Bucks Fizz sparkles in spite of Beer's head start

London Leprechaun reporrts on the first day of the must win match against Sussex.  We hear about more imperious batting from Chris Rogers and why it is not a good idea to drop him at slip. And some good support batting from Sam Robson and Neil Dexter.  It's another good day for the Middle.  And it was sunny.

Even with a 12noon start I had to rely on the radio for the first half an hour so. It sounded like a quiet but steady start with no obvious reason for Sussex putting us in. I got a lowdown on the Sussex team - Anyons rested, Panesar injured, Hamilton Brown 'not playing' Prior returning. Why isn't he in the England one day said the commentators, before noting the interesting fact that the two leading wicket takers in the country were bowling to the two leading run scorers. This was serious 1st Division cricket.

Just as I get into the ground I hear of Yardy dropping  Chris Rogers. Not a good idea, dropping Chris Rogers. And not that difficult a catch by all accounts. The rest of the morning passes quietly but very effectively as the run machine that is the Middlesex opening partnership slipped into gear with minimum fuss. In spite of Sussex's slow over rate we eased to 100 just on the stroke of lunch and it was a real surprise when Robbo was trapped by Beer. Especially as it looked as if he had come on partly to ease the Sussex over rate which had slipped to an alarming minus 4. Even we have never managed that in one session! Certainly that wicket did not justify the deicsion to bowl first -there looked very little wrong with the wicket.

The afternoon session was strange. Joe Denly played one beautiful straight drive for four, followed by a inside edge for two and then became completely becalmed. He was on 9 for ages before finally being bowled by Beer. It was only at that point that many of us realised that Adsm London was playing for Dawid Malan. Or as someone said we had swopped  one City for another, you need to say that joke aloud and the person who made it will remain nameless. Surprising decision especially given in what form he had looked last night especially playing proper cricket shots. Or as someone else said maybe it was to give us something controversial to ask at next week's forum; there won't be much else to be critical about.

Anyhow Adam London looked busy from the off and played some neat shots before being given out to an lbw decision that puzzled everyone watching from various side angles – just the perfect place to be to judge these things!. So Sussex had their 1^st point before we got ours, but we were not long behind. Meanwhile Chris Rogers was just accumulating runs as the run machine he is.  He kept the score moving when Denly got stuck, scampered singles and twos and hit numerous classy drives and just before tea he got to yet another classy hundred. How he stayed under Australia’s radar for so long is such a mystery. I will be very happy if he does well in the Ashes- we will just take all the other wickets.

The tea interval gave us the chance to watch the mayhem of England’s last few overs in the ODI – watching Butler bat and noting – that is why Prior is not in the one day side!

Then back to proper cricket and a golden last two hours.  Neil Dexter started playing with increasing freedom and there were some delightful and adventurous shots; Chris Rogers just went on and on, giving Middlesex a perfect temporary eaving gift. (Hopefully we will get another one next week as well please). Sussex kept their spinners on until they had retrieved the over rate to +3 when they took the new ball for one last try. They had certainly realized by then that it was not a good idea to have dropped Chris Rogers, but in fact they did it again just after the new ball was taken – a harder chance but. . .

Apart from that Sussex bowled with heart all day; fielded enthusiastically and generally made the best of a decision to field that backfired somewhat.  There was some good natured banter between Luke Wells and some, I think, Sussex supporters, Best line was – “you do the fielding, we’ll do the drinking,’

And Lord’s looked a picture in golden summer sunshine.

And at the end all the Sussex fielders congratulated Chris Rogers as he walked off. A really nice touch.

This wicket may be too good for a result, and Sussex have some formidable batsmen. But who knows what scoreboard pressure can do if we can crack on tomorrow. And no reason why we shouldn't.