Arrived at Chelmsford for the first day of Essex vs Middlesex during lunch to see that Graham Napier had blasted through the Middlesex top order to leave them 91-4.
Sam Robson, though, was still there in his first game of the season and he went on to 50 off 111 balls and with Jamie Dalrymple they put a halt to the slide. Dalrymple was particularly ruthless against 17 year old Reece Topley, taking him for three consecutive fours in an over that cost 17. Then in the next over he carted Tim Phillips back over long-off for six. He went to fifty with another four off Phillips which brought up the 100 partnership.
The return of Napier brought about Dalrymple's knock, edging him to Matt Walker at gully, 193-5. The new man John Simpson helped Robson bat to tea with Robson reaching a gritty 100 with a single off the last over before tea, although nearly running Simpson out. This left Middlesex 216-5 and after tea the pair ticked along merrily ad the Essex fielding began to slide a bit. First Simpson was dropped by Pettini off Phillips, then a couple of overs later the same man was dropped at deep square leg by Adam Wheater off Matt Walker, the change of bowler almost working.
These lives cost Essex slightly as Simpson took nine off Phillips next over before reaching his fifty at 284-5. The 100 partnership came next, then the 300 before Robson smoked another four to move into the 130s. Napier then found the breakthough for a well deserved fifth wicket, literally destroying Simpson's middle stump.
Nightwatchman Anthony Ireland and Robson batted out until close with Middlesex closing on 316-6 with Robson batting the whole day for 136 not out. Napier finished with impressive figures of 5-41 and it remains to be seen who will seize control tomorrow on a pitch that was good with some occasional uneven bounce.
Tuesday 24 May 2011
Saturday 21 May 2011
Nothing Going Wright
This is a bonus report because I happened to be passing through London so decided to drop in on the 2nd day of Middlesex vs Glamorgan at Lord's. On day one MIddlesex had been skittled for 150, then Glamorgan were 151-1 at close.
Arrived at the ground just after 2pm to see "Glammy" were now 260-4, so at least some wickets have fallen, but this was going to be a tough game.
Mark Wallace and Ben Wright were in the process of demolishing the Middlesex attack as Wright went to a 46 ball fifty and the new ball didn't seem to help things as the runs piled on with no bowler being able to apply any sort of pressure to the Glamorgan batsmen. Wallace went LBW to Tim Murtagh for 46, breaking the partnership at 119.
Tea came and went and James Harris aided Wright in getting past 400 (again in the 110th over). Harris was bowled by Dalrymple then Wright brought up his hundred but fell next ball as it looked liked Middlesex might be facing under 300 run deficit when Graham Wagg and Robert Croft combined to take the match further away from them. The 101 run stand was only broken when Wagg chipped to mid-off for 63, but it was small consolation for a side that has been comprehensively outplayed so far in this game needing to take two wickets then score 367 as Glamorgan closed 517-8.
Arrived at the ground just after 2pm to see "Glammy" were now 260-4, so at least some wickets have fallen, but this was going to be a tough game.
Mark Wallace and Ben Wright were in the process of demolishing the Middlesex attack as Wright went to a 46 ball fifty and the new ball didn't seem to help things as the runs piled on with no bowler being able to apply any sort of pressure to the Glamorgan batsmen. Wallace went LBW to Tim Murtagh for 46, breaking the partnership at 119.
Tea came and went and James Harris aided Wright in getting past 400 (again in the 110th over). Harris was bowled by Dalrymple then Wright brought up his hundred but fell next ball as it looked liked Middlesex might be facing under 300 run deficit when Graham Wagg and Robert Croft combined to take the match further away from them. The 101 run stand was only broken when Wagg chipped to mid-off for 63, but it was small consolation for a side that has been comprehensively outplayed so far in this game needing to take two wickets then score 367 as Glamorgan closed 517-8.
Friday 20 May 2011
A Giddy Day in Leicester
A different day, a different ground. Leicester, for the 2nd day of Leicestershire's Championship game against Gloucestershire, why can't they make it easy to get to from Northampton?
Arrived at the ground just before the start where Gloucester started the 2nd day 177-3. Kane Williamson moved on from his overnight 102 to 149 before he was brilliantly caught low down by the giant Will Jefferson off Hoggard. At the other end Alex Gidman, the captain anchored the innings and was unbeaten at lunch after bringing up his fifty with a six off Henderson as the Leicester bowlers were looking pretty weak, even Kadeer Ali bowled an over, on a flat pitch with Gloucester 286-4.
After lunch, Gidman moved on past his hundred for the first time since 2009. His brother Will was the only wicket to fall lbw to Jigar Naik as Gloucester carried on to 419-5 at tea with Alex cracking his 150 and Gloucester scrambled their final batting point off the penultimate ball of the 110th over. Throughout the session, Hoggard kept the fielders awake with his witty banter.
Tea seemed to bring with it an improvement in the bowlers as the Gloucester quick run search turned into wickets with Gidman finally falling to Henderson for an excellent 168. Ed Young and Jon Batty then fell to Naik as Leicester fought their way back, Ian Saxelby hit Henderson for a massive six into the pavilion before Naik had him lbw as well. Jon Lewis hit Henderson for another six, then with a missed stumping bringing two byes, the declaration came with Gloucester 504-9.
This left Leicester 8 overs to bat and they did this to finish 15-0, Boyce (14*) taking 12 off one over from Saxelby.
Overall the day wasn't that great for Leicester although their good over rate (+8 at one point) meant play finished at exactly 6pm. Naik was the pick of the bowlers with 4-91 although Hoggard(3-80) looked menacing when the new ball had been taken.
Arrived at the ground just before the start where Gloucester started the 2nd day 177-3. Kane Williamson moved on from his overnight 102 to 149 before he was brilliantly caught low down by the giant Will Jefferson off Hoggard. At the other end Alex Gidman, the captain anchored the innings and was unbeaten at lunch after bringing up his fifty with a six off Henderson as the Leicester bowlers were looking pretty weak, even Kadeer Ali bowled an over, on a flat pitch with Gloucester 286-4.
After lunch, Gidman moved on past his hundred for the first time since 2009. His brother Will was the only wicket to fall lbw to Jigar Naik as Gloucester carried on to 419-5 at tea with Alex cracking his 150 and Gloucester scrambled their final batting point off the penultimate ball of the 110th over. Throughout the session, Hoggard kept the fielders awake with his witty banter.
Tea seemed to bring with it an improvement in the bowlers as the Gloucester quick run search turned into wickets with Gidman finally falling to Henderson for an excellent 168. Ed Young and Jon Batty then fell to Naik as Leicester fought their way back, Ian Saxelby hit Henderson for a massive six into the pavilion before Naik had him lbw as well. Jon Lewis hit Henderson for another six, then with a missed stumping bringing two byes, the declaration came with Gloucester 504-9.
This left Leicester 8 overs to bat and they did this to finish 15-0, Boyce (14*) taking 12 off one over from Saxelby.
Overall the day wasn't that great for Leicester although their good over rate (+8 at one point) meant play finished at exactly 6pm. Naik was the pick of the bowlers with 4-91 although Hoggard(3-80) looked menacing when the new ball had been taken.
Sunday 15 May 2011
A Straussgo Saturday
The first day of the Sri Lankan tour was an interesting day in wilds of Uxbridge. Middlesex won the toss and batted but arrived late at the ground to see that Robson had already gone caught behind. There was a Tamil protest outside the ground that kept up vocal criticism well into the afternoon session.
A good chunk of the home team was 2nd XI players so the game may not be that competitive, but nevertheless Strauss and Housego decided to make Dilshan's first day as captain a major headache. The two batted on and on, Strauss feeding off loose balls from Welegedera and Lakmal. Five of Sri Lanka's squad are still playing in the IPL meaning that Farveez Maharoof, who was the most consistent of the quicks, has been called up as cover. The mystery bowler Mendis had his variations ruthlessly thrashed by both players. They batted on until tea with Middlesex on 237-1 with Strauss reaching his hundred. Strauss finally fell for 151, with Middlesex 272-2. Housego then reached his hundred then fell to Herath.
This post-tea fightback by the Sri Lankans also acquired them the wickets of Rossington and Dalrymple. captain Malan and Simpson were left unbeaten with Middlesex on 321-5 from 93 overs.
This sets up an interesting next couple of days with Middlesex having to declare at 100 overs.
A good chunk of the home team was 2nd XI players so the game may not be that competitive, but nevertheless Strauss and Housego decided to make Dilshan's first day as captain a major headache. The two batted on and on, Strauss feeding off loose balls from Welegedera and Lakmal. Five of Sri Lanka's squad are still playing in the IPL meaning that Farveez Maharoof, who was the most consistent of the quicks, has been called up as cover. The mystery bowler Mendis had his variations ruthlessly thrashed by both players. They batted on until tea with Middlesex on 237-1 with Strauss reaching his hundred. Strauss finally fell for 151, with Middlesex 272-2. Housego then reached his hundred then fell to Herath.
This post-tea fightback by the Sri Lankans also acquired them the wickets of Rossington and Dalrymple. captain Malan and Simpson were left unbeaten with Middlesex on 321-5 from 93 overs.
This sets up an interesting next couple of days with Middlesex having to declare at 100 overs.
Monday 9 May 2011
Unicorns Are Real, and They Play Cricket
Bury St Edmunds, an unusual venue for Unicorns vs Essex, on a sunny day (not what the forecast said) Unicorns won the toss and batted.
This was not to be their day as Napier bowled Lett, then Thornely was lbw to Masters for 25, which proved to be the 2nd highest score. Campbell and Knappett then launched a recovery before the collapse began. Ravi Bopara bagged Campbell and Parsons in his first over Knappett was unluckily bowled off his pad by Tim Phillips. Amar Rashid went as well in the same over to leave the Unicorns 71-6. Phillips then took the next three to fall as Saker, Querl (the third 2nd ball duck of the innings) and Wheeldon all fell to varying degrees of shot to leave the Unicorns 98-9 with 10 overs still to go.
Then Chris Benham finally had someone to bat with in Tom Craddock on debut. Benham went after Phillips to ruin his figures slightly (5-28) on his way to a 66 ball 50. He then hit two fours off the under par Tsotsobe before holing out to Matt Walker at deep midwicket for 58 to set Essex 138 to win.
Essex's reply was steady with Pettini occupying the crease whilst Cook went after the bowling as Essex took the batting powerplay in the 11th over. Cook would fall though to a cracking yorker from Saker for 38 (which would later be voted champagne moment) as Napier came in to try and finish it off from 53-1. He didn't really get going on the slow track and after swiping a six off Craddock hit one to cover for 11.
Bopara and Pettini then batted Essex to a slow win with 5.5 overs to spare with Bopara hitting Benham's first ball in list-a cricket for 4. He finished 29 not out and Pettini 48 not out (off 100 balls) and Phillips was voted man of the match for his bowling.
This was not to be their day as Napier bowled Lett, then Thornely was lbw to Masters for 25, which proved to be the 2nd highest score. Campbell and Knappett then launched a recovery before the collapse began. Ravi Bopara bagged Campbell and Parsons in his first over Knappett was unluckily bowled off his pad by Tim Phillips. Amar Rashid went as well in the same over to leave the Unicorns 71-6. Phillips then took the next three to fall as Saker, Querl (the third 2nd ball duck of the innings) and Wheeldon all fell to varying degrees of shot to leave the Unicorns 98-9 with 10 overs still to go.
Then Chris Benham finally had someone to bat with in Tom Craddock on debut. Benham went after Phillips to ruin his figures slightly (5-28) on his way to a 66 ball 50. He then hit two fours off the under par Tsotsobe before holing out to Matt Walker at deep midwicket for 58 to set Essex 138 to win.
Essex's reply was steady with Pettini occupying the crease whilst Cook went after the bowling as Essex took the batting powerplay in the 11th over. Cook would fall though to a cracking yorker from Saker for 38 (which would later be voted champagne moment) as Napier came in to try and finish it off from 53-1. He didn't really get going on the slow track and after swiping a six off Craddock hit one to cover for 11.
Bopara and Pettini then batted Essex to a slow win with 5.5 overs to spare with Bopara hitting Benham's first ball in list-a cricket for 4. He finished 29 not out and Pettini 48 not out (off 100 balls) and Phillips was voted man of the match for his bowling.
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