Middlesex RLODC at Grantham CC Loss

 

MIDDLESEX RESIST NOTTS FIGHTBACK ON DAY OF THREE TONS

Middlesex won an exciting game at Grantham today by 27 runs. On a slow flat deck, Notts surprisingly put the visitors in, a crowd of around 1,500 were in attendance. James Hayes made his Notts first team debut coming into the Eleven for Ben Martindale.

It was a scorching day at Gorse Lane with temperatures reaching 30 degrees in continuous bright sunshine.

Hutton (Gorse Lane End ) and Chappell opened the bowling. Stoneman hoisted Hutton for a straight six in third over. In the fifth over, Hutton had Stoneman lbw for 29, 35 for 1. Robson joined Eskinazi in the middle and they added 234 in 31 overs to seemingly take the game away from Notts.

Chappell's first 2 overs cost 22 runs, so he was replaced by Paterson from the Pavilion End in the 6th over with the Middlesex 50 being achieved in the same over. The second wicket pair were playing shots along the floor and all-round the wicket as Middlesex were 83 for 1 after 10 overs (end of the powerplay).

Singh and Hayes came on in the 11th and 12th overs respectively. The Middlesex 100 came up in the 13th over via a straight driven four by Eskinazi off Singh. In the 15th over, Eskinazi got to 50 off 37 balls. After bowling a 6 over spell for 33, Singh was replaced by Paterson and the following over Chappell replaced Hayes and he had Robson on 51 dropped by Hutton at long leg, an easy chance, which in retrospect was probably the delivery that changed the outcome of the game. Robson deposited Chappell for six over mid-wicket. In his following over, Chappell was again hit over the mid-wicket ropes by Eskinazi. Montgomery had a spin in the 29th over, his solitary over costing 18 runs, his first four deliveries were hit for 4 by Robson. Eskinazi got to his 100 off 76 balls with a four through backward point off Chappell. Singh returned for the following over. Robson got to his ton off 97 balls with a two off Hayes in the 35th over. In the following over, Robson attempting to drive Hutton, played on to his off bail for 103 off 100 balls (11x1, 1x6), 269 for 2 off 35.5 overs. Robson and Eskinazi had played the slow wicket perfectly, keeping the ball mainly on the floor and finding the gaps in the vast and lightning-fast Gorse Lane outfield. Middlesex were looking on course for a total north of 400 at this juncture, but the lower order found it hard to accelerate on the low surface where accumulation and deft placement was the order of the day rather than brute force. Notts bowling was much improved as the innings entered its final quarter as Middlesex lost their final 9 wickets for 86 runs in 14 overs.

Chappell picked up Malan (3) caught at deep mid-off by Hutton, 279 for 3 in the 38th over. The next over, Paterson bowled Eskinazi (135 off 104 balls, 18x1, 1x6) trying to pull to leg and completely missing the ball, 283 for 4.

Holden (13) was caught by Lyndon James at mid-off as James Hayes picked up his first ever wicket, 308 for 5 in the 43rd over. Cracknell (13) was lbw to Singh, 319 for 6 in the 45th over. Hollman (16) hit Hayes for 6 over mid-wicket but holed out to Chappell later in the same area as Hayes picked up his second scalp, 331 for 7. Yadav (4) fell to an outstanding catch by Montgomery on the mid-wicket ropes off Paterson, 337 for 8. Andersson was caught at long on by Paterson off Chappell, 345 for 9 in the 48th over. Walallawita was dropped on 5 by Singh in the infield off Chappell. Greatwood was caught by Paterson at long on off Chappell. Middlesex 355 all out off 49.4 overs, had dramatically collapsed but still appeared to have a total slightly above par. Hayes (10-0-58-2) impressed on his debut and Singh reacted well to his mauling at Bristol and bowling tidily for 9-0-53-1. Chappell, who did not look completely fit took 3-75 off his 9.3 overs as there were two wickets apiece for Hutton (2-63) and Paterson (2-72).

Yadav (Gorse Lane End) bowled the first over and had Budinger on 0 dropped by Malan at long leg, the fielder parrying the ball for six. Greatwood was the other opening bowling partner. Yadav bowled Budinger for 25, 31 for 1 in the 5th over. Three ball later, Schadendorf (0) got a leading edge to Yadav and was caught in the covers by Stoneman, 31 for 2. In the 8th over, Walallawita came on bowling slow left arm from the Pavilion End. Notts 59 for 2 off 10 overs.

Slater and Hameed put their heads down and batted exactly how Eskinazi and Robson had batted earlier. Andersson came on for the 11th over and Hameed hit him for successive boundaries. Greatwood came on in the 17th over. The Notts 100 came up in the 18th over. A leg glance for four off Greatwood saw Slater to 50 in 59 balls in the 19th over. A boundary for Hameed off Malan saw him to 50 in 60 balls the 25th over. In the 32nd over Hameed hit a 6 over long on. The third wicket partnership had accumulated 191 runs in 30 overs. Occasional leg spinner Robson had come on as 7th bowler and removed Slater (90 off 95 balls, 12x4) with his second delivery, caught low down by Andersson at deep square leg off Robson, 222 for 3 in the 35th over. Montgomery went for a golden duck caught behind by Cracknell off Robson. James (7) holed out to Andersson at long on off Hollman, 237 for 5 in the 38th over. Notts now needed an unlikely 119 off 12.2 overs. Then came the highlight of the day from a Notts spectators’ perspective when 18-year-old Fateh Singh played a wonderful 22 ball cameo with shots all round the wicket to almost bring Notts home.

Singh hit his first two deliveries for four off Hollman. Hameed got to his ton off 105 balls with a single off Robson. Singh hit Robson for six over square leg and then next delivery a straight four. Singh was then dropped on 24 in the covers off Hollman. Greatwood returned and Singh hit him for two glorious boundaries. Singh (45) was caught on deep cover ropes by Hollman, who ended up on his back, off Andersson, 291 for 6 in the 43rd over. Singh had scored 45 of the 54 runs added for the sixth wicket in 4.5 overs and it was now all down to the captain to see Notts home, who now needed 65 off 7.3 overs.

Hameed though after almost three hours in the baking sunshine seemed exhausted and becalmed and was dealing mostly in singles. He was dismissed caught behind by Cracknell off Greatwood for 114 (off 118 balls, 13x4, 1x6), a fine knock which could not quite get Notts over the line, 318 for 7 off 45.5 overs. His dismissal exposed the long Notts tail and the game finished rapidly. Chappell (1) was caught at backward point by Stoneman off Andersson, Notts 321 for 8 in the 47th over. Two balls later, Hutton was caught in the covers for 16 off Yadav, 321 for 9 in the 48th over. Paterson hit Yadav for six over cover point but the very next ball he was the last man out caught at cover by Eskinazi off Yadav for 6. Hayes left undefeated on 1.Notts who had needed 38 to win off 26 balls had dramatically lost 4 wickets for 10 runs in 12 deliveries to be all out for 328 off 47.4 overs had lost by 27 runs with 14 balls unused. Yadav finished with figures of 4 for 58. A heroic effort from the inexperienced Notts eleven who had fought back valiantly after Middlesex had stood at 269 for 1 after 35.4 overs.

Notts now lie fifth in the table and must win at least three out of their last four games to qualify. Key man Liam Patterson-White returns to line up for the second game at Grantham on Sunday v Durham and Notts look a far stronger team with his inclusion. Indeed, he would probably have made all the difference today. MAG

[Eskinazi record - click]

Secret Squirrel's squad: as you were gentlemen.

Sol Budinger
Ben Slater
Haseeb Hameed
Lyndon James
Matt Montgomery
Ben Martindale
Sammy King
Dane Schadendorf
Fateh Singh
Brett Hutton
Zak Chappell
James hayes
Toby Pettman
Dane Paterson

No Place to Hide

Expect the same squad, as there isn't anyone else, but expect some changes in the bowling line-up as we can't continue playing a bowler or two short. Liam Patterson-White's absence in both batting and bowling was sorely felt at Bristol and we'll be without him for this game too.

If only we had James Pattinson or Joey Evison available!

Weather forecast is for Saharian conditions. Grantham has little / no shade or cover - the folly of taking games to this remote outpost is exposed again!

 Don't forget your sunscreen folks.