Middlesex On The Verge

Diamond reports on a super Sunday at Lord's. By the end of Day Three, Middlesex had got themselves from a good position into an excellent position. Diamond tells us how it all happened.

The day having dawned as clear blue skies and bright sunshine had started to dull over a bit as I parked opposite the ground at 10:45. The usual Sunday errand run and the fact that it was a Championship start time meant the use of the car rather than public transport was a bit of a no contest. Tip for those travelling to Lord’s from the West by car, if your early enough to miss the traffic on the Southall bit of the Uxbridge Road stick with that till you hit the West Cross roundabout at the Bush, this takes out all the never ending roadwork’s on the A40 and Hayes Town to the ground took 25 minutes this morning, not bad at all. The bonus is you can park for free on the weekends in certain areas of St John’s Wood.

Middlesex refuse to heel.

Northants took the field with Middlesex 310-6 overnight at 10.55am while the Test boys in Birmingham were contemplating an 11 o’clock inspection and a delayed start. No problems like that at Lord’s with the superb drainage system, it would probably have to rain for 40 days and 40 nights for that too happen (so about 20 days short of that still!)

Van Der Wath finished his over off from last evening and in the third over of the day (2nd if you count the 2 balls as yesterdays) Hall who had replaced VDW (Van Der Wath will be used from now on , I’ve got to be at work at 6am tomorrow!)  ended Skippers brief stay with the bat by bowling him for 3. (316-7). The Special One and Dial M set about putting some runs on the board with some excellent 4 ball shots .Dial M’s to the long Tavern boundary was particularly pleasing as it split two fielders perfectly and left them both with a long chase for nothing.

VDW replaced the largely ineffective Boje as soon as the new ball was taken and very soon trapped Dial M, LBW for 9. (335-8)

Finns off the mark 3 was all he got, caught Hall bowled VDW leaving us 5 short of another batting point (345-9).

No need to worry about that, although not a massive wielder of the willow the one thing you can say about Big Al is that when he hits a ball it stays hit ,a couple of singles and the point is in the bag. When he decided to take Hall on off the first ball of his over I thought this won’t last long, two 4’s off the first two balls, the second of which was through the slip cordon and Hall traps the big lad LBW with his third ball, a spirited 11 all the same from Big Al. The foil to all these guys at the other end, The Special One had made his way quietly and sensibly to 28 not out by the close of the innings which had a nice circular feel to it 360 all out .

That’s going to hurt in the morning!

May I at this stage interject with a personal view, how good it is to see Dial M charging in again, we have missed him. Dial M and Finny open the attack and within 7 overs Scotty has snared a good catch low down off Dial M to remove Howgego, Howgego he ge gone for 6 (19-1).

Diamond's Personal View

With the score at 23-1 we had one of those horrible moments where the batsman (I think it was Peters) took a huge swipe at a ball, the next thing it connected with was the side of young Robson’s helmet where he was fielding in close. No dropping like a stone for this lad though, while everyone else was running around looking concerned (including the umpires and both batsmen) he just took the helmet off, looked at it and called for a new one. He was however removed from the field by his skipper and the physio for a check up. I couldn’t see quite why? Even when not bashed about the head with a 4oz leather object at speed I would struggle not to fall over taking all those pads and bits off close fielders now seem to wear. Sam managed it perfectly and handed all the gear to Simpson as his replacement who then dropped half of it trying to put it on! With Simmo under the lid, where does the next ball go? You guessed it straight to him, this time without incident.

Dial M then picked up the wicket of White LBW for 1. For some reason I have got PLUM written in my notes, how I could tell from the Middlesex Room with the wicket two in from the Grandstand goodness only knows!  (25-2). TSO bowled the almost obligatory over of spin to end the morning session with Northamptonshire at lunch at 29-2.

Perambulation was allowed at lunchtime the outfield feeling firm underfoot but springy due to all the recent rain, it was as ever in beautiful condition something Mick Hunt and his team should be duly proud of.

Afternoon fun in the sun.

I relocated to the Warner stand during lunch to be nearer the action and the sun had reappeared so I thought I would make the most of the summer. Robson reappeared with the rest of the Middlesex players after lunch and went straight back in under the tin lid, talk about if you fall off a horse get straight back on!!

The afternoons play was steady, some of the fielding not. I do wish Ace would concentrate the whole time he is in the slips! Shaggy came off for a while having done damage to his neck while fielding, reminder to Skipper, your not 18 years old anymore, bloody good stop though saving at least 2 runs.

15th over Finny traps Peters LBW for 25 (37-3) and the sun bursts through the cloud again. At 50-3 I decide it’s time I “brought a wicket” those that have read my copy in the past know this generally means going to the loo guarantees a wicket. Not being on the falling down water due to driving I didn’t need one so decided to vary the routine by going to visit Eric in the Middlesex shop. Well it didn’t work! I now own a new blue Middlesex baseball style cap, Simon Hughes latest hardback, a new Championship shirt and an  earful from the wife when she susses I have put the lot on the Housekeeping account.

Various bowling changes and chances missed are put in the past when in the 29th over of the innings Skipper replaces Big Al with his good self. Third ball he has Wakely caught and bowled for 24.(75-4). This with our first innings lead equated to Northants being 3-4.

It got better very soon after when Boje looped a ball off Skipper up into the air to be taken well by a diving Robson.(79-5).Just a shame that Ace missed Wessels off TSO when the score was 84-5.

Northants brought their 100 up off 230 balls and Wessels and Hall proceeded to post a good 50 partnership just before tea. The session between lunch and tea was 112-3 , oh how much better that could have been with a few held catches and the Holder boys feeling more like giving batters out LBW than they seemed to.

Post Tea struggle.

161-6!! Malan running in and diving full stretch in front of the packed (not) Grandstand catches the dangerous (and lucky) Wessels off Dial M’s bowling for 57.All sorts of bowling changes are tried and conferences between Skipper, Keeper and senior bowler take place often but no more wickets fall. Northants reach 200 off of 401 balls. With 10 overs left in the day a drinks break is taken and a towel brought out to the rather sweaty looking Hall.

Big Al replaces the Skipper and removes Hall for 48 caught well again by Scotty(211-7).With that annoying partnership broken enter Monty Panesar, time for at least eight men behind the bat, good thinking but to his credit Monty is no mug with the bat, remember the first Test of the Ashes at Cardiff? The Aussies do. Northants go in at close of play with VDW on 40 not out and Monty 5 not out, 225-7.

A good day’s cricket enjoyed by those who attended from both Counties, just a shame that a lot of folk obviously saw the Test match as a better option.

Middlesex plans for tomorrow? Three quick wickets knock off the runs required and secure that elusive first Championship win of the season.