Morgan the Magnificent

The final (probably ever) 40 over game for Middlesex was against Leicestershire at Lord's on August bank holiday. Eoin Morgan was captaining Middlesex in his last game before going off on England duty, won the toss and fielded, and it began fairly evenly as an early pull for six from Greg Smith over the short square boundaries was tempered by Josh Cobb departing for six driving Finn to mid off. Ned Eckersley joined Smith in adding a 50 partnership to lay a solid foundation, Smith reaching 50 off 61 balls before slicing into the deep off Ravi Patel for 56, 91-2. Eckersley and Matt Boyce kicked on in the 2nd half of the innings, lofting the ball over the short boundary as Eckersley completed 50 from 53 balls and looked set for a hundred, before smearing Harris to Roland-Jones in the deep for 73, 186-3 and a good total on the cards.
Boyce then brought up the 200 and reached his 50 from 51 balls, then sliced to point for 53, to give Ollie Wilkin his first wicket. Wilkin then had two in five as Mike Thornley edged behind having a huge swing, 222-5 with 3 overs left. Two balls later Rob Taylor holed out off Roland-Jones for 5, 226-6, things were getting a bit tense as Middlesex were running out of time to finish their overs as Patel rushed to complete the 39th over. Ben Raine smashed a six, then smashed to Morgan in the deep and (after a six run ppenalty as Middlesex failed to finish their overs in time) Shiv Thakor top edged Harris to Finn at fine leg, 248-8. Then Harris had another final over meltdown like he had against Somerset, as Tom Wells as three balls disappeared for four, and a no ball bouncer was iced by a short ball whacked into the Grand Stand and the final ball of the innings a length ball that was smoked over extra cover into the Mound Stand, Wells making 31 off 11 balls, the last over costing 32 with the penalty and Leicestershire making a challenging 274-8.
Straight away Dawid Malan edged Rob Taylor behind first ball and then Paul Stirling lost his middle stump to Nathan Buck as Middlesex slumped to 22-2. Joe Denly and Eoin Morgan revived the chase with a quick 72, Morgan looking particularly good against the spinners. Denly then chipped a return catch to James Sykes who had to dive over non-striker Morgan to complete the catch, 94-3.
Adam Voges, also his last game, joined Morgan as the skip reached 50 from 43 balls, leaving Middlesex needing 143 with 20 overs left. Morgan raced onwards adding 81 in 9 overs and moved onto 90 before scooping the ball to Smith off Thakor for 90 from 63, a great knock, but with 100 still needed, job not finished. Voges then fell in identical fashion for 37 and at 198-5 Leicestershire were back in the game. Enter John Simpson, who along with Wilkin, went on the attack and found the boundary as Taylor and Buck wilted under pressure, and it was down to 18 off 20 when Wilkin top edged to third man for a handy 20. But there was to be no panic, as Simpson swung Taylor for a short six, completed a 37 ball 50, and then hit back to back boundaries off Buck ending it with a late cut, to win by 4 wickets with 10 balls to spare, Simpson unbeaten with 58 off 39. A pleasing end for what was a solid one day season.

Flying Footitt's Fast Finish

The final day of Derbyshire vs Middlesex at Derby began with Middlesex 25-2 needing 272 more to win the game, which looked unlikely from the outset, but Adam Voges and Sam Robson began solidly as Derbyshire failed to bowl accurately, giving away some early easy runs as the 50 came up in the 19th over, but then the collapse started, as Robson was bowled by Groenewald for 29. Mark Footitt came in for his 2nd spell of the day, and cleaned up Eoin Morgan for 9 before getting some late swing to detonate Neil Dexter's stumps, 85-5 and still 200 needed. The last hope, Voges, brought up the 100 then fell to Burgoyne for 48, 101-6. Gareth Berg now came in, and looked to get on with things, as he slammed Burgoyne back over his head for a monstrous six eighth ball he faced. Simpson then fell to Burgoyne as Middlesex looked to be surrendering cheaply, 121-7. Berg and Ollie Rayner then launched surprise counter attack, as they made the pitch looked placid and easy, finding boundaries fairly easy to come by as they added 50 in 14 overs before Berg completed his own 50 from 76 balls, as they managed to see off the front line bowlers as Alex Hughes and Madsen had a bowl in an attempt to break this partnership that had carved a chunk out of the required runs. But it was Matt Higginbottom who got the breakthrough, Berg edging to slip for a fantastic 71, 206-8. Rayner and Roland-Jones brought the target down to 60, but TRJ was then Footitts fourth victim for 14, and then end came soon after as Murtagh popped up a catch to Chesney Hughes for 1 to give Burgoyne his third, 240 all out, Derbyshire win by 56 runs, Rayner left unbeaten four short of a 2nd 50, and pick of the bowlers being Footitt 4-65 and Burgoyne 3-66. Derbyshire take away 23 much needed points to give them the chance of surviving and Middlesex 4.

Raynering Down

The third day of Derbyshire vs Middlesex at Derby began with Middlesex in a bit of trouble at 197-6 with Ollie Rayner and John Simpson batting to avoid the follow on, and with 5 overs to go until the new ball, they'd have thought they'd be able to see off five overs from Madsen and Burgoyne, but that was not to be, as Simpson charged through for a single, only to be found short from the direct hit by Chanderpaul, 208-6. Rayner, now left with the tail and the new ball, took on the bowlers a bit more, as Toby Roland-Jones edged to Chesney Hughes at slip off Groenwald for 5, Rayner completed a 108 ball 50, a welcome return to batting form after a poor season. the end came quickly, as Rayner couldn't get them past 250, as Murtagh edged behind for 10 and Finn LBW for a 2 ball duck as Footitt finished with 3-69 and Higginbottom 3-59 with Middlesex all out for 249, 136 runs behind.
Middlesex (and Murtagh) came out blasting, with Ben Slater caught behind 2nd ball for a duck and then Madsen edged to Denly at slip to give Murtagh his 2nd, 4-2. Chesney Hughes fell soon after, LBW to Finn for 3, 16-3, maybe Middlesex could still turn this game around. Chanderpaul and Johnson had other ideas, arresting the slide with a solid 50 partnership to take the lead past 200 before Chanders was LBW to Roland-Jones for 32, 68-4. Alex Hughes joined Johnson in frustrating the Middlesex attack, with a solid defence being the order of the day as there was plenty of time left and a handy lead already secured and soon the 100 was up and Johnson completed his 50 from 101 balls, then Hughes edged to slip for 24 off Gareth Berg, 116-5.
Tom Poynton came and went, giving Rayner his first wicket, 131-6, and then he snared Johnson by Robson at short leg for 59, 133-7. Peter Burgoyne was LBW for 4, and (after some quick boundaries) Groenewald popped to short leg and Footitt fell first ball, as Rayner finished with 5-67 as Derbyshire were all out for 160, leaving Middlesex 297 to win in a day and a bit.
It proved to be too long to last until close as Denly was LBW to a Footitt yorker and Finn being sent in as nightwatchman was LBW for a five ball duck, completing a pair for the day and (after joining up after being disposed by England) summed up a miserable few days for him.
Middlesex ended the day 25-2, still a long way from winning the game.

Not Quite The Plan

The 2nd day of Derbyshire vs Middlesex began well for the visitors as Peter Burgoyne fell 5th ball of the day to Murtagh, and Matt Higginbottom was caught by Morgan off Harris next over as Derby slipped to 284-8. But Middlesex failed to close out the innings, as in the next 12 overs as Groenewald and Madsen added 66, Groenewald merrily swinging the seamers straight and through the leg side as he hit 9 fours in his 49 which ended when he edged to Simpson off Rayner in the last over of the bonus points, Derbyshire now 350-9. But the pain wasn't over, as another 35 runs came as Mark Footitt carted 13 off an over from Rayner before he edged to slip for 19, Derbyshire 385 all out, last two wickets adding 101, Madsen unbeaten on a fine 138, Tim Murtagh with 3-63 being the pick of the bowlers.
Middlesex began slowly, but lost Robson for 16 (all the runs scored) caught by Johnson off Groenewald as things started to look dodgy when Denly fell for 4 caught by Chanderpaul off Groewald, 25-2. Eoin Morgan and Adam Voges took them to lunch without any more wickets falling. The 50 came up soon after and the pair looked good to get most of this massive total they were pursuing when Morgan popped the ball straight to sub fielder Calum Brodrick off Higginbottom for 28, 75-3. Dexter and Voges carried on crawling the score onwards, past 100, and to the 50 partnership, with Voges's 50 taking 139 balls. Dexter, who was struggling along on the slowing pitch, was bowled by Footitt for 21, 128-4. Then the big fish Voges was given LBW to Higginbottom for 69, he didn't seem happy with the decision as he stormed off. Higginbottom made it 2 in six balls, bowling Gareth Berg for 2, 154-6. Simpson and Rayner launched a counter attack before close, as Middlesex finished the day 197-6, still 188 behind.

Driven to Insanity by Madsen

The first day of Derbyshire vs Middlesex at Derby began with Middlesex winning the toss and fielded, and began with a hostile opening barrage from Murtagh and Roland-Jones but with no success, until Gareth Berg got Chesney Hughes to hole out to Roland-Jones for 16, carrying on his struggles this season, 37-1. The pace of the innings started to pick up once Wayne Madsen arrived, he carried on his batting form by picking off some early runs as Middlesex began to drift a touch. Lunch came with Madsen on a run a ball 25, and the fifty partnership between Ben Slater and Madsen came up shortly after.
Runs came slowly but steadily, as the pair passed 100 and Slater completed 50 from 128 balls before edging behind off James Harris shortly after, 118-2. Shiv Chanderpaul came and went, caught at short leg by Same Robson off Ollie Rayner for 2. Madsen reached his own fifty in the next over from 95 balls. Middlesex then let the game drift a bit, allowing Johnson and Madsen to put up 50, until Johnson tried to hammer Adam Voges's spin, and was caught at square leg for 33, 179-4. But the crash of wickets wouldn't come as Alex Hughes and Madsen brought up the 200 and progressed to the new ball with the score 226-4. Madsen went into the 90s, but lost Hughes, trapped LBW by Murtagh for 33. Madsen was soon celebrating, another four off Murtagh bringing up his hundred, and the first player to score 1000 championship runs on the way to it. Tom Poynton fell in the same over, but Madsen lasted out the final six overs, Derbyshire having the slightly better of the day, 279-6.

Watson Wallops, Australia Splutter

The 2nd day of the England Lions vs Australia tour match at Northampton began with England declaring on 269-7, leaving Australia with a day to bat and (really) Hughes and Khawaja to push their cases for inclusion in the final test. Ed Cowan and Dave Warner opened the batting. James Harris and Keith Barker bowled with spirit, but didn't find a breakthrough in their opening spell with Warner scoring easy runs as the 50 came up in the 13th over. Simon Kerrigan's spin arrived, and Warner charged, missed and was easily stumped by Buttler for 35, 52-1. Liam Plunkett then fairly easily picked up the wicket of Cowan, caught behind by Buttler for 17. Shane Watson then took a liking to the bowling of Kerrigan, announcing himself with 3 fours in the 23rd over, slamming the ball over midwicket and through cover with ease. another four soon followed, then the biggest hit of the day, Kerrigan slog-swept over midwicket for a massive six, but on 45 the adventure came to an end. Watson went for another heave off James Harris, but found fine leg where Liam Plunkett took a good catch, 117-3. Steve Smith came in and looked at ease against spin, but was yorked by Ben Stokes for 18, 144-4. Stokes had his 2nd in two overs as Khawaja, edging to Buttler for four. Keith Barker returned to finally shift Hughes, bowling him for 30 as Australia slumped to 160-6 in 46 overs.
Matt Wade and James Faulkner decided to grind it out for as long as they could, whilst pinging boundaries off Plunkett and Stokes as they batted up to tea, and then onwards, bringing up the 50 partnership. At 227-6, the light and rain closed in and play was abandoned, match drawn (as it always would be). Australis not really looking in any better shape for the final test as they managed to all get in, then get out without any of them spendint some serious time in the middle.

A Ballanced Attack

Thanks to Northants making it to finals day, an England Lions XI was selected to take on Australia in a 2 day game in Northampton. Early morning rain delayed the start for an hour. The Lions won the toss and elected to bat first, with Alex Lees and Luke Wells opening. Wells soon fell for 10, edging to Wade off James Faulkner for 10, 17-1. Moeen Ali then came along and the pair played nicely, the main unusual sight from the morning session was Dave Warner bowling seam up, though with limited success. Nathan Lyon picked up the other two wickets to fall before lunch, Alex Lees caught by Shane Watson at slip for 33 and captain Eoin Morgan also caught Watson for 5.
After lunch, Moeen Ali completed a comfy 85 ball 50 and progressed onto 61 before giving Steve Smith an easy catch off Mitchell Starc, 164-4. Gary Ballance's 8th four brought up his 50 shorty after, from 90 balls. Australia were never out of the day for long, as Ben Stokes (19) was the third victim to the Lyon-Watson slip catching combination, 195-5. Ballance carried on, and with Jos Buttler blocking up one end on the fairly slow pitch, he moved fairly untroubled into the 90s. Buttler then fell for 7 to Steve Smith, before Ballance carted the 4th ball of his next over for six over midwicket to go to his century from 153 balls. He then tried to repeat the dose next ball and was LBW for 104, the highlight of an otherwise slow day.
The Lions finished the day on 269-7 from 77 overs, a pretty decent showing on a slow pitch against a good attack.

A Broad Bombing

The fourth day of the fourth test of the Ashes began with England 202 runs ahead at 234-5 with Ian Bell  on 105 and joined by Tim Bresnan. England moved on to 250 before the new ball was taken and Ryan Harris found some late sharp movement to destroy Bell's middle stump for 113, and then took Matt Prior's off stump first ball to complete a well earn five wicket haul. This triggered Bresnan and Broad to start going for quick runs as boundaries were crunched through mid on and square leg and edged over third man before Harris found some bounce which Broad could only fend on the jump to gully for a seven ball 13, 275-8.
Jackson Bird then flew off the bat of Bresnan with three fours in the over as 14 came off it to push the lead past 250 and towards something England could feel happy defending. Graeme Swann decided on the same plan and smacked a couple of fours off Siddle to bring up the 300 before Bresnan chipped a catch back to Harris to go for 45, 317-9. Steve Smith dropped a skier at long on, but it only cost 13 runs (3 fours by Swann) before Anderson edged behind off Lyon for a duck, England 330 all out leaving Australia 5 sessions to score 299. Harris the pick of the bowlers with 7-117.
Australia managed 11 in 5 overs (Cook blowing a review for an LBW pitching outside leg) before a sudden downpour brought an early lunch. Australia started well after lunch, as England looked a bit clueless as to what they were supposed to be doing as Rogers and Warner feasted on some off line bowling. Even when Rogers was caught behind the DRS actually worked and he was given not out (+1 for hotspot). Australia pushed the rate up to around 4 an over as they looked to get the job done in a hurry as every time England got a couple of dot balls, they'd push one down off or leg and it would be helped away for four. Their intent became even clearer when Swann's third ball to Warner was launched inside out over extra cover for a huge six. The 100 partnership came up in the 27th over and soon Warner passed 50 from 74 balls, but England then got a wicket as Rogers was squared up by Swann and the edge flew to Trott at slip to go for 49, 109-1. Australia made it to tea 120-1.
Post tea, Australia cruised to 147 when Khawaja misread the line against Swann and was given LBW for 21, but Clarke and Warner carried on, until Warner nicked behind off Bresnan for 74, 168-3. England then blew their second review with Broad trying to shift Smith, but no more wickets until drinks. First ball after drinks, Broad gets some seam movement to detonate Clarke's off stump for 21, England back on top with what followed being an extraordinary spell from both Broad and Bresnan. Steve Smith (2) hooked one off the bottom edge onto his stumps to Broad, Watson (2) is struck in front of middle stump, given LBW, reviews, umpire's call, out next over. Then next over Haddin (4) is LBW to Broad, reviews, clipping the top of the leg bail, out! Ryan Harris was next to out, also LBW to Broad for 11 and Nathan Lyon who was dropped one, then inside edge an inswinger into his stumps for Broad to get his 2nd five-for and complete 10 in the match.
One wicket left, but the light was getting bad, so on came Swann and Joe Root for five overs as England took the extra half hour, then the sun peeked through, just long enough for Broad to get Siddle to swing the ball straight to mid off where Anderson completed the catch to give a 74 run win and take the series. Broad was awarded man of the match for his 11-121 in the match.

Bell Tolls For England

The third day of the Fourth Ashes test at Chester-le-Street began with Australia on 222-5 with Chris Rogers (with a hundred) and Brad Haddin batting though not for long, as Haddin was trapped in front in the first over of the morning to Graeme Swann for 13. Then another bonus before the new ball as Rogers gloved the ball from Swann where Matt Prior took a sharp catch and was given out on review for 110 to a standing ovation, 233-7 and Anderson and Broad with the new ball. Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle seemed happy swish away at anything they could which brought them into the lead before Siddle poked Anderson to Cook at first slip for 5, 245-8 and this was soon 258-9 as Anderson pinned Nathan Lyon in front for 4. Harris then swung 3 consecutive fours off Broad before being given out LBW on review for 28, where all the players were halfway back to the pavilion by the time confirmation it was out came through.
So 270 all out gave Australia a first innings lead of 32 and it was time for Cook and co to see what they could do. Cook and Root halved the deficit before Root was castled by Harris for two, the strain of opening beginning to show for him. After lunch England wasted no time going into the lead, before Cook fished outside off and was caught by Haddin, giving Harris his 2nd wicket of the day. It was then 2 wickets in three balls for Harris, as Trott gloved behind for 23, England 49-3 and in trouble again. Ian Bell came to the rescue and along with Pietersen stopped the slide with some impressive strokeplay mixed with dubious shots.
The pair took on the Australian attack fairly freely, and got away with it as edges flew wide of fielders, wild heaves dropped safe and in between there was some good shots as the 100 came up it the 27th over with both batsmen motoring on steadily as England flowed to tea 123-3.
Consecutive drives through the covers for four brought up Bell's 50, but Pietersen would not join him, as he chipped a leading edge off Lyon to Rogers at cover for 44, the breakthrough the Australians needed, as it seemed England would get away. Jonny Bairstow came in and looked to attacked, hitting consecutive boundaries off Lyon and then Harris as Australia began to tire, giving Bell the opportunity to move into the 90s reasonably untroubled. Bairstow's knock ended on 28 edging Lyon to Harris. That didn't stop Bell flicking the ball to leg and going to his 3rd hundred of the series, a crucial knock as the England lead passed 200 as they finished 234-5, Bell unbeaten on 105.