Deja-vu!

By Jeremy Horne
July 14 2002

‘Here we go again’ must have been the thoughts of Mark Alleyne as Middlesex matched the performance they put in on the last day at Bristol last year with an equally impressive display at Southgate today.

The day began with Phil Tufnell hitting Matt Windows’ second delivery for four to bring up the third batting point. Andrew Strauss then declared leaving Gloucestershire to hit quick runs. Despite the early loss of Craig Spearman, they rallied to 152 for 2 from 36 overs when the declaration came, leaving Middlesex needing 240 to win from a minimum of 45 overs. As usual, Strauss and Koenig got us off to a solid start, but when they were both dismissed, together with the promoted Simon Cook, hopes of victory began to fade. It was then that Aaron Laraman, who was also promoted as a hitter, shared in a superb 149 partnership with Owais Shah. When Shah was dismissed for 63, Middlesex were on the brink of victory and it wasn’t long before Laraman hit the winning runs to leave him 82 not out, the highest score of his first class career.

Gloucestershire 1st innings: 388 (Barnett 182*)

Middlesex 1st innings:

Strauss b Fisher 82
Koenig lbw b Ball 59
Hutton c and b Ball 29
Shah c Alleyne b Ball 16
Joyce lbw b Fisher 21
Weekes b Fisher 10
Nash lbw b Fisher 2
Cook Not out 38
Laraman lbw b Fisher 0
Jones c Russell b Smith 29
Tufnell Not out 4

Extras 14

Total (for 9 declared, 123.2 overs) 301

Gloucestershire 2nd innings:

Barnett c Weekes b Jones 47
Spearman b Cook 1
Hancock Not out 63
Windows Not out 30

Extras 11

Total (for 2 declared, 36 overs) 152

Did not bat: Alleyne, Russell, Gidman, Fisher, Ball, Lewis, Smith.

Middlesex 2nd innings:

Strauss c Spearman b Ball 30
Koenig c Spearman b Alleyne 38
Cook c Alleyne b Ball 10
Laraman Not out 82
Shah lbw b Lewis 63
Joyce c Russell b Lewis 0
Hutton Not out 0

Extras 18

Total (for 5 wickets, 52 overs) 241

Did not bat: Weekes, Nash, Jones, Tufnell.

Result: Middlesex win by 5 wickets

FRIZZELL COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 2 TABLE:

Middlesex return to the top following the fine win over Gloucestershire. They remain the only unbeaten side in the two divisions after Warwickshire shocked Surrey by taking all of their second innings wickets in the final session at the oval. Derbyshire became Durham’s first championship scalps of the season yesterday, whilst Essex lost their second consecutive game (good news for next week!). Worcestershire’s defeat of Essex means they leapfrog Essex and Derbyshire into second.

1. Middlesex pld 8, pts 127
2. Worcestershire pld 9 pts 114.75
3. Essex pld 9 pts 112.5
4. Derbyshire pld 8 pts 107