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.

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.

One Of "Those" Days...

The penultimate game of the t20 for Middlesex was the London Derby against Surrey at Lord's. Middlesex won the toss and fielded (as they have done all season), with Surrey star signing Ricky Ponting missing out with a groin strain. It soon looked to be a good decision as Gareth Berg picked up Steven Davies (5) and Jason Roy (11) in the space of three balls in the third over as Surrey slipped to 17-2. Then things started to go a bit wrong as Vikram Solanki and Kevin O'Brien started pommelling the bowling with each of them making early sixes as the fifth over went for 16 and the sixth over went for 15 as Surrey reached 60-1 at the end of the powerplay.
The introduction of Ravi Patel (who picked up four wickets in the reverse fixture) did little to slow the rate as Solanki smacked him into the Tavern Stand before O'Brien swung Voges for six (to bring up the 100) and with another single, completed a 22 ball 50 with 5 fours and 3 sixes. His luck finally ran out, being bowled by Patel in the next over for 54, 107-3. Things looked up in Patel's next over as well, with Solanki holing out to Dexter for 37 and Gary Wilson being stumped by Rossington for 4, with Surrey now 117-5 after 13 overs, there was a chance they could be kept below 160. But the problem was Azhar Mahmood, who came in with the mood to give it some tap, with consecutive fours off Voges and a huge six off Kyle Mills as runs came quickly. Mahmood and Zafar Ansari added 59 in seven overs before a late flurry of wickets (Mahmood run out looking for the strike and Jon Lewis bowled by Berg) didn't detract from what was a good score that would be a good chase on a fairly flat pitch as Surrey finished 178-7, Patel (3-28) and Berg (3-37) the best bowlers.
Middlesex's reply got off to a horrible start, as Malan's heave off Mahmood went straight to Dernbach before Denly's top edge off Tremlett flew to Lewis at third man who took a good catch over his shoulder, 16-2. Then Tremlett bowled a no ball, which Stirling leaned back to and cut with full power, high over the Mound stand and out of the ground, a huge shot, but it was to be the highlight of the innings as first Voges off Tremlett (0) and then Stirling off Mahmood (19) picked out O'Brien in what was turning into a nightmare as everything in the air was caught. Eoin Morgan prodded one short of the fielder, before having a massive swing at Tremlett, and getting four down to the Mound Stand boundary before picking out Roy at point off Lewis to fall for a terrible 9 on his comeback from injury, 40-5 at the end of the powerplay and the game was up, which was soon 40-6 as Rossington offered up an easy catch for Wilson off Dernbach.
At least Gareth Berg showed some fight, hitting 2 fours off Dernbach then mashing Batty for 16 off his first over, including a straight four and a six that the man at long on parried over the rope. That was to be it though as Dexter fell LBW to Ansari for 3, then Berg was bowled by Batty for 33 off 19. Patel was also bowled by Ansari then Mills charged, missed and was stumped by Davies off Batty as MIddlesex crumbled to a pitiful 92 all out in only 14 overs to give Surrey the win by 86 runs, Ansari 2-7 and Mahmood 2-12 having the best figures, O'Brien was unsurprisingly given the man of the match award.

Spirit of 74

Another day, another t20, with Middlesex paying a visit up the A12 to Chelmsford to take on Essex. Essex won the toss and batted, injuries to Pettini and Bopara had led to a slightly unusual side being picked. Greg Smith opened with Hamish Rutherford, and Kyle Mills struck quickly with Smith edging behind to Adam Rossington 2nd ball for nought (he didn't think he hit it). The Essex hero Graham Napier was then cleaned up 2nd ball for another duck, 0-2 and Mills completed a maiden. Essex were rocked by this start, and it only got worse, as Rutherford looked to swipe Mills down the ground, only to top edge to Joe Denly at cover, 10-3 and Mills was on his way to figures of 3-4 from 3 overs. Gurjit Sandhu then came on to bowl on debut and amazingly had Jaik Mickleburgh caught behind fifth ball for 1 (echoing his first over in List A cricket last season) and then yorked the dangerous Ryan ten Doeschate first ball as Essex found themselves 12-5 in five over with their innings in tatters.
Owais Shah at least looked like scoring some quick runs as he hit 13 off Sandhu's next over but Foster was then bowled by Dexter for 3, 39-6 in the ninth over. Middlesex didn't panic and the run rate wasn't going anywhere fast as Ravi Patel and Dexter shut down Shah and Tim Phillips from scoring, and Shah was next to go, charging Patel and being easily stumped by Rossington for 39, 59-7. Phillips hit Dexter for four then hit to Malan at cover, 65-8. Adam Voges then got a bowl, and Shaun Tait attempted a huge hoick first ball, only to edge to Rossington for his fourth dismissal of the innings, 65-9. Tymal Mills then planted Voges straight into the river for six, but Topley was bowled by Berg for 1 as Essex crashed to 74 all out with 19 balls unused in their innings.
Tait came steaming in and had Stiring caught behind for two as Essex knew the game was really up but fought anyway. Denly then powered three fours off Napiers next over before skying one off Tait that Greg Smith backpeddled at mid on to, went up for the catch, and grassed it summing up Essex's night. Malan was then bowled by Tait for 10 as Middlesex found themselves 30-2 after four overs. Denly and Voges took a sensible approach to scoring the runs, as they only needed 2.5 an over, and were helped out by Tait having a meltdown, sending one wide down the legside then following it up with one even wider that went for five wides. The end came soon after, Denly hitting Phillips for four to seal the win with a club record 61 balls remaining, and bringing up the fifty partnership, Denly 34 not out, Voges 22 not out. The local booed Essex off the field and the whole game was over by 9PM, Kyle Mills taking the man of the match award for his career best 3 for 4.

Bossing from Rossington

The first T20 game covered this year was between Middlesex and Kent at Uxbridge, Middlesex won the toss and fielded first, and Kent were 12-1 after 2 overs as Rob Key chipped Toby Roland-Jones to Josh Davey at mid off for 7. It was soon 16-2 when Sam Northeast skied to Dexter at mid on off Kyle Mills for 4. Darren Stevens then hit Ravi Patel for consecutive fours before Sam Billings lifted Berg over midwicket for six as Kent had recovered to end the powerplay 38-2. Stevens hoisted Patel for another six, before holing out to Dawid Malan on the boundary for 25 off 15, 61-3. Kent's momentum stalled again as Billings edged Dexter to Rossington for 22 as Kent were 74-4 at the halfway stage.
Alex Blake and Geraint Jones were on the rebuild operation but couldn't sustain any power hitting, and Jones soon had his stumps scattered for 21, 97-5. Kent struggled to fins boundaries, and in the last four overs, they only managed two fours and a six (that too coming off a free hit by Blake off Mills) as Kent finished 140-6, a score that looked 20-30 runs light as Middlesex bowled and fielded well to give themselves a good chance of the win.
Dawis Malan and Adam Rossington opened the batting, with Malan hitting two fours in the opening over from Vernon Philander Rossington added a six and four in his next over as Middlesex made 24 after three. Stevens was unable to stop the flow, Rossington powering four fours off the over all round the wicket before hammering Mat Coles over midwicket for a massive six as Middlesex made 58 from the powerplay overs. Things didn't get much better for Kent, with Coles disappearing for another flat six over midwicket, before a cover drive for four brought up Rossington's maiden t20 fifty from 28 balls. A reverse sweep off Tredwell brought four, before he slog-swept Adam Riley over midwicket for another six (fielder caught it on the rope, but then fell over it). It was soon to end, Rossington bowled reverse sweeping Tredwell for an awesome 74 from 37 ball, 10 fours and 4 sixes. At 103 for 1 in the 11th over, the rest was a stroll really as Joe Denly found a couple of early boundaries, then lofted a lovely six into the midwicket crowd, before creaming a cover drive to end it, a nine wicket win with 26 balls remaining, Denly 33 not out, Malan 31 not out.

If You Lose It From Here...

With the summer fast descending into a damp mess, Essex took on Middlesex in a t20 match at Chelmsford.
Middlesex won the toss and batted, it looked like a reasonable decision as Joe Denly and captain Neil Dexter started steadily, Denly hitting Graham Napier over cover for four as 11 came from the first 11 balls. Dexter then fell LBW to Napier for 2 to end the over, and things started to slide from there. Adam Rossington hit Reece Topley for four, but then stuttered coming back for a 2nd after a flick to Adam Wheater in the deep on seven, James Foster completing a simple run out. Middlesex were 30-2 after the powerplay, and Dawid Malan then fell for 9, chipping the ball back down the track for Greg Smith to make a smart catch. 35-3 and things not looking up, Gareth Berg joined Denly in adding 28 for the 4th wicket without a single boundary, when Berg was bowled by Tim Phillips spin for 12. John Simpson (0) then hit to cover, hesitated, and was comfortably run out by Mark Pettini and Ryan ten Doeschate as Middlesex were only 73-5 after 15 overs.
Thankfully for Middlesex, Denly was still there, and he planted Topley straight back over his head for 6 into the sightscreen and then 4 as 17 came off the 16th over, before completed his 50 from 50 balls, a great knock given the awfulness of some of his team mates. Next ball, normal service was resumed, as Ollie Rayner nicked ten Doeschate behind to Foster for 2, and then Steven Crook was caught at short fine leg, middling a flick off his pads straight to Owais Shah. This left Middlesex 98-7 after 18 and Denly finally departed for 53, failing to middle a full toss over deep midwicket, where ten Doeschate took a good catch off Topley, then Oli Wilkin (on debut) went the same way next ball for four. 99-9, but the hundred was reached in the final over, Tom Smith swiping Napier through midwicket for four, and Toby Roland-Jones almost cleaning up Smith with a powerful straight driven four, Middlesex would fail to bat out the overs however, as Smith toed a ball just off the square, and Roland-Jones (5) charged through, with Smith (5*) not interested in the single, leaving Napier to dive, gather, and complete the run out at the bowler's end with ease. 109 all out, Topley 2-34, Phillips 1-12 and ten Doeschate 2-7 (from 2 overs) being the top bowlers. That score that should see Essex comfortably thrash Middlesex, but something unusual almost happened.
Pettini played out Rayner's first over, then dabbed the ball to point and tried a quick single, Crook, the bowler, ran in, pounced, and whilst horizontal, managed to back hand the ball onto the stumps to run out James Franklin without facing a ball, 3-1.
Pettini then decided to get a move on, swinging Smith through cover for four in consecutive overs, before swinging him downtown and into the river next ball, before treating Roland-Jones with the same contempt, a six over square leg and two more fours, meant 28 came from the 5th and 6th overs, Essex 48-1 after the powerplay. Greg Smith kept good company for Pettini, smashing Malan and Berg for fours as the required run rate dropped to four an over, Dexter using seven bowlers in the first ten overs. Pettini reached his 50 in the 11th over from 38 balls with a glorious strike for six over long off and the deal looked sealed. Smith then fell to Smith, trying a completely ridiculous switch hit from outside leg stump, to be bowled off stump for 27 from 29, and then got one to rip from outside leg stump to take Pettini's edge through to Simpson on 50, Essex now 78-3 from 12 overs.
Dexter now gambled on giving Wilkin (the eighth bowler used) his first bowl for the club, and was promptly smash for two fours over mid off by Shah, before Smith finished up his spell by having Napier (6) caught at deep square leg, a towering hit coolly caught low down by Wilkin as Smith finished with 3-24 from his four overs. Wilkin then struck, getting some inswing and low bounce to have Shah LBW for 8, 91-5 and not looking so comfortable now. Foster and ten Doeschate took Essex past 100 and seemed to be on the final stretch, but Wilkin then bowled ten Doeschate's off stump for 2 and did the same to Foster two balls later and almost yorking Phillips first ball as Essex slumped to 103-7 with 3 overs left.
It was not to be an improbable comeback, however, as Wheater reverse swept Rayner for two then four to level the score, before trying to win with a big shot, only to toe end to square leg, where Wilkin (who else?) took a tumbling catch and caused Topley to run into the dressing room to find his pads.
A wide by Rayner to David Masters next ball ended the game, but Essex only won by two wickets, as they lost 7-33 in six overs. Pettini was awarded man of the match deservedly, but Wilkin was the stand out performer, with two catches and 3-12 from three overs.

Beer Sloshes Over Essex

The 2nd game of the t20 double header was the "main" game of Essex vs Sussex. Essex won the toss and decided to bat first.
Mark Pettini and James Franklin came out to bat, and Luke Wright went for nine from the first over. Sussex then removed Pettini, caught by Chris Nash off Amjad Khan for 1, 16-1. Graham Napier was promoted to 3 as the pitch looked placid and runs were there for the taking, but, even though Franklin took consecutive fours off Naved Arif, Essex struggled to get on top. Franklin had his stumps scattered by Chris Liddle's first ball for 25 and Napier was lucky to be dropped by keeper Ben Brown off Mike Yardy after running round to a top edge, waving off the bowler, then grassing the chance.
Napier then merrily swung Liddle out of the ground next over, and followed it up with another four, as along with Ryan Ten Doeschate, Essex were 66-2 at the halfway point. Yardy's third over began quietly before Napier came on strike third ball, which disappeared over midwicket for six, next up, a four, then a no-ball, which meant a free hit, played from deep in the crease by Napier, and hammered over point for four. Suddenly 17 had come off the over, but Napier then went for another huge swing over midwicket, finding the top edge and Brown redeemed himself, clinging on to the chance this time, 83-3.
Essex edged ahead in the game again, as 13 came from Yardy's last over and 11 from Will Beer's 2nd over as Ten Doeschate hit both of them for six, before he then fell to Wright, well held by Liddle for 39 from 27, 118-4 with five overs to go.
James Foster and Adam Wheater then added the quick runs at the end, well Foster did, Wheater had 5 from 12, but Foster looked in great form. Consecutive sixes came off as Beer free flowed around around the ground (more jokes like that later) then four and six off Khan as Foster looked good while Wheater failed to get the ball off the square.
Foster went to his 50 from 26 balls, thumping Liddle for another six before scrambling another 11 to finish with a career best 65 from 31, Essex finished 177-4, 59 from the last five overs making a tough but gettable chase for Sussex.
The chase was on from ball one as Nash dumped Tim Phillips over long on for four, as he and Wright went about the chase in quick style, 14 and 9 coming off the 2nd and 4th overs from David Masters before Wright went after Phillips, going six (down the ground), four, four to take Sussex to 58-0 after the powerplay, bang on target to make the runs. Reece Topley then got blasted by Wright high over midwicket out of the ground, before coming back in his next over to get Nash, skying to Franklin at deep square leg for 31, which was quickly followed by Wright in the next over going for a big swing straight to Greg Smith at long off for 46. 88-2 at the halway point, ahead of Essex, but they had the good finish. Matt Prior started quickly and he hit Franklin for 12 in his only over, including another massive six over midwicket and into the construction site.
Greg Smith then went the same way as Franklin, four, six from his first two balls, as Sussex raced to 114-2 after 12. Prior then fell, caught by Phillips off Topley for 35 from 18 balls, 59 needed from 42, but a tight over from Phillips swung it back to Essex, then Murray Goodwin and Joe Gatting hammered 15 from Ten Doeschate's third over, including a flat six into the covered seats at cover leaving 31 to get from 24.
Napier then went into yorker mode, first one went past Foster for 4 byes, but the next crashed into Goodwin's off stump. Then Greg Smith (now bowling off spin) went for only 6 from the 18th and finished by bowling Yardy off the inside edge for 4. 17 from 12 became 13 from 8 as Gatting was bowled by another excellent yorker from Napier for 22 from 18. Beer managed to get a three to bring it down to 10 off the final over.
Foster decided to let Ten Doeschate bowl it, and Beer found the low full tosses easy enough to consecutive twos, before finding the square boundary, before levelling the scores with a single. Brown was then left with the easy task of crashing the ball to the cover boundary with the field up to win the game by six wickets with one ball remaining, despite Napier taking 2-25 from his four overs. Wright was awarded man of the match, as Sussex moved clear at the top of the table over Essex in 2nd.

Just How Close Can You Get?

With a return to the shorter format of the shortest format, Middlesex took on Essex at Lord's, in a tough south group where the hosts have struggled so far. Essex won the toss and batted first, and found the going tough, with Mark Pettini and James Franklin not blasting away against some tight bowling from Ollie Rayner, Steven Crook and Toby Roland-Jones. The powerplay brought 44 runs, and in the next over, Pettini's ambitious cut chopped Rayner onto his off-stump to go for 26, 46-1. Joe Denly then made a terrible drop of Franklin at long-on off Tom Smith, but it didn't cost much as he was stumped by John Simpson off Rayner for 23. Rayner finishing up with 2-16 off his 4 overs.
Ryan Ten Doeschate then took this as his cue to go nuts, hitting Smith for consecutive sixes in the next over, both huge hits over long-on, before doing the same in his next over. This brought up the 100 in the 14th over, and but Essex back on course for a decent total, but he fell next ball, LBW to Neil Dexter for 38 off 26. This brought in Graham Napier, who went about his merry way the rest of the over, ending it with four over cover, four through square leg, six over cover, four over cover to cart 18 from it.
The pace slowed again, as Middlesex had a strong finish to the innings, James Foster (13) holed out to Dexter off Roland-Jones, Napier (28 off 12) skied Gareth Berg to Rayner at cover and Greg Smith (14) hit Berg to Chris Rogers at long-on as only 34 came off the last four overs, Roland-Jones in particular with some accurate and fairly unplayable death bowling, leaving Essex 155-6, Middlesex needing 156 to win.
Middlesex then messed up their reply, Denly (1) swinging Tim Phillips spin to Franklin diving at mid-on. Adam Rossington then hit David Masters' first ball for four, and then swung Phillips high over long-on for six. Rogers, however, then smashed Phillips to Smith at deep mid wicket to go for 3, 19-2.
The introduction of Napier brought a wicket first ball as Malan slashed to point for 1, 26-3. Rossington fell next over, LBW to Masters for 22, perhaps unlucky, the ball looked like it was going over the stumps.
Reece Topley struck in the ninth over with the innings going nowhere, Dexter batting wide outside leg, got an edge to Foster, who was standing up and managed to trap the ball on the top of his gloves before flicking it into his gloves to complete the catch, gone for 5. Middlesex 36-5 needing 10.7 an over as Berg and Simpson rebuilt the innings, Berg hit fours in each of the next four over from Smith, Topley (a particularly good swipe through square leg off a free hit), Franklin and Phillips (a reverse sweep).
Simpson then skied to Tom Westley at cover, and Berg dumped Phillips into the Grand Stand, then was caught by Foster next ball off a reverse sweep for 39 from 36. This left Middlesex 88-7 after 15 overs with Crook and Rayner the only hope. Crook began by pulling Smith into the Mound Stand six, then followed up with six into the Grand stand and a four off Napier in the next over. Rayner then got going, four, four (inside edge), two off Franklin, then Rayner carted a Napier full toss into the Grand Stand, leaving Middlesex still in with a sniff, 19 needed from the final over. It was not to be, as Crook toe ended Smith to Pettini at deep cover to go for 22 off 10, a partnership of 49 from 26. Rayner did swing Smith for another six over cover, but couldn't fond the boundary off the penultimate ball, Toby Roland-Jones was then run out off the final ball, complete with pouring rain, by Adam Wheater and Foster coming back for a second run. Middlesex finishing 149-9, losing by six runs, Rayner finishing 39 off 21, Phillips the stand out bowler with 3-27.

A Scrap in Chelmsford

Chelmsford, the venue for Essex vs Middlesex in the 2nd Twenty20 meeting between these two sides. Essex won the first game (see earlier match report) but Middlesex won the toss and fielded. Mark Pettini and Adam Wheater opened the batting as they took 10 off the first over bowled by Steve Crook. Steve Finn opened from the River End and removed Pettini for 13, an easy catch for Sam Robson. Tim Southee came in at 3, but there were no fireworks from him as he was well caught in the next over by Adam Rossington off Crook for 3. This left Essex 21-2 and it was to be 30-3 as Owais Shah dabbed to fine leg and ran, only for Crook to hit the stumps at the bowler's end with Shah well short. Crook then bowled a maiden and only 6 came off the sixth over so Essex were 36-3 after the powerplay.
Neil Dexter and Ryan McLaren kept the pressure on and Wheater was bowled for 21 by McLaren in the eighth before Dexter removed Matt Walker (6) in the 11th. tom Smith then had a struggling Ravi Bopara caught behind by John Simpson next over for 14 off 28 balls. Smith bowled James Foster in his next over and after 15 Essex were only 76/7. Graham Napier then decided that perhaps scoring runs would be a good idea, smiting 21 off Smith's final over with three huge sixes, two of them towards the river. This was followed by Ryan Ten Doeschate helping Tim Phillips  take 14 off McLaren's next over after Napier was lbw for 23 off 14 and going in to the final over Essex were 127/8. Crook bowled the over and although Ten Doeschate was caught (28 off 20) 12 came off it with Phillips finishing 21 not out off 12. Crook finishing 2-27, McLaren 2-32 and Smith 2-35 were the pick of the bowlers.
140 has seemed beyond Middlesex for most of the tournament, since they've only won two games, and so it proved today but they at least turned in a better batting performance. Paul Stirling did his usual hitting, including a lucky inside edge for four off Napier before Southee bowled Rossington in the 3rd over for 1. Crook was moved up the order but 21-2 only became 24-2 as he was bowled by Napier for 1, though not after annoying Southee so much that the umpires had to officially warn him for his "verbals". Stirling holed out next over to give Southee his 2nd wicket for 19 and Scott Newman and Dexter then stopped the slide but weren't scoring fast enough. 33-3 off the first six wasn't going anywhere as tight bowling from Bopara and Phillips as Middlesex were 49-4 after nine.
The pressure got to Dexter as he was stumped by Foster off Phillips miles down the track for 10. McLaren was now in and only three came off Ten Doeschate's first over before Owais Shah got a wicket as Newman charged down the track, only to bottom edge what would have been a short ball onto his stumps. 58-5 and no real power batting left to emulate what Essex managed as John Simpson fell lbw to Ten Doeschate in the 13th. Tom Scollay came in and then played the shot of the innings, thumping Phillips over the hospitality tent at mid-wicket for six, before smacking two fours off ten Doeschate next over. The problem was that Scollay then edged the final ball to Foster and Middlesex were now 83-7 after 15. Napier returned to remove Sam Robson for 4. McLaren and Smith brought up the 100 in the 17th over. McLaren then hit a high ball to long off from Ten Doeschate where Bopara could only parry the catch into the crowd and 13 came off the 18th when runs were needed. Napier was about to bowl the 19th when the 1 hour 15 minute timer expired and Essex were penalised six runs for not bowling the overs fast enough. Not that it mattered as only four came off the 19th with David Masters dropping two catches at fine leg. 123-8 and 17 needed became 12 off three as another catch went down at cover but McLaren could only swing and miss at two balls from Southee and even a wide didn't really help before two came off the final ball as Middlesex finished 131-8 to lose by 8 runs. Napier got man of the match for his 2-21 to add to his batting, Ten Doeschate got 2-31 and Southee 2-24. McLaren finished 35 not out and Smith 13 not out.

Phillips Turn Screws Hampshire

Still at Chelmsford for the 2nd game of the double header, Essex vs Hampshire.
Dominic Cork won the toss and let Essex bat first. Surprise at the top as Mark Pettini opened with Tim Southee in a pinch hitting role. Danny Briggs and Dimitri Mascarenhas opened the bowling and Southee was dropped off Mascarenhas, which proved to be a cruicial drop but Pettini was lbw next ball for 4.
Cork brought himself on in the 3rd over and Southee promptly smashed 13 off the over and then two sixes off Mascarenhas came before Owais Shah flicked to fine leg for 2. 40-2 was a good start and Southee hit more off Briggs then Ryan Ten Doeschate chipped to Ervine at mid-off for 3. Essex captain James Foster then provided the solid partner that Southee needed as the run-rate slowed after the powerplay due to good bowling from Imran Tahir and Shahid Afridi on his Hampshire debut, but Southee went to fifty off 19 balls before swinging his fifth six off Tahir. The 10th over finally brought the end as Southee went for one hit too many and was stumped by Nic Pothas off Tahir for 74 off only 34 balls with 6 fours and 5 sixes with Essex 94/4.
Matt Walker fell to Cork in the 13th over and Adam Wheater fell in the 15th to give Afridi his first wicket as it looked like Essex would struggle to reach 150. Tim Phillips came in at 8 and took 12 off Briggs' final over before thumping 25 off Cork and Afridi before falling lbw to Cork, but the damage had been done with 33 off 19. Essex scrambled to 162-7, a good total in the conditions with Cork taking 2-35 and Tahir 1-22.
David Masters and Southee opened the bowling and Southee struck third ball to remove Jimmy Adams then James Vince joined Benny Howell in a useful partnership that emulated to a certain degree of success the Essex run fest before the unlikely Chris Wright broke the partnership in his first over having Howell caught by Phillips to leave Hampshire 41-2. Neil McKenzie and Vince pushed along steadily and at the halfway point Hampshire were 72-2.
Then Phillips struck in his 2nd over with McKenzie swinging a full toss to Southee at long-off. Runs then dried up as 13 came off the next four overs and Sean Ervine fell to Wright and then the key 15th over came. Phillips bowled Afridi first ball then there were two singles before Pothas swung the fourth ball to Southee at long-off before Vince smashed the fifth ball over the Tom Pierce Stand to bring up a 43-ball 50 then inside-edging the final ball onto his off stump to depart for 52, Hampshire now 101-7 and almost gone. Cork wasn't about to surrender as he smacked Ten Doeschate for two huge sixes into Hayes Close before Mascarehas hit Southee for another six and a four off the first two balls of the next over. He then sliced to third man where Tim Westley held a good catch. Wright's last over brought about a mix-up between Briggs and Cork leaving Briggs run out by Foster's quick pick up and throw to leave Hampshire 129-9. Cork then holed out off Southee to none other than Phillips to leave Hampshire 136 all out to wrap up an Essex win by 26 runs. Phillips was given the match award for his 4-29, Southee took 3-38 and Wright 2-22.

Total Annihilation, Girl Style

To Chelmsford for the first of the T20 double header, the first game being England Women vs New Zealand Women for both teams first match in the Quadrangular series.
England won the toss and Charlotte Edwards decided to bowl first, with Arran Brindle making her comeback and the move looked good as New Zealand captain Amy Watkins was bowled for nought by Katherine Brunt in the first over, 1-1. Brindle bowled a tight over and after three NZ were only 8-1. Laura Marsh dropped a return catch from Amy Satterthwaite in the next over as she and Suzie Bates looked to be building a solid total. All that was about to end with Holly Colvin in the 8th over as Satterthwaite hit one to Danielle Wyatt for 14 and in her next over Bates was well caught at square leg by Claire Taylor for the top score of 23 to leave NZ 44-3 at the halfway point.
The innings then waned a bit and although Liz Perry was dropped at long-off, next ball Sara McGlashan chipped a catch back to Colvin and next over a mix-up allowed Colvin to throw from pont to keeper Sarah Taylor to run out Perry. Then 10 runs off the 15th over bowled by Jenny Gunn meant New Zealand might reach a good total but then Lucy Doolan was stumped by Sarah Taylor off Brindle for six and then Nicola Browne was lbw to Danielle Hazell for 13 three balls later to make it 67-7. Rachel Priest tried a bit hit and was brilliantly caught by a diving catch at deep midwicket by Lydia Greenway off Brindle. Hazell bagged her 2nd wicket and the innings ended when Sian Ruck was yorked by Brindle in the last over to leave New Zealand 83 all out, Colvin finishing with 3-17 and Brindle 3-11.
The difference between the sides was obvious as Browne, bowling the first over, went for 13 as Edwards and Marsh looked to get there quickly. Marsh was especially punishing was fours over midwicket and then a glorious smash over cover off Kate Broadmore. 42 came off 5 overs before Marsh gave the hard working Ruck her first wicket in an eventual wicket-maiden over. Edwards and Claire Taylor then took over the scoring and found the gaps off Ruck, Watkins and Bates as England were 67-1 after 10.
Taylor was unluckily run out backing up by some athletic fielding off her own bowling by Watkins, but it only delayed the inevitable as Edwards became the first woman to score 1000 international T20 runs and along with Greenway, they finished the came with a four off Bates in the 14th over to win by eight wickets. The pick of the bowlers was Ruck with 1-17 off her four overs.
Colvin was awarded with the match award for her bowling and fielding and for them it is off to Bristol for the 2nd matches in the Quadrangular series. For us it was Essex vs Hampshire up next.

An Evening of Ace Entertainment

So, to the first Twenty20 match of the year at Lord's, Middlesex vs Essex. Middlesex won the toss and decided to bat. Paul Stirling and Chris Rogers opened and String was caught off Tim Southee in the first over for 0. Scott Newman was next in and he thumped a six into the tavern off Scott Styris then pointed out to the umpire it was a no-ball as there were too many players outside the fielding circle as Middlesex raced to 44 off the first 5 overs. Southee's 2nd over brought the wicket of Newman for 22 bringing in Neil Dexter who thumped a six into the Mound Stand. Rogers then joined in the fun, heaving another six square before Ravi Bopara had him caught by Foster for 25 to leave the Panthers 67-3. John Simpson helped Dexter steady the total before Dexter was LBW to Tim Phillips for 30. Simpson, however then fell in the 17th over and Josh Davey then started hitting Southee but then in the 19th failed to get bat on ball for each of the first four balls of the over, he finished with 3-21. 12 off the final over by Graham Napier as Ryan McLaren finished 15 off 9 in 148-5. This was later boosted to 150 as a Dexter hit for four was deemed a six.
The first over of the Essex reply brought a flying catch at gully by McLaren off Steve Crook to remove Ravi Bopara for a duck. Steve Finn found Mark Pettini's outside edge first ball for Simpson to take an easy catch and went on to bowl a wicket maiden so that Essex were, incredibly, 1-2. Matt Walker and Owais Shah, playing against his former employer, upped the rate and Shah smacked McLaren into the Grand Stand for his first six. Walker then fell in the sixth over top edging Finn (2-26) to Dexter for 11. Dutchman Ryan Ten Doeschate again played to get Shah on strike who was out to prove a point as he murdered anything short as the total began to climb and at the halfway point Essex were one behind Middlesex at the same stage. Tom Smith's left-arm spin had a good day as Ten Doeschate was LBW for 17 and in his next over Smith had Styris stumped for 7. As James Foster came in Essex were 88-5 and the match was still in the balance.
Then the big turning point occured, with Foster on 7 he heaved Smith towards the Grand Stand, but hit it flat and straight to Anthony Ireland, who grabbed it, only to see it bounce out, off his knee, and down. This appeared to break the Middlesex spirit as Shah reached his 50 off 38 balls. Ireland then had his bowling demolished by both players as 50 came in 19 balls and the end arrived in the 19th over with Crook bowling a no-ball that Shah swung into the grand-stand for his 5th six to take him to 78 off 50, a thumping innings with Foster 30 off 18. So Essex in the end cruised to victory by five wickets to consign Middlesex to their third defeat in three games.