After three rain ruined days, the match between Middlesex and Worcestershire seemed to be heading towards a bore draw. However, after an early morning conversation between the captains, and a rather generous declaration from Worcs captain Mitchell, Middlesex needed 10 wickets in a day to win the game, and did so with a few hours to spare, finally wrapping up the final wicket as Worcestershire were all out for 150, with Middlesex taking the win by 132 runs.
With a contrived double declaration overnight meaning Worcestershire needed 283 runs for victory from the 96 overs in the day, it was always going to be a tough ask, and questions will need to be asked of the Worcestershire captain, as it always seemed a ridiculously unlikely scenario to see his team win. Credit must go to Rogers for somehow getting Mitchell to agree to the target, as only a Middlesex win was ever likely - that was proved as Worcs fell one ball short of half way to surviving the day, and 132 runs short of actually winning the game.
Anyway, Middlesex pick up their second win of the season, and move into fourth spot in the table. Relegation? Pah!
So what have we learned from the game? Well, first and foremost, Joe Denly is some player. Coming in after a decent sized partnership between Robson and Strauss (Robbo made 50, Strauss fell one run short of his half-century), Denly looked incredibly composed at the crease, and his first Middlesex century (an unbeaten 134 - incidentally just two runs more than the eventual margin of victory, so it could quite literally be called a "match-winning innings") included 19 fours and a six - a sign that he is more than capable of sending the ball to the boundary. A different innings to his previous 'big' score for Middlesex, where he gutsed out a seventy-odd against Vernon Philander and Somerset , Denly was able to take advantage of some less than dangerous bowling, and push Middlesex up to 327/7 declared - what proved to be a winning score. Alan Richardson aside, Worcs' bowling attack looked very ordinary, and allied to an equally average batting performance, it's easy to see why many are tipping them to go down this year. You feel Richardson's going to have to have yet another magical season with the ball if they're to get anywhere in Division One this summer.
Equally, however, while the top order thrived, the middle order failed, yet again. 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Rogers, Malan, Dexter and Simpson only contributed 23 runs between them, and that middle-order collapse has become a part of every game this year. While we've often been bailed out by the strong top order, there are question marks over some of these players, and it will be interesting to see who scores heavily for the seconds (if they're able to get out on the pitch) over the next few weeks, as they may well be called into action to rejuvinate an ailing Middlesex middle. Runs for Berg were handy after a torrid start to the season with the bat for him (he now averages 8 with the blade), and of course, the Lambeth Lara remained unbeaten as Middlesex declared, with Murtagh's average now second in the list this year for Middlesex, with 32.
However, as well as Middlesex batted, the game was won with the ball. After taking two Worcs wickets last night, they came back this morning to see Worcestershire had started a new innings, and then took the ten wickets to win for just 150. Middlesex's bowling figures so far this year are excellent, with Roland-Jones leading the way with 16 Championship wickets at an incredible return of 13. He took four wickets in the game, as did Murtagh, with Finn and Berg both chipping in with two apiece. Yet again Middlesex haven't needed a spinner, and given the early season conditions being incredibly conducive for the fast bowlers, chances are Ollie Rayner may be waiting a while to get a go again in four day cricket. Corey Collymore (to my surprise) missed out in this game, and given the form of the four seamers, and with Finn likely to be available for next week's game at Trent Bridge against Nottingham, Corey may miss out once more. There are some faint murmerings of the West Indies calling Corey up for their test side for the games against England due to the visa problems of their touring squad, which would see the odd situation of Corey getting into the West Indies team but not Middlesex's! (Although I do have it on fairly good authority that Corey will not be called for, and even if he was, he would be unlikely to accept, given that this would end his hopes of playing for Middlesex as a Kolpak).
The big story from the game however was the declaration, and while other counties might sniff at an incredibly generous offer from Mitchell, it can't be denied that Middlesex played winning cricket throughout the game. Our 327/7 played 195/12, and it would have been unfair had rain denied us the chance to take the win, and the valuable 16 points. The fact that 16 points is on offer for the win (as opposed for the 3 for the draw) would have tempted Mitchell into his decision, as a draw is almost meaningless compared to the vast rewards given by a win. However, Worcestershire supporters will bemoan the fact that a more even declaration was not sought by Mitchell, as it was a very one-sided decision, and I'm sure Rogers would have accepted a 260 chase in 60 overs, rather than 283 in 96, which completely took the draw out of the equation, and made the Worcs chase incredibly unlikely. Still, Middlesex won't mind, and will take a big win which could prove crucial come the end of the season.
Up tomorrow is the start of the CB40 with a game against Gloucestershire, and we wait with baited breath the squad for that, just to see in what direction the side will be going. Will bring you news of that as and when!
Come on the Middle!
No comments:
Post a Comment