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.
Showing posts with label list a. Show all posts
Showing posts with label list a. Show all posts
Saturday, 21 September 2013
Friday, 2 August 2013
Sixes in the Sun
Essex vs Scotland in the YB40 at Chelmsford began with Scotland winning the toss and fielding on a sunny day and a dry looking pitch. It looked like a good decision as Gordon Goudie had Tom Westly LBw for nought fourth ball. New overseas signing Hamish Rutherford, having done his bit for New Zealand and Mark Pettini looked to take advantage of the small boundaries and Rutherford hit the first six in the ninth over. The score was on 41 when Callum Burnett's first ball was hoisted straight to Drummond in the deep as Pettini departed for 23 and Owais Shah lasted only three balls with Ewan Chalmers taking the catch as Essex were in a bit of trouble on 49-3, but this brought together the big partnership that would shape the innings, as Ryan Ten Doeschate came in and started with a boundary to bring up the 50. Rutherford started to accelerate now that he was in, launching a six off Burnett and consecutive fours off Michael Leask to bring up a 48 ball 50 as the 100 came up in the 19th over.
Rutherford was eyeing his hundred, taking 13 off an over from Burnett before greeting Moneeb Iqbal with consecutive sixes from his first two balls as 16 came off the over. Ten Doeschate obviously felt left out, in his first game back after the IPL, so swung MacLeod for six, Iqbal for six (and a 51 ball 50), and then Goudie for six before Rutherford completed a ton on debut with his 6th six off Goudie (80 balls), after being badly dropped the over before off Iqbal. Then came the first big over the innings, Drummond disappeared for 21 all off the bat of ten Doeschate, two massive sixes over the midwicket boundary after two fours as the floodgates opened in the final 12 overs. Ten Doescate completed a 72 ball hundred in the next over, and was to celebrate in style.
Captain Mommsen decided, after the massacre Drummond got, to bring Burnett back on from the Hayes Close end, and it Burnett lost it against ten Doeschate. The first ball sailed over midwicket for six, the 2nd was a waist high no ball, for a single, the third and fourth went for four and one to Rutherford, the fifth went for another six, then the sixth was a waist high full toss that cleared the stand at midwicket. This meant Burnett was removed for bowling two high full tosses in the over, so Mommsen was to finish it, the 7th ball was swung down to the fine leg boundary for four and the eighth was a short ball that ten Doeschate just missed hitting swinging at, and could only scramble a leg bye, all in all 33 came off the over and Essex were 270-3 with 8 overs remaining.
Goudie went went for six off ten Doeschate, but Rutherford (who had been largely forgotten) couldn't repeat the shot, and was well held by MacLeod at long on for 110 off 88 balls, 279-4. Ten Doeschate soon completed his 150 from 89 balls (after the departure of Napier for 3) celebrated by thumping Mommsen for four then six, six, six and six, all of them huge blows straight or over midwicket. But a double hundred was not to be as a huge hoick at Leask left two of his stumps removed for a commanding 180 made from 98 balls with 11 fours and a competition record 15 sixes. Saj Mahmood (2) didn't last long but Phillips and Foster took the score past 350 to a massive 368-7.
Scotland's reply started poorly, as overseas Tom Latham was bowled by Phillips fourth ball for three. Freddie Coleman and Gordon Goudie decided the best plan was to attack, but it wasn't long before they both went. Coleman ran one, the throw whizzed past the stumps and Coleman charged back for an otherthrow, but Goudie was slow in setting off, so Napier had enough time to take the ball and run out Goudie for 18. Coleman fell LBW for 12 in the same over and Scotland were 38-3. MacLeod chipped at catch to Shah off Mahmood for 5 and it was 55-4, with the small matter of another 300 needed at 10 an over. Chalmers and Mommsen did their best, but they fell for 34 and 42 within an over of each other to ten Doeschate (who else?) as it was now 131-6. Iqbal then had some run, thumping Phillips for two sixes in an over before being run out by ten Doeschate for 30. Leask went for three and with six overs left, Scotland neeed 196 with two wickets left. Matt Cross and Burnett added some respectability to the score, messing up ten Doeschate's figures with an 18 run over as he completed a 40 ball 50 as he finished 54 not out and Burnett 31 not out as Essex won by 125 runs with Scotland 241-8.
Rutherford was eyeing his hundred, taking 13 off an over from Burnett before greeting Moneeb Iqbal with consecutive sixes from his first two balls as 16 came off the over. Ten Doeschate obviously felt left out, in his first game back after the IPL, so swung MacLeod for six, Iqbal for six (and a 51 ball 50), and then Goudie for six before Rutherford completed a ton on debut with his 6th six off Goudie (80 balls), after being badly dropped the over before off Iqbal. Then came the first big over the innings, Drummond disappeared for 21 all off the bat of ten Doeschate, two massive sixes over the midwicket boundary after two fours as the floodgates opened in the final 12 overs. Ten Doescate completed a 72 ball hundred in the next over, and was to celebrate in style.
Captain Mommsen decided, after the massacre Drummond got, to bring Burnett back on from the Hayes Close end, and it Burnett lost it against ten Doeschate. The first ball sailed over midwicket for six, the 2nd was a waist high no ball, for a single, the third and fourth went for four and one to Rutherford, the fifth went for another six, then the sixth was a waist high full toss that cleared the stand at midwicket. This meant Burnett was removed for bowling two high full tosses in the over, so Mommsen was to finish it, the 7th ball was swung down to the fine leg boundary for four and the eighth was a short ball that ten Doeschate just missed hitting swinging at, and could only scramble a leg bye, all in all 33 came off the over and Essex were 270-3 with 8 overs remaining.
Goudie went went for six off ten Doeschate, but Rutherford (who had been largely forgotten) couldn't repeat the shot, and was well held by MacLeod at long on for 110 off 88 balls, 279-4. Ten Doeschate soon completed his 150 from 89 balls (after the departure of Napier for 3) celebrated by thumping Mommsen for four then six, six, six and six, all of them huge blows straight or over midwicket. But a double hundred was not to be as a huge hoick at Leask left two of his stumps removed for a commanding 180 made from 98 balls with 11 fours and a competition record 15 sixes. Saj Mahmood (2) didn't last long but Phillips and Foster took the score past 350 to a massive 368-7.
Scotland's reply started poorly, as overseas Tom Latham was bowled by Phillips fourth ball for three. Freddie Coleman and Gordon Goudie decided the best plan was to attack, but it wasn't long before they both went. Coleman ran one, the throw whizzed past the stumps and Coleman charged back for an otherthrow, but Goudie was slow in setting off, so Napier had enough time to take the ball and run out Goudie for 18. Coleman fell LBW for 12 in the same over and Scotland were 38-3. MacLeod chipped at catch to Shah off Mahmood for 5 and it was 55-4, with the small matter of another 300 needed at 10 an over. Chalmers and Mommsen did their best, but they fell for 34 and 42 within an over of each other to ten Doeschate (who else?) as it was now 131-6. Iqbal then had some run, thumping Phillips for two sixes in an over before being run out by ten Doeschate for 30. Leask went for three and with six overs left, Scotland neeed 196 with two wickets left. Matt Cross and Burnett added some respectability to the score, messing up ten Doeschate's figures with an 18 run over as he completed a 40 ball 50 as he finished 54 not out and Burnett 31 not out as Essex won by 125 runs with Scotland 241-8.
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Eagles Plucked, Roasted, and Fried
The final CB40 game of the season for both these sides, since neither could qualify for the knockouts, Essex won the toss and fielded. This looked like a good choice as Joe Denly went for a duck first over, as Tim Phillips got the ball to pop, take the edge and James Foster completed the catch, 0-1. Dawid Malan and Paul Stirling then got about the business of runs, thanks to the filth served up by Maurice Chambers as 10 came off his first over and 21 from his third over, including two no balls and 4 consecutive boundaries by Malan as the 50 was up in 6 overs. Runs were flying all round the ground and it was a surprise when Stirling edged Greg Smith to Foster trying one shot too many for 29, 63-2. Neil Dexter then came and went fairly quickly, pulling to Ten Doeschate at midwicket for 12. 90-3 and Gareth Berg came to the wicket and he and Malan scored the big runs that took the game away from Essex as Malan went to a 45 ball 50. The 50 partnership came with Malan swinging Tim Phillips into the Edrich stand for six.
Poor bowling from Essex fed easy runs as Berg went to a 52 ball 50 before Malan completed his 2nd List A hundred from 89 balls, a fantastic innings that left Middlesex on top. With 8 overs left the score was 216-3. Berg would fall for 61 from 58, giving Ravi Bopara his first success on what was basically match practice ahead of the England ODIs, but next over he was swung into the Tavern stand for Malan's 2nd six. His third six came off Harbhajan next over, a flat blow that cleared Chambers and long-on and went into the Edrich Stand. Owais Shah showed how poor Essex were in the field by dropping Malan at long off next ball and allowing the batsmen to get back for a 2nd. Then came the clatter of wickets as Josh Davey (11) skied to Tom Westley off Ten Doeschate before Malan hit one flat shot too many off Harbhajan where Chambers took the catch at the 2nd attempt to end an innings of 134 off 108 balls, a great score when runs were needed. That left Middlesex 272-6and they would be bowled out in the final 2 overs with batsmen going for quick runs, 288 after Collymore was run out by ten Doeschate from the final ball of the innings. Ravi Bopara took 3 wickets but conceded 55 in his 7 overs.
Essex's reply began quietly as 12 runs came from the opening 5 overs from Collymore and Steve Crook before Pettini started to attack, taking Crook over the short off side boundary for six then four, follwing it up with more fours in Crook's next over. The ninth over saw the debut bowl from Gurjit Sandhu, left arm quick, and 2nd ball, Pettini sliced through the off side, straight to Berg at point, 39-1. Harbhajan was promoted to number 3 but didn't last long as he made 3 before top edging Collymore straight up in the air, where the big man ran in and took the catch himself, 48-2. Bopara didn't hang around as his dodgy day ended after scoring 2 as he tried to steer through the offside, only to edge to keeper Adam Rossington, 53-3 and in a bit of trouble. Tom Westley swung Collymore for six into the Tavern Stand, but that didn't detract from his figures, 1-20 from 7 overs. Westley and Shah rebuilt the innings with some sensible batting against Middlesex's 2nd string attack, the short boundary providing some easy pickings.
Westley went to a 67 ball 50 but the required run rate was mounting and was already 10 an over as Essex needed 163 from the final 16 overs. Even Westley sweeping Dexter for 6 didn't help that much as he then mistimed a pull off Stirling high to square leg where Tom Smith took a good catch. Shah's 50 came from 46 balls, but he became Stirling's 2nd victim next over, slashing a ball to Smith (again) at short third man, 165-5.
Foster and Ten Doeschate tried to go about scoring runs, but 120 from 60 balls was proving too much, and after smashing Berg through point for four, Foster was bowled for 12 as the gloom started to close in on both the game and Essex. Sandhu had time to bag his third, Ten Doeschate hitting to Smith at mid on as bad light stopped play after 35.1 overs with Essex 198-7, Middlesex winners by 54 runs on DL. Pick of the bowling figures, Stirling 2-22 from 4 and the impressive Sandhu, 3-28 from 6.
Middlesex finish runners up in their group for the 2nd consecutive year.
Poor bowling from Essex fed easy runs as Berg went to a 52 ball 50 before Malan completed his 2nd List A hundred from 89 balls, a fantastic innings that left Middlesex on top. With 8 overs left the score was 216-3. Berg would fall for 61 from 58, giving Ravi Bopara his first success on what was basically match practice ahead of the England ODIs, but next over he was swung into the Tavern stand for Malan's 2nd six. His third six came off Harbhajan next over, a flat blow that cleared Chambers and long-on and went into the Edrich Stand. Owais Shah showed how poor Essex were in the field by dropping Malan at long off next ball and allowing the batsmen to get back for a 2nd. Then came the clatter of wickets as Josh Davey (11) skied to Tom Westley off Ten Doeschate before Malan hit one flat shot too many off Harbhajan where Chambers took the catch at the 2nd attempt to end an innings of 134 off 108 balls, a great score when runs were needed. That left Middlesex 272-6and they would be bowled out in the final 2 overs with batsmen going for quick runs, 288 after Collymore was run out by ten Doeschate from the final ball of the innings. Ravi Bopara took 3 wickets but conceded 55 in his 7 overs.
Essex's reply began quietly as 12 runs came from the opening 5 overs from Collymore and Steve Crook before Pettini started to attack, taking Crook over the short off side boundary for six then four, follwing it up with more fours in Crook's next over. The ninth over saw the debut bowl from Gurjit Sandhu, left arm quick, and 2nd ball, Pettini sliced through the off side, straight to Berg at point, 39-1. Harbhajan was promoted to number 3 but didn't last long as he made 3 before top edging Collymore straight up in the air, where the big man ran in and took the catch himself, 48-2. Bopara didn't hang around as his dodgy day ended after scoring 2 as he tried to steer through the offside, only to edge to keeper Adam Rossington, 53-3 and in a bit of trouble. Tom Westley swung Collymore for six into the Tavern Stand, but that didn't detract from his figures, 1-20 from 7 overs. Westley and Shah rebuilt the innings with some sensible batting against Middlesex's 2nd string attack, the short boundary providing some easy pickings.
Westley went to a 67 ball 50 but the required run rate was mounting and was already 10 an over as Essex needed 163 from the final 16 overs. Even Westley sweeping Dexter for 6 didn't help that much as he then mistimed a pull off Stirling high to square leg where Tom Smith took a good catch. Shah's 50 came from 46 balls, but he became Stirling's 2nd victim next over, slashing a ball to Smith (again) at short third man, 165-5.
Foster and Ten Doeschate tried to go about scoring runs, but 120 from 60 balls was proving too much, and after smashing Berg through point for four, Foster was bowled for 12 as the gloom started to close in on both the game and Essex. Sandhu had time to bag his third, Ten Doeschate hitting to Smith at mid on as bad light stopped play after 35.1 overs with Essex 198-7, Middlesex winners by 54 runs on DL. Pick of the bowling figures, Stirling 2-22 from 4 and the impressive Sandhu, 3-28 from 6.
Middlesex finish runners up in their group for the 2nd consecutive year.
Sunday, 22 July 2012
No Alarms For Middlesex
After a long break, some CB40 action at Chelmsford, as Essex take on Middlesex. The rain arrived at around 4pm and after an abortive 6pm start, we finally had the toss (which Middlesex won for once, and fielded) and a 25 over match.
The first couple of over went by without incident, then Toby Roland-Jones found some swing to take a thin edge from James Franklin through to John Simpson for 4. Next ball Greg Smith was trapped bang in front as Roland-Jones completed a double wicket maiden and Essex slumped to 12-2. Steven Crook bowled well as well as Essex reached 22-2 after 5 overs. Mark Pettini's rebuilding operation was hampered by Tom Westley's struggle to get the ball off the square, even though boundaries did come, and Pettini swung Tom Smith over midwicket for six as Essex ambled to 62-2 after 13 overs.
Westley then fell to Smith, going for a huge heave over midwicket, only to find Chris Rogers just inside the boundary to go for 12. Then Ryan Ten Doeschate flicked towards midwicket and Pettini ran back for a second as Rogers reached the ball and threw, and hit the stumps at the bowler's end with Pettini run out well short with the dive for 44, 64-4. Graham Napier arrived and started in usual fashion, swinging Ollie Rayner over midwicket for four before doing similar off Crook. Essex still struggled on a slow and damp pitch and Napier soon fell, top edging Crook down to third man where Dawid Malan took a good catch for 15. Essex's troubles with momentum continued as next over Ten Doeschate(9) went for a big smash straight to Malan running round and taking a good catch falling at long-on with Essex reached 90-6 with 5 overs to go. Thankfully Jaik Mickleburgh and Adam Wheater showed up for the fight and Dexter disappered for 14 runs from the 22nd and Roland-Jones for 11 from the 23rd including a six from Wheater then smashed the window of the ice cream van over the stands at long off. Dexter decided to bowl himself for the 24th over and the results were underwhelming as Wheater parked him twice over midwicket from consecutive balls, one out of the ground as 17 came from the over. Wheater fell in the final over, caught by Berg at long on off Roland-Jones (3-24 from 5) for a 19 ball 33, to end a partnership of 53 in 5 overs as Essex finished 146-7, Mickleburgh 22 not out.
The Middlesex reply began quietly as Malan and Rogers scored 3 from the first 3 overs from Napier and David Masters, Rogers cut Napier past point for four then top edged a pull next over off Masters that saled high over square leg for six. Middlesex then began to dispatch the bowling, Malan launching Masters high over deep midwicket into the trees for six. Rogers was dropped by Westley at slip, the only chance he gave, as Westley parried the ball up, but couldn't cling on to the 2nd attempt. Keeping up a steady run rate outside of the powerplay overs (45 after 8) as Pettini tried Tymal Mills, Franklin and Smith all with no success as the 50 came up in the 10th over as the pair found the boundary all round the ground, even a burglar alarm next door couldn't distract them. 79-0 after 12 overs and the return to Napier and Masters brought 21 from the next two overs including Rogers swinging Masters for another six into the Tom Pearce Stand before taking an easy single to bring up the 100 partnership.
The last roll of the dice was Tim Phillips, Phillips first over went for three, bringing up an easy 50 for Malan from 50 balls, but his 2nd went for 10, including another six to Malan over long on. Rogers reached his fifty inbetween off 48 balls with a couple from Smith. The runs flowed and with 5 overs left Middlesex were 136-0, equalling their highest first wicket List A partnership against Essex and in complete control. Mills did finally get a consolation wicket next ball as Roger lined up another massive club over long on but mistimed it to Masters running round at mid-on for 64 from 60 balls. Tom Scollay came in at three and just looked to get Malan on strike as he'd finish on 2 not out as Malan hit Mills back over his head for four, before waiting on a slower ball and playing off the back foot through midwicket for four to bring up the win for Middlesex by nine wickets with 15 balls to spare, so fast that Middlesex didn't use their batting powerplay. Malan finished with 76 from 68 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes and deservedly took the man of the match award as Middlesex kept their semi final hopes alive and left Essex bottom of the table.
The first couple of over went by without incident, then Toby Roland-Jones found some swing to take a thin edge from James Franklin through to John Simpson for 4. Next ball Greg Smith was trapped bang in front as Roland-Jones completed a double wicket maiden and Essex slumped to 12-2. Steven Crook bowled well as well as Essex reached 22-2 after 5 overs. Mark Pettini's rebuilding operation was hampered by Tom Westley's struggle to get the ball off the square, even though boundaries did come, and Pettini swung Tom Smith over midwicket for six as Essex ambled to 62-2 after 13 overs.
Westley then fell to Smith, going for a huge heave over midwicket, only to find Chris Rogers just inside the boundary to go for 12. Then Ryan Ten Doeschate flicked towards midwicket and Pettini ran back for a second as Rogers reached the ball and threw, and hit the stumps at the bowler's end with Pettini run out well short with the dive for 44, 64-4. Graham Napier arrived and started in usual fashion, swinging Ollie Rayner over midwicket for four before doing similar off Crook. Essex still struggled on a slow and damp pitch and Napier soon fell, top edging Crook down to third man where Dawid Malan took a good catch for 15. Essex's troubles with momentum continued as next over Ten Doeschate(9) went for a big smash straight to Malan running round and taking a good catch falling at long-on with Essex reached 90-6 with 5 overs to go. Thankfully Jaik Mickleburgh and Adam Wheater showed up for the fight and Dexter disappered for 14 runs from the 22nd and Roland-Jones for 11 from the 23rd including a six from Wheater then smashed the window of the ice cream van over the stands at long off. Dexter decided to bowl himself for the 24th over and the results were underwhelming as Wheater parked him twice over midwicket from consecutive balls, one out of the ground as 17 came from the over. Wheater fell in the final over, caught by Berg at long on off Roland-Jones (3-24 from 5) for a 19 ball 33, to end a partnership of 53 in 5 overs as Essex finished 146-7, Mickleburgh 22 not out.
The Middlesex reply began quietly as Malan and Rogers scored 3 from the first 3 overs from Napier and David Masters, Rogers cut Napier past point for four then top edged a pull next over off Masters that saled high over square leg for six. Middlesex then began to dispatch the bowling, Malan launching Masters high over deep midwicket into the trees for six. Rogers was dropped by Westley at slip, the only chance he gave, as Westley parried the ball up, but couldn't cling on to the 2nd attempt. Keeping up a steady run rate outside of the powerplay overs (45 after 8) as Pettini tried Tymal Mills, Franklin and Smith all with no success as the 50 came up in the 10th over as the pair found the boundary all round the ground, even a burglar alarm next door couldn't distract them. 79-0 after 12 overs and the return to Napier and Masters brought 21 from the next two overs including Rogers swinging Masters for another six into the Tom Pearce Stand before taking an easy single to bring up the 100 partnership.
The last roll of the dice was Tim Phillips, Phillips first over went for three, bringing up an easy 50 for Malan from 50 balls, but his 2nd went for 10, including another six to Malan over long on. Rogers reached his fifty inbetween off 48 balls with a couple from Smith. The runs flowed and with 5 overs left Middlesex were 136-0, equalling their highest first wicket List A partnership against Essex and in complete control. Mills did finally get a consolation wicket next ball as Roger lined up another massive club over long on but mistimed it to Masters running round at mid-on for 64 from 60 balls. Tom Scollay came in at three and just looked to get Malan on strike as he'd finish on 2 not out as Malan hit Mills back over his head for four, before waiting on a slower ball and playing off the back foot through midwicket for four to bring up the win for Middlesex by nine wickets with 15 balls to spare, so fast that Middlesex didn't use their batting powerplay. Malan finished with 76 from 68 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes and deservedly took the man of the match award as Middlesex kept their semi final hopes alive and left Essex bottom of the table.
Sunday, 17 June 2012
Bravo, Smith, Bravo!
The 50 over tour match between Middlesex and the West Indies would be a one-sided affair, with the home side being comfortably crushed. Dexter won the toss and batted, with Lendl Simmons and Chris Gayle (his first game back for the West Indies) blasting the ball about, Gayle hitting Robbie Williams for two fours in one over, before hoisting Tim Murtagh for two sixes in the next. He then swiped Anthony Ireland's first ball to Josh Davey in the deep to go for 34. Simmons then wandered down the track to Paul Striling and was easily stumped by Adam Rossington (on debut) for 23, 67-2 after 15 and not looking too comfortable. But they needn't have worried as Dwayne Smith and Darren Bravo began to hit out against the weak Middlesex attack, they weren't without chances as Smith inside edged Ireland for four and was dropped by Malan off Tom Smith, a tough chance diving to his right at long-off. He was also missed by Smith at cover, a half chance from a lasered drive.
Smith reached 50 off 48 balls, and Bravo off 69 balls before they decimated the bowling. Smith thumped an on drive off Ireland which carried into the back of the top tier of the pavilion, only a couple of metres lower the Keiron Pollard's hit into the right side tower couple of years ago. Smith looked set for his first list-A hundred, but toe ended Murtagh to Stirling at mid off to fall for 96 from 89 balls, a partnership of 156.
Big hitting Pollard was next in, but he only scored 18 when he top edged a hoick off Davey for Stirling to take an excellent diving catch at deep point in front of the Grand Stand crowd. 262-4 with 6 overs left and Middlesex may have thought they were getting away with it as a variety of full tosses weren't always punished as they should be. Williams had dropped Darren Bravo at long-off a couple of overs before, and had broken his collarbone in landing, so it meant Ireland, Davey and Dexter (Middlesex used 8 bowlers in all) to finish off, and it went badly. Sub Tom Scollay provided more poor fielding, letting Dwayne Bravo (Darren's half brother) get four through long on with a weak flap at a bouncing ball before Dwayne twice hit Ireland to the shorter Grand Stand boundary as 22 came off the 39th over to bring up the 300. Darren Bravo then went to his hundred off 110 balls in the last over, before Dwayne hit another six off Davey over point. Dwayne couldn't get two from the 4th ball of the over, but Darren finished the innings well, rattling a straight six off the middle deck of the pavilion then hitting the last ball high into the Warner Stand to finish 112 not out from 112 balls, Dwayne with 40 from 21 (2 fours 3 sixes) as West Indies finished 335-4, a massive total and probably well beyond Middlesex. Stirling finished with 1-28 from seven (why didn't he bowl all 10?) and Davey 1-71 from 10.
Any hopes of a solid start were dashed when Robson (3) was LBW to Andre Russell, though it maybe was a touch too high. Paul Stirling (1) mis-timed a flick off his pads to Darren B at square leg, 11-2. Neil Dexter hit three fours, and actually looked like making a decent score, before toeing one from Russell to square leg for 12, 31-3. Adam London (3) then fell to the obvious hook trap, hitting the ball down the throat of Simmons on the boundary to give Dwayne B a wicket, 38-4. 19 year old Rossington looked capable against the West Indies bowlers, playing Dwayne B and mystery spinner Sunil Narine very well, unlike his team mates. But all too soon, Malan went for a pull and top edged to keeper Denesh Ramdin running round to go fro 21 from 43 as Middlesex then had another collapse. Next over, Davey played the ball from Narine to square leg and charged through for the single, with Rossington shouting back to no avail, so sacrificing his wicket for 17, run out by Pollard and Ramdin by the length of the pitch. Murtagh then had a massive slog at Narine 2nd ball and edged to Ramdin, 67-7, 3 wickets in 9 balls and reaching 100 looking a big ask.
Davey and Tom Smith then fashioned a defensive partnership, mainly blocking and occasionally hitting through the gaps, Davey with a particularly good slog-sweep off Narine for four. Smith even bowled to Smith to complete a further commentators nightmare, but the end was nigh as Gayle's off spin soon cleaned up in his only over. Smith tried a reverse sweep and got in a complete tangle, with the West Indies claiming the catch at slip, the umpires ruled it incomclusive, so Gayle fired the next ball down to send the leg stump flying, 107-8, adding 40 in 12 overs. Ireland came and was LBW 2nd ball for a duck (both wickets accompanied by Gayle's unique celebrations) and with Williams unable to bat, Middlesex were all out for 107, a double wicket maiden from Gayle meaning a win by 228 runs for the West Indies, Rampaul 2-15 from six and Russell 2-19 from five being the other stand out bowlers. This was Middlesex's biggest List A defeat and an uninspiring warm up for the T20 which they now begin.
Smith reached 50 off 48 balls, and Bravo off 69 balls before they decimated the bowling. Smith thumped an on drive off Ireland which carried into the back of the top tier of the pavilion, only a couple of metres lower the Keiron Pollard's hit into the right side tower couple of years ago. Smith looked set for his first list-A hundred, but toe ended Murtagh to Stirling at mid off to fall for 96 from 89 balls, a partnership of 156.
Big hitting Pollard was next in, but he only scored 18 when he top edged a hoick off Davey for Stirling to take an excellent diving catch at deep point in front of the Grand Stand crowd. 262-4 with 6 overs left and Middlesex may have thought they were getting away with it as a variety of full tosses weren't always punished as they should be. Williams had dropped Darren Bravo at long-off a couple of overs before, and had broken his collarbone in landing, so it meant Ireland, Davey and Dexter (Middlesex used 8 bowlers in all) to finish off, and it went badly. Sub Tom Scollay provided more poor fielding, letting Dwayne Bravo (Darren's half brother) get four through long on with a weak flap at a bouncing ball before Dwayne twice hit Ireland to the shorter Grand Stand boundary as 22 came off the 39th over to bring up the 300. Darren Bravo then went to his hundred off 110 balls in the last over, before Dwayne hit another six off Davey over point. Dwayne couldn't get two from the 4th ball of the over, but Darren finished the innings well, rattling a straight six off the middle deck of the pavilion then hitting the last ball high into the Warner Stand to finish 112 not out from 112 balls, Dwayne with 40 from 21 (2 fours 3 sixes) as West Indies finished 335-4, a massive total and probably well beyond Middlesex. Stirling finished with 1-28 from seven (why didn't he bowl all 10?) and Davey 1-71 from 10.
Any hopes of a solid start were dashed when Robson (3) was LBW to Andre Russell, though it maybe was a touch too high. Paul Stirling (1) mis-timed a flick off his pads to Darren B at square leg, 11-2. Neil Dexter hit three fours, and actually looked like making a decent score, before toeing one from Russell to square leg for 12, 31-3. Adam London (3) then fell to the obvious hook trap, hitting the ball down the throat of Simmons on the boundary to give Dwayne B a wicket, 38-4. 19 year old Rossington looked capable against the West Indies bowlers, playing Dwayne B and mystery spinner Sunil Narine very well, unlike his team mates. But all too soon, Malan went for a pull and top edged to keeper Denesh Ramdin running round to go fro 21 from 43 as Middlesex then had another collapse. Next over, Davey played the ball from Narine to square leg and charged through for the single, with Rossington shouting back to no avail, so sacrificing his wicket for 17, run out by Pollard and Ramdin by the length of the pitch. Murtagh then had a massive slog at Narine 2nd ball and edged to Ramdin, 67-7, 3 wickets in 9 balls and reaching 100 looking a big ask.
Davey and Tom Smith then fashioned a defensive partnership, mainly blocking and occasionally hitting through the gaps, Davey with a particularly good slog-sweep off Narine for four. Smith even bowled to Smith to complete a further commentators nightmare, but the end was nigh as Gayle's off spin soon cleaned up in his only over. Smith tried a reverse sweep and got in a complete tangle, with the West Indies claiming the catch at slip, the umpires ruled it incomclusive, so Gayle fired the next ball down to send the leg stump flying, 107-8, adding 40 in 12 overs. Ireland came and was LBW 2nd ball for a duck (both wickets accompanied by Gayle's unique celebrations) and with Williams unable to bat, Middlesex were all out for 107, a double wicket maiden from Gayle meaning a win by 228 runs for the West Indies, Rampaul 2-15 from six and Russell 2-19 from five being the other stand out bowlers. This was Middlesex's biggest List A defeat and an uninspiring warm up for the T20 which they now begin.
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