Sussex v Middlesex C&G

Top Man With 82
By Seaxe Man and Terry Abbott
May 1 2006

A multimedia report from Seaxe Man (aka Ceefax Man today)and his mate Terry Abbott reporting from the ground by mobile phone. This is another story of a toss and a match lost in the C&G lottery competition this year. But there are positives for Middlesex, as our correspondents reveal.

This report is a bit of a composite as I did not go due to the weather. But I was in contact by mobile with an eyewitness - one Terry Abbott - so my thanks to him.

The report is of necessity brief.

The side selected included an extra batsman to provide depth. However without Betts, Richardson or Styris the balance although better still was not ideal.

Once again Middlesex lost the toss and batted in the less favourable conditions. The match being truncated to 40 overs. The first wicket to go was Smith defeated by a superb slower ball by Naved. ( 19 for 1). Silverwood was then promoted as pinch hitter, though this failed to work. (23 for 2).

A decent stand then developed between Weekes (who batted watchfully) and Shah before Weeksey on reaching 50 tried to accelerate and was out. (100 for 3). There followed another useful stand between Shah and Joyce before Ed was bowled. (170 for 4). Shah eventually went for 82 including 3 sixes one of which went out of the ground. (190 for 5).

This left the remaining batsmen with not many overs left and we closed on 200 for 6 although JD did have the satisfaction of hitting the final ball for six after Nick Compton was out at 194 for 6. Naved was once again our tormenter with 4 wickets. Our reporter at the ground (Terry) thought that we had started our acceleration 5 overs too late.

After a couple of early wickets, Prior and Adams left Sussex at 22 for 2. A stand of 144 between Montgomery and and Goodwin proved to be the match winner. Although we took them to 39.4 overs (they of course batted when there was less help for the bowlers) - our eye witness felt it was never that close and Sussex were pretty well in control.

Result - Middlesex lost by 6 wickets.

Team in batting order Weekes - 50 - Smith - 6 - Silverwood - 1 - Shah - 82 - Joyce - 22 - Dalrynple - 17no - Compton - 2 - Hutton 0no - dnb Scott - Keegan - Louw. Extras 20 Total 200 for 6. Bowling Louw 8-0-40-1 Keegan 7.4-0-27-1 JD 8-0-43-2 Weekes 3-0-23-0 Hutton 3-0-20-0 Joyce 2-0-20-0

Summary - a better effort than last week but still a work in progress - good to see Chad back in effective action and both Weekesey and Ace making runs.

So on to Uxbridge to meet the formidable Hampshire. Will our excellent record at this ground be continued!!!!