Middlesex see they must be Fuller but run on Empty

THE BUILD UP 

Let's start report with the M3 travel which was okay (ish). 

The forecasted  showers did not appear and oh a Plain Jane burger plus

chips was £9.50

The crowd was the largest that I has seen for this fixture at The

Ageus Bowl. Must of been in the 10000 region. Not full but fairly

Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat. It took me a while to

discover that their main scoreboard was behind me as I sat square on

at the back, to avoid possible rivers of beer flowing down the hill. 

The boundary ropes were dragged in a fair distance T20 style. Malan

came in for Esky.

HAMSHIRE INNINGS

As he did last year James Vince went berserk and smashed Steve Finn's

first three balls for four. Over one going for 15. Similar treatment

was dished out to Stirlo in over two which went for a further 14. So,

29 on the board in two overs. As last year Vince slapped a ball up in

air next over and was taken by Fuller off Finn. But the scene was set.

Hampshire closed out the powerplay on 62 for 2 as Northeast was taken

by Sowter off Helm.

No further success occurred until over thirteen when Malan finally

called on JK Fuller.

His record breaking spell started with a no ball and a wide. But two

wickets fell in the over. Roussow caught by Morgan from an air shot

and Alsop dismissed next ball for a duck. Bowled by a rapid delivery.

So Hants suddenly 128 for 4. A further wicket went in his next over.

Dawson caught by Bravo. Over 17 brought two more. McManus taken by a

superb catch by Morgan, Holden's catch to dismiss Munro was in the

same class. He also had Berg caught behind without scoring. So,

4-0-28-6 was his final count. A Middlesex Record. in T20.

Signed as a white ball player he proved his worth here. Injury has not

helped recently and early season he was only walking in in 2nd XI

games. His recovery seems to be completed now

A runout and a wicket for Bravo completed the Hampshire innings. 184

all out. Over nine an over and a tough chase.

MIDDLESEX INNINGS 

Suffice to say this did not go well, Over one, Stirlo whacked a couple

of fours and was then defeated by a rapid ball from Wood which

disturbed the timber, so 8 for 1. Holden was going well at the other

end and with Malan's entry, they added 41 before Malan reverse swept

to gully for 7.

Morgan entered but did not stay long, caught for 3 by Roussow off

Munro at cover off a top edge. 52 for 3. so at the powerplay end MX

were  52 for 3 and in a lot of trouble.

Further disaster in over seven when Holden thought he had beaten the

bowler but he had not. From the ;prone position the bowler returned

the ball to the keeper who ran out Max with ease. Yards short for a

cameo 36. 58 for 4. 40 were then added by Simmo and Bravo before Simmo

was next to go caught from an air shot by Vince off Dawson. After that

Bravo completed a cameo 38 with a couple of big sixes and Tom Helm was

left not out 28. 

AND IN CONCLUSION 

The running between the wickets looked nervy. Epitomised by Ashton Agar who after about four attempts finally ran

himself out for 3 earlier in the innings.  Sowter departed for a duck

soon after and we were 121 for 7 and game over. The body language at

that point did not look good.

So MX lost by 21 runs.