Hi all.
I know this has been somewhat abandoned over the last couple of years so I thought, what with the new season just about to start, it was time for a refresh and a spring clean which doubles as a fourth anniversary celebration.
I'll try and keep this more reliably up to date, probably with some shorter reports and other random thoughts.
I'll be tweeting as usual from @Wardog1990 and getting all 2012 with a hashtag - #cricket15 which may only last a few games, but we'll see.
First bit of cricket this season is the 2nd day of the warmup game at Chelmsford tomorrow.
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Finn Flying Upwards
The first day of Middlesex vs Yorkshire at Lord's began with Middlesex winning the toss and fielding, and got quick reward with Alex Lees caught behind off Murtagh in the 3rd over. Adam Lyth and Kane Williamson then added 50 for the 2nd wicket, before Lyth edged to Simpson off Finn for 34. Joe Root's first game of the season lasted all of 5 balls as he departed for a duck, trapped LBW by Finn. Before lunch there was still time for another wicket, Williamson edging Harris to Murtagh at 2nd slip, 75-4.
The post lunch struggle for the Yorkshire middle order led to their demise with Rashid (6) and Hodd (5) falling in quick succession, and a couple of overs later Ballance was well caught by Robson off Harris for 20, 113-7 and Middlesex were well on top. Liam Plunkett had other ideas, and showed off his all-round power by flaying the ball with a fair amount of ease as the boundaries flowed to bring up the 150, Sidebottom gave Robson his 3rd catch and Finn his 3rd wicket falling for a handy 12. Plunkett completed his 50 from 52 balls as the end came quickly with Patterson cleaned up by Finn (4-50) and Brooks playing on for 1 as Yorkshire finished 178 all out, Plunkett with 56 of those.
Middlesex's reply began badly, with Rogers edging Brooks to Lyth at slip for 1 and then Robson edging behind for 6, each time Brooks broke into an explosive celebration. 20-2 and Morgan and Malan had some rebuilding to do, with the ball still swinging around under cloudy skies, Malan thumping 3 fours off Patterson and Morgan following up with two more off Brooks next over. Malan couldn't last the day, bowled by Sidebottom for 31 as Middlesex finished 64-3, Morgan unbeaten on 24. An even day in the end with some sensible batting needed from Middlesex.
The post lunch struggle for the Yorkshire middle order led to their demise with Rashid (6) and Hodd (5) falling in quick succession, and a couple of overs later Ballance was well caught by Robson off Harris for 20, 113-7 and Middlesex were well on top. Liam Plunkett had other ideas, and showed off his all-round power by flaying the ball with a fair amount of ease as the boundaries flowed to bring up the 150, Sidebottom gave Robson his 3rd catch and Finn his 3rd wicket falling for a handy 12. Plunkett completed his 50 from 52 balls as the end came quickly with Patterson cleaned up by Finn (4-50) and Brooks playing on for 1 as Yorkshire finished 178 all out, Plunkett with 56 of those.
Middlesex's reply began badly, with Rogers edging Brooks to Lyth at slip for 1 and then Robson edging behind for 6, each time Brooks broke into an explosive celebration. 20-2 and Morgan and Malan had some rebuilding to do, with the ball still swinging around under cloudy skies, Malan thumping 3 fours off Patterson and Morgan following up with two more off Brooks next over. Malan couldn't last the day, bowled by Sidebottom for 31 as Middlesex finished 64-3, Morgan unbeaten on 24. An even day in the end with some sensible batting needed from Middlesex.
Friday, 25 April 2014
Dunn, Dunn, Dunn
The second day of Surrey vs Essex at the Oval began with the toss, after the first day had been washed out, Surrey winning the toss and fielding. Alastair Cook and Jaik Mickleburgh found the going reasonably easy to start with, prodding runs off a fairly strong attack. The "highlight" of the morning being Zafar Ansari giving himself a concussion. Cook played a drive through point, Ansari misfielded it, but managed to chase it down to the fence and slid, only to carry across the wet outfield and into the advertising boards head first. There was about a 10 minute delay as he was revived and led off the field, he would take no further part in the game. The 50 came up in the 16th over, Cook looking particularly strong, before he played a horrible pull to Matt Dunn, which looped into the gloves of Steve Davies for 39, 67-1. Jade Dernbach soon got the 2nd, Mickleburgh edging to Graeme Smith at slip, 85-2. Around lunchtime, the rain came and dumped a bucketful on the ground, delaying us for a couple of hours.
The post lunch fight was led by Westley and Bopara, the pitch looking good, but with something in it for the seamers with the amount of the rain that had been around. The lack of Ansari (and with 3 keepers and Smith himself) the lack of change bowling became clear when Jason Roy came on as the fifth bowler in the 38th over. Matt Dunn returned to break the partnership in a cracking over, accounting for Westley (caught by Burns close in) and Greg Smith (edged to Wilson at 2nd slip) for a duck as Essex slumped to 126-4. The pace slowed up further as the bowlers kept the scoring in check and were rewarded when Meaker blasted one through Ben Foakes to snare him for 22. Bopara and James Foster brought up the 200, and Bopara was looking in good nick for a decent score, but was then strangled down the leg side by Roy for 49. Play ended soon after with Essex 225-6 in 78 overs, a draw looking the likely result.
The post lunch fight was led by Westley and Bopara, the pitch looking good, but with something in it for the seamers with the amount of the rain that had been around. The lack of Ansari (and with 3 keepers and Smith himself) the lack of change bowling became clear when Jason Roy came on as the fifth bowler in the 38th over. Matt Dunn returned to break the partnership in a cracking over, accounting for Westley (caught by Burns close in) and Greg Smith (edged to Wilson at 2nd slip) for a duck as Essex slumped to 126-4. The pace slowed up further as the bowlers kept the scoring in check and were rewarded when Meaker blasted one through Ben Foakes to snare him for 22. Bopara and James Foster brought up the 200, and Bopara was looking in good nick for a decent score, but was then strangled down the leg side by Roy for 49. Play ended soon after with Essex 225-6 in 78 overs, a draw looking the likely result.
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Notts Quite the Plan
The first day of the first home game of the season began in some surprising April sun as Middlesex took on Nottinghamshire at Lord's. Notts won the toss and batted, and after a couple of near edges, James Harris struck in the 10th over having Phil Jaques caught behind for 14, 16-1. Notts then struggled to get much above 2 an over as Murtagh, Harris and Finn bowled well to keep the pressure on, and Michael Lumb finally cracked, going for a pull that went straight up in the air for Robson at square leg to complete a solid catch, 50-2. Mullaney and Taylor saw Notts through to lunch, and afterwards started opening up with some powerful strokeplay as Middlesex bowled too wide and too short to Taylor, who whacked away a couple of pulls with ease. Taylor went to 50 from 63 balls and was looking well set when he fell LBW to Harris for 62, 131-3, just in time, and then Harris had Samit Patel caught behind by Simpson for 0 in the same over, 131-4. Riki Wessels came in and soon went after the short Grand Stand boundary, clubbing Murtagh for six, before Mullaney followed suit with a straight six off Ollie Rayner. Mullaney completed his 50 from 171 balls with a hook fine off Finn for four, but edged to Malan at first slip next ball for 52, 164-5.
Chris Read and Wessels proved hard to shift as runs came steadily and the pair passed 200 and Read cashed in on some loose bowling from Harris, too short and wide. After the 250 came up, the new ball did the trick as Finn managed to fire one through Read to remove his off stump for 40 and his next over Wessels (who had got to an 86 ball 50) edged to Rayner at third slip for 58, 259-7 and the chance was there to keep them below 300. Peter Siddle and Luke Fletcher then made more pain, as they took on Murtagh and Finn in a flurry of boundaries, as 25 came in 7 balls to bring up the 300, Siddle thumping Murtagh for four, six (into the grand stand again), four. Siddle then had one swipe too many and his midwicket heave got a leading edged low to Morgan at point off Harris for an excellent 40 from 35 balls. Carter and Fletcher saw Notts to close on 315-8, a good day for them, Harris and Finn the pick of the bowling with four wickets each.
Chris Read and Wessels proved hard to shift as runs came steadily and the pair passed 200 and Read cashed in on some loose bowling from Harris, too short and wide. After the 250 came up, the new ball did the trick as Finn managed to fire one through Read to remove his off stump for 40 and his next over Wessels (who had got to an 86 ball 50) edged to Rayner at third slip for 58, 259-7 and the chance was there to keep them below 300. Peter Siddle and Luke Fletcher then made more pain, as they took on Murtagh and Finn in a flurry of boundaries, as 25 came in 7 balls to bring up the 300, Siddle thumping Murtagh for four, six (into the grand stand again), four. Siddle then had one swipe too many and his midwicket heave got a leading edged low to Morgan at point off Harris for an excellent 40 from 35 balls. Carter and Fletcher saw Notts to close on 315-8, a good day for them, Harris and Finn the pick of the bowling with four wickets each.
Four Going Cheap to Jon Lewis
The first day of the new season got underway at Hove with Sussex taking on Middlesex, with Sussex winning the toss and sticking Middlesex in, and after an hours delay we got underway. It only took 13 balls for a wicket to falls, Chris Rogers skewing the ball from Magoffin to Stef Piolet at gully to go for 4. Sam Robson and Dawid Malan then fought for 11 overs in seamy conditions, Malan dropped at cover off Anyon, and they took the score to 36 before Robson had a swish at one from Anyon to be caught behind by Ben Brown for 11, 36-2.
After lunch there was a classic Middlesex collapse up there with the very best as Neil Dexter edged Jon Lewis to Brown for 6, and next ball Eoin Morgan's return to the red ball didn't last as Lewis found some huge inswing to detonate two stumps first ball. Adam Rossington survived the hat trick, but four overs later and Malan finally fell edging Lewis to Joyce for 35. Lewis then took his fourth of a crushing spell as Rossington had a feeble waft through to Brown for 8, 73-6. At the other end, things weren't getting any easier as Ashar Zaidi struck first ball, clipping the top of James Harris's off stump for six, before Tim Murtagh tried to hit a six, only to find Matt Prior about 10 yards in from the midwicket fence, 86-9 and 100 looking a mile off. At least Toby Roland-Jones and Steve Finn showed some fight, lasting for 30 minutes, with Roland-Jones pulling Piolet for four to take the score to 99, then taking one from the same shot to bring up an unlikely team 100, Finn swung a four off Zaidi, but Roland-Jones lost his off stump to Magoffin for 17 to end the innings on 105 and tea, Lewis finishing with 4-34 and Magoffin 3-21.
After tea Middlesex needed quick wickets, and Ed Joyce was promptly bowled by Murtagh for 12, then Luke Wells edged to gully for a slow four before Mike Yardy got a tight LBW go against him for Murtagh's second on 17 as Sussex slumped to 42-3. This brought in Matt Prior, out of form and looking for runs, on comes Finn, short ball, Prior misreads it and hits it straight into the air down to long leg where Roland-Jones is waiting, he dived, and spilled the ball, a catch that would have made the day somewhat better, as Roland-Jones got hit for a couple of boundaries himself as bad light ended the day with Sussex 86-3 after 20.3 overs, looking set for a good total to start the season.
After lunch there was a classic Middlesex collapse up there with the very best as Neil Dexter edged Jon Lewis to Brown for 6, and next ball Eoin Morgan's return to the red ball didn't last as Lewis found some huge inswing to detonate two stumps first ball. Adam Rossington survived the hat trick, but four overs later and Malan finally fell edging Lewis to Joyce for 35. Lewis then took his fourth of a crushing spell as Rossington had a feeble waft through to Brown for 8, 73-6. At the other end, things weren't getting any easier as Ashar Zaidi struck first ball, clipping the top of James Harris's off stump for six, before Tim Murtagh tried to hit a six, only to find Matt Prior about 10 yards in from the midwicket fence, 86-9 and 100 looking a mile off. At least Toby Roland-Jones and Steve Finn showed some fight, lasting for 30 minutes, with Roland-Jones pulling Piolet for four to take the score to 99, then taking one from the same shot to bring up an unlikely team 100, Finn swung a four off Zaidi, but Roland-Jones lost his off stump to Magoffin for 17 to end the innings on 105 and tea, Lewis finishing with 4-34 and Magoffin 3-21.
After tea Middlesex needed quick wickets, and Ed Joyce was promptly bowled by Murtagh for 12, then Luke Wells edged to gully for a slow four before Mike Yardy got a tight LBW go against him for Murtagh's second on 17 as Sussex slumped to 42-3. This brought in Matt Prior, out of form and looking for runs, on comes Finn, short ball, Prior misreads it and hits it straight into the air down to long leg where Roland-Jones is waiting, he dived, and spilled the ball, a catch that would have made the day somewhat better, as Roland-Jones got hit for a couple of boundaries himself as bad light ended the day with Sussex 86-3 after 20.3 overs, looking set for a good total to start the season.
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Notts Out to End the Season
The final day of Middlesex vs Notts at Lord's was the last day of the season from my perspective and sure enough it rained, so (having already lost a day to rain) we were delayed until just after lunch before play would resume with Middlesex on 96-0 against Notts 430 first innings total.
Chris Rogers and Sam Robson went on the attack early, as Notts struggled to bowl anything consistent, with Rogers cutting an early couple of boundaries including one which evaded Luke Fletcher's dive which took a large chunk out of the hallowed turf... Rogers cut Harry Gurney for six into the Mound Stand, then followed up with another four as he moved into the 90s. It wasn't long before another boundary off Fletcher brought up his third Championship hundred of the season (142 balls), and he was within sight of 1000 championship runs when he pulled Andre Adams straight up in the air for Fletcher to complete the catch for 108 out of 151 for the first wicket, worth the wait in the rain to see him bat so easily. Adams soon had two, as Robson nicked behind next over for 41, 152-2.
Joe Denly and Dawid Malan then steadied the ship with the nice strokeplay (Denly finding some late form) and luck (David Hussey dropping Malan at slip twice in two overs) as they added 59 to bring up the first batting point. Malan then went for a massive swing off Samit Patel, and was bowled for 15, 211-3. Denly helped raid 19 off an over from Gurney to complete his 50 from 70 balls, but was bowled from Gurney's next over for 63, 245-4. Simpson saw the 250 up then Dexter sliced a drive off Gurney to Michael Lumb at gully, 252-5. Simpson and Berg came together for the quick burst after tea, and added 42 and saw off another 12 overs with some rasping cuts and drives before Berg popped the ball back to Adams for an easy catch on 26, 294-6. Ollie Rayner heaved a couple of boundaries, but was LBW to Adams for 9, 314-6. Simpson then took over the scoring, and showed his good form in the last month or so by completing 50 with a pull for four off Adams to the Mound Stand fence, it also to Middlesex to 353-7, where Rogers declared and the game ended in a comfy draw, Notts taking 9 points and Middlesex 8.
Chris Rogers and Sam Robson went on the attack early, as Notts struggled to bowl anything consistent, with Rogers cutting an early couple of boundaries including one which evaded Luke Fletcher's dive which took a large chunk out of the hallowed turf... Rogers cut Harry Gurney for six into the Mound Stand, then followed up with another four as he moved into the 90s. It wasn't long before another boundary off Fletcher brought up his third Championship hundred of the season (142 balls), and he was within sight of 1000 championship runs when he pulled Andre Adams straight up in the air for Fletcher to complete the catch for 108 out of 151 for the first wicket, worth the wait in the rain to see him bat so easily. Adams soon had two, as Robson nicked behind next over for 41, 152-2.
Joe Denly and Dawid Malan then steadied the ship with the nice strokeplay (Denly finding some late form) and luck (David Hussey dropping Malan at slip twice in two overs) as they added 59 to bring up the first batting point. Malan then went for a massive swing off Samit Patel, and was bowled for 15, 211-3. Denly helped raid 19 off an over from Gurney to complete his 50 from 70 balls, but was bowled from Gurney's next over for 63, 245-4. Simpson saw the 250 up then Dexter sliced a drive off Gurney to Michael Lumb at gully, 252-5. Simpson and Berg came together for the quick burst after tea, and added 42 and saw off another 12 overs with some rasping cuts and drives before Berg popped the ball back to Adams for an easy catch on 26, 294-6. Ollie Rayner heaved a couple of boundaries, but was LBW to Adams for 9, 314-6. Simpson then took over the scoring, and showed his good form in the last month or so by completing 50 with a pull for four off Adams to the Mound Stand fence, it also to Middlesex to 353-7, where Rogers declared and the game ended in a comfy draw, Notts taking 9 points and Middlesex 8.
Thursday, 3 October 2013
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.
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.
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