Another ton

By Seaxe Man
May 5 2016

Seaxe Man shares virtual ball by ball commentary of day 3 from the Ageas Bowl. He also highlights some records broken as well as some vintage models (and we are not talking about our supporters).    

Background

Travelling down on Monday. Passed a group of vintage vehicles on the M3, headed for a Show I guess. 6 immaculate 1960's Rover 3 litres and a 1930's vintage lorry. The lorry caught my eye, as on the tailboard, in sign writers artwork, was the phone number FULHAM 4206. Luvvitt.

The forecast for Monday was for a band of rain to cross England at about 3pm. This proved to be correct. The weather on the 3rd day, Tues, looked more settled ie the sky is blue, there's not a cloud to spoil the view etc.

The overnight score was 84 for 3. Mala, playing with split webbing on his left hand was 40no, Simmo 9no.

1st session.

Tino Best opened from the Northern End to Mala. 4 byes and a dodgy 4 for Mala accrues.

Ex Middx man Ryan Maclaren opened from the Pavilion End to Simmo. A couple of singles were collected.

4 byes brought up the Middle's 100, then 50 for Mala, a superb cut through point. (64 balls, 9 fours).

We then progressed for a while with boundaries, amongst which was a superb square cut through point by Mala.

By this time, Vince changed his bowlers. Mason Crane from the NE and Wood from the PE.

Simmo was having difficulty with Crane but raised the siege with an off driven four. Crane's 3rd over was a maiden.

The 100 partnership then came up with a tickled legside 4. Vince kept changing his bowlers but fortunately without luck.

Simmo now joined the party with a four through gully. Mala then played a superb straight driven four which meant the follow on was saved.

Another boundary to Mala brought up his 15th MX Century, passing CJL Rogers total. (134 balls and 18 fours) A further boundary by Simmo brought up 200 and a batting point.

MX lunched at 211 for 3. The Middle's session by a country mile. Crane looked to be Hants best bowler. 127 runs in the session. Mala 106no. Simmo 49no.

2nd session

Crane continued and Simmo squirted a ball past slip to reach his 50. (137 balls and 8 fours). A couple of boundaries brought an end to a quiet period. The stand was finally broken at 240 when Mala drove to Maclaren at cover off Crane for 121. A stand of 182. This was a new 4th wicket MX record at the Ageus Bowl breaking the previous one of 166 between Shah and Joyce in 2005.

A wicket maiden as Stirlo joined Simmo. Vince adding a close field. As often happens, the 5th wicket fell at 242, Simmo for 65 snicking to the keeper. Vince moved onto the attack posting 3 slips, sensing vulnerability. A second batting point followed as Harris tickled behind for 4. 8

80 overs up and the new ball due. This was taken in the 82nd over. Tino Best put MX on the backfoot but they showed stoic defence.

Several legside lbw shouts by Best were rejected. Stirlo raised the siege with a cut through gully for 4 Wood bowling from the NE, collapsed after turning his ankle in his bowling stride. After a delay he limped off. Tomlinson completed the over. So, both sides were now down to 10 men. At 273, Stirlo was bowled for 13 by Maclaren by what looked like pace off the wicket.

TRJ next in, heaved a 4 to fine leg. An attempted ungainly repeat next ball, saw his stumps cartwheeling and in a mess. Bowler Maclaren. Shots from Harry and Murts got the 3rd batting point in over 96.

Hants session but a good rearguard action by The Middle after the loss of 4 wickets. Tea 306 for 7.

3rd session.

Murts with a fortuitous 4 through the slips followed by a straight drive just pulled back on the boundary for 2, opened the session.

A sudden flurry of boundaries put the 350 mark in sight. 328 for 8. An off driven 4 by Harris brought up his 50 and the lead. ( 73 balls and 9 fours). This broke the MX 8th wicket record at the Ageus Bowl. 27 by Styris and Keegan in 2005.

At 347, Harry was lbw for a superb 57. We wondered whether our final wicket could get the 3 runs for a 4th batting point. We need not have worried, the Watford Wall joined Murts and started with a single. A superb off driven four by Murts brought up the 350.

4 batting points. Finn played a 4 through mid wicket, then a hoik. All out 361. Murts left not out on a super 39no.

Hants 2nd innings.

Vince opted for the light roller between innings. Murts to open, Carberry on strike. The first ball was hit for 4 through long on and 10 came off the over. Finn commenced from the Pav End, his first ball hit by Adams for 3. Carbs was then lbw for 15. 22 for 1. Bowler Murtagh.

This brought Hampshire captain James Vince to the wicket. In over 8 the 25 run deficit was erased. 29 for 1. The batting pace had slowed and the over rate was - 2. There was one cracking off drive from Vince and Stirlo pulled off a great stop at cover to deny Adams a 4.

With 7 overs remaining and a draw looking very likely, decided to head home a little early. A couple of more wickets would have made for a very interesting final day.

Summation.

An excellent day's cricket. Getting from 84 for 3 to 361 all out was highly commendable for The Middle. Especially with Captain Voges out of the match.

I think it fair to say that Mala, Simmo, Haary and Murts take the batting honours on this occasion. It was an all round good team effort. Plenty of resilience.

Tomlinson and Maclaren with 4 wickets apiece were the Hampshire stars. Mason Crane despite only one wicket, bowled well. 25-7-60-1.

Seaxe Man Ageus Bowl 3rd May 2016.