6 of the Best and a caining for Northants bowlers
Ton no. 68
By Dingy Bags
May 19 2014
On the same stage where George Best once scored six goals in one game, Dingy Bags reports on day where Toby Roland-Jones took a career-best 6-55, before a big stand between Rogers and Malan saw Middlesex take charge at Wantage Road.
In real heat, I took my place among a number of Middle men at the Indoor School End, though it was a bit odd not to see Toby in action at once. In fact, Ravi started at our end and Murts at the Pavilion. To be fair, Ravi looked far more likely to take a wicket, though the score advanced by thirty or so runs, with the annoying policy of pushing the field back to allow Chambers a single. This he often took, in fact he got a two once, and it seemed to serve only to play him in. Worryingly too, the overs were getting too close to the 110 mark for comfort.
But then Chambers got a lumpy inside edge onto his pad and Sam took the catch, with the final ball of the 108th. Three bowling points and three wickets to the impressive Ravi. Next over, Toby now on at the far end, Butler gave us a good idea of how much he rates the batting of Azharullah, by flailing at one or two big style. He got a single and then Azhar got an edge to Ollie who made no mistake. 283 was an excellent total to bowl out any side on a flat deck with the sun beating down.
At the interval between innings there were two announcements. One was of Toby’s best-ever return. The other was of the birthday, at 76, of a long-serving gateman. 98-year-old Seaxe Man was distinctly unimpressed.
Chambers bowled a good spell with pace and even a bit of bounce to start our innings. He had a big shout for lbw against Buck first ball. But it was Azhar who struck: Sam drove flat-footed at a full delivery, eyes lit up, but could only edge it to Middlebrook at second slip. 8-1. There were no further alarms until Butler, from the Pavilion End, and having frustrated Buck with a packed off-side field, induced a fairly agricultural slash which resulted in an edge to slip. He reacted very late and threw out an arm but could only palm the ball behind him. I won’t name the fielder but perhaps he was already thinking of his lunch. To be fair, the big red Virgin sign, at eye level, cannot help a slip trying to sight the ball. Buck was on 17 at that point and it always looked a costly drop.
Lunch at 54-1 with Buck assured and Mala mixing some playing-and-missing with some excellent shots on both sides of the wicket. They continued after lunch and, in fact, runs came really quickly for a while. At this point, contributor to this site, Primrose Hillbilly arrived, as he had promised from his interview and it was great to spend the rest of the day in his company. As I said to him at the end, now he knows what we all look like (horrible).
We did not lose a wicket between lunch and tea, with 121 runs coming. Buck was efficient, although not always timing it right on a slow wicket and Mala produced some lovely looking shots, pulling anything short and playing some lovely shots through the covers. At tea we were contemplating a lead by this evening. Not long afterwards Buck went to yet another hundred, some late cuts and some lofted straight drives when the spinners tried to tie him down will live in the memory. Yet a few balls later and completely out of the blue, he was out, apparently completely deceived by ex-Mex Bugsy Spriegel.
Dex arrived with aggressive intent, carting the same bowler for a six and a four in quick succession as we refused to let up the initiative. Apart from two dodgy quick singles off consecutive deliveries, it seemed that there were few problems as we moved past 220 and Mala moved into the nineties. He’s had his problems, as we all know, and this had been far from an unblemished knock, but he was looking organised and collected until, again out of nowhere, he lifted Hall just a bit off the ground to midwicket. In fact he struck the ball crisply, his timing only just out to Duckett, who didn’t. That hundred remains elusive. It was by far the worst moment of my day.
By now Dex had lost some of his fluency and had a couple of heaves at the seamers. Joe Denly arrived and, though he was cautious and far from aggressive, he actually batted far more soundly of the two to the close, though a grubber from Chambers must have been really close to having him lbw. His score of 20 might not look much but it is significant for him and for the side, in the medium to long term. Just as crucial was ther hour he spent at the crease.
We are in a position to build a good lead here and with some uneven bounce from the Pavilion End and the likelihood of a bit of help for the spinners, we could force another win. If the weather allows it.
Thanks to all for their company today – after Saturday it was nice to be able to have a conversation with people who weren’t actually sharing your seat.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014:05:23:17:46:46 by BarmierKev.
In an interview JW has linked to on the match thread Buck said he wouldn't have been disappointed if he had been given out first ball. Mind you, no one walks for an LBW!
All evens itself out- but if he had gone first ball the day might have turned out very differently.
Third successive 6fer for Middlesex bowlers Dex,Murt's and now Ro Jo.
Let's hope on day three the middle order can really push us out into an advantage position of some use should the predicted weather arrive.
If your going today four seasons clothing will be required
Bizarre out grounds visited or not visited, the conclusion that we actually had a very large number of these to our credit, a bit of chat about rugby, and some cricket as the background to the baking heat. Marvellous!
I remember the reporter starting his match report all those years ago by announcing, "Something happened to Northampton Town today. It was George Best"!
DB's report was done without apparent recourse to pen and paper, just his memory. Worth noting, ladies and gents, whereas Del Boy Pringle does it by tapping away at his laptop.
Dawid did so palpably slow down, the closer he got to treble figures. He so has that gift of so many southpaws to not look as if he's hit the ball, yet it's been persuaded by contact with his bat to go to the ropes. Buck, an altogether more industrious, bustling, short arm pummeller, but it's in the book, it works, and if he had been not out last night, we'd have been much nearer 300, but not to worry.
Shame Dawid couldn't convert, but I'd rather be in our position with Ravi and Ollie to bowl later, than I would be in the Northants' camp.
May try to go on Day 4.
If I could get to Uxbridge or Chesham in time for your set offs, would anyone reading this be able to give me a lift?
More than happy to chip in to the petrol money.