Kiwi Plays Fruitful Innings

Lower Mound reports on a day of twist of turns that was rescued by a Kiwi. Read on to see how the events unfolded.  

After the defeat v Yorkshire at Headingley and the interruption of the T20 Blast competition, it was important that the Middle got back to winning ways v Worcestershire. Sadly, with only five runs on the board, Middlesex had already lost two wickets, as Sam Robson had been caught by Hillingdon-born Tom Fell off Charlie Morris off the first ball of the match, followed soon after when Nick Compton was caught by Richard Oliver off Joe Leach. Joe Burns joined Nick Gubbins at the wicket with the score 5-2, and took the score on to 45 before Gubbins was caught by Saeed Ajmal off the bowling of Jack Shantry for 21.

Things got even worse when Paul Stirling came in, as after having faced four balls, he fell lbw to Shantry. With Worcestershire clearly on top, James Franklin joined Burns at the crease. Up to lunch, Burns was the only one making batting look easy, and was playing shots all around the ground. They took the score to 78-4 at lunch. Clearly the first session had gone to Worcestershire.

During the lunch interval, we watched Jack Russell chatting away to the passing crowd and signing his latest book. A big improvement was needed after lunch by Middlesex, and that is exactly what happened. However, it didn't start too well, as Burns was caught by Fell off Shantry for 57 with the first chance he gave having hit five fours to end a partnership worth 51. John Simpson joined Franklin at the crease, and they took the score to 184-5 at tea.

Until the wicket of Burns, Franklin had been watchful, but thereafter he began to accelerate, with Simmo instead being the one to play second fiddle. When their century partnership was brought up, Franklin had contributed 78 and Simmo 19. The runs kept on flowing, and the next landmark was when Franklin reached his century off 187 balls with 14 fours, with his second fifty coming off 65 balls. His century had been hastened when he was on 95, as Fell fielded the ball close to the boundary near us, and accidentally kicked it into the ropes. ( Editors note " He Fell over") 

With the Middle now on top, the 250 came up in the 82nd over, with Franklin on 117 and Simpson on 33. The 150 partnership came up with four leg byes. With Franklin scoring 121, he was dropped at long leg by Morris. The partnership finally came to an end at 170 with the score on 272, as Simpson was caught by Daryl Mitchell off Morris for 41. Just before the close, disaster struck, as Franklin caught by Fell off Shantry on 135 after hitting 18 fours off 255 balls, and was given a standing ovation back to the Pavilion. Play closed immediately with the score on 289-7.

All in all, both counties will be happy with their performance, in particular Worcestershire's fielding in the slips and Middlesex’s recovery after losing early wickets. It was a great fightback by the Middle, and they will be looking forward to a third batting point after losing five early wickets.