Two in two

By Jeremy Horne
April 24 2002

Middlesex rapped up their second victory in two championship matches today with a convincing innings and 31 run defeat of Nottinghamshire. The win puts us top of the table ahead of Derbyshire who claimed a tense two run win over Middlesex’s last opponents Durham today. Read on for the scorecards…

Middlesex managed to stay clear of the rain to record their second consecutive win, despite a brave effort from the Nottinghamshire tailenders. Ashley Noffke took career best figures of 7-100 in Nottinghamshire’s total of 272, which ensured the win. Lance Klusener had threatened to take the game away from Middlesex with a breezy 42 from just 39 balls, but when he was caught by Owais Shah off the bowling of Simon Cook; Nottinghamshire’s hope began to fade. However, not for the first time, Middlesex were frustrated by the Nottinghamshire tailenders. Greg Smith scored an unbeaten 39 and was supported by Chris Read (20) and Muhammad Malik (18). It was not enough, though and Middlesex claimed victory after lunch.

All that’s left to say is, Roll on Surrey!

DAY 2

Middlesex continued to dominate on day 2 of their match against Nottinghamshire, after forcing them to follow on with a first innings deficit of 303. They closed the day on 90-1 still 213 runs behind.

Angus Fraser became the first Middlesex bowler to take a five wicket haul in this year’s championship when a bagged 5-61 in Nottinghamshire’s abysmal first innings score of 159. Darren Bicknell was the only batsman to give any resistance, scoring 48 before becoming one of Fraser’s victims. Things looked to be going from bad to worse when Ashley Noffke had Jason Gallian caught by Sven Koenig for a duck at the start of the follow-on, but an unbroken stand of 81 between Bicknell and Guy Welton saw Notts through to the close on 90-1.

Earlier in the day, it was the usual tail of woes for Middlesex, adding just 29 to their overnight score of 433-6. Paul Weekes was out before adding to his overnight 50 and Fraser contributed a useful 20.

DAY 1

Nottinghamshire suffered at the hands of the Middlesex batsmen at Lords. Ed Joyce lead the way with 119. Strauss, Shah and Weekes chiped in with half centuries. The Nottinghamshire batsmen didn't do themselves any favours conciding 47 extras.

Middlesex 1st innings:

Strauss c Gallian b Smith 62
Koenig c Gallian b Malik 47
Weston b Klusener 24
Shah b Logan 63
Joyce c Afzaal b Smith 119
Weekes lbw b Logan 50
Nash c Read b Logan 21
Noffke c Pietersen b Smith 1
Cook b Logan 4
Fraser c Klusener b Smith 20
Tufnell Not Out 0

Extras 51

Total (all out, 114.2 overs) 462

Notts 1st innings:

Bicknell lbw b Fraser 48
Gallian c Strauss b Fraser 16
Welton c Cook b Noffke 13
Afzaal lbw b Cook 4
Klusener b Cook 0
Pietersen lbw b Fraser 1
Read Not out 26
Logan c Nash b Fraser 18
Randall c Weekes b Fraser 0
Smith lbw b Tufnell 0
Malik c Nash b Noffke 9

Extras 24

Total (all out, 60.4 overs) 159

Notts 2nd innings: (following on)

Bicknell c Strauss b Noffke 46
Gallian c Koenig b Noffke 0
Welton lbw b Noffke 51
Afzaal c Nash b Noffke 11
Randall b Noffke 8
Klusener c Shah b Cook 42
Pietersen lbw b Noffke 10
Read c Weekes b Tufnell 20
Logan retired hurt 2
Smith Not out 39
Malik c Nash b Noffke 18

Extras 25

Total (all out, 84.2 overs) 272

Our Man-of-the-Match: We cannot forget the efforts of all the Middlesex batsmen on the first day, particularly that of Ed Joyce. However, with Middlesex needing quick wickets incase of rain interruptions, these were delivered, firstly by the retiring Gus. However it was the second innings performance of Noffke that really rapped up the victory, and therefore he is our man-of-the match. If you wish to complement or disagree with this decision, the message board is open for discussion.