This is a bonus report because I happened to be passing through London so decided to drop in on the 2nd day of Middlesex vs Glamorgan at Lord's. On day one MIddlesex had been skittled for 150, then Glamorgan were 151-1 at close.
Arrived at the ground just after 2pm to see "Glammy" were now 260-4, so at least some wickets have fallen, but this was going to be a tough game.
Mark Wallace and Ben Wright were in the process of demolishing the Middlesex attack as Wright went to a 46 ball fifty and the new ball didn't seem to help things as the runs piled on with no bowler being able to apply any sort of pressure to the Glamorgan batsmen. Wallace went LBW to Tim Murtagh for 46, breaking the partnership at 119.
Tea came and went and James Harris aided Wright in getting past 400 (again in the 110th over). Harris was bowled by Dalrymple then Wright brought up his hundred but fell next ball as it looked liked Middlesex might be facing under 300 run deficit when Graham Wagg and Robert Croft combined to take the match further away from them. The 101 run stand was only broken when Wagg chipped to mid-off for 63, but it was small consolation for a side that has been comprehensively outplayed so far in this game needing to take two wickets then score 367 as Glamorgan closed 517-8.
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Friday, 20 May 2011
A Giddy Day in Leicester
A different day, a different ground. Leicester, for the 2nd day of Leicestershire's Championship game against Gloucestershire, why can't they make it easy to get to from Northampton?
Arrived at the ground just before the start where Gloucester started the 2nd day 177-3. Kane Williamson moved on from his overnight 102 to 149 before he was brilliantly caught low down by the giant Will Jefferson off Hoggard. At the other end Alex Gidman, the captain anchored the innings and was unbeaten at lunch after bringing up his fifty with a six off Henderson as the Leicester bowlers were looking pretty weak, even Kadeer Ali bowled an over, on a flat pitch with Gloucester 286-4.
After lunch, Gidman moved on past his hundred for the first time since 2009. His brother Will was the only wicket to fall lbw to Jigar Naik as Gloucester carried on to 419-5 at tea with Alex cracking his 150 and Gloucester scrambled their final batting point off the penultimate ball of the 110th over. Throughout the session, Hoggard kept the fielders awake with his witty banter.
Tea seemed to bring with it an improvement in the bowlers as the Gloucester quick run search turned into wickets with Gidman finally falling to Henderson for an excellent 168. Ed Young and Jon Batty then fell to Naik as Leicester fought their way back, Ian Saxelby hit Henderson for a massive six into the pavilion before Naik had him lbw as well. Jon Lewis hit Henderson for another six, then with a missed stumping bringing two byes, the declaration came with Gloucester 504-9.
This left Leicester 8 overs to bat and they did this to finish 15-0, Boyce (14*) taking 12 off one over from Saxelby.
Overall the day wasn't that great for Leicester although their good over rate (+8 at one point) meant play finished at exactly 6pm. Naik was the pick of the bowlers with 4-91 although Hoggard(3-80) looked menacing when the new ball had been taken.
Arrived at the ground just before the start where Gloucester started the 2nd day 177-3. Kane Williamson moved on from his overnight 102 to 149 before he was brilliantly caught low down by the giant Will Jefferson off Hoggard. At the other end Alex Gidman, the captain anchored the innings and was unbeaten at lunch after bringing up his fifty with a six off Henderson as the Leicester bowlers were looking pretty weak, even Kadeer Ali bowled an over, on a flat pitch with Gloucester 286-4.
After lunch, Gidman moved on past his hundred for the first time since 2009. His brother Will was the only wicket to fall lbw to Jigar Naik as Gloucester carried on to 419-5 at tea with Alex cracking his 150 and Gloucester scrambled their final batting point off the penultimate ball of the 110th over. Throughout the session, Hoggard kept the fielders awake with his witty banter.
Tea seemed to bring with it an improvement in the bowlers as the Gloucester quick run search turned into wickets with Gidman finally falling to Henderson for an excellent 168. Ed Young and Jon Batty then fell to Naik as Leicester fought their way back, Ian Saxelby hit Henderson for a massive six into the pavilion before Naik had him lbw as well. Jon Lewis hit Henderson for another six, then with a missed stumping bringing two byes, the declaration came with Gloucester 504-9.
This left Leicester 8 overs to bat and they did this to finish 15-0, Boyce (14*) taking 12 off one over from Saxelby.
Overall the day wasn't that great for Leicester although their good over rate (+8 at one point) meant play finished at exactly 6pm. Naik was the pick of the bowlers with 4-91 although Hoggard(3-80) looked menacing when the new ball had been taken.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
A Straussgo Saturday
The first day of the Sri Lankan tour was an interesting day in wilds of Uxbridge. Middlesex won the toss and batted but arrived late at the ground to see that Robson had already gone caught behind. There was a Tamil protest outside the ground that kept up vocal criticism well into the afternoon session.
A good chunk of the home team was 2nd XI players so the game may not be that competitive, but nevertheless Strauss and Housego decided to make Dilshan's first day as captain a major headache. The two batted on and on, Strauss feeding off loose balls from Welegedera and Lakmal. Five of Sri Lanka's squad are still playing in the IPL meaning that Farveez Maharoof, who was the most consistent of the quicks, has been called up as cover. The mystery bowler Mendis had his variations ruthlessly thrashed by both players. They batted on until tea with Middlesex on 237-1 with Strauss reaching his hundred. Strauss finally fell for 151, with Middlesex 272-2. Housego then reached his hundred then fell to Herath.
This post-tea fightback by the Sri Lankans also acquired them the wickets of Rossington and Dalrymple. captain Malan and Simpson were left unbeaten with Middlesex on 321-5 from 93 overs.
This sets up an interesting next couple of days with Middlesex having to declare at 100 overs.
A good chunk of the home team was 2nd XI players so the game may not be that competitive, but nevertheless Strauss and Housego decided to make Dilshan's first day as captain a major headache. The two batted on and on, Strauss feeding off loose balls from Welegedera and Lakmal. Five of Sri Lanka's squad are still playing in the IPL meaning that Farveez Maharoof, who was the most consistent of the quicks, has been called up as cover. The mystery bowler Mendis had his variations ruthlessly thrashed by both players. They batted on until tea with Middlesex on 237-1 with Strauss reaching his hundred. Strauss finally fell for 151, with Middlesex 272-2. Housego then reached his hundred then fell to Herath.
This post-tea fightback by the Sri Lankans also acquired them the wickets of Rossington and Dalrymple. captain Malan and Simpson were left unbeaten with Middlesex on 321-5 from 93 overs.
This sets up an interesting next couple of days with Middlesex having to declare at 100 overs.
Monday, 9 May 2011
Unicorns Are Real, and They Play Cricket
Bury St Edmunds, an unusual venue for Unicorns vs Essex, on a sunny day (not what the forecast said) Unicorns won the toss and batted.
This was not to be their day as Napier bowled Lett, then Thornely was lbw to Masters for 25, which proved to be the 2nd highest score. Campbell and Knappett then launched a recovery before the collapse began. Ravi Bopara bagged Campbell and Parsons in his first over Knappett was unluckily bowled off his pad by Tim Phillips. Amar Rashid went as well in the same over to leave the Unicorns 71-6. Phillips then took the next three to fall as Saker, Querl (the third 2nd ball duck of the innings) and Wheeldon all fell to varying degrees of shot to leave the Unicorns 98-9 with 10 overs still to go.
Then Chris Benham finally had someone to bat with in Tom Craddock on debut. Benham went after Phillips to ruin his figures slightly (5-28) on his way to a 66 ball 50. He then hit two fours off the under par Tsotsobe before holing out to Matt Walker at deep midwicket for 58 to set Essex 138 to win.
Essex's reply was steady with Pettini occupying the crease whilst Cook went after the bowling as Essex took the batting powerplay in the 11th over. Cook would fall though to a cracking yorker from Saker for 38 (which would later be voted champagne moment) as Napier came in to try and finish it off from 53-1. He didn't really get going on the slow track and after swiping a six off Craddock hit one to cover for 11.
Bopara and Pettini then batted Essex to a slow win with 5.5 overs to spare with Bopara hitting Benham's first ball in list-a cricket for 4. He finished 29 not out and Pettini 48 not out (off 100 balls) and Phillips was voted man of the match for his bowling.
This was not to be their day as Napier bowled Lett, then Thornely was lbw to Masters for 25, which proved to be the 2nd highest score. Campbell and Knappett then launched a recovery before the collapse began. Ravi Bopara bagged Campbell and Parsons in his first over Knappett was unluckily bowled off his pad by Tim Phillips. Amar Rashid went as well in the same over to leave the Unicorns 71-6. Phillips then took the next three to fall as Saker, Querl (the third 2nd ball duck of the innings) and Wheeldon all fell to varying degrees of shot to leave the Unicorns 98-9 with 10 overs still to go.
Then Chris Benham finally had someone to bat with in Tom Craddock on debut. Benham went after Phillips to ruin his figures slightly (5-28) on his way to a 66 ball 50. He then hit two fours off the under par Tsotsobe before holing out to Matt Walker at deep midwicket for 58 to set Essex 138 to win.
Essex's reply was steady with Pettini occupying the crease whilst Cook went after the bowling as Essex took the batting powerplay in the 11th over. Cook would fall though to a cracking yorker from Saker for 38 (which would later be voted champagne moment) as Napier came in to try and finish it off from 53-1. He didn't really get going on the slow track and after swiping a six off Craddock hit one to cover for 11.
Bopara and Pettini then batted Essex to a slow win with 5.5 overs to spare with Bopara hitting Benham's first ball in list-a cricket for 4. He finished 29 not out and Pettini 48 not out (off 100 balls) and Phillips was voted man of the match for his bowling.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Harris'd
At Chelmsford for the first day of Essex vs Glamorgan, Essex won the toss and fielding on a cool day. David Masters found early swing and removed Rees and Petersen before Bragg and Powell steadied the innings. Just before lunch Lonwabo Tsotsobe had Powell caught behind for 36 to make it 94-3. Bragg reached a good 50 before he and Wallace fell in consecutive overs and when Ben Wright was well caught by Matt Walker 164-6 wasn't looking good.
James Harris then found support in first Wagg, who hit a quick 36 before falling to a trap being caught at long-off, then Cosker in compiling runs. Cosker went just after tea at 250-8, Harris then went to fifty before he and Waters went quickly to round the innings off for 282.
Harris wasn't done yet, he then had Cook lbw for 5 to leave Essex 13-1 in the 11 overs before close setting up an interesting day ahead
James Harris then found support in first Wagg, who hit a quick 36 before falling to a trap being caught at long-off, then Cosker in compiling runs. Cosker went just after tea at 250-8, Harris then went to fifty before he and Waters went quickly to round the innings off for 282.
Harris wasn't done yet, he then had Cook lbw for 5 to leave Essex 13-1 in the 11 overs before close setting up an interesting day ahead
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Off to University
So a sunny day in Cambridge for Middlesex vs Cambridge MCCU, should be an easy game you'd think, however Chris Rogers was out for only nine. Dan Housego struggled along throughout the morning session but Scott Newman looked in form with a run-a-ball 80 until he chipped one to cover. Housego then fell from the last ball of the session for 36, 137-3.
After lunch Malan was joined by Dexter and between them they batted throughout the session, easily swatting away whatever the students bowled, with both passing 50 and by tea the score was looking much more convincing at 312-3.
After tea Dexter finally fell unluckily short a century for 91. Simpson came in and they batted through to the declaration with Malan on 142 not out and Simpson six not out at 373-4.
The 13 overs left before close proved too long for Cambridge, as Murtagh grabbed the wickets of Ackland and Hughes before nighwatchman Bell fell in the final over of the day to Toby Roland-Jones to finish on 40-3.
After lunch Malan was joined by Dexter and between them they batted throughout the session, easily swatting away whatever the students bowled, with both passing 50 and by tea the score was looking much more convincing at 312-3.
After tea Dexter finally fell unluckily short a century for 91. Simpson came in and they batted through to the declaration with Malan on 142 not out and Simpson six not out at 373-4.
The 13 overs left before close proved too long for Cambridge, as Murtagh grabbed the wickets of Ackland and Hughes before nighwatchman Bell fell in the final over of the day to Toby Roland-Jones to finish on 40-3.
Friday, 1 April 2011
A Trip up "North"
Well yesterday was the 2nd of the pre-season games that I am planning to attend, a 40 over game between Northamptonshire and Middlesex.
Overnight rain meant the game didn't start until 11:00 where Northants won the toss and stuck Middlesex in. Jack Brooks bowled a cracking spell from the Lynn Wilson end and had Paul Stirling bowled for 6. Scott Newman on the other hand was taking apart David Lucas and hit sixes off both him and Brooks before David Willey held on to a screamer at point to leave Middlesex 41-2. Dan Housego and Tom Scollay then led a recovery before Middlebrook bowled Housego off the bottom edge for 12.
David Willey bowled a tight spell from the Lynn Wilson end and had Scollay lbw for 27 to leave the total looking precarious at 92-4. Gareth Berg then set about scoring runs without getting out (something that hadn't quite been managed up to now) in his 45 including a big six off Lucas in his 2nd spell. Simpson went and just when Dexter was looking good he carved to point off Lucas and then Steven Crook played the same shot in the same over, 156-7. Ollie Rayner started hitting with Berg, but both of them went with the score in the 190s, Rayner's being a comical run out where Davey ran for the third and did for Rayner by half a pitch length.
Smith and Davey, however took 17 off the final over to get to 230-9, a total that felt light given the short western boundary.
Northants innings began with Crook castling Loye only for it to be a no-ball and the free hit to be battered for 4. Tim Murtagh bowled a miserly spell to keep the required rate at a run a ball. Crook then bowled Newton for 9 and the no ball started to look expensive as Rob White and Loye took the total past 50. Luck was about to hit Middlesex as Loye dragged a drive straight to a startled Stirling at mid-on to bring in Alex Wakely in what was the partnership of the match. The two both brought up fifties with Wakely hitting sixes off Smith and Dexter as Middlesex tried 8 bowlers in an effort to take a wicket. Just as the two started to accelerate, however, Crook bagged White for 54, but Wakely looked as though he could carry the team home on his own as he took 17 off the first powerplay over with the required rate pushing 10 and over. David Sales inability to score fast meant that Wakely had to take risks and he took one too many from Murtagh's excellent powerplay bowling and was well caught on the square leg boundary by Davey and the belief that Middlesex could actually win returned to the players.
The end result was only a 7 run win with Niall O'Brien being caught and Sales run out in the final over as Hall valiantly tried to hit the sixes needed but came up short.
The Middlesex bowling looked better than it had against Surrey, but the batting was still suspect with more than one dodgy shot being played.
Overnight rain meant the game didn't start until 11:00 where Northants won the toss and stuck Middlesex in. Jack Brooks bowled a cracking spell from the Lynn Wilson end and had Paul Stirling bowled for 6. Scott Newman on the other hand was taking apart David Lucas and hit sixes off both him and Brooks before David Willey held on to a screamer at point to leave Middlesex 41-2. Dan Housego and Tom Scollay then led a recovery before Middlebrook bowled Housego off the bottom edge for 12.
David Willey bowled a tight spell from the Lynn Wilson end and had Scollay lbw for 27 to leave the total looking precarious at 92-4. Gareth Berg then set about scoring runs without getting out (something that hadn't quite been managed up to now) in his 45 including a big six off Lucas in his 2nd spell. Simpson went and just when Dexter was looking good he carved to point off Lucas and then Steven Crook played the same shot in the same over, 156-7. Ollie Rayner started hitting with Berg, but both of them went with the score in the 190s, Rayner's being a comical run out where Davey ran for the third and did for Rayner by half a pitch length.
Smith and Davey, however took 17 off the final over to get to 230-9, a total that felt light given the short western boundary.
Northants innings began with Crook castling Loye only for it to be a no-ball and the free hit to be battered for 4. Tim Murtagh bowled a miserly spell to keep the required rate at a run a ball. Crook then bowled Newton for 9 and the no ball started to look expensive as Rob White and Loye took the total past 50. Luck was about to hit Middlesex as Loye dragged a drive straight to a startled Stirling at mid-on to bring in Alex Wakely in what was the partnership of the match. The two both brought up fifties with Wakely hitting sixes off Smith and Dexter as Middlesex tried 8 bowlers in an effort to take a wicket. Just as the two started to accelerate, however, Crook bagged White for 54, but Wakely looked as though he could carry the team home on his own as he took 17 off the first powerplay over with the required rate pushing 10 and over. David Sales inability to score fast meant that Wakely had to take risks and he took one too many from Murtagh's excellent powerplay bowling and was well caught on the square leg boundary by Davey and the belief that Middlesex could actually win returned to the players.
The end result was only a 7 run win with Niall O'Brien being caught and Sales run out in the final over as Hall valiantly tried to hit the sixes needed but came up short.
The Middlesex bowling looked better than it had against Surrey, but the batting was still suspect with more than one dodgy shot being played.
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