What a match

By Seaxe Man
September 5 2009

Seaxe man reports from Wantage Road on what turned out to be our last day of CC cricket on the road for the season. Despite another fine effort from Gareth Berg, Middlesex went down to defeat as Northamptonshire boosted their promotion hopes. As ever Seaxe Man gives us a detailed description of the day's events. Read on..

Arrived 9.30. Our trio of Midd-x fans repaired to the 'Wild Bean Cafe' in the nearby Tesco Garage for the third morning running Coffee and tea ordered and consumed before heading back to the ground. Weather breezy but sunny. The crowd was a reasonable smattering and probably the best of the three days. Wantage Road retains the olde worlde look of a trad county HQ. 

Overnight 17 for 3. This was in effect 17 for 4 as Shaun Udal took no further part in the match, after being struck on the head the previous day. C'mon the 10 men. The Middlesex Stand comprised seven, with one of their number being 'lower pavilion' of MTWD. 

1st session The 2nd Middlesex innings was on a knife edge and soon slipped off as Adam London wafted at a wide ball outside off stump in the third over. 18 for 4. London ct O'Brien b V D Wath for 4. Dexter joined Malan. Malan hit a brace of 4's before Dex also decided to waft at a wide ball from Lucas, and was taken at the wicket for 1. This left us on 29 for 5. 41 runs ahead. 'lower pav' was unhappy. Simpson, the 1st innings hero joined Malan. He (Malan) progressed in boundaries. Panesar then came on at 11.10 from the Indoor School End. Malan was immediately lbw, playing across the line to Monty's first ball. 47 for 6. Malan 26.

 The three dismissals in this session had been due to unworthy shot selection, rather than being demanded by the Northants attack. Pace continued from the Pavilion End in the person of Lucas to Berg, who had joined Simpson. He got a quick two to bring up the 50, after a misfield at mid on. He followed that with a four through fine leg. After a single by Simpson off Monty. Bergie played an excellent late cut off Monty through 3rd man.Panesar was removed and replaced by Daggett. Monty then re-appeared at his favourite Pavilion End, and was promptly swept 1st ball by Berg for a single.

Simpson tried a repeat run out to Daggett ala the 1st knock, then hit a four through point.A brace of fours by Berg: one through mid wicket: one an excellent square cut. Simpson off drove Monty for 4. 84 for 6. On 88 we had reached a 100 run lead which had seemed unlikely at 29 for 5 with a batter short. In celebration Berg hit Monty for 6, followed by an easy two. Another superb off-drive followed off Daggett. Bergie was on fire and this shot also brought up

The Middle's 100. Richo doing his exercises trotted past on his way to the Indoor School, greeted warmly by the Midd-x Stand. He waved in reply. Hall took over at PE. Daggett at ISE. He (Daggett) was greeted by being lashed for 6 over fine leg by Simpson. This was a replica of his 1st innings maximum. 114 for 6 and hope was growing in the Midd-x breast.A confident off- drive by Berg was chased down by the Northants fielder, limiting the shot to three. There followed a single to Simpson fielded by Monty at fine leg.

 Further spin was introduced when Northants skipper Boje brought himself on at the I.S.End.He was greeted by an excellent off-drive by Simpson crashing into the boundary boards. Then a single to point. A single to Berg brought up a well deserved 50. (63 balls, 6 fours, 1 six). The wind then blew the helmet away and caused Hall to abort his run-up. Wakely then dropped a dolly off Simpson at point. His (Simpson's) score then stood at 36. Bowler Hall. A let off for The Middle who lunched at 130 for 6. 

Lunch Interval: Northants knock out Egg, Sausage and Chips for 2.50 which must be one of the circuit bargains. Their cognoscenti thought a chase of 200 may be too many. We shall see. Received text to say that Eoin was once again with the England virus: occupying the bench.

AFTER LUNCH

Hall to Bergie. 2 plus a straight driven four. Boje continued. An inside edge past the keeper by Berg off the aforementioned Hall, reached the ropes. The one hundred partnership came up in the second over beyond lunch. Ground was now bathed in sunlight. The partnership was broken when Simpson feathered Hall to the keeper. He walked. Simpson 41. Score 147 for 7.We were bedevilled once again in this match. Just when things were looking up, we were knocked back yet again. Kartik ( 2nd in national bowling averages at a recent glance) joined The Iceman, and edged Hall for 4 first ball. White failed to stop a square cut from Berg. 4 again. Daggett then outshone White by cutting off a boundary expertly. Karts smashed a square cut for 4, was hit on the right shoulder and then cut in half from a quick ball from Hall. An eventful over.Berg then took Boje to task. A square cut, sweep and a single brought 9 runs off the over.Karts off drove a three.

Later he hit another 4 to get the score to 188 and an overall lead of 200. Karts played an overhead tennis smash for 4 which looped high over the slips. The sun came out to celebrate.This also brought up the 50 partnership with Berg. Sadly he (Karts) fell at that point, hitting a catch back to bowler Van der Wath. Karts 29. Score 200

Lucas replaced Hall and Berg decided it was time to go for the big yahoo, with last man Murts now in partnership. After two yahoo's, he square cut ball 4 for 4. He then took a 3, but was stranded on 94no when Murts was lbw next ball. 207ao. Murts 0.

Lead 219. Northants 220 to win.

An unlikely scenario at 47 for 6. Murts/Finn opened the bowling for Northants 2nd knock. Finn from P.E., Murts who was stand-in captain for Shaggy, the ISE. Robbie Williams 12th man, subbing for Shaggy. Murts was straight driven for 4 by Peters. However an early breakthrough occurred when O'Brien snicked a wide ball from Finn to Simpson. 4 for 1. O'Brien 0.

Robbie Williams came into the action cutting off a boundary shot with a full length dive. After Finn was smashed for four 4's in an over by Peters. Murts rang the changes. Karts who came on at his end, dismissed Wakely and Wessels lbw in his first over and brought hope to the punters.

Both wickets fell on 65. It was to prove to be a false dawn however.Peters hoiked Finn for 6, to bring his score to 57 out of a total of 71. (12 4's and a 6).

Tea was taken at 76 for 3 for the home side. All to play for. Karts/Berg had tilted the match back a little to The Middle. Both sets of supporters were unsure of the outcome.

 Karts/Berg resumed. A quiet period ensued, punctured by a single 4. After which Malan was detailed for ball polishing duties. Field 2 slips, gully, 3rd man, fine leg, mid on, mid off, mid wicket, cover. 96 for3 19 0vers.White brought up the oppo's 100 with an off drive off the willing Berg. Murts/Karts were now in harness. An encouraging shout from the field of dot,dot,bang,bang boys was heard. Though there were some dots, the bangs were hard to get. An inside edge from Peters brought up the 50 partnership with White. A quiet period ensued. The batters had plenty of time. A full length dive by Robbie saved a 4 off Murts. White looked lbw when a ball from Murts kept low. Turned down. Murts disappointed.

Next over Peters went for 73. 121 for 4. Caught at slip by Dex. The first bang. Peters 14 4's and 1 six. Sadly it was to be the last bang. Boje who replaced Peters hit a straight 4 after a quiet spell. Local entertainment was provided by Wendell with plenty of advice and a toot on the hooter.

Two fours went to White: an off drive and a mis-hook which reached the ropes. He reached his 50 with a single off Berg. Celebrated with a 4 next ball. Runs were now starting to flow and Karts had reverted to bowling over the wicket.Not a good idea: as it led to several no balls and a wide. The end now looked nigh. Adam London came on at 198 for 4. His 1st and 4th balls were hammered for 4, though he did have a decent lbw shout as did Malan, before White hammered Dawid for 6 to bring the proceedings to a close.

Northants winners by 6 wickets.

A strange game. Ran similarly to the reverse match at Lord's. Both teams gaining and losing ascendancy throughout. Losing Shaggy when we could have hoped for a higher 1st innings total not to mention restricting their total was a blow. However that has been our season. This is the fourth match, second in a row where we have finished with 10 men.