What Happens From a Free Hit?

Let’s have a look at how good a free hit is to the batting side. Given that you know the bowler can’t dismiss you, how effectively do sides deal with the free runs that (theoretically) should ensue.

Naturally my point of call for this was the 2018 Kia Super League, as it gives us a reasonable number of games to look at.

The only no-ball that is not punished by a free hit is the bouncer over head height. The ball by ball data doesn’t have anything noting free hits (technically making this a “ball after a no-ball” analysis), but since this is the best data we have, we can roll with it, the stats for the batting side looks like:

Runs	Balls	Runs per ball
46	20	2.3

So a no ball occurs about every one and a half games and goes for 2.3 runs a ball. This equates to 13.8 runs per over, which is a run a ball higher than the tournament average of ~7.50 which makes sense as it’s quite hard to be dismissed from a free hit.

Also keep in mind we’re not including anything that happened off the original no-ball so you can add at least one run to those stats.

Now if we look at the individual sides batting and bowling off free hits we can see how well a side can capitalise on these free runs.

Batting	Runs	Balls	Runs per ball
Storm	13	4	3.25
Diamonds	9	3	3
Stars	7	3	2.33
Thunder	6	3	2
Vipers	6	3	2
Lightning	5	4	1.25

Bowling	Runs	Balls	Runs per ball
Lightning	1	3	0.33
Stars	5	5	1
Thunder	1	1	1
Vipers	7	4	1.75
Storm	22	5	4.40
Diamonds	10	2	5

Unsurprisingly the Storm were the best side batting side in this situation given their quick scoring thanks to their dynamic top order. But they were also the 2nd worst side with the ball, showing up a potential weakness.

The bowling stats add to the idea that bowlers can win you t20, as the two finalists (Lightning and eventual winners the Stars) were the best two sides defending free hits.

But the takeaway from this probably is, don't bowl no balls in the first place...

Top 5 From 2016

OK, now all this has been fairly poorly updated, so here's something to make up for all that, a top five games from the 2016 season. The 2016 season was a particularly good one for us Middlesex supporters with a first county championship since 1993 and I also spent the year trying to go to as much as possible, from championship cricket at Scarborough and the women's ODI at Taunton through to Womens T20 at Beckenham and KSL Finals day at Chelmsford, here are my (totally biased) highlights.

A few notes before I list stuff - this is based off what I saw with my own eyes, if we win the Championship the day after I've been there, it doesn't count as a great game solely for that reason, also this is a list of fun and interesting games to me, with no real bearing on sense or neutrality. This means that Gubbins' 200 > Bresnan's 140 for example as Middlesex are superior to Yorkshire in my totally made up system.

Since the 2017 season starts in the UK this week, let's get on with the list

5 - KSL Finals day

I quite like witnessing history, so new cricket history is particularly good. The first finals day of the Women's Super League (sponsored by Kia so KSL...) took place this year at Chelmsford. Not only was it the first franchise based tournament in the UK, it was the first major headline grabbing women's domestic cricket tournament in the country.

The finals day included a semi final eliminator between the 2nd and 3rd teams where the winner then played the 1st placed team for the trophy. The Western Storm chased down the total set by Loughborough Lightning with relative ease. Ellyse Perry was the only Lightning player to fire, and the combined power of the Storm brought then victory.

The final against the Southern Vipers followed the semi, with the Storm batting first and making 130, with the Vipers gunning down the target to take the inaugural title.

4 - Taunton

Another women's cricket game on the list, I hadn't been to a women's international for a couple of years, so a trip to Taunton was a must for the final ODI between England and Pakistan.

England batted first on a sunny day and then went for it. Despite the early loss of Lauren Winfield, Tammy Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss made Pakistan pay for an appalling performance in the field as several dropped catches and flopped misfields but England in record threatening mood.

Having slammed a record 378-5 the previous week, this was a more measured fours and two approach, but Beaumont batted through the innings to make a humongous 168 not out. Elwiss (77) and Nat Sciver (48 off 22) launched England to 366-4.

It was pretty clear from the outset that Pakistan were playing to improve their net run rate, and being 3 down in eight overs it wasn't going to be any closer than that. Sidra Nawaz made 47, but Laura Marsh (3-29) worked through the middle order before Katherine Brunt bowled out each of the last four to finish with 5-30 as England sealed an emphatic win by 202 runs.

Personally in was good to see Alex Hartley's international debut, even through she went wicketless as it meant I'd now seen her play for three teams (Middlesex, Academy and England and later in the summer add the Surrey Stars to that).

3 - Essex One Day Cup

Having only gone to two one day cup games in the season, both of them were crackers, Essex made the trip to Middlesex and put the hosts in on what was an old pitch,

Middlesex started solidly enough with Sam Robson making 41 before a quick collapse to Dan Lawrence's spin (3-35) nabbed 3 wickets in 11 balls. This brought skipper James Franklin to the crease and he revived the innings with a handy 50 with partnership with Simpson and Higgins dragged Middlesex past 200 to an eventual 219-8 which looked too few even given the difficulty of batting.

Essex started well, with Nic Browne and Tom Westley not fussing around to raise the 50 stand before Middlesex slowly dried up the runs after the powerplay, Browne still looked steady to lead them home, but was bowled by Franklin for 79, even then 94 in 20 overs should've been easy. The middle order however, got horribly stuck as Roland-Jones (4-40) struck when the panicked batsmen were forced into bad shots giving some easy wickets. It came down to 11 needed from the final over with two wickets left, Franklin then dismissed the dangerous Ashar Zaidi first ball and held on to finish with 3-25 from 9 overs (later revealing he had a broken finger) as Middlesex pulled off a heist by four runs.

This game kept alive Middlesex's slim chances of making the knockouts and was a win they really had no business in making with 20 overs to go.

2 - Tie at Chelmsford

The other one-day cup game I went to, Essex vs Somerset on a damp day in June, Essex won the toss and fielded, but the match was reduced to 47 overs per side before play began because rain... So we get 3 overs, then more rain and another long delay with Somerset 12-1, and finally get clear skies and actual play with 29 overs per side. With a damp outfield timing the ball was a bit of a problem, with runs only really coming once you got in. This showed heavily as Adam Hose (77) and Jim Allenby (62) added 141 out of Somerset's eventual 179-8. They played the Essex bowlers with relative ease as 200 looked on with four overs to go, but the late slog by the middle order and canny bowling (and fielding) from Ravi Bopara (3-49) brought about 6-24 in the final four overs.

Thanks to DLS, Essex were set 177 to win from 29 overs, and they suffered their own horrible collapse and crashed to 36-5 against Groenewald and Gregory. Zaidi and Bopara doubled the score but both fell caught to Jamie Overton to leave Essex needing 94 from 69 balls with three wickets left.

James Foster was the only Essex batsman to look comfortable as perhaps Somerset took their foot off the gas a touch and dumped Jamie Overton for consecutive sixes to bring up the 100. He lost Napier and Masters to Gregory leaving him with only Matt Quinn for company showed skill in retaining the stroke as he faced all but one ball of the last four overs. A fifty came from 34 balls, but 24 were needed from 8 with rain falling again, when a boundary was followed by a wide and a pull into the gap at fine leg saw them bring in three more to set up a final over with 16 required.

Gregory beat Foster first ball, but keeper Barrow snatched at the ball and it ran clear of him for four byes. The next ball was short and Foster edged fine of Barrow away for four more, 8 off four. Foster nailed the thirs ball of the over to the square leg fielder and rejects the single. The fourth followed a similar pattern, perfectly timed but straight to the fielder on the square leg fence, dot ball. The rain really pouring down now, but we fight on and Gregory bowls a length ball, which Foster sends high and way over midwicket into the marquee beyond the boundary, an extraordinary hit in the circumstances to leave us with one ball, two runs. Field in for the final ball, Gregory bowls short and slow outside off, Foster waits, swings, and misses, but charges off for the single, the throw from Barrow misses the stumps as Quinn dives and makes it in! They'd stolen the tie out of nothing and a 37 run partnership for the last wicket that left Foster 75 not out and cursing that he couldn't quite have seen Essex over the line.

1 - Scarborough

An away trip into the far north as the two best teams in the country took on each other in what was seen as a potential title decider. Yorkshire won the toss and batted, only for Adam Lyth to mess up a leave and edge Murtagh to Simpson from the first ball of the game. Yorkshire recovered fairly well throughout the rest of the day, with Garry Ballance making a 202 ball hundred and a pair of 63s from Lees and Bresnan left them 291-5 with Murtagh grabbing two more wickets.

Day two and runs and wickets came about more quickly as Yorkshire slipped to 371-9 before some hitting from Patterson and Brooks meant they finished at lunch on 406, Ballance 132. Yorkshire then put Middlesex under pressure, but couldn't take many wickets, Gubbins and Robson adding 87 before both fell quickly only for Bailey and Eskinazi saw them to 130-2 at close.

Day three and Middlesex set about the Yorkshire total as the attack toiled away without much success with Eskinazi and Bailey completed 50s and took the total past 200. Bailey eventually fell to Will Rhodes and Simpson soon after but Franklin joined Eskinazi in grinding through the afternoon, taking 47 balls to get into double figures and Eskinazi reaching his 2nd hundred in 2 weeks in the next over. Runs then flowed off Bresnan and Rafiq as Middlesex went along easily at 4 an over to get to 400 and into the lead in the 126th over, Eskinazi passing 150. Trying to up the rate in the closing overs of the day meant Middlesex lost 4-26 in 33 balls as Esknazi went for 157 and Franklin for 99 to give Jack Brooks a deserved 5-for. Roland-Jones and Murtagh saw Middlesex to the close 470-8 a lead of 64.

The final day looked like the game would end a dull draw as the pitch hadn't had too many demons nor proved conducive to quick scoring, but funny things happen sometimes which make any dull play worthwhile. Middlesex started fairly normally for the first 3 overs and Roland-Jones hooked Brooks straight to Patterson on the fine leg fence, but the catch went down and ball rolled over the fence for 4, that drop proved to cost 98 runs in seven overs as the next ball went for four and Murtsgh carted a couple of boundaries off Bresnan in the next over. Roland Jones took advantage of the short boundary on the sea side of the ground to hit Brooks for six just over the fielder. Maybe spin would do the trick? Roland-Jones stuck Rafiq into the back row of seats towards Peasholme Park, Murtagh then hit the last two balls of the over towards midwicket for a couple more huge sixes. Roland-Jones took Brooks for 2 more sixes over midwicket and one straight down the ground. Roland-Jones had 79 off 51 and Murtagh 47 off 38 when Lyth removed Murtagh and Finn with consecutive balls to finish off Middlesex for 577, 107 runs in 10 overs that morning and a handy lead of 171.

Yorkshire saw off Finn and Murtagh's opening spell, but Lyth edged Roland-Jones's first ball to Frankliin at 3rd slip. Roland-Jones then blasted through Williamson, caught behind a couple of overs later to keep things interesting. Rayner was finding some turn and used his height to get some uneven bounce as Lees pulled out a sweep into the body of short leg, with the ball rebounding back towards the diving Simpson. Finn celebrated by bouncing out Ballance for a tortuous 3, Yorkshire now 63-4. Bresnan was the only batsman to find batting easy, Gale giving Rayner another wicket and having figures of 2-5 from 13 overs at one point. Into the final session and Rhodes and Bresnan could still save the game, but Finn and Murtagh shifted them in quick succession and it was a matter of time until the end. Hodd and Patterson were both caught by Rayner at 2nd slip, and when Jack Brooks fished one from Murtagh to Robson at first slip, Yorkshire had crashed to 167 all out and suffered their first Championship innings defeat at Scarborough. Nine of the wickets ended up caght between keeper and third slip as Middlesex went top of table on the way to eventually winning the title.

A Rushworth of Wickets

So the third day of Middlesex vs Durham at Lord's turned out to be one of the craziest so far with 18 wickets falling and a finish on the fourth day a certainty.
Durham resumed on 157-4 and batting looked easy as Middlesex toiled for the breakthrough. Jennings and Rushworth found runs easy to come by Rushworth even tonking Rayner for six. The 200 soon came up and it wasn't until the score reached 229 that Rushworth was LBW to Rayner for 40.
Jennings looked set for his 100, but on 98 looked to Voges fourth delivery and edged through to Simpson. From 239 for six, lunch did something funny as the next two sessions were completely different. Voges bowled Mustard off his pad, Arshad chipped Harris to the sub Balbirnie, Hastings edged Finn to slip and Coughlin caught behind off Harris only a quick 38 not out from Paul Collingwood saved Durham from disaster as they slipped to 294 all out.
Middlesex opted to bat again and it soon looked like a bad decision as Rushworth tore through the top order, having Gubbins LBW, Compton acrobatically taken at Gully by MacLeod, Voges LBW 2nd ball and Robson pinned LBW all in the first 7 overs. Hastings came on at the Nursery end to replace the expensive Coughlin and he decided to join the fun, Franklin was caught behind, Simpson was bowled off a no ball, before being caught at slip for a duck and Rayner bowled for a duck in the same over as Middlesex went to tea on a fairly bizarre 37-7.
Dexter and Harris blocked out after tea and ground to fifty in the 18th over when Dexter fell for six to give Hastings his fourth. Harris got a leading edge snaffled next over to complete Rushworth's 5 for and now out hobbled Tim Murtagh on one leg with Simpson as his runner to get a few more on the board. He edged the first ball for four and he and Finn adopted a stand and deliver approach with Murtagh wrecking Rushworth's figures by thumping him into the Grand Stand, they added 39 with Murtagh top scoring with 22 when Hasting pinned Finn LBW for 15 to finish with 5-24, and Rushworth 5-38. 89 all out wouldn't have been the plan but 24.2 overs later Middlesex found themselves bowling again.
Harris came tearing in again from the Nursery end and plucked out two more before close, Jennings limply pulling to square leg for a duck and Stoneman swatting at edge to Voges at slip as Durham closed on 24-2 still needing 235 more to win.

A Battle from Hastings

So after the women's match at Edmonton got rained off we move back to Middlesex vs Durham for day two and I get there just in time to see Harris edge behind, Franklin having already gone and Middlesex now six down.
The first ball I get there for, Harris edges Hastings behind as Middlesex had now slipped to 341-6. It was down to Dexter and Simpson to further the cause, and Durham failed to blast out the lower order as the sun came out and batting was relatively easy. Dexter was next to fall, heaving a Hastings bouncer to Usman Arshad at fine leg who took a good tumbling catch. Rayner hit a quick 16 before falling LBW to Rushworth for 16 and Murtagh was bowled heaving Borthwick for 11.
Simpson completed his 50 from 89 balls before hitting Hasting straight to mid off to be the last man out for 58 as Middlesex finished with a solid 463, Hastings with 4-87 from 33 overs.
Durham started well, with Mark Stoneman and Keaton Jennings scoring fairly easily early on, helped out by Tim Murtagh limping off with a suspected damaged hamstring after 2 balls. After a couple of quality drives, Stoneman then looked to waft Harris over cover and edged to slip for 21. Borthwick batted a bit like Stoneman with some nice shots before a waft to Franklin found the edge to Simpson for 26. Michael Richardson hit six fours in also making 26 before giving the impressive Harris his 2nd wicket.
Keaton Jennings meanwhile completed a composed 50 and finished the day on 61 but had to watch Calum MacLeod go to the penultimate over of the day, as Finn got one to rise and bowl him off the arm. So Durham end the day 306 runs behind on 157-4 needing a big effort from their middle order to catch Middlesex.

An Uncovered Truth?

So, the first match of the women's championship (Royal London Women's One Day...) For Middlesex vs Berkshire at Edmonton gets rained off because the pitch is flooded as the covers have leaked. By covers I mean a couple of tarpaulins as the real covers had been vandalised a few months before, which begs the question as to why elite women's sport (one level below international) is being played at a venue that doesn't have adequate drainage facilities given this is England... In May... Anyway, move on to Lord's again (no such drainage issues there) for more Middlesex vs Durham.

Robson Running Riot

At 10:30, a greenish pitch and very overcast conditions, the decision to bowl first might have been a smart one, however it proved not to be for Durham as Middlesex racked up 329-4 on the first day of their Championship match at Lord's.
With Graham Onions out with a knee injury, the key breakthroughs would have to come from Chris Rushworth and John Hastings, but they struggled to apply much pressure and even if the Middlesex batting was scratchy early and gave a few chances, no wickets came. Sam Robson and Nick Gubbins moved the score on to 66 before Paul Coughlin got Gubbins fishing to slip for 23.
Robson soon completed 50 and began to look a lot more relaxed and he and Nick Compton took Middlesex to lunch 104-1.
After lunch, it was a case of more of the same as the pitch looked easy going, and soon he race was on to see if Compton would get to 50 before Robson completed his ton, and despite nearly running himself out, Compton won. He went soon after, bowled having a heave at Scott Borthwick's half trackers but this only brought in Adam Voges, another man in the mood for big runs. Robson went to his ton, his first since Sri Lanka in June last year and kicked on towards a loftier landmark.
Tea came and went, and the runs were still flowing as Durham turned to Calum MacLeod as the 8th bowler of the day, only to see Voges shelled at slip. The new ball brought the breakthrough as Voges was LBW to Rushworth for 52. Robson had completed a brilliantly crafted 150, but could last the day, as after being dropped at slip off Coughlin, he edged the same bowler to Borthwick at slip to depart for 178 runs that will hopefully see him to form after a tough year.
James Franklin and James Harris saw Middlesex to the close 329-4, with more of the same expected tomorrow, if the rain holds off.

Sangaring Along

Surrey moved slightly ahead of Essex on the first day of their championship match at The Oval, with the hosts being stuck in to bat and finishing the day 293-5.
Surrey only lost one wicket in the first session as runs came slowly, but there were no real problems in the pitch with Jamie Porter snaring Zafar Ansari for 18. Rory Burns and Kumar Sangakkara looked pretty much at ease in cloudy conditions with Burns making 50 off 113 balls, and Sanga easing to his from 97 balls including a massive six into the OCS stand off Monty Panesar. Burns tried to repeat Sanga's six, but holed out to cover to go for 78. This brought Kevin Pietersen to the wicket, but he and Sanga would not have a glorious day, as Sanga was soon LBW to Ryder for 52.
Steven Davies and KP then batted through to tea and onwards to the new ball without too much trouble then KP fell LBW to Ryder's first ball back for a becalmed 32, and Jason Roy followed in the same fashion two balls later as Surrey slumped to 243-5.
It took a late 50 stand between Davies and Gary Wilson to see them through to the close, Davies 69 (50 from 94 balls), Wilson 23. The worries for Essex would be quick wickets in the morning and the state of Greg Smith who went off injured mid over.

Taylor Time

Middlesex began the Championship campaign by taking on Notts at Lord's, and it was a fairly even day as Notts finished 298-9 with Brendan Taylor making a Championship debut hundred and James Harris taking four wickets.
Notts won the toss and batted, and Steve Mullaney and Taylor did well to last the opening burst from Murtagh and Finn who got some sharp movement on a good pitch. After that runs were easier to find against Helm and Harris, but were helped out by the slips as first Malan and then Voges put down Mullaney both times off Helm. Mullaney failed to capitalise as he dragged on off Helm for 22 and Alex Hales soon followed prodding a ball to Murtagh at cover and setting off for the single to run out for a duck from the direct hit.
Now James Taylor came to the crease and he helped Brendan forge the partnership of the innings.
After lunch Brendan completed 50 and pushed on, making batting look easy as first Harris, then Helm gave too many loose balls which were gleefully plundered. Brendan raced through the 90s and completed his hundred from 160 balls with a push through cover. Finally a break came just before tea, as James hashed a pull to Gubbins at cover, it looked a worse shot as Samit Patel was LBW three balls later. Riki Wessels made one, before he became Harris's third victim and finally Brendan was sent packing by Harris for 106 as an amazing spell of 4-1 in 11 balls had dragged Middlesex out of the miasma as 180-2 became 183-6.
Will Gidman nearly went first ball but only made nine to give Helm a 2nd and Vernon Philander walked past a Voges off break to be stumped.
It looked like Middlesex would keep the score down, but Chris Read swung the day back towards Notts as he found an able ally in Jake Ball and then Harry Gurney as he made a battling 50 getting more expansive and celebrated by walloping Helm into the Grand Stand for six and then a one bounce four as he finished the day on 62 not out and Gurney on 8. Middlesex will be looking for the quick last wicket and then some solid top order batting, especially from the returning Nick Compton as Dawid Malan spent most of the afternoon off the field with a likely broken finger (after dropping another catch) and looked unlikely to bat.

Marching Along

So, the new season is almost upon us, and I went down to witness Essex and Middlesex have some batting practice on the 2nd day of their warm up at Chelmsford. March cricket is usually a) cold and b) full of batting collapses, today didn't really provide either of those.

Due to Essex losing so many wickets the previous day, it was agreed Middlesex would start batting and would have 50 overs, with Essex have the remaining 34 to do whatever it is they wanted. This meant that the day petered out somewhat as Essex were never really likely to chase down Middlesex's effort.

David Masters struck in the first over, having Sam Robson caught at short leg, but other than that Middlesex avoided too many scares early on in the face of some fairly sharp swing bowling. Everyone who got in found a way to get out as Eskinazi (LBW), Gubbins (ct behind) and Dexter (ct behind) all departed to swing as Middlesex went to lunch on 95-4.

Dawid Malan was the exception to this and marched onwards to complete an 82 ball 50, and after Simpson and George Scott both fell, Harry Podmore blasted 30 from 34 balls as Middlesex rattled up 158-6 from 50 overs, Malan being 57 not out.

Essex carried on batting the way they had the previous day (91-7) by getting in a tangle as James Harris served up a double wicket maiden with Westley yorked and Jaik Mickburgh caught at slip, but Nick Browne and Dan Lawrence saw off the opening bowlers on what was a reasonably sunny afternoon. Lawrence clubbed the first six of the day, but was LBW to Podmore for 14.

The rest of the innings was well played by Browne and first James Foster and then Kishen Velani as they saw out the rest of the innings with some easy runs as Ollie Rayner and Ravi Patel rattled through the last 15 overs of the innings in about 45 minutes. There wasn't much spin, unsurprisingly with Rayner dismissing Foster from a top edged sweep.

Essex finished their 34 overs on 121-4, with Browne 49 not out and Velani 27 not out to complete the draw before both sides play tomorrow in 2 t20s.

Still Alive

Hi all.

I know this has been somewhat abandoned over the last couple of years so I thought, what with the new season just about to start, it was time for a refresh and a spring clean which doubles as a fourth anniversary celebration.

I'll try and keep this more reliably up to date, probably with some shorter reports and other random thoughts.

I'll be tweeting as usual from @Wardog1990 and getting all 2012 with a hashtag - #cricket15 which may only last a few games, but we'll see.

First bit of cricket this season is the 2nd day of the warmup game at Chelmsford tomorrow.

Finn Flying Upwards

The first day of Middlesex vs Yorkshire at Lord's began with Middlesex winning the toss and fielding, and got quick reward with Alex Lees caught behind off Murtagh in the 3rd over. Adam Lyth and Kane Williamson then added 50 for the 2nd wicket, before Lyth edged to Simpson off Finn for 34. Joe Root's first game of the season lasted all of 5 balls as he departed for a duck, trapped LBW by Finn. Before lunch there was still time for another wicket, Williamson edging Harris to Murtagh at 2nd slip, 75-4.
The post lunch struggle for the Yorkshire middle order led to their demise with Rashid (6) and Hodd (5) falling in quick succession, and a couple of overs later Ballance was well caught by Robson off Harris for 20, 113-7 and Middlesex were well on top. Liam Plunkett had other ideas, and showed off his all-round power by flaying the ball with a fair amount of ease as the boundaries flowed to bring up the 150, Sidebottom gave Robson his 3rd catch and Finn his 3rd wicket falling for a handy 12. Plunkett completed his 50 from 52 balls as the end came quickly with Patterson cleaned up by Finn (4-50) and Brooks playing on for 1 as Yorkshire finished 178 all out, Plunkett with 56 of those.
Middlesex's reply began badly, with Rogers edging Brooks to Lyth at slip for 1 and then Robson edging behind for 6, each time Brooks broke into an explosive celebration. 20-2 and Morgan and Malan had some rebuilding to do, with the ball still swinging around under cloudy skies, Malan thumping 3 fours off Patterson and Morgan following up with two more off Brooks next over. Malan couldn't last the day, bowled by Sidebottom for 31 as Middlesex finished 64-3, Morgan unbeaten on 24. An even day in the end with some sensible batting needed from Middlesex.

Dunn, Dunn, Dunn

The second day of Surrey vs Essex at the Oval began with the toss, after the first day had been washed out, Surrey winning the toss and fielding. Alastair Cook and Jaik Mickleburgh found the going reasonably easy to start with, prodding runs off a fairly strong attack. The "highlight" of the morning being Zafar Ansari giving himself a concussion. Cook played a drive through point, Ansari misfielded it, but managed to chase it down to the fence and slid, only to carry across the wet outfield and into the advertising boards head first. There was about a 10 minute delay as he was revived and led off the field, he would take no further part in the game. The 50 came up in the 16th over, Cook looking particularly strong, before he played a horrible pull to Matt Dunn, which looped into the gloves of Steve Davies for 39, 67-1. Jade Dernbach soon got the 2nd, Mickleburgh edging to Graeme Smith at slip, 85-2. Around lunchtime, the rain came and dumped a bucketful on the ground, delaying us for a couple of hours.
The post lunch fight was led by Westley and Bopara, the pitch looking good, but with something in it for the seamers with the amount of the rain that had been around. The lack of Ansari (and with 3 keepers and Smith himself) the lack of change bowling became clear when Jason Roy came on as the fifth bowler in the 38th over. Matt Dunn returned to break the partnership in a cracking over, accounting for Westley (caught by Burns close in) and Greg Smith (edged to Wilson at 2nd slip) for a duck as Essex slumped to 126-4. The pace slowed up further as the bowlers kept the scoring in check and were rewarded when Meaker blasted one through Ben Foakes to snare him for 22. Bopara and James Foster brought up the 200, and Bopara was looking in good nick for a decent score, but was then strangled down the leg side by Roy for 49. Play ended soon after with Essex 225-6 in 78 overs, a draw looking the likely result.

Notts Quite the Plan

The first day of the first home game of the season began in some surprising April sun as Middlesex took on Nottinghamshire at Lord's. Notts won the toss and batted, and after a couple of near edges, James Harris struck in the 10th over having Phil Jaques caught behind for 14, 16-1. Notts then struggled to get much above 2 an over as Murtagh, Harris and Finn bowled well to keep the pressure on, and Michael Lumb finally cracked, going for a pull that went straight up in the air for Robson at square leg to complete a solid catch, 50-2. Mullaney and Taylor saw Notts through to lunch, and afterwards started opening up with some powerful strokeplay as Middlesex bowled too wide and too short to Taylor, who whacked away a couple of pulls with ease. Taylor went to 50 from 63 balls and was looking well set when he fell LBW to Harris for 62, 131-3, just in time, and then Harris had Samit Patel caught behind by Simpson for 0 in the same over, 131-4. Riki Wessels came in and soon went after the short Grand Stand boundary, clubbing Murtagh for six, before Mullaney followed suit with a straight six off Ollie Rayner. Mullaney completed his 50 from 171 balls with a hook fine off Finn for four, but edged to Malan at first slip next ball for 52, 164-5.
Chris Read and Wessels proved hard to shift as runs came steadily and the pair passed 200 and Read cashed in on some loose bowling from Harris, too short and wide. After the 250 came up, the new ball did the trick as Finn managed to fire one through Read to remove his off stump for 40 and his next over Wessels (who had got to an 86 ball 50) edged to Rayner at third slip for 58, 259-7 and the chance was there to keep them below 300. Peter Siddle and Luke Fletcher then made more pain, as they took on Murtagh and Finn in a flurry of boundaries, as 25 came in 7 balls to bring up the 300, Siddle thumping Murtagh for four, six (into the grand stand again), four. Siddle then had one swipe too many and his midwicket heave got a leading edged low to Morgan at point off Harris for an excellent 40 from 35 balls. Carter and Fletcher saw Notts to close on 315-8, a good day for them, Harris and Finn the pick of the bowling with four wickets each.

Four Going Cheap to Jon Lewis

The first day of the new season got underway at Hove with Sussex taking on Middlesex, with Sussex winning the toss and sticking Middlesex in, and after an hours delay we got underway. It only took 13 balls for a wicket to falls, Chris Rogers skewing the ball from Magoffin to Stef Piolet at gully to go for 4. Sam Robson and Dawid Malan then fought for 11 overs in seamy conditions, Malan dropped at cover off Anyon, and they took the score to 36 before Robson had a swish at one from Anyon to be caught behind by Ben Brown for 11, 36-2.
After lunch there was a classic Middlesex collapse up there with the very best as Neil Dexter edged Jon Lewis to Brown for 6, and next ball Eoin Morgan's return to the red ball didn't last as Lewis found some huge inswing to detonate two stumps first ball. Adam Rossington survived the hat trick, but four overs later and Malan finally fell edging Lewis to Joyce for 35. Lewis then took his fourth of a crushing spell as Rossington had a feeble waft through to Brown for 8, 73-6. At the other end, things weren't getting any easier as Ashar Zaidi struck first ball, clipping the top of James Harris's off stump for six, before Tim Murtagh tried to hit a six, only to find Matt Prior about 10 yards in from the midwicket fence, 86-9 and 100 looking a mile off. At least Toby Roland-Jones and Steve Finn showed some fight, lasting for 30 minutes, with Roland-Jones pulling Piolet for four to take the score to 99, then taking one from the same shot to bring up an unlikely team 100, Finn swung a four off Zaidi, but Roland-Jones lost his off stump to Magoffin for 17 to end the innings on 105 and tea, Lewis finishing with 4-34 and Magoffin 3-21.
After tea Middlesex needed quick wickets, and Ed Joyce was promptly bowled by Murtagh for 12, then Luke Wells edged to gully for a slow four before Mike Yardy got a tight LBW go against him for Murtagh's second on 17 as Sussex slumped to 42-3. This brought in Matt Prior, out of form and looking for runs, on comes Finn, short ball, Prior misreads it and hits it straight into the air down to long leg where Roland-Jones is waiting, he dived, and spilled the ball, a catch that would have made the day somewhat better, as Roland-Jones got hit for a couple of boundaries himself as bad light ended the day with Sussex 86-3 after 20.3 overs, looking set for a good total to start the season.

Notts Out to End the Season

The final day of Middlesex vs Notts at Lord's was the last day of the season from my perspective and sure enough it rained, so (having already lost a day to rain) we were delayed until just after lunch before play would resume with Middlesex on 96-0 against Notts 430 first innings total.
Chris Rogers and Sam Robson went on the attack early, as Notts struggled to bowl anything consistent, with Rogers cutting an early couple of boundaries including one which evaded Luke Fletcher's dive which took a large chunk out of the hallowed turf... Rogers cut Harry Gurney for six into the Mound Stand, then followed up with another four as he moved into the 90s. It wasn't long before another boundary off Fletcher brought up his third Championship hundred of the season (142 balls), and he was within sight of 1000 championship runs when he pulled Andre Adams straight up in the air for Fletcher to complete the catch for 108 out of 151 for the first wicket, worth the wait in the rain to see him bat so easily. Adams soon had two, as Robson nicked behind next over for 41, 152-2.
Joe Denly and Dawid Malan then steadied the ship with the nice strokeplay (Denly finding some late form) and luck (David Hussey dropping Malan at slip twice in two overs) as they added 59 to bring up the first batting point. Malan then went for a massive swing off Samit Patel, and was bowled for 15, 211-3. Denly helped raid 19 off an over from Gurney to complete his 50 from 70 balls, but was bowled from Gurney's next over for 63, 245-4. Simpson saw the 250 up then Dexter sliced a drive off Gurney to Michael Lumb at gully, 252-5. Simpson and Berg came together for the quick burst after tea, and added 42 and saw off another 12 overs with some rasping cuts and drives before Berg popped the ball back to Adams for an easy catch on 26, 294-6. Ollie Rayner heaved a couple of boundaries, but was LBW to Adams for 9, 314-6. Simpson then took over the scoring, and showed his good form in the last month or so by completing 50 with a pull for four off Adams to the Mound Stand fence, it also to Middlesex to 353-7, where Rogers declared and the game ended in a comfy draw, Notts taking 9 points and Middlesex 8.

Good Night Australia

The Women's Ashes had just started it's T20 leg, with England up 6-4 on points, Chelmsford was the venue, and England won the toss and batted. Charlotte Edwards crashed 11 off the first over from Ellyse Perry before falling to Sarah Coyte next over for 17. Julie Hunter then snared Heather Knight for 13 as England posted 42-2 off the powerplay. Danni Wyatt and Sarah Taylor then added the bulk of the runs as Taylor was particularly violent straight and square as runs were easily found off Hunter and Jess Jonassen as England reached 76-2 halfway through.
England were cruising along, Taylor completing her 50 from 37 balls with a boundary off Rachael Haynes as well as bringing up the 100, and the pair carried on, not hitting many boundaries, but rotating the strike well and the score had reached 126 when Wyatt's luck ran out (literally) as a direct hit from Haynes found her short for 28. Australia kept the last three overs tight as Jonassen, Coyte and Erin Osborne only went for 20 with Taylor swinging at every ball, she was finally bowled off the last ball of the innings for 77 about halfway down the pitch by Osborne (the pick of the bowlers with 1-22 from 4). This left England with 146-4, a good total that would test the Australian top order if they were to succeed, with their hitters needing to fire.
Australia began slowly, with 8 from the first two overs, the pressure telling, as Meg Lanning was run out for 2 from a direct hit from Arran Brindle. Alyssa Healy fell in the same over well taken by Taylor off Brunt, 10-2. Jodie Fields and Jess Cameron needed runs, but got in a tangle, Danni Hazell being played out for a maiden in her first over, Aus 26-2 after the powerplay. Fields was then bowled by Jenny Gunn for 6, 27-3. Cameron upped the rate with 10 off Gunn's next over (including a straight six), but Australia were being tied down by England, and were 49-3 halfway through. Any hope was killed off soon after as Cameron (caught and bowled Gunn 35) and Blackwell (caught Greenway off Wyatt going for a huge heave 20) fell in consecutive overs, by this time the required rate was 12 an over and Perry and Haynes were left with too much to do, even though they did some damage to Gunn, Hazell and Brunt's figures, they were left with 25 needed from the final over and they completed a 50 partnership, but finished 15 short, 131-5, Perry 30 off 20. For England it was a good fielding and bowling display, apart from when Edwards dropped a sitter at square leg that lobbed straight to her, as Gunn (2-33) and Hazell (0-18 from 4) were the best bowlers. England take it to within 1 more win of regaining the Ashes trophy as the teams move on to Southampton.

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.