Not Much Al Round Cheer

Lower Mound reports on a mixed day, but is complimentary and fairly optimistic still

Day three began in overcast conditions ideal for bowling with Durham on 28-1, ahead by 129, with Scott Borthwick on 7 and Phil Mustard on 21. 

Early wickets were required, and with the score on 33, the Colonel flashed outside his off stump, and was caught by Simmo for 25 to give Murts his seventh wicket in the match. The next batsman in was Mark Stoneman. Without any runs added, Stoneman fell in exactly the same way as Mustard to make Murts’ figures 9-6-12-3. Next in was Michael Richardson. He lived a charmed life, constantly being beaten, particularly off the fine bowling of TRJ, and was finally bowled the last ball before lunch by Dexter for 40, making it an excellent morning for the Middlesex, with the lunch score 99-4. Borthwick scored just 23 in the session. 

After lunch, Ben Stokes came to the crease. Switching to the Pavilion end, Murts took his fourth wicket, as Borthwick was caught behind in the second over of the session. Next in was Paul Collingwood. Things got even better for the Middle when Stokes, having smashed Finn for a four and a six in the previous over, was trapped lbw to TRJ for a well-deserved 15 with the score on 139. Next in was Gordon Muchall. In the 66th over, Collingwood, who had been the only batsman to make batting look easy, reached his second fifty of the match, which had included three sixes. Just before the tea interval, Simmo held a brilliant catch off the bowling of Finn to have Collingwood out for 58 with the score on 218, and tea was immediately taken. 

John Hastings was next in, and in the 78th over, Muchall brought up his 50 with a four off Dexter. His 50 had included nine fours. The new ball was taken with the score on 244-7, and when the score had moved on to 268, Hastings was caught by Dexter off the bowling of Murts for 28, giving Murts his second five-for in the match and his fourth career haul of 10 wickets in a match. Next in was Chris Rushworth. With the score on 293, Buck held on to a brilliant catch off the bowling of TRJ for 19. Last in was Peter Chase, who only lasted eight balls before being given out lbw to Ollie Rayner without troubling the scorers. Durham were all out for 294, Muchall the not out batsman with 74, and Murts ended with match figures of 10-192. 

This left the Middle with 12 overs to make inroads into a target of 396. Buck got us off with a four in the second over, but the next ball, was lbw to Hastings to end a disappointing match for him. Next in was Malan, but with the score on 6-1, the players went off for bad light with 10 overs to play. After a short break, the players returned, and thankfully there were no further wickets, with Sam Robson ending the day unbeaten with 34 with seven fours and Malan 4 not out. 

All in all, our bowlers bowled brilliantly throughout the match, and were backed up by the brilliant keeping of Simmo. 

Tomorrow should be an exciting day, with all results possible.