Mexicans repelled

Top reportage from Phil the Power Taylor on a hard fought fourth day of the Middlesex v Surrey game at Lords.  ( front picture from today is of Dext after his 3rd six)

A group of seven took their seats in the Grandstand for the start of play and witnessed a crashing cover drive for four by Finn who promptly edged the next ball to slip and was on his way back to the pavilion. (287-3 c Solanki bd Dernbach).

Malan got off the mark with a push down to long on off the same bowler and Rogers glanced a shot down to third man to bring up the Middles 300.Malan then plays one of his repotoire of dangerous shots pulling Dernbach to the fence with two men back for the shot. A Rogers drive pulls up short of the rope (as did many other shots during this game) and brings up his 150 (319-3),the 50 partnership followed soon after and the early chirping of the Mexican fielders had virtually been silenced. Almost immediatly Rogers hits a six off Linley and moves to 175 his highest score for Middlsex to date. After an hours play it's 356-3 (a lead of 184) and Smith brings Batty on from the Nursery End. Tremlett on from the pavilion end and his first ball induces a chinese cut from Rogers which moved him on to 199.The next ball was tapped down to square leg to complete a wonderful double century for the skipper. (381-3) and a lead of 209,dare I say it the Mexican heads are beginning to drop. Malan then edges over the keepers head to bring up the 400 and soon skies one to deep extra cover where Harinath (or was it Harry Worth) drops the catch to the mirth of the MTWD contingent (ed's note , he was late starting off to catch it on the call and Smith didn't look too pleased about it either).

It had to happen eventually,Rogers is bowled around his legs by Batty for 214.A truely superb innings (417-4), Stirling joins Malan at the crease. Those expecting a batting collapse of the first innings proportions were to be denied in some ways but Malan hitting Tremlett to Smith at mid on for 47 (417-5) and Stirling out for 1 soon after(420-6) caught Solanki bowled Tremlett to an absolutely rediculous shot mad talk of declaration batting while only 245 ahead with 60 overs left in the day seem rather daft.

Dexter and Simpson see us through to lunch, one shot being a very rare (at Lord's) all run four from yet another ball which refused to leave the playing area. Lunch 424-6 a lead of 252. We are joined by Phil  (Battle) Catchpole during the break. On resumption of play Dexter and Simpson get their heads down and bat sensibly as they should "none shall pass" LP describes it as.

450 up with a Dexter nudge and with the cricket quite quiet someone notices the flags on the pavilion,ours stretched out in the breeze and theirs flacid and limp against its pole. 462-6 and Solanki is brought on. A Simpson six over square legbrings up the 300 lead (476-6).Things move along slowly and every over bowled closes the door on the Mexicans hopes of a first win at HQ since 1997.Two huge sixes by Dexter into the grandstand soon wake people up a bit the second bringing up his 50 too.(499-6).505-6 as yet another six crashes into the hoardings. Despertation bowling time from the Mexicans as Burns comes on for a trundle and it works as he induces Dexter to hole out on the boundaryfor 59 (510-7). Jones in and Hariinth does the same as Burns accounting for Tobias's wicket caught by Burns for 2 (513-8).  There was spme good natured banter from front up the Grandstand with Graeme Smith about why he wasn't bowling? Murtagh sent out,for a  walk it would seem as we declare soon after he arrives at the wickets, (514-8 declared)

This leaves Surrey the small matter of 343 to win in 48 overs!!

Murtagh and Finn open the bowling and things plod along until Burns edges Murtagh to Simpson and it's 32-1. Tea is taken with Surrey 41-1 Smith 21 not out and Harinath 3 not out.

After the tea interval things just wombled along quietly until the hands of Old Father Times clock face hit 5pm with Surrey on 85-1.Handshakes between Smith and Rogers and we are all done with the result a draw with our over rate 0. Happy Middlesex fans make their way home but there will be gloom on the streets of Monterrey tonight.