25 minutes of day 4

Hackneyshire makes a trip for day 4 and reports on a terrible abject surrender by Middlesex, Not that our Glous fan cares.. also Seaxe Man adds to report from a Middlesex point of view

Days Two and Three were lost to work for me so I am quite pleased bad light intervened yesterday: the stage is set for a result, as long as the promisedshowers don’t arrive too soon or last too long. Glos need three wickets for avictory, Middlesex, who resume at 167/7, need 122 to take the points. Aftertaking the wicket of Malan before bad light stopped play for the second time onDay Three, Glos start as favourites but, as any ‘shire fan will tell you, they don’t always do things the easy way and so no-one is taking anything for granted.

I get to the gate at Lord’s and the old chap gives me a strange look: “You know what it’s about don’t you?” he asked, “You know it might end soon?” I assured him that, despite being a lone female, I was aware of the rules of the game and that I fully hoped Glos did wrap it up early. Progress really is slow in County Cricket.

When I reach the Upper Edrich just after 10.30, there are four people in the ground that I can see but this trebles to twelve by quarter to and a whopping forty-three by the time the bell rings. The Middlesex fans nearest me are full of praise for the visitors’ fielding and catching (despite Ireland’s drop of Malan)  during  the match and of the bowling on show, particularly from Hussain and Lewis.

It is Hussain who opens from the Pavilion End and while Murtagh gets a four off him, the fact that the bowler beats his bat twice in succession must have set off a few alarm bells. Hussain has been something of a revelation this season, he’d been on the books of both Essex and Worcestershirebefore turning up at Glos last year and, at 26, must have thought his chances of a first class career had pretty much gone, but he’s now played in threeChampionship games this season and taken 22 wickets – more than anyone else inthe Division - at 13.72 apiece.

In his second over of the day it is Hussain who makes the breakthrough, tempting Murtagh to hit one straight down the throat of Gloucestershire’s sub, Ireland. It is his fifth of the innings and Middlesex are teetering at180/8, with the locals unsure whether Evans, who was off the pitch the day before, will bat at all.

O’Brien comes to the crease and while he lasts longer than his one ball in the first innings, he is caught in the slips by Snell off Kirbyt he following over for 2 and the home side are staring down the abyss at 183for 9, still 105 short of victory. Evans does come in but really he need not have bothered as he too falls to Kirby two overs later, the fifth player to be caught by a sub in the match, as Middlesex are all out for 185 and Glos recorda 103 run victory, lifting themselves off the bottom of the table at the same time.

It has taken just 25 minutes for Glos to wrap things up and as I leave my seat I can hear the start of some riotous celebrations and the team’s victory song being sung loud and proud from the Pavilion; as for the home team, well, there is still a fair bit of work to be done.  

FROM SEAXE MAN

Overnight: Chasing 289 for victory, The Middle 166 for 7. Udal 4no Murts 1no.
 
Weather: extremely breezy.
 
Crowd: Terry and I doubled the crowd in Upper Edrich from 2 to 4. Later by start-time a fair 2nd XI crowd was present. 60odd.
 
Prospects: with 7 down and 122 needed, a maiden century from Murst will do the trick. Otherwise: the last rites.
 
1st and only session
 
Udal took first strike to Hussain from PE. Single to fine leg. Comment from a well known Lord's figure on seeing the few incoming 'diehards'.. ' Is it a dodgy wicket or a **** team'? Answers on a postcard.
 
Murtagh then drove through cover for 4. Next over Kirby was pulled by Shaggy through mid wicket for 4. Yet another coverdrive for 4 by Murts......can we.....??? Several balls from Hussain passed the edge of Murtagh's bat without result for the bowler.
 
The brief euphoria ended when Murts hit a catch to mid off. 180 for 8. Murtagh 9. ct sub bowled Hussain. IOB joined Shaggy at the wicket. Hussain figures of 14-0-45-5 at this juncture. Shaggy single to mid on. 108 required....game on.
 
IOB two through extra cover. Field at this point had three slips. IOB was taken at second slip next ball. 183 for 9. IOB 2. Shaun single. Danny Evans now on strike. The end is nigh.
 
He swished at first ball and then kept out a yorker. Nice drive by Shaun for a single, which had looked a two. DE went for a runout to get off strike. Danny was then given out by square leg umpire after referral. Catcher never appealed. 185ao Udal 12no Evans 0. End of....time 11.25. Lost by 103 runs. Pts 6.
 
Summation.
 
For the third game out of four, the first innings totals meant we were chasing around 100 runs too many for a fourth innings. The wicket had something to keep the bowlers interested....but as Batty, Marshall, Taylor, Franklin, Dent, Taylor again, Lewis for Gloucs and Simpson, Shaggy, Newman ( I understand from Terry Abbott, that many of Scott's 42 were down to third man), Malan and Bergie for us....runs could be garnered in a low scoring match with application.
As a friend, and for 47 years a Man of the Middle, John Newman texted me (he saw 3rd day), worst batting he had seen from Middlesex over that time. No one excepted.
 
On the plus side, great figures for IOB first up, and a handy fourfer for Bergie second time around. For Gloucs Hussain's figures were excellent. In all of three 100 odd run defeats, dropped catches have been a watershed.
 
Finally, after Thursday night. Fulham - Pride of London. At least they gave me something to cheer about. Well done RoyBoy. 
  

A packed Lord's egarly await the start of Day 4

Murtagh struggles to get to grips with Hussain...

... before losing his wicket.

The final wicket falls

Gloucestershire celebrate