As a warm up for the Ashes, England played a warm up four day game against Essex at Chelmsford, with Sky broadcasting the game and a full house present. Essex won the toss and in an obviously planned move Ravi Bopara decided to bowl first, saying something like "It looks like the sort of pitch to score lots of runs on, but we've got to take 20 wickets, so we'll bowl first".
England began quite quickly, scoring 33 off the first seven overs, before Alistair Cook edged Tymal Mills to keeper Ben Foakes for 18. Mills had some early hustle, getting Cook out with a 92 mph ball and following it up with one that was over 94 mph in the resulting maiden. The incoming Trott and Root began to tame the Essex attack, adding 40 in 10 overs, before Root edged to Tom Westley for 41, 73-2. This brought Kevin Pietersen to the crease and he treated the bowlers with some early disdain hammering 16 off his first 9 balls as the 100 came up on the 22nd over. Trott was the next to fall, edging a rocket from Mills to Foakes to go for 32, and it was fairly obvious by now that England weren't taking this game particularly seriously at this stage.
Pietersen came out attacking after lunch, hitting more boundaries, and greeting Tom Craddock's spin with a straight driven four first ball, but then he drove the ball back to Craddock next ball, who grassed the chance, but he wouldn't have to wait much longer for another chance. KP repeated the shot first ball of his next over, where Craddock took the return catch (49 off 58), England 163-4. Craddock soon had his 2nd, Ian Bell going for a sweep shot, Jaik Mickleburgh at short leg anticipated the shot, moved to his right and flung himself at the ball to take a great reaction catch, 172-5. This brought together Prior and Bairstow to bring up the 200 in the 51st over, but England failed to build any consistency as Prior edged behind for 20 to give Craddock a third. It was soon 212-7 as Saj Mahmood blasted one though Bairstow to bowl him for 23.
This left the unlikely pair of Bresnan and Swann to put together the partnership that would enable England to make a decent score. They didn't try anything stupid and steadily accumulated runs off the bowlers before attacking the bad balls, Swann taking 4 fours off the over against Craddock. Swann was first to 50, from 67 ball (also bringing up the 100 partnership) with 3 consecutive fours off Mills. Bresnan soon followed, his 50 coming from 114 balls. That was pretty much it for the day as England finished 332-7 from 90 overs, Bresnan 55 and Swann 62, Craddock with 3-63 being the pick of the bowlers
Saturday, 3 August 2013
Plenty To Wright About
The final day of Middlesex vs Sussex at Lord's began with Sussex 228-4 still needing 49 to make Middlesex bat again, with Ed Joyce and Luke Wright looking to bat the home side out of the game. Wright soon reached his 50 from 93 balls as Middlesex turned to Ollie Rayner's spin early in the day to look for a wicket. Wright picked off boundaries, while Joyce steadily accumulated, but it was 2 short of his hundred that Tim Murtagh found some movement with the new ball, where an edge was well taken low by Rayner at slip, breaking the partnership of 159 at 282-5 which had put Sussex in with the chance of a draw.
James Harris soon had Ben Brown out, caught by London at point as the batsman froze on his shot, and Murtagh then had Chris Jordan caught behind for 3 as Sussex slumped to 304-7, a small lead just after lunch, without much more batting to come. Will Beer joined Wright in what became the key partnership of the day, with Wright having no troubles playing the bowlers, hitting some awesome cuts and cover drives, and it was in the 101st over from his 179th ball, that he completed his first 100 in 2 years, driving Toby Roland-Jones to the cover boundary.
The bowlers began to tire mid way through the afternoon, and the batsmen were quite happy to pick runs off where they could and Sussex raced from 350 to 400 in seven overs as Harris and Joe Denly came in for some punishment. It was shortly after completing the 100 partnership that Beer fell, caught at leg slip by Berg off Rayner for 39, and Middlesex still had a small chance, if they could knock off the last 2 quickly at 405-8. It wasn't to be that easy, as Wright completed his first 150 with a cover drive off Rayner (226 balls, 19 fours) as he and Magoffin looked to take some time out of the game to push the required rate up for Middlesex. After six overs of plodding along, Wright then took 23 off the next two to move past 180, and brought up the 450 by clubbing a full toss from Denly over midwicket for four. He wouldn't reach his deserved double ton, charging down the track to Denly, who got one to turn past the edge for Simpson to complete an easy stumping. It had been a great innings, 187 from 276 balls with 25 fours. Magoffin didn't hang around much longer, swinging Denly to Murtagh in the deep as Sussex were all out for 454, leaving Middlesex with needing 179 in 20 overs.
Rogers and Denly opened and decided to have a go for the runs, and they pounded 23 off the first 3 overs, Denly lifting Magoffin for an easy boundary over midwicket, so Sussex moved to having all nine outfielders on the boundary, and Denly promptly edged Chris Liddle, where Brown took a good diving catch, 24-1. Dexter then got a big edge which flew high off Magoffin to Brown's right, where he jumped, stuck out a hand and landed with the ball in it, a ridiculously good catch to remove Dexter for four. Rogers at the other end was scoring at a run a ball, and found the boundary with a backfoot-lean-uppercut-jab that went over the keepers head for four. But the chase was soon off as Liddle called on his one day experience to trap Berg LBW for 5 at 50-3, the game called off as a draw, Middlesex with 10 points, Sussex with 5.
James Harris soon had Ben Brown out, caught by London at point as the batsman froze on his shot, and Murtagh then had Chris Jordan caught behind for 3 as Sussex slumped to 304-7, a small lead just after lunch, without much more batting to come. Will Beer joined Wright in what became the key partnership of the day, with Wright having no troubles playing the bowlers, hitting some awesome cuts and cover drives, and it was in the 101st over from his 179th ball, that he completed his first 100 in 2 years, driving Toby Roland-Jones to the cover boundary.
The bowlers began to tire mid way through the afternoon, and the batsmen were quite happy to pick runs off where they could and Sussex raced from 350 to 400 in seven overs as Harris and Joe Denly came in for some punishment. It was shortly after completing the 100 partnership that Beer fell, caught at leg slip by Berg off Rayner for 39, and Middlesex still had a small chance, if they could knock off the last 2 quickly at 405-8. It wasn't to be that easy, as Wright completed his first 150 with a cover drive off Rayner (226 balls, 19 fours) as he and Magoffin looked to take some time out of the game to push the required rate up for Middlesex. After six overs of plodding along, Wright then took 23 off the next two to move past 180, and brought up the 450 by clubbing a full toss from Denly over midwicket for four. He wouldn't reach his deserved double ton, charging down the track to Denly, who got one to turn past the edge for Simpson to complete an easy stumping. It had been a great innings, 187 from 276 balls with 25 fours. Magoffin didn't hang around much longer, swinging Denly to Murtagh in the deep as Sussex were all out for 454, leaving Middlesex with needing 179 in 20 overs.
Rogers and Denly opened and decided to have a go for the runs, and they pounded 23 off the first 3 overs, Denly lifting Magoffin for an easy boundary over midwicket, so Sussex moved to having all nine outfielders on the boundary, and Denly promptly edged Chris Liddle, where Brown took a good diving catch, 24-1. Dexter then got a big edge which flew high off Magoffin to Brown's right, where he jumped, stuck out a hand and landed with the ball in it, a ridiculously good catch to remove Dexter for four. Rogers at the other end was scoring at a run a ball, and found the boundary with a backfoot-lean-uppercut-jab that went over the keepers head for four. But the chase was soon off as Liddle called on his one day experience to trap Berg LBW for 5 at 50-3, the game called off as a draw, Middlesex with 10 points, Sussex with 5.
Wham Bam, More Malan
Time for some floodlight cricket, Middlesex vs Somerset at Lord's, Middlesex won the toss and fielded meaning we got to see an early burst of the in form openers Marcus Trescothick and Pete Trego. It was only until the fourth over that the first boundary as Harris went for six and four over midwicket by Trescothick as Somerset raced to 50 in the 7th over, thanks to another six from Trescothick. The chaos soon stopped, with Ollie Rayner striking in his first over to bowl Trescothick for 41, and when Trego then edged Harris to Rossington for 35, it was 85-2. Things got better, with Nick Compton (6) hitting Rayner to Dexter at midwicket, 85-3 and the scoring rate now collapsed. James Hildreth and Dean Elgar plodded along, before Rayner picked up his third, Elgar swinging to Dexter at cover for 24, 121-4. Middlesex kept the pressure on and soon Alex Barrow fell, popping a return catch to Paul Stirling for 15, 158-5. In the midst of this, Hildreth completed a 72 ball 50 with his 2nd four. The spinner exerting good pressure on the middl order, which seemed to be wilting.
186-5 with five overs left, and Arul Suppiah gave Murtagh a wicket for 10, heaving to Malan in the deep, and Meschede came and went stumped off Roland-Jones (but not before hitting the same bowler into the pavilion) for 12. We come to the final over with Hildreth on strike, Harris serve up the first ball on a length, and it disappears into the Grand Stand over midwicket, the second ball is similar, and gets the same treatment. The third is fuller, and is swing squarer into the grand stand for another 6, the fourth sails away for four, and Hildreth completed a great hundred by reverse paddling a final full toss through third man for four, 102 off 94 balls as Somerset finished 247-7. Rayner the best bowler with 3-31 from his 8.
Stirling and Malan gave Middlesex a solid if unspectacular start, with runs coming fairly easily, as they kept up with the required rate, Stirling hitting consecutive fours off Kirby and Malan hitting Trego for a big six over midwicket. Stirling slammed Meschede to mid off to go for 27 with the score on 71, but this didn't put Malan off, who was hitting boundaries freely and completed 50 from 48 balls. His cover drives were particularly well hit and Joe Denly didn't want to be left out, striking Suppiah into the Tavern Stand for a huge six. The carnage didn't stop, Overton no-ball, hit for four, Waller drags one down, hit for four as the 150 came up in the 24th over. But the came wasn't over, as Denly top edged a sweep off Max Waller where Barrow took a good high catch running back for 31 from 40. Chris Roger went next over, edging Jamie Overton to slip where Trescothick took a sharp catch at the second attempt, with Barrow diving in front of him. Overton then had Rossington trapped LBW for 6, before Malan edged Meschede to Barrow for 99 off 100 balls, having looked nervous throughout the 90s with wickets falling around him, it was a poor end to a great innings.
The game was looking a bit more dodgy, 185-5, needing 63 off nine overs with 5 wickets left. Dexter and Berg took up the challenge, scoring steadily in the powerplay and had whittled it down to 30 off 24 when Meschede bowled a full toss, which Dexter nailed into the Grand Stand for six, and even though Berg swiped to Elgar at mid on off Meschede, Rayner (12 off 7) and Dexter (39) saw them home, a sweep from Rayner going for four to seal a nervy four wicket win with 5 balls to spare. Rayner given man of the match by Sky.
186-5 with five overs left, and Arul Suppiah gave Murtagh a wicket for 10, heaving to Malan in the deep, and Meschede came and went stumped off Roland-Jones (but not before hitting the same bowler into the pavilion) for 12. We come to the final over with Hildreth on strike, Harris serve up the first ball on a length, and it disappears into the Grand Stand over midwicket, the second ball is similar, and gets the same treatment. The third is fuller, and is swing squarer into the grand stand for another 6, the fourth sails away for four, and Hildreth completed a great hundred by reverse paddling a final full toss through third man for four, 102 off 94 balls as Somerset finished 247-7. Rayner the best bowler with 3-31 from his 8.
Stirling and Malan gave Middlesex a solid if unspectacular start, with runs coming fairly easily, as they kept up with the required rate, Stirling hitting consecutive fours off Kirby and Malan hitting Trego for a big six over midwicket. Stirling slammed Meschede to mid off to go for 27 with the score on 71, but this didn't put Malan off, who was hitting boundaries freely and completed 50 from 48 balls. His cover drives were particularly well hit and Joe Denly didn't want to be left out, striking Suppiah into the Tavern Stand for a huge six. The carnage didn't stop, Overton no-ball, hit for four, Waller drags one down, hit for four as the 150 came up in the 24th over. But the came wasn't over, as Denly top edged a sweep off Max Waller where Barrow took a good high catch running back for 31 from 40. Chris Roger went next over, edging Jamie Overton to slip where Trescothick took a sharp catch at the second attempt, with Barrow diving in front of him. Overton then had Rossington trapped LBW for 6, before Malan edged Meschede to Barrow for 99 off 100 balls, having looked nervous throughout the 90s with wickets falling around him, it was a poor end to a great innings.
The game was looking a bit more dodgy, 185-5, needing 63 off nine overs with 5 wickets left. Dexter and Berg took up the challenge, scoring steadily in the powerplay and had whittled it down to 30 off 24 when Meschede bowled a full toss, which Dexter nailed into the Grand Stand for six, and even though Berg swiped to Elgar at mid on off Meschede, Rayner (12 off 7) and Dexter (39) saw them home, a sweep from Rayner going for four to seal a nervy four wicket win with 5 balls to spare. Rayner given man of the match by Sky.
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, 1 August 2013
England Left Feeling a Bit Guptill
The first ODI of a 3 match warm up before the Champion's Trophy took place between England and New Zealand at Lord's, New Zealand won the toss and fielded, handing a New Zealand debut to the former Australian international Luke Ronchi, England playing Chris Woakes and Jade Dernbach. Kyle Mills and Mitchell McClenaghan began well, keeping England to 23 off the first six, Cook and Ian Bell finding boundaries hard to come by. After the first powerplay, England had 45 but then Southee found some swing and Bell edged behind for 18. And soon after, the same thing happened again, Cook edging to Ronchi off Southee for 30 and England were rocked back at 50-2. Jonathan Trott and Joe Root began the rebuilding operation, taking their time against some tight bowling, and only a couple of boundaries came in the next 10 overs, so at halfway it was 104-2, Nathan McCullum going for 20 off his first five overs. Then it began to unravel a bit, as Root was bowled by McCullum reverse sweeping a quicker ball for 30. Then it was 2 in 6 for McCullum as Trott picked out Taylor on the midwicket boundary for 37, and there was enough time for Morgan (6) to freeze on a bouncer from McClenaghan next over, with the ball looping off the bat and going straight up in the air for Ronchi to get an easy catch, 126-6 in the 30th over. Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler struggled to score, and apart from a McCullum slip that led to an all run four, there wasn't much coming as New Zealand kept the ball away from the boundary. The pressure finally got to Buttler, as a nice friendly off break from Kane Williamson was reverse swept by Buttler straight to McClenaghan at point, 159-6.
Woakes then became the fourth to fall in the 30s, holing out to the cover sweeper off Mills for 36 and England crawled past 200 with 23 balls to go and could only finish 227-9, Bresnan and Swann falling, Southee the pick of the bowlers with 3-37.
England needed a quick start, and they got it, Jimmy Anderson having Ronchi smartly held by Swann at 2nd slip, and Williamson taken by a diving Buttler as New Zealand 1-2 at the end of the first over. Unfortunately Jade Dernbach then served up 2 wides and 9 runs straight away easing Ross Taylor into the game. Martin Guptill watched the carnage at the other end, then let Taylor ease to 27 before deciding to target Woakes's first over, with the third ball disappearing to the Grand Stand fence and then going for the hook, which flew straight to Bresnan at fine leg, who went for the catch, only to parry it over the fence for six, 50 up in the 10th and England in need of some luck. More runs flowed freely as Woakes went for nine more in his next and (after a break), 12 off his third as Guptill got to fifty off 64 and the 100 (and 100 partnership) was up in the 23rd. Guptill then went about his business, swinging Swann over long off for six and Taylor was feeling a bit left out, so went to a 71 ball fifty in taking 7 off the hapless Woakes next over. Cook, turned back to Anderson, who picked up Taylor for 54 2nd ball, 120-3, New Zealand on top with only another 100 to win and plenty of batting left.
Dernbach looked to have Grant Elliot LBW, only for him to review and it overturned for the massive inside edge Aleem Dar had failed to notice. Elliot wouldn't last too much longer, bowled by Swann for 27, but it was Guptill's day, he launched Dernbach for his third six and even though Brendan McCullum was caught for 15, Guptill heaved another six into the Grand Stand before pulling the winning four through square leg to bring up a 123 ball hundred as New Zealand won with 19 balls to spare to go 1-0 up.
Woakes then became the fourth to fall in the 30s, holing out to the cover sweeper off Mills for 36 and England crawled past 200 with 23 balls to go and could only finish 227-9, Bresnan and Swann falling, Southee the pick of the bowlers with 3-37.
England needed a quick start, and they got it, Jimmy Anderson having Ronchi smartly held by Swann at 2nd slip, and Williamson taken by a diving Buttler as New Zealand 1-2 at the end of the first over. Unfortunately Jade Dernbach then served up 2 wides and 9 runs straight away easing Ross Taylor into the game. Martin Guptill watched the carnage at the other end, then let Taylor ease to 27 before deciding to target Woakes's first over, with the third ball disappearing to the Grand Stand fence and then going for the hook, which flew straight to Bresnan at fine leg, who went for the catch, only to parry it over the fence for six, 50 up in the 10th and England in need of some luck. More runs flowed freely as Woakes went for nine more in his next and (after a break), 12 off his third as Guptill got to fifty off 64 and the 100 (and 100 partnership) was up in the 23rd. Guptill then went about his business, swinging Swann over long off for six and Taylor was feeling a bit left out, so went to a 71 ball fifty in taking 7 off the hapless Woakes next over. Cook, turned back to Anderson, who picked up Taylor for 54 2nd ball, 120-3, New Zealand on top with only another 100 to win and plenty of batting left.
Dernbach looked to have Grant Elliot LBW, only for him to review and it overturned for the massive inside edge Aleem Dar had failed to notice. Elliot wouldn't last too much longer, bowled by Swann for 27, but it was Guptill's day, he launched Dernbach for his third six and even though Brendan McCullum was caught for 15, Guptill heaved another six into the Grand Stand before pulling the winning four through square leg to bring up a 123 ball hundred as New Zealand won with 19 balls to spare to go 1-0 up.
Vikings No More
Middlesex went over to their new base away from Lord's to take on Yorkshire Vikings in a YB40 game at Radlett.
Yorkshire won the toss and batted, this soon looked like an interesting move as they found themselves 18-2, Toby Roland-Jones bagging Andrew Gale, caught on the boundary by Joe Denly and Rich Pyrah caught by Eoin Morgan at point. Gary Ballance and Phil Jacques then rebuilt the innings, and Ballance in particular enjoyed swinging sixes, four of them, but, after the fourth, tried to swing Gareth Berg for another, only to be well caught by Paul Stirling on the boundary for 40, 103-3 after 20 overs. They would have been looking for 260 or so, with a good platform laid, a sunny day and a flat pitch.
Jacques completed a sensible 50 from 68 balls with a tidy three and then cut loose, taking Berg for 3 consecutive fours before knocking the ball around for easy runs as he and Adam Lyth brought up the 50 partnership in the 28th over, but then James Harris got the crucial break, Lyth fell caught behind by Adam Rossington for 14 and three balls later Jacques was caught by Morgan for an excellent 81 off 86.
Rashid and Andy Hodd added a quick 52 for the 6th wicket before Hodd was bowled by Roland-Jones then Tim Bresnan's England warm up went well, holing out to Stirling off Harris for a duck next over. 28 came off the final three overs, with Will Rhodes (10) giving Roland-Jones his best figures in this format (4-44) as Yorkshire finished 236-8 with Rashid unbeaten on 46.
The Middlesex reply started badly, Stirling having his stumps detonated for a 2nd ball duck by Iain Wardlaw, but Denly and Malan began to find boundaries quickly and had brought up the 50 partnership in the ninth over. Denly had reached 38 off 34 when he was bowled by Pyrah on 65. This brought in the big fish Morgan, but he wasn't to have much impact on the chase, attempting to reverse sweep Rashid first ball, he was given LBW, though acted as is he thought he's hit it, 65-3 and Yorkshire back in this and Rossington in only fourth game now joining Malan.
The pair soon took on the bowling, Malan in particular began to cut loose now finding boundaries with regularity as the required rate never went much above 6 an over and the first six was to come with Malan swinging Rhodes over midwicket soon after reaching a 59 ball 50. He raced from 51 to 88 in 18 balls but was not to have a deserved hundred, fishing at Bresnan outside off to edge though to Hodd for 91 off 88 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes. At 201-4 this left 36 needed from the final 10 overs, Rossington, having reached his own 50 from 49 balls, saw Middlesex home to a six wicket win with 26 balls to spare in an unbeaten 79, a comprehensive win at the new "home away from home".
Yorkshire won the toss and batted, this soon looked like an interesting move as they found themselves 18-2, Toby Roland-Jones bagging Andrew Gale, caught on the boundary by Joe Denly and Rich Pyrah caught by Eoin Morgan at point. Gary Ballance and Phil Jacques then rebuilt the innings, and Ballance in particular enjoyed swinging sixes, four of them, but, after the fourth, tried to swing Gareth Berg for another, only to be well caught by Paul Stirling on the boundary for 40, 103-3 after 20 overs. They would have been looking for 260 or so, with a good platform laid, a sunny day and a flat pitch.
Jacques completed a sensible 50 from 68 balls with a tidy three and then cut loose, taking Berg for 3 consecutive fours before knocking the ball around for easy runs as he and Adam Lyth brought up the 50 partnership in the 28th over, but then James Harris got the crucial break, Lyth fell caught behind by Adam Rossington for 14 and three balls later Jacques was caught by Morgan for an excellent 81 off 86.
Rashid and Andy Hodd added a quick 52 for the 6th wicket before Hodd was bowled by Roland-Jones then Tim Bresnan's England warm up went well, holing out to Stirling off Harris for a duck next over. 28 came off the final three overs, with Will Rhodes (10) giving Roland-Jones his best figures in this format (4-44) as Yorkshire finished 236-8 with Rashid unbeaten on 46.
The Middlesex reply started badly, Stirling having his stumps detonated for a 2nd ball duck by Iain Wardlaw, but Denly and Malan began to find boundaries quickly and had brought up the 50 partnership in the ninth over. Denly had reached 38 off 34 when he was bowled by Pyrah on 65. This brought in the big fish Morgan, but he wasn't to have much impact on the chase, attempting to reverse sweep Rashid first ball, he was given LBW, though acted as is he thought he's hit it, 65-3 and Yorkshire back in this and Rossington in only fourth game now joining Malan.
The pair soon took on the bowling, Malan in particular began to cut loose now finding boundaries with regularity as the required rate never went much above 6 an over and the first six was to come with Malan swinging Rhodes over midwicket soon after reaching a 59 ball 50. He raced from 51 to 88 in 18 balls but was not to have a deserved hundred, fishing at Bresnan outside off to edge though to Hodd for 91 off 88 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes. At 201-4 this left 36 needed from the final 10 overs, Rossington, having reached his own 50 from 49 balls, saw Middlesex home to a six wicket win with 26 balls to spare in an unbeaten 79, a comprehensive win at the new "home away from home".
Sunday, 21 July 2013
Impressive, Mr Anderson, but England Uprooted
The third day of the first test of the summer against New Zealand began with New Zealand 153-4, still 79 behind England. Stuart Broad struck immediately, Brendon McCullum caught behind by Matt Prior 2nd ball for two who blew a review in the process. New Zealand's hopes remained with Kane Williamson who reached a battling 50 from 158 balls, BJ Watling had some luck, dropped by Jonathan Trott at 3rd slip, then surviving an LBW review off Broad. But Williamson fell next over, strangled down the leg side off Anderson for 60. Steve Finn came into the attack and Tim Southee greeted him with a four over the slips, a four down the ground and another four smote over extra cover. But Southee went for one more hit which went straight up in the air to be caught by Joe Root just off the cut strip. The end came quickly, Bruce Martin was bowled off stump by a cracker from Anderson to bag his 5th, then Finn had Watling (17) caught behind and Trent Boult looped to gully (0) as New Zealand were bowled out for 207.
Cook and Nick Compton eased along for eight overs before Boult found Cook's edge where Dean Brownlie took a flying catch at 3rd slip to go for 21, 36-1. Compton didn't last much longer, Neil Wagner splattering his off stump next over for 15, 36-2. Root and Trott then began the rebuilding operation as New Zealand began to lose their grip on the game, Root being particularly stylish in his dispatching of the attack, especially through cover and point. The 50 partnership came up in the 25th over as the 100 came up with a four through point. Then Root was nearly run out in a mix up with Trott, but Watling couldn't gather cleanly running up to the stumps, but landed heavily on his knee, and had to go off, with McCullum taking over keeping duties. Not that this fazed Root, who went to his 50 from 78 balls. The runs kept flowing and Martin then limped off injured as well, leaving Williamson to bowl along with seamers. Then Southee managed to rip one onto Root's stumps to go for 71 off the inside edge, 160-3. Trott went to fifty, but Bairstow gave Southee his 2nd of the day, bowled for 5.
Southee soon had three, Prior playing a lazy pull to substitute Martin Guptill and square leg to bag a pair. Williamson got in on the collapse as Trott (56) went for a big drive, only for the ball with turn past the edge and crash into the stumps, 171-6. This brought together nightwatchman Finn and Ian Bell, who'd been off ill most of the previous day. They saw out the last 3 over until close, 180-6, leading by 205, Southee with 3-34.
Cook and Nick Compton eased along for eight overs before Boult found Cook's edge where Dean Brownlie took a flying catch at 3rd slip to go for 21, 36-1. Compton didn't last much longer, Neil Wagner splattering his off stump next over for 15, 36-2. Root and Trott then began the rebuilding operation as New Zealand began to lose their grip on the game, Root being particularly stylish in his dispatching of the attack, especially through cover and point. The 50 partnership came up in the 25th over as the 100 came up with a four through point. Then Root was nearly run out in a mix up with Trott, but Watling couldn't gather cleanly running up to the stumps, but landed heavily on his knee, and had to go off, with McCullum taking over keeping duties. Not that this fazed Root, who went to his 50 from 78 balls. The runs kept flowing and Martin then limped off injured as well, leaving Williamson to bowl along with seamers. Then Southee managed to rip one onto Root's stumps to go for 71 off the inside edge, 160-3. Trott went to fifty, but Bairstow gave Southee his 2nd of the day, bowled for 5.
Southee soon had three, Prior playing a lazy pull to substitute Martin Guptill and square leg to bag a pair. Williamson got in on the collapse as Trott (56) went for a big drive, only for the ball with turn past the edge and crash into the stumps, 171-6. This brought together nightwatchman Finn and Ian Bell, who'd been off ill most of the previous day. They saw out the last 3 over until close, 180-6, leading by 205, Southee with 3-34.
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