Middlesex CCC
Yorkshire take Root after a game of cat and mouse
By Fozzie
April 28 2014
Fozzie rises from his sick bed to report on a poorly day from Middlesex. A remarkably vivid report based only on the radio commentary and taking in our batting collapse, domestic wildlife drama, headbands, lunch menus and some solid Yorkie batting. Almost better then being there.
The best laid plans….I had intended to attend the first two days of this match, but a streaming cold and hacking cough confined me to home, reliant on Kevin Hand and co to keep me updated on events at Lord’s. So I settled down at 10.55 to listen to the commentary, with grey skies outside and at Lord’s but no sign of rain.
The question raised by the commentators was “Can anyone play the Plunkett role?”, and though I hoped that Middlesex wouldn’t have to rely on a tail-ender to take us to a respectable total, it soon became clear that batting was as difficult this morning as it had been on the previous day. Recommencing at 64-3, the opening ball of the day from Sidebottom brought a loud appeal against Moggy, and Yorkshire didn’t let their intensity drop from that moment on.
Sidebottom quickly had Dex caught behind for what sounded like a very uncomfortable duck. Moggy and Joe dug in, adding just six runs in as many overs, until Joe appeared to break the deadlock when he drove Sidebottom for 4. However, next ball he was given out LBW, though there was some questioning in the commentary box as to whether it might have been rather high. With the score now 80-5 speculation began on the likely size of Yorkshire’s first innings lead, in between discursions on Jack Brooks’ colour-coordinated headbands.
There was much praise by the commentators for the grit and patience being shown by Moggy. However, runs were at a premium as the bowlers continued to apply pressure, and at 83 he flashed outside the off stump and was brilliantly caught overhead at slip. The praise for Moggy turned to frustration. With six wickets now down Plunkett came on, apparently bowling very fast, and at a few minutes past 1.00 the Middlesex innings was all over for a modest 123, with the only minor consolations being Ollie scoring 15 and a brief last-wicket flurry between Harry and Finny. But in a low-scoring match a first innings lead of 55 looked very formidable.
It certainly sounded as if Sidebottom, Brooks and Plunkett had bowled all morning with relentless accuracy and aggression. Earlier in the morning before start of play we had had a domestic drama involving a fledgling blackbird and our aged but still predatory cat, which seemed an uncomfortably apt metaphor for the morning’s cricket.
After lunch (the pork pie I had bought to take to Lord’s) Yorkshire started their second innings, and there seemed a marked decrease in the level of intensity as they reached 50 without any alarms in only 12 overs. The commentators were by now focusing more on interviewing guests such as Jason Gillespie rather than on on-field events - “What nice people there are in Division One,” remarked Kevin, “now that Surrey have been relegated!”.
By now the sun was out, and the bowlers were apparently getting no assistance from the wicket. I resorted to going off to do household tasks in the hope of earning a wicket, but all to no avail. As Ollie came on to bowl the commentators noted that the Middlesex over-rate was now -2, and DT raised the awful prospect of finishing the match with only 1 bonus point. It struck me that perhaps if I had attended the match I could have been of use to the ever-resourceful Don Shelley in his never-ending efforts to salvage our over rates (“We really must take into account the interruption to play caused by a spectator having a coughing fit behind the bowler’s arm!”).
The score had moved to 82 when Ollie took everyone by surprise (not least his team-mates, it would appear) by bowling Lees, and then shortly afterwards took a great catch to dismiss Lyeth. Root took a nervy single to get off a pair, then lofted Finny for a six before the tea interval was reached at 106-2.
I must confess that throughout the final session I was only paying half-attention as Williamson and Root ambled on towards establishing a big lead, rarely sounding to be in much trouble in a stand of 98. Then towards the end of the day Finny struck, removing both in consecutive overs to take his tally for the innings to three wickets. So one of our players did at least have a decent day, though a Yorkshire lead of 268 with 6 wickets in hand suggests that yet again we will be overly reliant on Buck and Robbo to get anything from the match. Or a change in the weather, perhaps…
Apparently the Yorkshire team are going to the Emirates tonight to watch Arsenal. One can only hope they take the Tube and have to walk back to their hotel!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:05:02:09:33:23 by BarmierKev.
Cheers Fozzie.
