The final match report of the year for the final CB40 group match of the year as Middlesex take on Sussex at Lord's on the August Bank Holiday. The battle of the top two in the group with only the group winner to qualify for the final, which would be Sussex unless Middlesex utterly destroyed them.
Sussex won the toss and batted and Ed Joyce and Chris Nash then proceeded to hammer along against an attack with some key players rested. Anthony Ireland went for 23 in his first two overs as Sussex reached 47 after 6 overs with Toby Roland-Jones and the lesser spotted Robbie Williams stemming the tide only slightly although the bowling powerplay only went for 21, Nash swinging Williams for 6 in the process and reaching 50 off 38 balls whilst Joyce played more carefully as they had added 90 in 14 overs when Nash went for one shot too many off Jamie Dalrymple and was bowled for 57. Lou Vincent came in and he and Joyce scored steadily as the total pushed along. Joyce passed 50 off 64 before swinging one from Dawid Malan to Sam Robson at long on for 54, 149-2 after 25.
Middlesex needed more wickets to stop Sussex posting 270+ and Murray Goodwin started quickly, only to top edge a ball that rolled onto his stumps from the economical Tom Smith (8-0-22-1) for 18, 178-3. Next over Vincent holed out off Dalrymple to Williams for 42 when he looked ready to up the run rate, 184-4. Captain Mike yardy and Joe Gatting then added 38 in the batting powerplay and 14 off the last two overs even though Gatting was caught by Scott Newman at midwicket off Roland-Jones for 26 o ff the penultimate ball. Sussex finished 239-5 leaving Middlesex a chase that they would feel they had a chance with. Dalrymple was the best bowler, with 2-41.
Malan and Robson opened the batting and they made steady progress, going along at five an over against Amjad Khan and Chris Liddle, reaching 43 after 8 overs. Crunching fours were mixed with smart play as both batsmen showed off a bit, Robson late cutting one over the slips for 4 and Malan smacking a big six off Monty Panesar. Sussex's day was summed up when Khan on the boundary let one through his legs for 4. The 100 partnership came up after 16 overs. Malan reached 50 off 48 balls and Robson off 53 balls. Middlesex weren't blasting it, but were edging nearer the target without losing wickets. Malan also passed 500 runs for the tournament. 153-0 after 25 overs and a crack at the first wicket record looked on as Malan, looking for his 2nd hundred of the year, edged Wayne Parnell to Ben Brown to fall for 84 (off 84!). Next over, Robson's maiden List A 50 ended when he was bowled by Yardy for 65, 157-2.
Paul Stirling and Chris Rogers then endured a tough few overs, Rogers almost being bowled before they cut loose and flayed the bowling around, Stirling hitting Panesar for another huge six into the Mound Stand in the 29th over. Yardy then bought back Parnell for the 33rd over, which promptly disappeared for 19, Stirling effortlessly flicking the ball into the Mound Stand again before Rogers walloped one to the vacant midwicket area. 213-2 and Middlesex were almost there with Nash and Gatting on to bowl, Sussex weren't expecting to win now. Nash did have Rogers LBW for 37, a partnership of 72 off 57, 229-3. Bit this didn't stop Stirling, who hit Gatting into the Mound Stand again, before driving a single off Nash to finish 46* off 29 and to win the match by 7 wickets with 17 balls left. The win, whilst impressive meant Sussex still qualified top with their superior net run rate but Middlesex could be happy to end this part of their season on a high before getting back to the important business of winning championship promotion.
Friday 14 October 2011
Sunday 9 October 2011
Losing The Plot
The final day of Kent vs Middlesex at Canterbury where Kent resumed 231 ahead on 292-6. Azhar Mahmood and James Tredwell were looking to add quick runs, only for Tredwell to edge Steve Finn to John Simpson for 10 from the 4th ball of the day, 293-7. Simpson then took a sharp diving catch in front of first slip from Finn's 7th ball to remove Adam Ball for nought and give Finn his fifth wicket. 295-8 and Middlesex might have avoided a 250+ chase, but for Matt Coles joining Mahmood in smiting Finn and Tim Murtagh for 25 for the ninth wicket when Coles nicked to Simpson, his fourth catch, off Murtagh for 15 , 320-9. Mahmood was nearing his first 100 of the year and he thumped Murtagh for his 2nd six to move into the 90s only for Riaz to be LBW to Murtagh for 2, 332 all out leaving Middlesex 272 to win off about 78 overs. Finn finished with 5-113, Murtagh 3-61 and Corey Collymore 2-31.
50 Minutes to go before lunch and Middlesex were hopeful of batting out the time without any incidents occuring, this was not to be the case. Scott Newman failed and had his off stump splattered by Coles for a duck, 4-1 in the 4th over. Chris Rogers joined Sam Robson and they looked to have batted out the session at 30-2 after 12, only for Darren Stevens to provide a miracle over again for Kent this season when he had Robson caught by Martin Van Jaarsveld at 2nd slip for 12 off the 2nd ball of the over. That signalled lunch but that wasn't the end of Stevens.
Dawid Malan joined Rogers after lunch and he swish at his first ball and was caught by keeper Geraint Jones for nought, meaning Stevens was the 3rd Kent bowler to be on a hat trick. Neil Dexter came in on a king pair and, as it later transpired, was batting with a broken finger. He blocked the hat trick only to edge the 5th ball of the over low to Van Jaarsveld at 2nd slip. Jamie Dalrymple then blocked the final ball of the over, a triple-wicket maiden, which left Middlesex 30-4 and looking very sunk unless a miracle occured. St Lawrence (for it is his ground we are at), the most likely to provide that miracle, didn't fancy it today as Rogers fell over a Stevens yorker for 26 five overs later to leave Middlesex 51-5 with 60 overs still remaining.
Finally some runs began to flow as Simpson and Dalrymple started to flay into the softening ball, Simpson pulling Coles for six towards our seats at square leg. Dalrymple then swiped Tredwell into the Nackington Road as the partnership reached 49 in 9 overs and just as it looked like they'd kick on when Simpson puched a Riaz outswinger to Jones to fall for 19, 100-6. Tom Smith then aided Dalrymple by blocking one end as JD proved there was nothing wrong with the pitch and that the bowlers weren't that brilliant as he reached 50 off 69 balls and the pair saw Middlesex through to tea despite Smith looking a bit clueless against Riaz. 144-6 and there was an outside chance that Middlesex could survive if Dalrymple really went for it and Smith & co didn't try anything clever.
Adam Ball was given the ball after tea by Rob Key and after 3 more overs of blocking, Smith then edged to Stevens at gully to fall for 7 off 73 balls leaving Middlesex 148-7. Murtagh can bat, just not today as Ball swung one late onto his off stump first ball, 148-8 the 5th golden duck of the match and Ball the 4th Kent bowler on a hat trick. Finn blocked out the over and carried on blocking as Dalrymple happily hammered the ball all round the wicket as the defensive field by Key gave him the chance to move in sight of his hundred. He hit Tredwell straight into the Frank Woolley stand and pulled and cut the short stuff from Stevens and Riaz. Finally he pulled one from Riaz through midwicket just wide of the man running round from deep square leg for 4 to bring up a fantastic hundred from 150 balls, his 2nd of the year, when all around him were failing.
The end was nigh, though, and Finn was unluckily bowled off after the ball rolled back onto his stumps from Tredwell for 4 off 40, 190-9 and only Collymore left with the last hour still to come. Dalrymple then hit Tredwell for his third and biggest six, swinging the ball high over the Frank Woolley stand at long-on to bring up the 200 as he went down all guns blazing. Tredwell then found some turn to clip Collymore's off stump for one as Middlesex were all out for 202 to lose by 69 runs, Dalrymple finishing 108 not out off 168 ball with 10 fours and 3 sixes.Kent took 20 points and Middlesex 6 though it wasn't such a blow for Middlesex as they remain 2nd after other results went in their favour.
50 Minutes to go before lunch and Middlesex were hopeful of batting out the time without any incidents occuring, this was not to be the case. Scott Newman failed and had his off stump splattered by Coles for a duck, 4-1 in the 4th over. Chris Rogers joined Sam Robson and they looked to have batted out the session at 30-2 after 12, only for Darren Stevens to provide a miracle over again for Kent this season when he had Robson caught by Martin Van Jaarsveld at 2nd slip for 12 off the 2nd ball of the over. That signalled lunch but that wasn't the end of Stevens.
Dawid Malan joined Rogers after lunch and he swish at his first ball and was caught by keeper Geraint Jones for nought, meaning Stevens was the 3rd Kent bowler to be on a hat trick. Neil Dexter came in on a king pair and, as it later transpired, was batting with a broken finger. He blocked the hat trick only to edge the 5th ball of the over low to Van Jaarsveld at 2nd slip. Jamie Dalrymple then blocked the final ball of the over, a triple-wicket maiden, which left Middlesex 30-4 and looking very sunk unless a miracle occured. St Lawrence (for it is his ground we are at), the most likely to provide that miracle, didn't fancy it today as Rogers fell over a Stevens yorker for 26 five overs later to leave Middlesex 51-5 with 60 overs still remaining.
Finally some runs began to flow as Simpson and Dalrymple started to flay into the softening ball, Simpson pulling Coles for six towards our seats at square leg. Dalrymple then swiped Tredwell into the Nackington Road as the partnership reached 49 in 9 overs and just as it looked like they'd kick on when Simpson puched a Riaz outswinger to Jones to fall for 19, 100-6. Tom Smith then aided Dalrymple by blocking one end as JD proved there was nothing wrong with the pitch and that the bowlers weren't that brilliant as he reached 50 off 69 balls and the pair saw Middlesex through to tea despite Smith looking a bit clueless against Riaz. 144-6 and there was an outside chance that Middlesex could survive if Dalrymple really went for it and Smith & co didn't try anything clever.
Adam Ball was given the ball after tea by Rob Key and after 3 more overs of blocking, Smith then edged to Stevens at gully to fall for 7 off 73 balls leaving Middlesex 148-7. Murtagh can bat, just not today as Ball swung one late onto his off stump first ball, 148-8 the 5th golden duck of the match and Ball the 4th Kent bowler on a hat trick. Finn blocked out the over and carried on blocking as Dalrymple happily hammered the ball all round the wicket as the defensive field by Key gave him the chance to move in sight of his hundred. He hit Tredwell straight into the Frank Woolley stand and pulled and cut the short stuff from Stevens and Riaz. Finally he pulled one from Riaz through midwicket just wide of the man running round from deep square leg for 4 to bring up a fantastic hundred from 150 balls, his 2nd of the year, when all around him were failing.
The end was nigh, though, and Finn was unluckily bowled off after the ball rolled back onto his stumps from Tredwell for 4 off 40, 190-9 and only Collymore left with the last hour still to come. Dalrymple then hit Tredwell for his third and biggest six, swinging the ball high over the Frank Woolley stand at long-on to bring up the 200 as he went down all guns blazing. Tredwell then found some turn to clip Collymore's off stump for one as Middlesex were all out for 202 to lose by 69 runs, Dalrymple finishing 108 not out off 168 ball with 10 fours and 3 sixes.Kent took 20 points and Middlesex 6 though it wasn't such a blow for Middlesex as they remain 2nd after other results went in their favour.
Wednesday 5 October 2011
On The Slide
3rd Day of Kent vs Middlesex at Canterbury and Middlesex resuming on 258-7 in their first innings, 16 ahead of Kent. Dawid Malan and Tim Murtagh carried from yesterday by repelling the Kent attack successfully for another 28 runs, bringing up the 50 partnership in the process before Murtagh top edged Darrren Stevens to keeper Geraint Jones for 20. Malan then fell four balls later edging Wahab Riaz to James Tredwell for 68. Steve Finn (6) then brought up the 300 then top edged to Rob Key to give Riaz a third wicket. 303 all out was a lead of 61 but the last 8 wickets had fallen for 99, not quite as bad as on Tuesday night though.
Kent saw their chance so got off to a quick start as Finn didn't make the instant impact Middlesex would have liked with the run rate at 5 an over for the first 6 overs. Corey Collymore, who bowled economically, then snared Key with an edge to John Simpson to depart for 16, 33-1. Northeast then hit a single off the next ball to keep the strike, and then sliced the first ball of Finn's next over to Sam Robson. Martin Van Jaarsveld and Joe Denly then saw off any further mishaps, being 50-2 off 12 at lunch, still 11 behind.
The pair then carried on after lunch with Van Jaarsveld hitting well off the back foot as they went past 50 for the 3rd wicket when Denly edged Finn to captain Neil Dexter at gully for 47, 88-3.
Van Jaarsveld looked at ease, dumping Tom Smith back over his head for six, as Middlesex's bowlers struggled to cause a collapse. Stevens eventually fell LBW to Collymore's inswinger for 16, 145-4. Van Jaarsveld then went to 50 off 93 balls as he and Jones went through to tea, 168-4 off 48, 107 ahead.
Murtagh bowled the first over after tea and sent Van Jaarsveld's off stump walking for 66 2nd ball. Jones and Azhar Mahmood then made Kent's total more imposing as they cruised along at nearly 4 an over as before Finn splattered Jones's off stump 5 short of 50. 261-6 and the lead at 200, more than Middlesex would have liked them to have got. Mahmood then went to 50 off 91 balls by thumping Tom Smith for 6 back over his head, just like Van Jaarsveld had done.
He (62*) and Tredwell (10*) batted through the last 15 minutes to close 292-6, 231 ahead and the game looking like it was going to be a good finish.
Kent saw their chance so got off to a quick start as Finn didn't make the instant impact Middlesex would have liked with the run rate at 5 an over for the first 6 overs. Corey Collymore, who bowled economically, then snared Key with an edge to John Simpson to depart for 16, 33-1. Northeast then hit a single off the next ball to keep the strike, and then sliced the first ball of Finn's next over to Sam Robson. Martin Van Jaarsveld and Joe Denly then saw off any further mishaps, being 50-2 off 12 at lunch, still 11 behind.
The pair then carried on after lunch with Van Jaarsveld hitting well off the back foot as they went past 50 for the 3rd wicket when Denly edged Finn to captain Neil Dexter at gully for 47, 88-3.
Van Jaarsveld looked at ease, dumping Tom Smith back over his head for six, as Middlesex's bowlers struggled to cause a collapse. Stevens eventually fell LBW to Collymore's inswinger for 16, 145-4. Van Jaarsveld then went to 50 off 93 balls as he and Jones went through to tea, 168-4 off 48, 107 ahead.
Murtagh bowled the first over after tea and sent Van Jaarsveld's off stump walking for 66 2nd ball. Jones and Azhar Mahmood then made Kent's total more imposing as they cruised along at nearly 4 an over as before Finn splattered Jones's off stump 5 short of 50. 261-6 and the lead at 200, more than Middlesex would have liked them to have got. Mahmood then went to 50 off 91 balls by thumping Tom Smith for 6 back over his head, just like Van Jaarsveld had done.
He (62*) and Tredwell (10*) batted through the last 15 minutes to close 292-6, 231 ahead and the game looking like it was going to be a good finish.
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