Could he have bowled more

By Big Harvey
July 13 2016

Read this report as a prelude to the last day. It gives a great view of how the match has twisted and turned all three days.  And not only that but we get an inisight into what to do when you are locked out of your house and what we don't want burglers to do.  Domestic detail and a grand day's cricket. What more do you want?

Living in Bristol, Taunton is a fairly close game for me, so when my wife left to drop my daughter off at school just before 9am  I was still in the house. I left about 10 minutes after her. Following a leisurely cycle ride to Temple Meads, a ride on the hourly Cross Country fast train to Taunton, and a walk to the ground via Morrisons to pick up provisions for the day I took my place in Vermin Corner, which was in Block 5 in the Somerset Stand.

Checking my phone I had 4 missed calls from my wife. Puzzled I called her back only to discover the reason: She had gone out without her keys or purse and was locked out of the house! There was no way I could enjoy a day at the cricket knowing that my wife and daughter were locked out of the house, so although she told me that I could stay as long as I wasn't late back, this wasn't really feasible. I suggested she come to Taunton to get my key, but she had no money on her. She told me she would sort something out but nevertheless I made plans to head for home at Lunch.

Play commenced half an hour late following a light shower with Middlesex on 361/8 and the 9^th wicket partnership between Fuller and Harris on 149. Fuller nudged a quick single off Allenby in the opening over to bring up the 150 partnership.

Fuller (93) was first to fall, edging to Allenby at 1^st slip off Groenwald, ending a partnership that had yielded 162 runs and turned the game on its head. 374/9.

Last out was Harris (74), who was dismissed in exactly the same manner as Fuller, leaving Middlesex with a 1^st innings lead of 145.

Fuller opened the bowling for Middlesex and almost had Trescothick dragging onto his own stumps off the first ball. Thereafter he was less threatening, and was cut and pulled for 2 boundaries by Myburgh in his second over. At the other end, Podmore's impressive performance continued, as Myburgh (12) lost his middle stump while inexplicably (from our angle at least) shouldering arms. 16/1.

Even better was to follow in Podmore's next over as Chris Rogers (0) dollied to Bailey at point. 18/2.

What's more, my own sense of wellbeing improved immeasurably with the news from home that my wife had on the advice of a neighbour contacted a glazier who lives on our street. He had left the job he was doing and arrived within 10 minutes. Within another 2 minutes, with shocking ease, he had removed a pane of glass and was in the house! He only charged £10 for this, merely asking that next time we decide to replace our windows that we bear him in mind. Given the apparent ease of access for him and presumably burglars, that is now likely to happen sooner rather than later!

Harris replaced Fuller but bowled too straight and his first over yielded two boundaries for Trescothick through the vacant cover area. Or having said that, maybe it was just a cunning plan that didn't work on this occasion, since the cover area was very vacant indeed, obviously with the aim of enticing such shots.

Podmore's first 6 overs resulted in two wickets for just 6 runs but his 7^th over produced shot of the day so far by Hildreth, who pulled him elegantly to the mid wicket boundary. When Podmore was rested, the bowling looked less threatening. Rayner was introduced, but the batsmen were starting to look comfortable until Hildreth (11) edged one off him and was brilliantly taken by Franklin at slip, diving to his right. 59/3.Lunch was taken at 69/3 with Tescothick on 31 and Allenby on 9. An innings victory or at least a win inside 3 days was looking very much on the cards at this stage.

Myself and Barmy Kev headed for the Ring o' Bells, which I was disappointed to discover no longer sells real cider.

On resumption after Lunch, an impressive cover drive to the boundary by Trescothick off Fuller had Middlesex immediately requesting a replacement ball. This was denied after much deliberation, although after further deliberation the request was granted a couple of overs later. With this ball Podmore, restored to the attack, dropped a fairly straightforward caught and bowled chance when Allenby was on 23.

Middlesex were also unhappy with this replacement ball however, and it was twice inspected by the umpires before being thrown back. Perhaps there was something wrong with the ball that was preventing it from swinging in conditions that looked conducive to swing. Maybe there was also something about it that caused bowlers to bowl far too many no-balls!

With the batsmen looking dominant Allenby will have been furious with himself for skying Podmore to deep mid on, Fuller running all the way from mid wicket to take the catch. 128/4.

As often happens this wicket immediately brought about a change as all of a sudden the Middlesex bowlers were beating the bat and no longer requesting a ball change. Podmore beat Trescothick 3 times outside off stump during the remainder of the over which brought the wicket of Allenby, and Harris also looked dangerous at the other end.

Trescothick and Trego weathered the storm however. A thick outside edge off Podmore for a single (plus a couple of overthrows) brought Trescothick his 50, and that seemingly calmed his nerves, allowing him to claim 3 boundaries off Fuller's next over, taking Somerset into the lead.

Trego edged a six over third man off Fuller, but if this was streaky the same could not be said for the shots being played by Trescothick at the other end. In fact in their respective styles, both batsmen were finding the boundary far too quickly and easily with insufficient questions being asked by the bowlers. Franklin and Harris were both taking stick, causing the Middlesex faithful to question why Rayner wasn't bowling.

Thankfully rain and a slightly early Tea came to the rescue. 214/4. After Harris completed his over started before Tea, Rayner did replace him, but Somerset continued where they left off. Only Podmore seemed to trouble them at all consistently, and he was looking very tired.

An on drive from Trescothick off Rayner that almost went to hand brought up the 100 partnership, while a nudged single off Podmore took Trego to 50. A fine sweep to the boundary off Rayner took Trescothick to his century.

Somerset were putting big pressure on the flagging Middlesex attack. Trescothick swept Rayner for a flat 6 over mid wicket to take the Somerset lead over 150. Both him and Trego were giving Middlesex some real stick. It was completely out of the blue when Trescothick (124) edged Harris and was caught behind by Simpson. 307/5.

Craig Overton (2) followed in identical fashion in Harris's next over, and at 315/6 anything now looked possible.

When a nudged single off Harris brought up Trego's 100, he raised his bat in our direction, clearly in acknowledgement of the fans of the club where his career was resurrected.

After 80 overs, the new ball was taken with 6 remaining in the day. Barrow hit a lovely cover drive to the boundary off Fuller in the first over with the new ball. Meanwhile at the other end, the unlikely spearhead of the Middlesex attack, Podmore, who already had 22 overs under his belt, had 3 more to deliver before the close. He looked exhausted, but somehow managed to complete his task proficiently but without further success.

Somerset finished the day on 348/6, a lead of 203, with Trego still there on 115. All results are possible going into Day 4. Somerset would possibly be marginal favourites were in not for an injured bowler, but if Middlesex can get early wickets an away win is still very much a possibility too. The pitch doesn't appear to have too many demons and is showing no signs so far of starting to take spin. I think however that most Middlesex fans would happily take a draw from here, and that at the very least should be possible.

Here's hoping that the remaining Somerset batsmen can't lock us out of the game in the first session!