Chesney can't stop the Middle "strollin" to win
High fives for Hi FI
By comebackgatt
May 13 2010
comebackgatt reports from Lord's on Day three of the CC match v Derbyshire, a day that saw the visitors meekly surrender as Middlesex stormed to victory in three and a half days, their second in as many games. Read on...
My train arrived late at St Pancras; delay just outside Rochester (wrong leaves in the line I expect) so as I walked in the Nursery End the five minute bell was ringing. By the time I had made my up to the top tier of the pavilion play had commenced.
Overnight we were 366-9, with Murtagh and Finn at the crease. A lead of 170 although at one point it did look as though the lead might be over 200 when we were 328-6.We had added 12 when Finny was lbw to Groenewald and Middle were all out for 347, a lead of 178.
Could be a key session, if we could get a couple of wickets before lunch we would be in the driver’s seat. Rogers and Madsen opened, Rogers, of course ,has scored a double hundred and another ton already this season although he failed in the first innings. They started slowly but with the total at ten Madson fished to a ball from Finn outside the off stump and was caught at slip by Ace, Madson gone for just 2. He is in my fantasy team but I don’t care (as long as he starts getting runs after this match) then Borrington (who got a good 45 in the first innings) lasted just two balls before being trapped in front by High Fi, 14-2!! There are my two wickets already.
I looked out the back of pavilion and there were some ominous dark clouds coming from the West, still blooming cold, Jane Jones on Classic FM said this morning that yesterday was the coldest May day for 20 years, well Jane it ain’t much warmer today, thank goodness for me thermal vest!!. Fielders jumping up and down, and blowing in their hands. It seemed to work for Newman because shortly afterwards he hung on to a chance as Rogers top edged a pull shot off Dial M ( no comment here about Scott’s catching so far) and the dangerous Aussie was gone for just 10 and it was 20-3, Park smacked a couple of fours, before (too many fours there) Greg Smith, another player who has been in good nick with the back, became High Fi’s third wicket as Strauss took a great catch at slip and Smith was gone for 8 and it was 37-4.
Blimey at this rate we could have this done and dusted by tea!! Then just before the interval Park who had some fine boundaries was trapped in front by Bergie
.Lunch arrived with the visitors at 48-5, still needing 130 to avoid an innings defeat. I had some lunch and a hot coffee and wandered round the ground meeting up with a few old friends, one I had not seen for years, he is a Middle and Sorry member !, although always supports us when the teams meet. Arranged to meet up with him at the Oval.The sun has come out and it seems to be warming up a tad.
Back in my seat just in time to see play recommence, and it wasn’t long before another wicket fell, Sadler edging Berg to Simmo behind the stumps, what a match The Iceman is having. Derby seemed to be waving the white flag now as 61-6 becomes 66-7 with Goddard plump in front to IOB and then 71-8 with Lungley caught behind to give High Fi his fourth wicket . We then had a very entertaining period of play with a stand between Chesney Hughes and Groenewald ( who was dropped by Malan at second slip), who decided to go down guns blazing. Hughes, on his debut of course, had great fun blasting 9x4s and Groenewald hit 4x4s. Shaggy decided to bring himself on, first ball Hughes hit him for a big six, second ball a single, third Groenewald went for a big hit and was caught by .sub Tom Scollay , the ball being in the air a long time. A stand of 72 in what seem no time. Last man Footitt lasted just four balls before being bowled by Dial M. Hughes 59 no from 55 deliveries.Derbyshire all out 143, Middlesex winning by an innings and 35 runs.
Well what a day, I was hopeful when I set out this morning we would have a good day but this was amazing. It is, as Kimmy says, great fun to be a Middle fan at the moment. Roll on the Oval!!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:05:16:21:07:08 by Ged.
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
Kimmy
Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford
(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)