Lord's for the first day of Middlesex vs Derbyshire, which started an hour late because of the floodlight CB40 the night before. Steve Finn was released by England and was on his way down so Steve Crook was to be substitute until he arrived, although he couldn't bowl or bat because the game had started after the Test at Trent Bridge (useless ECB and their regulations...). Derbyshire won the toss and batted and Martin Guptill got an unplayable delivery first ball from Tim Murtagh which he poked to Jamie Dalrymple at slip, 0-1. Murtagh then struck in his next over, having Wayne Madsen caught by Malan for a duck and followed it up with his third wicket in 16 balls for 5 runs by having Chesney Hughes waft a wide ball to point were Sam Robson took the catch. Derby 14-3 and in deep trouble which Wes Durston and Greg Smith hit them out of. Because Crook couldn't bowl, there were only two front-line seamers so Dexter and Dalrymple were bowling after the first hour and both Smith and Durston reached quick fifties (off 48 and 75 balls) with the newish ball not spinning Durston hitting Tom Smith for a flat six to the Grand Stand boundary.
127-3 and a murmur went up amongst the crowd followed by a cheer as Steve Finn ran onto the field at 1:45 and was bowling the next over from the pavilion end where Durston was beaten by pace third ball to fall lbw for 61 and to swing the momentum back to Middlesex at lunch with 131-4.
Smith went straight after lunch for 57 to give Murtagh his 4th wicket and Luke Sutton was bowled by Finn to leave Derby 165-6, still in danger of not reaching 200. Ross Whiteley has been in good form of late in his first full season in the team and he saved his side with a fifty which included sixes off Murtagh and a huge hit off Dalrymple which lodged in the roofing to the right of the pavilion.
A missed stumping by Simpson of Jon Clare off Dalrymple wasn't to costly as Tom Smith then had Clare caught at slip by Dexter (22) and next over Gronewald was caught behind by Simpson and the over after Palladino caught by Newman at short leg for 1. 220-6 to 224-9 and 250 looked beyond them but Mark Turner hit 20 not out and aided Whiteley reaching 50 (off 97) before Whiteley smacked Finn to Murtagh to leave them 252 all out, a total that was probably below par.
This left Middlesex with 28 overs to bat and Newman and Robson did so easily. They rocked along at four an over and although they were lucky with a couple of edges both played well against an attack that struggled to assert itself. Newman reached 50 off 73 balls to be 51 not out at close and Robson was 48 not out with Middlesex closing 105-0 only 147 behind Derbyshire.
Saturday 30 July 2011
Sunday 24 July 2011
Of Broad and The Wall
3rd day of the first Test between England and India at Lords. England had declared on 474-8 and India progressed along slowly from the England fast bowlers before Gautam Gambhir was bowled by Stuart Broad for 15. Abinhav Mukund then looked to force a ball from Broad to reach 50, only to chop it onto hit stumps for 49, leaving England 77-2. This left Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar batting together and they looked like they would tame the England attack and were 102-2 at lunch.
The pair brought up the 150 before Broad had Tendulkar well caught low down by Graeme Swann at slip. VVS Laxman came in and was dropped by Andrew Strauss at slip off Broad, then Dravid was dropped in the same over by Swann. These were the only real drops by England as Dravid then went to 50 before Laxman top edged to Trott at deep square leg. Suresh Raina then fell LBW to Swann for nought, 183-5. MS Dhoni then joined Dravid and took India to tea, 193-5.
After batting comfortably Dhoni then edged Chris Tremlett for Swann to take a diving catch to go for 28. Harbhajan Singh then edged to Matt Prior 2nd ball for nought, 240-7. Praveen Kumar started swinging merrily and reached 17 before he top edged Broad for Strauss to take a catch running back. Dravid then flicked to two, reached his hundred and let out a roar. Injured Zaheer Khan went for a duck to Anderson, then Ishant Sharma edged behind for the same score and India were 286 all out, Dravid finishing 103 not out. England saw off the final 5 overs without trouble.
The pair brought up the 150 before Broad had Tendulkar well caught low down by Graeme Swann at slip. VVS Laxman came in and was dropped by Andrew Strauss at slip off Broad, then Dravid was dropped in the same over by Swann. These were the only real drops by England as Dravid then went to 50 before Laxman top edged to Trott at deep square leg. Suresh Raina then fell LBW to Swann for nought, 183-5. MS Dhoni then joined Dravid and took India to tea, 193-5.
After batting comfortably Dhoni then edged Chris Tremlett for Swann to take a diving catch to go for 28. Harbhajan Singh then edged to Matt Prior 2nd ball for nought, 240-7. Praveen Kumar started swinging merrily and reached 17 before he top edged Broad for Strauss to take a catch running back. Dravid then flicked to two, reached his hundred and let out a roar. Injured Zaheer Khan went for a duck to Anderson, then Ishant Sharma edged behind for the same score and India were 286 all out, Dravid finishing 103 not out. England saw off the final 5 overs without trouble.
Friday 22 July 2011
Derbyshire defy Newton's law
Having progressed to 364 all out in their first innings, Derbyshire set about asserting their authority against Northamptonshire at Northampton. Northants slumped to 12-2 with Rob White and Ben Howgego failed before a comeback was launched by Stephen Peters and Rob Newton. Newton was brutal with his drives as he went to 50 off 69 balls and then kicked on whilst Peters blocked at the other end before wicket finally fell at 151 when Peters edged Greg Smith's spin to Wayne Madsen for 46. Newton fell three overs later for 94 off 114 with 18 fours when he drove Mark Turner only for the ball to slide off the face to Martin Guptill at gully.
Light rain then forced the players off for tea and then it took an age for them to return, which eventually happened at 4:45. Andrew Hall and Mal Loye batted on but struggled to get the better of tight bowling from Turner, Smith and Tim Groenewald and Turner snared Loye for 6 after an hour (190-5). Hall and Niall O'Brien brought up the 200 before Groenewald had Hall lbw for 27. Chaminda Vaas (11) and O'Brien (14) then saw out the last 10 overs and avoided the follow-on to leave Northamptonshire 220-6 at the close, still 144 runs behind.
Light rain then forced the players off for tea and then it took an age for them to return, which eventually happened at 4:45. Andrew Hall and Mal Loye batted on but struggled to get the better of tight bowling from Turner, Smith and Tim Groenewald and Turner snared Loye for 6 after an hour (190-5). Hall and Niall O'Brien brought up the 200 before Groenewald had Hall lbw for 27. Chaminda Vaas (11) and O'Brien (14) then saw out the last 10 overs and avoided the follow-on to leave Northamptonshire 220-6 at the close, still 144 runs behind.
Wednesday 6 July 2011
Blackwell Blackout
The dry run for the Women's Quadrangular final at Lord's between England and Australia wasn't the spectacle it could have been as England folded and we were all done before the rain arrived at 4:30.
England won the toss, batted and were soon 18-1 as captain Charlotte Edwards was caught off Sarah Coyte for 2. Next over Laura Marsh also departed, caught at cover by Alex Blackwell after a juggle for 3. The 11th over brought the third wicketas Danielle Wyatt chipped to mid on off Clea Smith and Claire Taylor was bowled by Coyte for 0 to leave England 26-4.
Sarah Taylor and Lydia Greenway tried to steady the innings but Taylor fell LBW to Jess Cameron, the back-up keeper, for 11 to give her her first ODI wicket in her first spell. 54-5 after 18 made 200 look tough but Greenway and Arran Brindle batted well for 10 overs before Cameron made a diving catch at deep midwicket to get Brindle off Shelley Nitschke for 22. Nitschke then caught Greenway for the eventual top score of 34 to give Lisa Sthalekar an easy wicket. The third spinner, Erin Osborne then had Heather Knight caught behind for 13 leaving England 127-8 with 13 overs still to bat. Holly Colvin and Danielle Hazell added 34 for the ninth wicket before Sthalekar cleaned up with two wickets in two overs as Hazell(19) was caught by another diving catch from Cameron then Colvin was stumped by captain Jodie Fields for 29 to end the England innings for 168 with two overs left unbowled. The end would have been sooner had Meg Lanning not dropped a simple catch at cover, but other than that Australia fielded well and England's spinners would have to bowl as well if they were to have a chance.
England's demise was so quick that Australia had to bat for 30 minutes before lunch and after a couple of tight overs from Catherine Brunt and Brindle, all hell began to break loose. Nitschke and young prospect Meg Lanning surged to 42-0 after 10 overs with Lanning scoring 31.
Colvin bowled the first over after lunch from the Nursery end and had removed Lanning to a wild swing to the midwicket boundary where Brindle completed the catch. Lanning made 43 off 33 with 9 fours. This slowed the scoring and when Wyatt had Leah Poulton caught behind for a duck left Australia 59-2 and a possible collapse was on. The problem was that Nitschke and Blackwell are two of the most experienced players in the side and they took the game from England with a steady partnership that gradually sped up as England rotated seven bowlers with no effect. The 100 came up in the 23rd over and the 50 partnership 3 overs later.
Nitschke hit the only six of the match off Colvin into the Grand Stand in the 30th over soon followed by her 50 then Blackwell also passed the milestone. Nitschke couldn't quite last until the end as she was run out after a mix-up with Blackwell and Greenway, after a mis-field, managed to get the return to Sarah Taylor. 153-3 was a bit late and Cameron(10 not out) and Blackwell(54 not out) saw Australia home to win by 7 wickets with 15 overs remaining, just before the 4:30pm rain arrived.
Blackwell was given the match award in this one-sided hammering as the presentation took place in front of the pavilion with the crowd allowed on the outfield. Both these sides will meet again for the Quadrangular final on Thursday and England have to improve if it is to be a better contest.
England won the toss, batted and were soon 18-1 as captain Charlotte Edwards was caught off Sarah Coyte for 2. Next over Laura Marsh also departed, caught at cover by Alex Blackwell after a juggle for 3. The 11th over brought the third wicketas Danielle Wyatt chipped to mid on off Clea Smith and Claire Taylor was bowled by Coyte for 0 to leave England 26-4.
Sarah Taylor and Lydia Greenway tried to steady the innings but Taylor fell LBW to Jess Cameron, the back-up keeper, for 11 to give her her first ODI wicket in her first spell. 54-5 after 18 made 200 look tough but Greenway and Arran Brindle batted well for 10 overs before Cameron made a diving catch at deep midwicket to get Brindle off Shelley Nitschke for 22. Nitschke then caught Greenway for the eventual top score of 34 to give Lisa Sthalekar an easy wicket. The third spinner, Erin Osborne then had Heather Knight caught behind for 13 leaving England 127-8 with 13 overs still to bat. Holly Colvin and Danielle Hazell added 34 for the ninth wicket before Sthalekar cleaned up with two wickets in two overs as Hazell(19) was caught by another diving catch from Cameron then Colvin was stumped by captain Jodie Fields for 29 to end the England innings for 168 with two overs left unbowled. The end would have been sooner had Meg Lanning not dropped a simple catch at cover, but other than that Australia fielded well and England's spinners would have to bowl as well if they were to have a chance.
England's demise was so quick that Australia had to bat for 30 minutes before lunch and after a couple of tight overs from Catherine Brunt and Brindle, all hell began to break loose. Nitschke and young prospect Meg Lanning surged to 42-0 after 10 overs with Lanning scoring 31.
Colvin bowled the first over after lunch from the Nursery end and had removed Lanning to a wild swing to the midwicket boundary where Brindle completed the catch. Lanning made 43 off 33 with 9 fours. This slowed the scoring and when Wyatt had Leah Poulton caught behind for a duck left Australia 59-2 and a possible collapse was on. The problem was that Nitschke and Blackwell are two of the most experienced players in the side and they took the game from England with a steady partnership that gradually sped up as England rotated seven bowlers with no effect. The 100 came up in the 23rd over and the 50 partnership 3 overs later.
Nitschke hit the only six of the match off Colvin into the Grand Stand in the 30th over soon followed by her 50 then Blackwell also passed the milestone. Nitschke couldn't quite last until the end as she was run out after a mix-up with Blackwell and Greenway, after a mis-field, managed to get the return to Sarah Taylor. 153-3 was a bit late and Cameron(10 not out) and Blackwell(54 not out) saw Australia home to win by 7 wickets with 15 overs remaining, just before the 4:30pm rain arrived.
Blackwell was given the match award in this one-sided hammering as the presentation took place in front of the pavilion with the crowd allowed on the outfield. Both these sides will meet again for the Quadrangular final on Thursday and England have to improve if it is to be a better contest.
Sunday 3 July 2011
A Scrap in Chelmsford
Chelmsford, the venue for Essex vs Middlesex in the 2nd Twenty20 meeting between these two sides. Essex won the first game (see earlier match report) but Middlesex won the toss and fielded. Mark Pettini and Adam Wheater opened the batting as they took 10 off the first over bowled by Steve Crook. Steve Finn opened from the River End and removed Pettini for 13, an easy catch for Sam Robson. Tim Southee came in at 3, but there were no fireworks from him as he was well caught in the next over by Adam Rossington off Crook for 3. This left Essex 21-2 and it was to be 30-3 as Owais Shah dabbed to fine leg and ran, only for Crook to hit the stumps at the bowler's end with Shah well short. Crook then bowled a maiden and only 6 came off the sixth over so Essex were 36-3 after the powerplay.
Neil Dexter and Ryan McLaren kept the pressure on and Wheater was bowled for 21 by McLaren in the eighth before Dexter removed Matt Walker (6) in the 11th. tom Smith then had a struggling Ravi Bopara caught behind by John Simpson next over for 14 off 28 balls. Smith bowled James Foster in his next over and after 15 Essex were only 76/7. Graham Napier then decided that perhaps scoring runs would be a good idea, smiting 21 off Smith's final over with three huge sixes, two of them towards the river. This was followed by Ryan Ten Doeschate helping Tim Phillips take 14 off McLaren's next over after Napier was lbw for 23 off 14 and going in to the final over Essex were 127/8. Crook bowled the over and although Ten Doeschate was caught (28 off 20) 12 came off it with Phillips finishing 21 not out off 12. Crook finishing 2-27, McLaren 2-32 and Smith 2-35 were the pick of the bowlers.
140 has seemed beyond Middlesex for most of the tournament, since they've only won two games, and so it proved today but they at least turned in a better batting performance. Paul Stirling did his usual hitting, including a lucky inside edge for four off Napier before Southee bowled Rossington in the 3rd over for 1. Crook was moved up the order but 21-2 only became 24-2 as he was bowled by Napier for 1, though not after annoying Southee so much that the umpires had to officially warn him for his "verbals". Stirling holed out next over to give Southee his 2nd wicket for 19 and Scott Newman and Dexter then stopped the slide but weren't scoring fast enough. 33-3 off the first six wasn't going anywhere as tight bowling from Bopara and Phillips as Middlesex were 49-4 after nine.
The pressure got to Dexter as he was stumped by Foster off Phillips miles down the track for 10. McLaren was now in and only three came off Ten Doeschate's first over before Owais Shah got a wicket as Newman charged down the track, only to bottom edge what would have been a short ball onto his stumps. 58-5 and no real power batting left to emulate what Essex managed as John Simpson fell lbw to Ten Doeschate in the 13th. Tom Scollay came in and then played the shot of the innings, thumping Phillips over the hospitality tent at mid-wicket for six, before smacking two fours off ten Doeschate next over. The problem was that Scollay then edged the final ball to Foster and Middlesex were now 83-7 after 15. Napier returned to remove Sam Robson for 4. McLaren and Smith brought up the 100 in the 17th over. McLaren then hit a high ball to long off from Ten Doeschate where Bopara could only parry the catch into the crowd and 13 came off the 18th when runs were needed. Napier was about to bowl the 19th when the 1 hour 15 minute timer expired and Essex were penalised six runs for not bowling the overs fast enough. Not that it mattered as only four came off the 19th with David Masters dropping two catches at fine leg. 123-8 and 17 needed became 12 off three as another catch went down at cover but McLaren could only swing and miss at two balls from Southee and even a wide didn't really help before two came off the final ball as Middlesex finished 131-8 to lose by 8 runs. Napier got man of the match for his 2-21 to add to his batting, Ten Doeschate got 2-31 and Southee 2-24. McLaren finished 35 not out and Smith 13 not out.
Neil Dexter and Ryan McLaren kept the pressure on and Wheater was bowled for 21 by McLaren in the eighth before Dexter removed Matt Walker (6) in the 11th. tom Smith then had a struggling Ravi Bopara caught behind by John Simpson next over for 14 off 28 balls. Smith bowled James Foster in his next over and after 15 Essex were only 76/7. Graham Napier then decided that perhaps scoring runs would be a good idea, smiting 21 off Smith's final over with three huge sixes, two of them towards the river. This was followed by Ryan Ten Doeschate helping Tim Phillips take 14 off McLaren's next over after Napier was lbw for 23 off 14 and going in to the final over Essex were 127/8. Crook bowled the over and although Ten Doeschate was caught (28 off 20) 12 came off it with Phillips finishing 21 not out off 12. Crook finishing 2-27, McLaren 2-32 and Smith 2-35 were the pick of the bowlers.
140 has seemed beyond Middlesex for most of the tournament, since they've only won two games, and so it proved today but they at least turned in a better batting performance. Paul Stirling did his usual hitting, including a lucky inside edge for four off Napier before Southee bowled Rossington in the 3rd over for 1. Crook was moved up the order but 21-2 only became 24-2 as he was bowled by Napier for 1, though not after annoying Southee so much that the umpires had to officially warn him for his "verbals". Stirling holed out next over to give Southee his 2nd wicket for 19 and Scott Newman and Dexter then stopped the slide but weren't scoring fast enough. 33-3 off the first six wasn't going anywhere as tight bowling from Bopara and Phillips as Middlesex were 49-4 after nine.
The pressure got to Dexter as he was stumped by Foster off Phillips miles down the track for 10. McLaren was now in and only three came off Ten Doeschate's first over before Owais Shah got a wicket as Newman charged down the track, only to bottom edge what would have been a short ball onto his stumps. 58-5 and no real power batting left to emulate what Essex managed as John Simpson fell lbw to Ten Doeschate in the 13th. Tom Scollay came in and then played the shot of the innings, thumping Phillips over the hospitality tent at mid-wicket for six, before smacking two fours off ten Doeschate next over. The problem was that Scollay then edged the final ball to Foster and Middlesex were now 83-7 after 15. Napier returned to remove Sam Robson for 4. McLaren and Smith brought up the 100 in the 17th over. McLaren then hit a high ball to long off from Ten Doeschate where Bopara could only parry the catch into the crowd and 13 came off the 18th when runs were needed. Napier was about to bowl the 19th when the 1 hour 15 minute timer expired and Essex were penalised six runs for not bowling the overs fast enough. Not that it mattered as only four came off the 19th with David Masters dropping two catches at fine leg. 123-8 and 17 needed became 12 off three as another catch went down at cover but McLaren could only swing and miss at two balls from Southee and even a wide didn't really help before two came off the final ball as Middlesex finished 131-8 to lose by 8 runs. Napier got man of the match for his 2-21 to add to his batting, Ten Doeschate got 2-31 and Southee 2-24. McLaren finished 35 not out and Smith 13 not out.
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