Middlesex CCC
The 17th Over and the Last of The Summer Wine
Five wickets see us Home
By Seaxe Man
September 9 2012
A detailed report from Seaxe Man on the last day of the season at Lord's. Very interesting days play described in full here which saw Middle send Lanky down. read on...
Weather: for the 4th day running, blue skies stretching for miles. Could and should have been any day in July rather than September. The sun had also brought out a decent turnout on Moaners Mount. Day 4 Middlesex v Lancashire at Lord's LVCC Div 1 September the 7th 2012. Overnight Middlesex 446 and 129 for 2 Rogers 57 Malan 37. Lancashire 448. 1st session Lancs opened with Hogg from the PE and Chapple from the NE. Huge lbw shout at Buck. Looked high from the Upper Edrich and the umpire concurred. He replied with a superb off drive and a square cut. 100 partnership raised in 96 mins and 146 balls. (Their) Tom Smith replaced Chapple at NE and the 150 came up in 266 balls ad 176 mins. 152 for 2 at 11 o clock. Smith/Shazhad now the bowlers. Progress was sedate. Rogers was defeated by a ball from Shazhad which cut away without finding the edge. Mala a late cut for 4. His 50 came up in 92 mins and 125 balls. Rogers off drove Kerrigan for a 2 and came down the wicket for a straight driven 4., then swept a 4. After missing one, Buck was taken behind next ball for 86. 178 for 3. Bowler Kerrigan. Dex next man in. Desperate appeal. A quiet spell was interrupted by a couple of byes and an off driven 2 off Shazhad and a couple of singles. 200 up in 59 overs at 12 noon. Smith replaced Shazhad at PE as Chapple juggled his options. Malan made a beautiful straight drive to the Pavilion steps. Dexter was then taken at slip for 9 by Smith 207 for 4. Simpson next man. Croft a man with not a smooth action came on at the PE. Simmo lofted Kerrigan at the NE for 4. Kerrigan was getting some turn from that end. Lunch 224 for 4. 68 overs Mala 73 Simmo 10. 2nd session Kerrigan continued. Simmo took three off Croft. Still a sedate pace. 3 an over. Some spurious appeals. The Middle did not appear to be in a hurry. We were later to find out why. New ball due at around 1.45. More desperate appeals and a couple of leg byes brought up the 250. Simpson who scored slowly got a much needed 4 to fine leg. The 50 partnership came up with 127 balls received. Excellent cover drive by Mala off Shazhad. He is now in the nervous nineties on 95. He then fell for the sucker ball, a short pitched delivery, where he attempted a helicopter shot but succeeded in edging to Cross high above his head. The second of our batters who did not close out the ton. 265 for 5. Bergie replaced him. On 27 Simpson lost his middle and leg stumps to a fullish Shazhad delivery. 265 for 6.Two wickets at the same score. Enter Steven Crook. He promptly crashed a couple of 4's and 2's and departed ct at slip off Chapple. 282 for 7. TRJ came in and smashed a superb off drive to the boundary. Berg was caught on the crease lbw. 289 for 8. At this point confusion reigned as the players headed off the field and the punters assumed a declaration had been made. But no. The players and umpires returned with Patel on strike. He was promptly bowled first ball by Chapple. 289 for 9. Was there to be a declaration? Well no as Corey appeared. TRJ on strike clonked a 6 over fine leg and then a 4. Corey joined in hitting Chapple behind square for 4. 305 for 9. Declaration. Apparently, after Lanky had been offered 400 off 70 overs which they turned down. Rogers had deceided he would declare at 2.40. When the Middx batters trooped off, it was only 2.37 and Rogers sent them back saying he wanted the full time and 300 on the board. So tea was taken with Lanky requiring 304 off 39 overs at a touch under 8 an over. Chapple 5 for 47 TRJ 18no Corey 4no 3rd session Throughout the afternoon, much discussion had taken place on the Mount re tactics with an eye on the game ' south of the border'. It was now clear the Mexicans were going to win. That being so, Lanky had to match that to make next week's game at Liverpool versus the Mexicans meaningful. So they were gonna have to give it a go. Smith/Prince opened. Corey PE, TRJ from NE. The opening 5 overs raised 21. Corey passed the edge a time or two. Good old Corey. A wicket at last. Lanky 30 for 1. Prince ct Patel bowled Collymore for 20. A deserved wicket for a guy who bowled well without much luck in this game. 44 after 8 overs, a few 4's bashed by Smith with TRJ on the receiving end. 50 up in 9 overs. Patel came on at NE. Good move. Smith stumped with his first ball. 50 for 2. Smith 21. 73 for 2 off 12 overs, so oppo going at 6ish per over. Crook replaced Corey at PE. With Crooky you never know what you are going to get and so it panned out. After a quietish first over, he had a loose second which went for 14. This brought up the 50 partnership between Croft and Brown in 51 balls. The 100 was up in over 16. The next over, the 17th was the match changer. Bowled by Crook from the PE. A fielding error cost two runs. Next ball Crook went through Brown's defence for 33. 107 for 3. He then bowled Croft for 30. 112 for 4. This became 112 for 5 with Cross lbw for 0. 3 wickets in the over and The Middle scenting victory. I had the honour of presenting Buck with his July MTWD Player of the Month Award and a bottle of champers. I spoke to Crooky and he said he had no idea at the time, that he had taken 3 wickets in an over. The adrenalin I guess. Crook then disposed of Horton for 6 bowled. So 125 for 6. Patel was lofted for a six by Chapple. 134 for 7 as Patel bowled Hogg for 2, became 140 for 7 as Crooky bowled Chapple for 19 to give him his 5fer. An Australian umbrella field of 2 gullies, 3 slips and a couple og leg gullies greeted the last two Lanky wickets. Procter 26 and Shazhad 26no cashed in but the last two Lanky batters were eventually removed by Patel at 178 (Procter) and 194(Kerrigan) to end the game. A win for the Middle by 109 runs and 23 points. PS: this puts us second on 172 points, a season of 'what if's'. We can be overhauled by the three below from the next round of matches. It is the 20th anniversary of my 1993 shirt next year. As I remarked to Buck, the last time we won the County Championship. |
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Discussion started by Middlesex till we die , 09/09/2012 11:38
Middlesex till we die
09/09/2012 11:38
09/09/2012 11:38
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:09:11:20:24:57 by The Diamond ruled ok.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:09:11:20:24:57 by The Diamond ruled ok.
Thanks for great report Seaxe Man.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:09:09:11:53:33 by comebackgatt.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:09:09:11:53:33 by comebackgatt.
Nice one Roy,was a good last day.
The social gathering after was a wonderful way to finish the season off.
The social gathering after was a wonderful way to finish the season off.
Yes Beefy it was. I was grateful to Diamond for the lift home, as I was a touch wobbly on the old pins.
That Pedigree was strong stuff without a meal. Head was not quite swimming.
Had a few words with Ravi, Crooky, Buck and Ollie in the Tavern.
Ravi and Crooky were obviously well pleased as was Buck, with consecutive wins on a Friday..
I should also have menshed the players winning song in the dressing room immediately after, replicating the CB40 song versus Essex.
Good to hear.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:09:09:18:31:59 by Seaxe_Man.
That Pedigree was strong stuff without a meal. Head was not quite swimming.
Had a few words with Ravi, Crooky, Buck and Ollie in the Tavern.
Ravi and Crooky were obviously well pleased as was Buck, with consecutive wins on a Friday..
I should also have menshed the players winning song in the dressing room immediately after, replicating the CB40 song versus Essex.
Good to hear.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:09:09:18:31:59 by Seaxe_Man.
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