Good crowd

By Seaxe Man
July 23 2016

Seaxe Man describes from start to finish with detail and accuracy of yet another great win for the Middle.   

Three in a row - the best since 2008. Hampshire v Middlesex T20 22nd July 2016 Ageus Bowl.

Took my seat in the Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie Stand at 6pm. The sun was out. Summer started late in 2016, July the 18th to be precise and it was still with us on the 22nd.

The boundary ropes were drawn in along way and the the local school population was engaged in playing kwik cricket on the outfield.

Crowd: a reasonable turnout. One of the better ones I have seen on my trips down to the Ageus Bowl.

Teams: Hants . Ryan Mclaren replaced Tino Best.

Middlesex: the returning England men Dawid Malan, Steve Finn and TRJ replaced Murts, Podders and Gubbo from the Surrey game.

Toss: Won by Middlesex who elected to bat.

Middlesex Innings - Powerplay

Compared to the Surrey game, a modest 40 runs for 3 wickets. Top 3 back in the hutch. Mala after a scratchy start was taken by a smart return catch by Mclaren. A couple of drives for 4, constituted most of his 11 runs. In the first over there were a bonus 4 buzzers when the Hants keeper attempted a run out.

Morgan was taken by a smart catch at mid on trying to force the pace. Stirlo was the classic 6 and out, being bowled after lifting Wheal over cover for 6.

The Hampshire opening bowlers kept it tight.

Overs 7 to 20.

Once again ,( as in the Surrey game) Gorgeous George Bailey and Simmo dominated proceedings. A stand of 114, took us from a shaky 40 for 3 to 154 for 4. Simmo 54 (32b 3 fours and 3 sixes). George went to 76, being dismessed off the last ball of the iinnings.

As in the Surrey game, Bailey's style was the same. Keep the score ticking over with ones and twos and the occasional boundary, though he did up the tempo in the final 4 overs after Simmo was out.

It needs to be said that Hants captain Ervine, played and bowled his 3 spinners, which we initially were content to knock around. Scoring quickly off them was not easy.

In the end we posted a defendable 181.

Hampshire Innings - Powerplay.

Our modest 40 proved to be too much for the hosts who posted only 27 from the allotted 6. Our opening bowlers were Trj, Finny and JK, who proved a little too quick for the home batsmen. The 4th over proved a disaster for Hants as JK had a double wicket over, costing only 2 runs. With Alsop and Wheater back in the hutch.

7 to 20.

This period was dominated by the excellent Ryan Higgins who had figures of 3.1-0-13-5. These outstanding figures equaled Murali Kartiks figures against Essex back in 2007 off 5 fewer balls. Ryan also enjoyed a double wicket over, in over 16. 

One of his victims was Ervine for 36 and with his departure, many of the home fans headed for the door.

Hants offered little resistance after that.

Round Up.

Met Rogers and Out in the Holiday Inn afterwards. Over a couple of pints we discussed the game. We felt that the signing of JK and the emergence of Higgins as all rounders, who are very essential in this form of the game. In the past we have been short of these players viz a viz other counties.

Although Sowter did not have a great night, his spin option is another handy option. He was unlucky versus Ervine a couple of times. Morgan took an outstanding catch off Higgins. Clawing back an aerial shot about to cross the boundary for 6.

R and O and myself reconvened at breakfast and continued the discussion which concluded: our best balanced T20 side since 2008.

Seaxe Man Ageus Bowl 22nd July 2016.