 and AC goes with a high edge/hook shot and is caught behind by Jefferson off White for 47,next in Birthday boy Rogers and as he comes in Struass walked up to him,and shook his hand,welcome to the crease?
The carnage continues,and have been texting the updates to those unable to be here and Diamond returns a text saying get 700 and chuck 'em in.
110 overs have gone,450 up with Strauss on 222 and Rogers 7 no,and with that reached its no points to Leicestershire.Unbelievably the square leg umpire has the light meter out,you ARE having a larf sir!
An ex-captain of the Middle and England was seen walking up the steps of the Mound Stand,Mr Gatting is in the house today,and had a Lords Pie in hand,good to see you!
White to Strauss and the most glorious shot is played for 4 runs as he dispatches the ball to the nursery end,past the bowler for 4 runs,poetry in motion! Strauss on 231,Rogers 11 its 462-2 and the 50 partnership is reached off 56 balls.Rogers gets in the action and launches the ball into the top tier of the Tavern Stand,in the last 30 mins there have been shots everywhere,no one taking their eyes off the ball in case they get hit! Is a declaration due we ask.?
At Lunch we are 496-2,and Chris Rogers has a presentation in front of the pavilion a bottle of champagne and a signed bat for reaching 1000 runs in the county championship this season,well done that man, and a great birthday gift.
The decleration has been called on 496-2,Smith on as 12th man for the injured Robbo,who is sporting a shiner,bit of swelling,but is ok and hoping to be back next week,who do you drop?!

Lots of chatter in the field,players are buzzing out there as the Leicester innings starts,Murts the Nursery end,Colly pav end.10 overs gone and they are 23-0,Jefferson with his height(6 foot 10) is holding his bat,comment that it looks like a child's bat!,Boyce at the nursery end,the opposite with height and looks like child pads.LP does the afternoon juggling act as usual,today he entertains us by dropping his nice,juicy apple,then blames me for it.Decided not to eat it as there is pigeon dirt and other things on the floor so,he picks it up and throws it down again,just to make sure its damaged enough!
The first WKT goes,Jefferson is caught behind by Simmo off Murts for 20,its starting,the goal being maximum bowling points,Come on the Middle we shout.
Crook is at Nursery End now,good tight bowling and 50-1 off 22 overs,watching Leicester bat is like watching grass grow,not much happens!,suddenly during the batting boredom,Smith takes a boundary 4 off Crook to the grandstand.TRJ to Boyce,a very huge LBW appeal ,umpire un-moved Ollie comes on for TRJ at the Pavilion end,72-1 off 27 overs and Corey is on for Crook at Nursery End and after his over,its still 72-1
Another WKT falls,its 73-2 as Smith goes back to the dressing room c Malan off the bowling of Rayner for 13,was a good catch as the ball was skied towards long on ,Malan running round and steadied himself for the catch.James Taylor is in.At Tea,they are 8-2 Boyce 41,Taylor 3.
After Tea has been taken,and we have visited the Middlesex Room Murts has the Nursery end back and Crook the Pav end.Its not long before the next WKT falls as the score reaches 94-3 Taylor as gone,bowled by Crook top of middle,a lovely view!Cobb is next in,and he is greeted by the old warm thing arriving,the sun has made a rare August appearance!,Cobb comes and Cobb goes 94-4 he is LBW for a duck by Crook after Murts had a good over from his favourite end.
And guess what? Didnt have to wait long for another WKT 101-5 as Boycie goes B crook(go and see Marlene we shout!) for 46,Crook jumps like a kangaroo after the wicket,he enjoyed that we say.TRJ is back on,bowling to White and Smudge dropped and great,but difficult catch at Forward Leg,a few runs are added before another WKT goes,Eckersley(who,we are told was on the youth Middlesex books),is caught behind by Simmo for 28 off TRJ and the score is 151-6 the second bowling point arrives to cheering.Spillage went for a comfort break,misses the wicket.
Forgive me,but missed a few runs being scored,was watching game and didn't record them.
WKT falls,its 184-7 White LBW Collymore for 37,missed it as it was my turn to ' take a wicket ' works every time! but reliably told the ball kept low and straight,White didn't move his feet.
Mutys from the Pavilion end,soon its 184-8 as Taylor goes for 14 c Rogers b Murts.They need 11 runs to reach the first bonus point in the game,us 2 wickets for our maximum bonus points,the lads didn't wait long as Leicester are now 190-9 Buck is caught by Malan off Murts for 5.
Middlesex 8 Leicester 0
Hoggie comes in to applause,he is a cricket character,i start to bore people by saying ' i saw his hat-trick in Barbados '!,Yes we know i get told shut up!
Hoggie gets 3 runs and is clean bowled by Crook,Leicester finish on 193 all out.
 
Leicestershire finish 303 runs behind,the follow on is sure to be asked by our Captain.
 
Another absolutely great day of cricket at home,2 superb days so far,lets hope today goes the same way.
COME ON THE MIDDLE!