County Championship Round 7: Surrey v Gloucestershire

  

Preview:

James Bracey: the plot thickens. In fact, Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle could make a decent Sherlock Holmes story about the movements of players around this game. We know now that according to the BBC, he was in the squad as cover, both as reserve wicket-keeper and as reserve batsman and thus unlikely to play barring injury to a member of the first-choice XI. However, as Ben Foakes will miss the New Zealand series now due to a freak accident, James Bracey will play and keep wicket and both Sam Billings and Haseeb Hameed will cover now for him, although, according to Jon Agnew, neither is likely to play. To cover for James Bracey in the Gloucestershire squad, Jonathan Tattersall has been signed on a short-term loan. That Tatttersall, a player who had a fantastic 2020 Bob Willis Trophy for Yorkshire, is available, is down to the fact that he has struggled this season and lost his place last week to 19 year old debutant, Harry Duke and is in need of cricket to boost his form and confidence. Glenn Phillips, who will replace Kraigg Brathwaite as overseas player, has arrived in the UK, but is not yet available and Tom Lace, who substituted for Bracey with the gauntlets earlier in the season, is not regarded as more than an emergency option in the 4-day game.

Tattersall started batting at #6 for Yorkshire, but has recent batted at #7, which is where Miles Hammond batted against Somerset (although rain arrived before he had the chance to take guard). That leaves a gap at #3, which will be filled by Miles Hammond, who made good runs last time out in the 2^nd XI. The XI is likely to be Dent, Brathwaite, Hammond, Lace, Higgins, Cockbain, Tattersall, Smith, Payne, Taylor M. and Worrall in that order. Scott, Goodman, Shaw and van Buuren travel as reserves.

This is Kraigg Brathwaite’s last game. He would be the first to admit that his 229 runs @ 25.4 with just a single 50 are not what he would have hoped for. Hopefully, he can sign off with the big performance that he knows that he has within him. The other worry, with Bracey unavailable, is the alarming fall-off of the captain’s form: in his last eight innings, he has passed 25 just once. Chris Dent brings solidity and security to the top order. It is mainly an issue of trying to be too positive in an effort to keep the scoreboard moving but, Gloucestershire supporters would happily settle for a century opening partnership made in 40 overs if it means a solid start and a good haul of batting points. Graeme van Buuren is back in the squad, but as cover for Brathwaite and Worrall: it seems that he is still sadly unlikely to be available any time soon. There might be an argument for playing Dom Goodman for Matt Taylor, but it seems that George Scott, Josh Shaw and Dom Goodman will join the unlucky Graeme van Buuren as the travelling reserves.

For Surrey, Ben Foakes is now doubly unavailable (he is injured, even if England did not have first call on his services). Kemar Roach, who both tops the Surrey bowling averages and has the most wickets  for them this season, has stood down and is replaced by Sean Abbott: it is a little like a side hearing that Dennis Lillie is unavailable to play against them, but Wayne Daniel has stepped-in to fill the breach. Rory Burns and Ollie Pope – the two highest run-scorers for Surrey this season – join James Bracey on England duty, which means that the Surrey side will have a considerable re-jig from the one that was somewhat fortunate to escape with a draw against Middlesex. The XIII named has some less-familiar names, although Surrey have given themselves the opportunity to play two spinners, with both Amar Virdi and Daniel Moriarty in the squad. However unfamiliar some of the names, Mark Stoneman has a century and two fifties in his last four innings and Hashim Amla scored 215* against Hampshire, so the Surrey batting remains full of threat and should be underestimated at your peril.

Somerset and Hampshire sit out this week so, after this round, all sides will have played seven games and we will see the true position of the sides. Surrey know that, now 25 points behind Somerset, they must win this game if they are to have any hope of finishing in the top two in the group (and, even then, will still be at least one point behind having played a game more). In contrast, a Gloucestershire win would all but seal a top-two spot, barring a complete meltdown in their last three games. So, both sides have plenty to play for.

Day 1:

So, interesting rumours overnight that, as the game would be played on a used pitch and Surrey would play both spinners, Dan Worrall would be replaced by Graeme van Buuren. Yes, Surrey did pick both spinners, but Gloucestershire went with the XI that was released yesterday and in the same scorecard order as published. Surrey won the Toss and batted, undoubtedly hoping that Virdi and Moriarty would spin their web of crime on the fourth day… if the match got that far. Certainly, it was a worn pitch with a lot of repaired footmarks, but also looked quite green in the bright sunshine. The suggestion was that it would play okay for two days and then start to turn.

David Payne opened the bowling to Mark Stoneman, who made a confident start. The first ball was tucked off his hip for two and the second cut past Gulley for a single, bringing Ryan Patel on strike in his twenty-seventh First Class match, although he only averages 24.4 in that time. Certainly, there was some evidence of movement in that first over, with the last ball moving a long way, but too wide to be threatening. At the other end, Ryan Higgins, saw his first ball guided between the two Slips and Gulley for the first boundary, before a loud shout for LBW from his final ball (probably missing Stoneman’s Off Stump, despite curving in a fraction). After a relatively quick start the runs slowed and a spell of 25 balls produced just a single, but there was never a sensation that wickets were coming. The initial thrust with the New Ball repulsed, on came Dan Worrall for the tenth over, replacing Ryan Higgins. 27-0 after 12 overs and Surrey building a good start.

More alarmingly, there was a long pause in play when the third ball of the fourteenth over, bowled by Dan Worrall, caught Patel on the side of the helmet as he ducked. The physio came on and attended him to check that he was okay to continue and a new helmet was brought out. One delivery under the new lid and Patel decided that he needed to change it again, leading to some engineering work by batsmen and twelfth man on the new helmet. Patel was able to continue and Worrall, who had checked immediately that the batsman was not badly hurt, then served up a ball well pitched-up outside off (apparently in a gesture of sportsmanship) to help him settle.

With nothing happening for the seamers, Tom Smith was on, wheeling away, as early as the 18^th over. The 50 partnership coming up in the next one, but the openers got no further. After a long conference, Chris Dent brought back Ryan Higgins. His first delivery looked a bit leggish, but Stoneman played all around it and off he went, LBW Higgins 22 (50 balls, 3x4). 50-1.

For the 29^th over, the Shire switched to an all-spin attack, as Miles Hammond came on, in headband and curls and looking a lot like Björn Börg in his prime, to bowl his very, very occasional off-breaks for the last over before Lunch. 77-1 at the break and Surrey very happy with their session. After the break, first Patel reached his 50, then up came the 100 in the 34^th over. By now you were starting to get a very bad feeling about this game. Something had to be tried, so the captain tried to get the ball changed. An initial request failed but, in the 35^th over, after a violent boundary that bounced into the stands and damaged the ball further, a box of balls came out and a new one was picked. This worked the oracle: David Payne sent down the first delivery with the new old ball, outside off and moving away and Patel edged it straight to Kraigg Brathwaite. 105-2, Patel 62 (113 balls, 10x4). One more wicket and you felt that the Shire would be getting back into the game. That wicket was not long coming. David Payne gave Smith some width outside off. The batsman slashed at it and Kraigg Brathwaite took a good catch. 123-3, and David Payne’s 300^th First Class wicket. The Sun had gone in and the ball was doing a bit; could Gloucestershire get into the inexperienced middle order? Yes they could! Matt Taylor came on and produced a superb delivery that Evans edged very low to Jonathan Tattersall, who just about managed to get the gauntlets underneath it. It was an excellent catch and the young Yorkshireman had continued to justify his signing. Surrey 133-4 and the afternoon turning the Gloucestershire way. Surrey, though, bat deep even when fielding a virtual 2^nd XI. Amla ground his way up to his 50, which he reached with a delicious cut for four (115 balls , 7x4). At the other end, Jacks kept him company and accumulated steadily, while Tom Smith wheeled away, testing and teasing and bowling some very nice deliveries.

Just short of the 50 partnership and with Surrey again looking on top, Jacks got burnt by Ryan Higgins. He served-up a very wide one that Jacks slashed at, totally unnecessarily, getting a thick inside edge that took Off Stump: 181-5. So, Surrey had reached 183-5 at the break and this session, definitely was Gloucestershire’s.

However, we have seen this script in other games this season. One more wicket and Gloucestershire would have been in a strong position. Instead, the batsmen tilted the match strongly in their own favour. Surrey’s 200 and first batting point came up with the last ball of the 69^th over (Amla 63*) and Overton 11* and bedding-in. Another partnership was building and you felt that Gloucestershire badly needed a wicket before the new ball. It should have come at 229-5, when Overton edged Tom Smith straight through Miles Hammond’s hands at Slip: as catches go, it was not a difficult one and it was a bad drop at a bad time. Hammond’s punishment was to be brought back on to bowl to hurry on the New Ball; this he did with enough style to suggest that he could become a useful bowler. His length was excellent, he got good shape through the air and just needs to learn to control the line a bit better. The New Ball was taken immediately by David Payne at 241-5 and was the critical moment of the session. The bowlers were getting some movement, but sometimes strayed a little in line: when David Payne did it, Overton smoked him through the covers to bring up the 250 and the second batting point.

As the partnership waxed and prospered, closing in rapidly on the century as Surrey sought to increase the scoring rate, Gloucestershire faced the unpalatable prospect of, once again, failing to obtain full bowling points. A four to Third Man off Matt Taylor brought Amla onto 99 and a Cover Drive for a single from Ryan Higgins brought up the century (197 balls, 12x4) out of 283-5 and brought up the century stand to boot. That missed chance early in the evening session was beginning to get expensive, with Amla and Overton batting supremely well; it was a pity, given that Brathwaite had taken two, excellent catches and Tattersall one that was a difficult chance, that he made look straightforward that the one chance that was missed turned out to be costly.

So, we had reached 285-5 at the Close, with Overton bringing up his 50 with the last ball of the day (123 balls, 7x4). Gloucestershire, who will bat last, need quick wickets urgently in the morning.

Day 2:

A cloudy morning that you thought should favour the bowlers. Gloucestershire needed quick wickets and got one, first ball of the day. David Payne bowled a brutal delivery at Overton that lifted and moved away and that the batsman could only edge to Jonathan Tattersall. Surrey 285-6 and the second bowling point: just the three more wickets needed for a third! After some early frenetic batting from Abbott, calming words from Amla led to more careful play and the 300 coming up safely in the 103^rd over. With further bonus points looking unlikely for either side, the match settled into a quiet period of phony war, although the introduction of Matt Taylor saw two false shots from Amla in his first three balls as he tried to accelerate again: the first an appeal for a catch down leg, the second just past the outside edge and then Amla ran a quick single to David Payne at Mid-On, who destroyed the stumps with his throw, but with Amla safely in. So, Surrey 321-6 were after 110 overs and the points split 3-2 in their favour.

Although the bowling was tight, the fifty partnership came up in the 115^th over as the Surrey strategy became clear: bat long, bat once. In the commentary box, Mark Church was already licking his lips at the prospect of Gloucestershire following-on after being bowled out cheaply. Yes, the County Championship was war as usual! Finally though, Abbott played one shot too many, paddle-sweeping a straight ball from Tom Smith that he missed completely, beaten by a little turn and hit in front of middle: 346-7. It was The bad news? Rikki Clarke, in at #9, averages 40 in First Class cricket! 363-7 from 126 overs at Lunch and everyone watching Tom Smith for the first signs of the pitch misbehaving.

Dan Worrall had a chance to make the breakthrough at 376-7 when he took the edge of Amla’s bat and the chance may, or may not, have carried to Kraigg Brathwaite. In any case, the chance, if it was one, went down. Two balls later Clarke cut the ball just fractionally out of reach of the flying Miles Hammond at 2^nd Slip who could not quite reach the ball. Luck definitely was not with the bowlers. The score kept on mounting: 150 for Amla in the 134^th over, made out of 388-7. Then Clarke almost holed out when he slogged Tom Smith just short of the diving Dan Worrall on the Mid-Wicket boundary. Clarke and Amla piled on the misery and the partnership had reached 82 before the moment that sounded alarm bells. Miles Hammond produced a magic ball that turned hugely and lifted from very wide of Off Stump and was chopped on by Amla who fell finally for 173 (347 balls, 16x4), 428-8. As the light faded and rain approached London, Rikki Clarke went on the attack, launching Matt Taylor for four consecutive booming boundaries, the second of which just cleared Ryan Higgins running back, before plugging and trickling over the boundary as the fielder applied the brakes and overran the ball. That took Clarke to his 50 and the score past 450. Surrey were looking at the declaration and Miles Hammond went for 4 6 4 in the next over, as 27 runs came from 9 balls. Ryan Higgins ended the fun by bowling one very short, which kept low and bowled Clarke for 65 (103 balls, 8x4, 2x6), 468-9.

The last wicket fell as Moriarty took a huge swing at Ryan Higgins and knocked the Middle and the Off Stumps out of the ground. 473ao. 324 to avoid the follow-on. It was not the bowling performance of a title-challenging side, but it was not a poor one either. At no stage save the final slog did the batsmen score freely. In a big total, Ryan Higgins finished with a very creditable 4-69 and David Payne, 3-79.

What could the openers do? The Shire really needed a big partnership from them. Both were off the mark first ball: Kraigg Brathwaite with a delicious turn off his legs for 4, Chris Dent with a push for a single. After just 6 overs from Abbott and Clarke, with the score 12-0, Virdi was called into the attack to take advantage of the hard, new ball. What was interesting was to see the change in the way that the openers played. Normally, Kraigg Brathwaite has played the tortoise to Chris Dent’s hare but, after the first 12 overs, it was 25-0, with Brathwaite 21* and Dent 4*. You hoped that this was the prelude to a big score, but Chris Dent was not timing the ball as he can. As the batsmen started to play some shots and to take advantage of the attacking field, Kraigg Brathwaite chipped a ball straight back at Mortiarty who, amazingly, dropped it. It is never easy to take a catch in your follow through, but that was a gentle lob-back that should have been swallowed to make the score 37-1. Was this a sign that the Shire’s luck turning? No it was not! Virdi dropped one short. Chris Dent, who on another day would have deposited the ball in the stands, hammered it to straight to Mid-Wicket and Moriarty took a comfortable catch. 39-1 from 15 overs and the captain out for 14, bringing in the under pressure Miles Hammond, who needed a score to seal his place in the side. “Opportunity Knocks!” said Ed Seabourne in the commentary box, but James Bracey’s place was a big one to fill and he must surely have a better chance of making consistent runs at #7.

Even though the main band of rain that was crossing England and Wales had (just) missed The Oval, the light was extremely dark, the shadows of the floodlights surrounded the players and, even with an all-spin attack it was just a question of when the umpires would take the players off. In the end, it was at 45-1 after 19 overs, with Brathwaite 27* and Hammond 4*, as some light rain started to fall

And that was that. Stumps were called, 15 overs were lost and, with sun and clear skies forecast for Day 3, Gloucestershire would have much better conditions to bat in, but that Hammond delivery will be praying on the minds of the batsmen.

Day 3:

Miles Hammond stood on the burning deck,
Whence all but he had fled;
The flame that lit the pitch’s wreck,
Shone round him o’er the dead.

 

Yet beautiful and bright he stood,
As born to rule the storm;
A batsman of heroic blood,
A proud, though childlike form.

 

The bowlers spun on – he would not go,
Without his captain’s word;
That skipper, in batting collapse below,
His voice no longer heard.

 

He called aloud – ‘Say, captain, say
If yet my task is done?’
He knew not that the captain lay
Dismissed in the pavilion.

 

‘Speak, captain!’ once again he cried,
‘If I may yet be gone!’
– And but the booming shots replied,
And fast his boundaries rolled on.

Unless Miles Hammond can conjure up something even more spectacular than some of the feats of one I.T. Botham, Gloucestershire’s unbeaten record in the 2021 Championship will end sometime around Lunch tomorrow. The overwhelming feeling is that it will be an unnecessary defeat that should have been avoided.

When you are 84-1 and beginning to score freely, with two set batsmen, you start to think that maybe your worst imaginings will not come to pass. Then, 29 balls later, it is 89-5 and that follow-on target of 324 looks a long, long way away. The pitch, though, had little to do with it.

For the first hour all looked rosy in SW7. Kraigg Brathwaite and Miles Hammond batted sensibly, adding runs steadily, which was what the situation demanded. Miles Hammond hooked Overton for the boundary that brought up the 50 in the 22^nd over. After three maiden overs, he then produced two, fabulous cover drives off consecutive balls from Overton. On came the spinners and the two batsmen continued calmly. A reverse sweep by Miles Hammond brought up another boundary from Moriarty. Both batsmen were playing comfortably and there was very little pressure from the bowlers, with the field well spread. The change came when Amla decided to add some close fielders, which seemed to sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of the batsmen. Kraigg Brathwaite was on 38 and playing with a solidity that made you think that, this time, he’d make a big score, but he pressed forward down the wrong line to a straight ball from Virdi and was LBW: 84-2 and the start of an inexplicable collapse.

Tom Lace also pressed forward to a straight ball and edged to Slip: 84-3. Ian Cockbain, tried to be positive and swept Virdi in the air straight to Square Leg: 88-4. Then, Ryan Higgins left a perfectly straight ball from Mortiarty and was bowled: 89-5. None of the wicket-taking balls had done anything at all that was untoward. Suddenly, even Miles Hammond, who had been playing supremely well, looked as if his boots had been replaced with concrete overshoes and he was being goaded with an electric cattle prod. There was no good cricketing reason for what was happening apart from the pressure of having a convention of close fielders around the bat.

In came Tattersall, who brought up the 100 by coming down the pitch and whipping the ball through Mid-Wicket for four. Was this the start of a recovery? No. Moriarty overpitched and Jonathan Tattersall pushed the ball straight into the hands of Leg Slip: 111-6.  In came Tom Smith and now, we were into the tail. Would he see it through to Lunch? Nope! Six men around the bat. Straight ball. Press forward. Slightly mishit and at least he could say that he was the victim of a sharp piece of fielding from Jacks at Silly Mid On, one-handed, low to his left. 113-7 at Lunch and Miles Hammond stranded on 49*.

We were back to Taunton 2020 and the impression that Gloucestershire are a very fragile batting side, who will collapse under pressure. You look at the scorecard and think that conditions must have been impossible, but they were not. There was no sharp turn. There was little variable bounce. The pitch was playing perfectly well and there were runs to be scored in it. What there was were a lot of badly fried nerves.

Miles Hammond brought up an excellent 50 soon after Lunch (124 balls, 6x4) out of 114-7. Only now did the odd ball start to misbehave. However, Miles Hammond and Matt Taylor produced an hour of excellent batting. They kept the ball out calmly and saw off Moriarty and Virdi, starting to score more freely again. Abbott was brought back to keep order and Jacks, who had never taken a First Class wicket, was brought on to hurry on the New Ball. It was Jacks who produced the breakthrough with a magic ball, similar to Hammond’s yesterday: the ball pitched very wide of off and turned in viciously as Matt Taylor left the ball only to see it hit Off Stump. 144-8 and  the end of a stand of 31.

David Payne did not last long. Once again, the batsman pushed forward, the ball went straight, but along a completely different line to the bat. Moriarty had his fifth wicket. It was 153-9 and a bemused Miles Hammond was on 73*. Hammond deserved a century, but knew that he had to start to hit out if he wanted it. All the same, he was not giving up easily and produced a magnificent reverse sweep off Moriarty that flew to the boundary to move him to 77* before playing one shot too many and hitting the next ball straight to Mid-Wicket. 158ao in 75.5 overs and, to be brutally honest, a very poor performance with the bat. 6-60 for Moriarty, but you didn’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to detect that many of his wickets were gifted. What the evidence showed, though, was that in just his third First Class match, Moriarty had four consecutive hauls of 5-for and 23 wickets at 17.5.

 

A mere 315 behind on first innings, Gloucestershire were, of course asked to follow on. And, after the break, a novelty act: Moriarty and Virdi opening the bowling with the New Ball. There are not too many occasions that two spinners have taken the New Ball: even in the 1970s, when India sometimes played Bedi, Venkat, Prasanna and Chadrasehkar in the same XI, someone always took the shine off the ball for a couple of overs before the proper bowlers came on. That said, there was much about Amar Virdi, wheeling away in his lilac patka, that Bishan Bedi himself would have approved of. Five men round the bat but, when Moriarty misdirected a couple of balls too far down leg, Kraigg Brathwaite seized on them and flicked them away contemptuously through Fine Leg for consecutive boundaries. 28-0, from 8 overs at Tea, Brathwaite 20*, Dent 8*. Could Gloucestershire hope?

The batsmen had seen off the New Ball thrust and Amla brought on his change bowlers, Overton and Abbott to try a few overs of seam after Tea, presumably to rest the spinners. You could imagine a bemused Mr Spock watching this and saying “it’s cricket, Jim, but not as we know it”, before  arcing his right eyebrow. Kraigg Brathwaite kept the scoreboard moving and when Overton sent a ball too far down leg, he flicked it down to the Fine Leg boundary to move onto 27* and the score to 36-0 from 11 overs. Surely, this time, he would make a score? The batsmen were looking comfortable. There was no threat in the bowling. 120-0 at the Close? No way! It was too good to last. Overton pitched one up and Kraigg Brathwaite chipped it tamely back to the bowler. 38-1, Brathwaite out for 28 in his final innings for the Shire, having once again done the hard work, got a start and got out.

18, 36, 60, 21, 9, 16, 33, 21, 15, 38, 28…

If you consider that reaching 15 is a start, Brathwaite has done it in 10 of his 11 innings, but just four times has he passed 30.

Could things get worse? Yes they could. Very quickly. 38-0 and hope became rapidly 44-3 and misery. Gloucestershire desperately needed the captain to arrest the slide in his scores. A glide through Third Man for four after a careful start suggested that he was in the mood. He then propped half forward to Abbott, missed, and went LBW. That was 42-2 and in came Tom Lace who has struggled for runs all season. Abbott came. Lace saw. And stumps were scattered. The ball went through him like an armour-piercing shell. Faster than you could say “Sebastian Vettel” the Shire were in the Pits. 44-3 and sinking… fast.

Could Ian Cockbain stop the Brown-Cap charge? Virdi produced a wonderful delivery that turned a long way, hit the stumps past Cockbain’s forward defensive and the bowler, not the most athletic in the home side, headed off towards the Cover boundary at warp speed, celebrating wildly. At least the batsman could say that he was dismissed by a very fine delivery. 58-4. Ryan Higgins came in to join Miles Hammond who had, again, watched carnage at the other end and who was 4* from 25 balls. Surrey thinking that they could be requesting the extra half hour to finish the game.

Ryan Higgins is the type of player who tries to counter-attack in any situation and, for a time, it worked: a lovely cut for four and some busy running aimed to reduce the pressure. This encouraged Miles Hammond to come out of his shell and reverse sweep Virdi powerfully for four. Higgins tried to keep up the attack, dancing down the pitch to a wide ball outside off from Virdi that turned and bounced and the ‘keeper finished off the stumping. 84-5 and the end was nigh. Again, Virdi set off towards the boundary at a rate of knots, arms outstretched, gambolling with glee. In truth, the batsman was so far down the pitch that the ‘keeper could have lit a cigarette before taking off the bails.

That the match did not end on the third evening was down to a mini-fightback by Miles Hammond and Jonathan Tattersall. Hammond could see himself running out of partners again and was the one batsman who was not psyched-out by the bowling, the pitch and the Surrey close fielders convention. Another powerful reverse sweep for four was followed, two balls later, by an even bigger one for six. Up came the 100 in the 34^th over with 4 leg byes (Hammond 31*, Tattersall 0*) and, glory be, the number of close fielders was now sharply reduced when Miles Hammond was on strike, while Jonathan Tattersall combated Virdi by taking guard outside off, around about 4^th stump. A conventional sweep off Moriarty took him into double figures with a boundary and, once again, a partnership was building. Overton and Jacks came back into the attack to try to break it, but something odd happened… it did not break. In fact, the batsmen started to look increasingly comfortable.

The Shire reached the Close on 124-5, still 191 behind, with Miles Hammond on 38* and Jonathan Tattersall on 15*. They would need to bat past Lunch on the final day for Somerset to start to worry, even a little, but at least they have shown some spirit.

Day 4:

The defeat did come, around Lunch, but the way that it came showed that this was a match that should not have been lost – one bad hour was to blame – and could even have been won had the batsmen showed more gumption in the first innings (imagining a hypothetical situation in which Chris Dent could have declared behind). In fact, the Shire could even feel a little aggrieved that they had not been given a chance to make Surrey bat again.

Blue sky, brilliant sunshine and vultures (or, maybe, pigeons) circling The Kennington Oval looking to feast on the Gloucestershire batsmen. Mark Church, licking his lips in the commentary box, like a cat who has the canary cornered and is anticipating cleaning the feathers from his whiskers. In contrast, Ed Seabourne, in the Radio Bristol corner, looking pretty hangdog as if his only hope is for Boris Johnson to call and cancel play due to a national emergency. Yes, the Shire are back in their accustomed role as suffering underdogs. Even the public seemed to take a quick finish for granted and only a smattering of fans had decided that it was worth shelling out cash to see the last rites.

Virdi was still in his lilac patka and got things underway, wheeling away again, although the Sun went in for a while when play started. The first two balls turned in slowly from off, the second of which Jonathan Tattersall cut beautifully away for four to get underway as Moriarty chased the ball in vain to the Third Man boundary. Virdi served-up a full toss on leg and Miles Hammond thumped it to the wide Mid-On boundary, which may have given the close fielders pause for thought. With the batsmen looking comfortable, on came Overton after four overs of spin, for another go at blasting out the batsmen. However, it was Moriarty who made the rapid breakthrough and it really did look like a very rough decision for Miles Hammond: a ball pitching well outside off and barely turning in. Hammond went for it, missed and was hit on the pad, well outside off. What was unarguable is that it was 138-6, Hammond was out for 45 and Gloucestershire’s last remaining hope was gone. The scorecard showed it as caught behind, so Hammond must have got a nick on it, in which case it was brilliant work by the ‘keeper. Either way, the decision looked wrong and, however many replays were shown, you could not see much evidence to support the dismissal. Miles Hammond looked incredulous at the decision. It was the sort that a side gets when its luck is out. Given what happened later, you do wonder what might have happened if Miles Hammond had continued to bat: certainly, avoiding the innings defeat, if not the defeat itself, would have been a real possibility.

It did not take long for Overton to get in the act. Tom Smith was completely squared-up by him and hit in front. The only doubt that time was if it might have gone under middle. 139-7 and two wickets in seven balls. The match now moved into that delicious phase where you know that defeat is inevitable, no one can do anything to avoid it and you can sit back and enjoy the action.

Jonathan Tattersall wanted to rehabilitate his batting and to get his Yorkshire place back. Matt Taylor can bat when he feels like it and the two decided to hang around and even enjoy themselves a bit. The stand reached 40 as Tattersall advanced and lofted Moriarty over his head for a six through Long On: the look on Moriarty’s face as he followed the ball over him and into the far distance was worth a king’s ransom (this was one innings in which he would not get a 5-for).  Unfortunately, it gave Matt Taylor ideas. The stand had reached 42 when Taylor decided that he could hit a six too, skipped down the wicket to Virdi and gave Long On a comfortable catch. 181-8. You could not censure Matt Taylor too much for the shot with the game lost even if it was another wicket gifted instead of earnt by the bowler. All the while Jonathan Tattersall just kept playing his own game. It was noticeable that the number of close fielders was much smaller with him on strike and Short Leg must have thought that even that number was one too many as he swept the boundary to bring up his 50, the ball whistling past the fielder’s head as he ducked for cover. This was the sort of Yorkshire bloody-mindedness that Gloucestershire had hoped for with the loan signing.

With the turn and bounce gentle and predictable, David Payne was confident enough to stroke a cover drive for the boundary that brought up the 200 in the 69^th over. At the other end, Jonathan Tattersall must have been wondering if his partner would hang around for long enough to give him a chance of reaching his century. Tattersall took the runs where available, used his feet well and came down the pitch to take himself to 57* with a lofted drive through Long Off. The response of Amla was to bring back Jacks back on to bowl. Sadly, though, David Payne, having played some really nice shots, fell in exactly the same fashion as Matt Taylor: down the pitch to Virdi, didn’t get hold of the ball, gentle catch to Long On. 212-9. Jonathan Tattersall high and dry on 58*, with only Dan Worrall left and Worrall has not shown any kind of batting ability this season; in fact, Dan Worrall’s batting had been more of the “please declare before I have to bat” type.

Tattersall was not complaining about facing Jacks: a slog-sweep went for an enormous six and was followed-up by another sweep for four. 223-9, Tattersall 69* and enjoying his rest-cure from Headingley. Even Dan Worrall joined the party, cracking two boundaries from the first two balls of a Virdi over before the next delivery beat everything and went for four byes. That made 22 runs from the last 7 deliveries. If you are going to go down, at least enjoy yourself doing it. There were plenty of gaps in the field and the batsmen were finding them. Another slog-sweep for Tattersall and twelve off a Jacks over took Tattersall to 80*. It left Dan Worrall on strike: was he worried? No. Virdi was met with a lofted Cover Drive for four, then another. Back came Moriarty to try to break the stand. Jonathan Tattersall took the single first ball and left Dan Worrall to crack the second for another boundary. The reward was to see the close fielders start to retreat to the outfield. Jonathan Tattersall had just a Slip and a Short Forward Square Leg, then only the Slip and even Dan Worrall’s close field was starting to comply with COVID restrictions on gatherings. Surrey were definitely starting to go on a little on the defensive, trying to staunch the flow of runs. An Off Drive from Dan Worrall brought up the 50 partnership in 37 balls. 262-9. Could the innings defeat be avoided? Could Tattersall, on 85*, reach only his second First Class century?

It was not to be. Moriarty got the last laugh. Dan Worrall pushed forward and missed and was bowled for 24. 268ao and a defeat by an innings and 47. Seeing how comfortable batting was through the morning, you do wonder if that Miles Hammond dismissal – it was a stinker of a decision – was the difference between an innings defeat and at least setting Surrey a small victory target.

 

 

County Championship Round 6: Gloucestershire v Somerset

 

 

County Championship Round 6

Gloucestershire v Somerset

 

Preview:

Still top and with a game in hand, Gloucestershire put their lead in Group 2 on the line as we head in to the run-in of the Group Phase of the County Championship. With qualification now a tightly contested battle between the top three, a defeat could drop Gloucestershire to third. Hampshire, who have started their game a day earlier against bottom team, Leicestershire, have the chance to leapfrog both Gloucestershire and Somerset. Both Somerset and Hampshire will have just three games left after this round so, little time will remain to recover any ground lost in this round of matches.

And, in the background, the news that James Bracey has an excellent chance of obtaining a first Test cap against New Zealand. Of course, being in the squad and being in the XI picked on the morning are two different things. Back in the 1970s, Somerset had a run machine called Roy Virgin: the only Somerset batsman to score 2000 runs in a season (in fact, with his one-day runs, he totalled almost 3000 in 1970). Finally, he received a call-up for the Test XII, but was left out on the morning of the match and never again got close to playing for England. James Bracey is a different case, a young player, still on the rise and likely to win many caps over the next ten years, but Roy Virgin’s experience, like the possibly even more disconcerting experience of Glamorgan stalwart, Alan Jones, is a warning to all aspiring England players not to count your caps. James Bracey could be available for the game against Surrey at The Oval, but will definitely miss the Leicestershire game at Grace Road. After that, the last two Group matches in July should see him available again as the IPL regulars return to the England side.

Both sides know that a high-scoring draw on a lifeless Bristol strip, with a full set of bonus points would suit their ambitions perfectly. It will be interesting to see if Ian Harvey and Chris Dent modify the attacking tactics that have paid-off so well so far this season, including inserting every time that the captain has won the Toss. However, a doubtful weather forecast for the first two days, with the possibility of interruptions to play and high winds may influence both captains to want to field first in the hope of favourable bowling conditions. Both sides start with the knowledge that the first day of Hampshire’s must-win match against Leicestershire was almost a washout, with just 26 overs possible and that more interruptions are expected on Thursday and Friday, which could make it hard for Hampshire to force a result.

The only change in the Gloucestershire squad is Miles Hammond for George Hankins. Hankins has struggled this season with just 120 runs at 20.0 and a top score of 37. While Hammond’s First Class record is modest, in part because he has been asked to open, he has shown some good form for the 2^nd XI this season, with 87 v Worcs 2nds and 53* last time out against Somerset 2nds. One suspects that Hammond will bat at #7, well away from the New Ball and given a chance to make his case for a run in the side, with a balanced attack picked again, Tom Smith, Matt Taylor, David Payne and Dan Worrall supplementing all-rounder, Ryan Higgins.

Day 1:

So, Chris Dent has won the Toss and inserted, again, on a day when interruptions look certain and the middle of the pitch had a tinge of green. A band of rain is just approaching Bristol on the radar and much heavier rain lies behind it. This promised to be an on and off day that was ideal for the bowlers. And the XI is as predicted above, with a balanced attack and Miles Hammond at #7.

David Payne took the new ball, with both openers getting off the mark in the first over. However, the under pressure Lammonby’s stay was of just 5 balls. He pushed Ryan Higgins to Short Square Leg and, nervously, set off on a single that was simply not there. Ian Cockbain collected and beat Lammonsby’s dive with his underarm throw to execute an excellent runout with a direct hit. Somerset 4-1 and a real energy in the field in front of a modest crowd. Although Somerset were tied-down, there was a feeling that the bowlers were consistently a fraction too short to exploit the conditions to best advantage. After 10 overs, David Payne gave way to Matt Taylor, with the score at 14-1. Not long after, though, the umpires started to get increasingly nervous and, after 13.4 overs, the players came off with the score 23-1. 53 minutes of play had been possible. Just ten minutes were lost and play resumed. To the credit of the umpires, they stayed out through a mild shower around 20 minutes after the re-start as the attritional play continued. Dan Worrall in particular was having big problems with his footholds and already producing footmarks outside off that Leach and Tom Smith will view with interest. It was a brief respite. The rain started again and, with it continuing, the players went off again after 20.2 overs, with the score at 45-1 and Somerset probably the happier of the two sides.

An early Lunch was taken,  but, as the rain got heavier – although seemingly never very heavy – out came the tarpaulins and, with the wind billowing under the covers, the ground looked a miserable, sodden scene after Lunch. Play was knocked on the head finally around 16:20. With more unsettled weather forecast, this match could turn into a hunt for first innings points.

Day 2:

The horrific appearance of the rain radar at 9am suggested that today was likely to be a washout, with band after band of heavy rain sweeping in from South Wales. In fact, so much rain looked likely to fall, added to the heavy rain that had fallen overnight, that you wondered about an on-time start even on Day 3. Certainly, it looked more like a day for rubber ducks and rubber boats on the ground rather than cable-knit sweaters. A 3pm inspection was scheduled and, as expected, decided that play would be abandoned. The chances of play on Day 3 depend on the rain stopping in time for the strong wind to dry the outfield but, with puddles in part of the outfield already and more rain expected, you wondered how much more the ground could take.

From a local point of view, it will not have escaped the notice of either captain at breakfast that things looked better on the South Coast and that, although Hampshire v Leicestershire would be in its third day, with the first innings of the match still incomplete, quick wickets in the morning session might just give a chance of setting up a result there on the fourth day. Certainly, with a total of 8 sessions of play possible at the Ageas Bowl, the match would have to move on quickly to set up a game on the last day. That though is what happened, with 8 wickets falling for just 38 runs in the morning. However, Chris Dent’s amazing powers have a long reach these days and that has included the handy knack of having a direct line to Jupiter Pluvius to send rain to other grounds. With Leicestershire tottering at 28-5, still 56 short of the follow-on, that ability certainly came in handy. With just a day left, Hampshire must enforce the follow-on to have any chance of winning, even so, taking 15 wickets in a day looks to be a tall order.

Day 3:

While the forecast for today is promising for Bristol, tomorrow looks bad again, so the game is going to be no more than a hunt for first innings points. An early look at the rain radar showed that things were genuinely looking much better at Bristol but, what was just as important to the local fans is that more rain is heading to the Ageas Bowl. Fans will remember that, when Gloucestershire narrowly missed out on the title in 1977, the biggest culprit was the rain, with a critical match in the run-in that could have sealed the title becoming the second of the season to be abandoned without a ball bowled. If the rain, this time, seems to be giving Gloucestershire (and Somerset) a hand, it may be because the rain god has a sense of natural justice (and, an even bigger sense of humour). Barring something truly extraordinary at the Ageas Bowl today, Hampshire will take just 12 points from their match. A draw at Bristol, with both sides reaching 250 in the first innings, would see the gap extend by one point. Out east, a big win for Surrey might just put them back in the hunt, but they look unlikely to take more than one batting point against Middlesex and have a lot of work to do to win.

So, that was the theory at breakfast time. What actually happened (or did not happen)?

What we saw, was a disturbing reminder of the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy match at Taunton as Gloucestershire first appeared to have the match under complete control, before a Somerset fightback with the bat and a Shire capitulation.

Play finally got under way at 11:45, which reflects great credit on the Bristol ground staff. And, initially, all looked rosy for the Cidermen as Byrom and Abell took their partnership to 81 before Byrom edged David Payne to Kieron Brathwaite at 1^st Slip. In came James Hildreth – the best current batsman never to have played for England? – and bedded-in. As the score mounted serenely, Somerset must have been thinking of 300+ and a good crop of batting points in a solid draw. Hardly could they imagine that the solidity of 127-2 would become the precarity of 143-6. If Day 2 was about acts of god, the afternoon of Day 3 was about acts of Payne and Worrall. First, David Payne bowled an excellent full delivery that swung in a little. Hildreth drove hard at it and missed completely, with the ball hitting middle. 127-3 and the start of an astonishing collapse. Dan Worrall came on for a new spell and, first ball, homed one in on middle stump that Bartlett played across: 135-4. In came Goldsworthy to join Tom Abell, who had batted all day. First ball of Dan Worrall’s new over, Goldsworthy fenced at one outside off and could only edge it through to James Bracey. 143-5 and Somerset running out of oxygen on the ascent of Mount 300. In came Davies who, second ball, sent a thick edge very low to Chris Dent at 3^rd Slip. Dent dived and took a superb low catch. 143-6 and Somerset suddenly in some trouble.

Abel and Overton started to re-build and, gradually the Somerset ambitions were growing again. 200? No, 250! Until now, Ryan Higgins had had little impact on the match. Ball outside off to Overton that lifted and moved away a fraction. Overton followed it and edged. James Bracey moved well to take the catch, running in front of Kraigg Brathwaite: 177-7. So, Somerset went to Tea at 180-7, with 40 overs left in the day. At 127-2, Gloucestershire would certainly have taken that.

Things though started to go seriously wrong for the Shire after Tea. You know how it is with Somerset: you work your way through the tail and then the serious batting starts at around #9. Gregory went after Matt Taylor and brought up the 200 in the 77^th over with a second six in the over. The new ball was taken by Dan Worrall and, rather than end the fun, after a few, quiet overs, the leather started to fly seriously. Abell moved into the 90s with a nice clip off his legs that was pulled-in just inside the Square Leg boundary. Back came David Payne after the initial new all thrust was unsuccessful and Gregory took him for consecutive fours. 250 up and the second batting point in the 91^st over with Abell on 96* and the stand starting to get seriously annoying. Up came a superb hundred for Abell with a deflection through Point off David Payne. With brilliant sunshine and the ball coming nicely onto the bat, conditions were as in favour as the batsmen as they had been at any point. A Cover Drive off David Payne and Gregory brought up his own 50. Half way through the afternoon session, 200 had looked a long way off: now 300 was looking distinctly possible and even 350. 288-7 after 100 overs and, with only ten overs left to obtain it, that third bowling point for the Shire looking very uncertain. When, finally, a wicket fell, it was a strange one. Matt Taylor, who had taken some punishment, beat the inside edge. The ball skimmed the thighpad and onto the Off Bail. The batsman waited and the umpire gave the decision… not too often will you see a batsman waiting to be given after being bowled. 292-8, Gregory bowled Taylor, 57 (6x4, 2x6); Abell, 124*.

Abell was still playing sublimely and took the score up to 300 with boundaries off the first and third ball of Dan Worrall’s next over – a pull and a cut – at which point Somerset’s batsmen ran off, denying Gloucestershire the third bowling point and giving the batsmen nine overs in bright sunshine to survive. The strategy was clear: try to fire out a couple of wickets and go for bowling points on the last day.

What happened, was not good viewing. Overton opened to Kraigg Brathwaite, who saw off the first two balls before taking a blow amidships and crumpling at the crease like a house of cards. After a considerable delay, the next ball was cut elegantly for four. An Off-Drive for a single brought the captain onto strike, who then edged the sixth ball of the opening over to Goldsworthy to fall for a golden duck. In came James Bracey, with Brathwaite still evidently in great discomfort, despite which he looked in decent form. Another cut off Overton brought him his third boundary of the innings, 14-1. This happy state of affairs did not last. First ball of the next over, Davey gave James Bracey a lovely ball, right in the channel outside off and the batsman could only feather an edge to the ‘keeper. 14-2, Bracey 1 and Tom Smith as nightwatchman.

Although Brathwaite and Smith made it through to the Close, this was not the situation that you wanted. Somerset would run in in the morning with nothing to lose and memories of the collapse at Taunton in 2020 still fresh. Surely, Somerset could not win, but there were those fans on the YouTube Channel who proclaimed loudly that they would bowl out the Shire cheaply twice to win.

16-2 from 9 overs at the Close: Kraigg Brathwaite, 13*; Tom Smith, 0*. And rain forecast for Day 4.

As this was happening, astonishing events were going on at the Ageas Bowl. A win for Hampshire would have been extremely worrying for both sides. When Hampshire had Leicestershire 54-9, 30 short of saving the follow-on, it looked as if they might engineer the most unlikely of victories. Alex Evans and Ed Barnes may just have earnt the freedom of Bristol and of Taunton by staying together for 12 overs and saving the follow-on by a single run. Even though Hampshire forfeited their second innings, setting 150 to win, too little time remained to initiate a second collapse and both Gloucestershire and Somerset breathed a sigh of relief. Had that last wicket fallen quickly, it might have been so different.

Day 4:

Occasional watery sunshine, but rain threatening and a very poor forecast for the day. Although the rain made defeat unlikely in the extreme, you wondered if we would see a situation like the Manchester Test in 1953 when, after rain and with no chance of a result, Australia collapsed to 35-8 on the last afternoon, changing the momentum of the whole series. It was set up for a collapse. And boy did we get one.

The first over gave no hint of what was to come. Tom Smith got off the mark with a confident clip off his legs for two and five runs came off the over. That was as good as it got. First ball of the second over of the morning Tom Smith missed a straight one from Overton that kept a bit low and was off, LBW, for 3: 21-3. It got worse… rapidly. In came Tom Lace. He survived a loud LBW shout first ball before, to his evident displeasure, being given out, caught behind down leg from a ball that the umpire ruled had touched glove. In came Ian Cockbain, who just failed to get a touch outside off first ball. 21-4 and the Shire imploding. Five dots from Davey to Kraigg Brathwaite and the batsman clipped him straight to Short Mid-Wicket. It was getting darker, but this collapse was hard to believe. Already the rain was starting to fall. Ian Cockbain got off the mark, as did Ryan Higgins with a clip for 3 next ball and, at 25-5, the players ran off.

At that point, with the follow-on mark 151, Somerset might just have been thinking of bowling the Shire out twice in a day. Play re-started at midday, with Ryan Higgins 3* and Ian Cockbain, 1*.

Ryan Higgins saw off three balls quietly. The fourth, lifted a little and jagged in violently, just passing the inside edge. The fifth was deflected past the slips for two. Back came Overton at the other end, for what proved to be the last over of the match. And just as well. It took just two deliveries for Overton to get one to lift a little that Ian Cockbain inside-edged onto his stumps. 27-6, Cockbain 1. And, as the rain started to fall again, out came a new leg stump as the old one had been broken in the dismissal. Miles Hammond did not even have time to reach the crease before the stumps came out and the players headed back off, this time, permanently. On came the tarpaulins, billowing in the wind and the scene was increasingly miserable, fittingly for the scoreboard.

Although the umpires waited until after Tea to knock the match on its head, the only change in the situation was for more tarpaulins and hosepipes to come out to protect the Square. We got just 26 balls on the last day, but they were 26 balls of high drama.

Aftermath:    

Will the real Gloucestershire please stand up?

Six matches. Four impressive wins. Two desperate scrambles to save a draw. Although there was never much danger, given the poor weather forecast, that the match would be lost, this was a performance that invoked comparison with the corresponding game in 2020. Was it simply a side that relaxed a bit too much knowing that there would not be a result, or a sign of a season starting to unravel?

Too much play though was lost for this to be regarded as representative. We saw the equivalent of fewer than 4 sessions, or which Gloucestershire dominated one and were very poor in another. What we are seeing though, systematically, is that luck is generally on the side of the team this season and luck is a big factor in success. As Richie Bernaud said, so memorably:

Captaincy is 10% and 90% luck, but don’t do it without the 10%.

The same applies to Gloucestershire in 2021. A poor side can fluke a win occasionally but, generally, a side makes its own luck and, in this round, they have had plenty. They are still top of Group 2, unbeaten, with a game in hand and have more points than any other team in any group, having played a lot of very good cricket. However, with Hampshire still only 11 points behind in third, Gloucestershire still have a lot of work to do to secure qualification for Division 1. The good news is that three of the remaining four games are against the bottom three in the group, but two wins from four games may be necessary to seal a place at the top table.

County Championship Round 5: Gloucestershire v Middlesex

 

Preview:

This helter-skelter season rushes on, with this match marking the mid-point of qualification. Three days of rest and back in action after the stunning victory against Leicestershire. Gloucestershire are developing the happy knack of taking a tremendous beating for as many as ten or eleven sessions and then finding ways to escape from knots that would have taxed Harry Houdini. However, this is a dangerous route to take as, sometime, they will come a cropper, quite from the fact that valuable first innings points are being left behind, which could be important if the top of the table is close at the end of the Group Phase.

Gloucestershire make one important change: Graeme van Buuren drops out of the squad (and is playing in the 2^nd XI game v Somerset), as he is extremely unlikely to be able to play with both Kraigg Brathwaite Dan Worrall fit and David Payne, now a father, will definitely be available to play. Tom Smith, who did the job that he was asked to do with the ball against Leicestershire, on a pitch that gave spinners no help, holding up an end and taking a wicket, quite apart from an innings that undoubtedly saved the follow-on and the match, retains his place. Gloucestershire could play an attack of Worrall, Payne, Higgins and two from Taylor, Goodman, Shaw and Smith that should create plenty of problems for the Middlesex batsmen.

Against a Middlesex side that is still built around the nucleus of its Championship winning team, that that has been prone to inexplicable batting collapses, scoreboard pressure will be important, so Gloucestershire will look for the batting to click and put up a big first innings score. While Sam Robson has the fifteenth highest run aggregate in the country (341 @ 48.7), only Robbie White joins him in the top fifty. In contrast, the very experienced Middlesex bowling attack has been in prime form and poses an important threat, backed-up by an excellent spinner in the wonderfully named Thilan Wallalawita, who is in line for his first match of the season.

Middlesex are 37 points behind the Shire, with one win (against Surrey) and three defeats. Anything other than a win for Middlesex would end any realistic hopes that they may have for a top-two finish. With Hampshire playing Somerset, one of the two is set to lose ground in the race, particularly if the Shire can managed to burgle a fourth win. Ian Harvey and Chris Dent will look to deepen the Middlesex crisis in this game, continuing with their all-out attack that has taken several sides by surprise already. Middlesex will look to get their challenge for a top-two place back on track.

Day 1:

Chris Dent followed recent habit, won the Toss and inserted on a morning of hazy sunshine with a lot of cloud, some of it pretty dark and threatening. A definite tinge of green in the pitch. And, this being cricket season, there were snow flurries around the country, but thankfully not at Lord’s.

Gloucestershire made two changes: David Payne replaced Josh Shaw and Dom Goodman was given a well-deserved rest in an intense season for a young bowler and replaced by Matt Taylor. The attack thus had some variety with both left and right arm seam and spin available to the captain. Middlesex lost Toby Roland-Jones, now back to his best again, to a knee injury in training that may well end his red-ball season and brought in Wallalawita and James Harris, recalled from loan to Glamorgan.

Sam Robson came out to bat with Max Holden. David Payne with the new ball, that was immediately clipped off his legs for two by Robson to get Middlesex underway. At the other end it was Ryan Higgins and not Dan Worrall having first use of the new ball. Four slips waiting, which meant there were gaps in the field, especially at Fine Leg. The first few overs provided several LBW shouts, as David Payne swung the ball in a little to Robson from over the wicket, while Ryan Higgins was also getting plenty of movement. With heavy rain approaching from the north-west the groundstaff were standing ready by the covers after just a quarter of an hour of action, during which the bat was beaten frequently enough that neither batsman looked secure. On came the floodlights and it was just a matter of when, not if, play would be interrupted. It came after 11.4 overs, at 23-0, with Robson 12* and Holden 7*.

The delay was about half an hour. Back out came the players, with Ryan Higgins to complete his over. Robson survived the first of the two deliveries to come and missed the second, pinned in front, even if there was a suggestion that it might have been high, as he was batting well out of his ground. 23-1 and Middlesex’s only in-form bat, back in the pavilion. Out came Nick Gubbins, a couple of seasons ago thought to be a likely England opener and the first change in the attack, with Dan Worrall relieving David Payne. When Gubbins took guard well out of his crease too against Ryan Higgins, James Bracey advanced to the stumps and Chris Dent put in a Short Forward Square Leg to pressure him. Back went Gubbins to a more normal guard. Second change, as on came Matt Taylor, with the ball frequently reaching James Bracey on the half-volley or even after bouncing: it looked like another desperately slow Lord’s pitch.

Holden did not last long. Matt Taylor brought a ball into him, up the slope, that he left extravagantly. Although there was some question of height, it looked to be hitting the top of middle. Middlesex 48-2 after 21.4 overs, Holden LBW 16 and the old fan favourite of Middlesex_batting_collapse.com was threatening to re-surface. However, Lunch was reached with no further problems: 51-2 from 24 overs, Gubbins 8*, Hanscomb 3*.

David Payne was swinging the ball into the right-hander and bowling beautifully. Finally Hanscomb got one that he decided to leave a ball that came back and uprooted off stump. Not the best leave. 61-3, Hanscomb 10. Soon after, back came the rain: 63-3 after 33 overs, Gubbins 11, White 2. Of course, not unnaturally, within minutes the skies started to clear and the Sun was shining so, again, the delay was not a long one. Finally, Gubbins’ long vigil ended when he edged David Payne to George Hankins at Second Slip and, despite frozen fingers and a juggle, George Hankins took an excellent catch: 78-4, Gubbins 18. White was very lucky when he edged Ryan Higgins fast to Chris Dent at Third Slip who claimed a low catch. It was a brilliant take but, finally, the Square Leg umpire ruled that it was on the half-volley, although it did look from the TV images to have carried.

The hundred came up in bright sunshine in the 46^th over as run-scoring seemed to become somewhat easier. A period of relative calm followed, but it was not to last. Last ball before Tea, John Simpson who had just hit Tom Smith for a straight four, got a lovely ball from him that turned in a little and beat him all ends up. 117-5, Simpson LBW Smith, 17 and the Shire on top and with a chance to finish off the innings cheaply in the final session.

However, White and Andersson battled well and the partnership reached 42 before, finally, Matt Taylor brought one back in to Andersson and got an LBW shout upheld (so many had been turned down through the day). Andersson out for 20, 159-6. Shortly after, White reached his 50 (103 balls, 6x4), the only player to make batting look easy. Gloucestershire were taking wickets just often enough to make the insertion the right decision, but you wondered what the Middlesex attack would do on this pitch. Again, a partnership developed between White and Harris before David Payne, who had  bowled beautifully, put one through James Harris and bowled him neck and crop on middle and off: 184-7, Harris 8. Then Ryan Higgins came back and bowled a beauty outside off at Bamber, who could only edge it through to James Bracey: 195-8. The 200 came up in the 79^th over, with Middlesex edging, sometimes literally, to a par total.

New ball taken at 206-8, with White farming the strike and scoring when he could. Payne, who had bowled really well, given first use. Walallawita played one superb cover drive for four and edged his next ball to Chris Dent at Third Slip: 210-9. In came the Lambeth Lara, Tim Murtagh. Twenty years ago Murtagh was a batsman who bowled, now it was a matter of how long it took David Payne to produce a straight one… it was second ball, not first. Middlesex  210ao. Payne, 18.5-6-31-5. A very well deserved 5-for. Seven overs for Kraigg Brathwaite and Chris Dent to face.

With balls beating the bat constantly and frequent loud appeals, a wicket seemed inevitable. What was strange was the way that it came. Chris Dent took two fours from a Murtagh over and then pushed a ball to Mid-Wicket and set off for a run that was never on. When the direct hit arrived he was stranded, yards down the pitch. 13-1 and a gift for Middlesex. In came Matt Taylor as night-watchman with a single over left. 19-1 at the Close, Brathwaite 5*, Taylor 2*.

The fear is that, well as Gloucestershire bowled, Middlesex may have been allowed to get close to a par score. We will see on the ‘morrow.

Day 2:

Brilliant sunshine again. The outfield in magnificent condition. The pitch still looking quite green. Gloucestershire’s first task, to see off the new ball. Their second, to get a significant first innings lead and batting bonus points. With just 61 needed to avoid the follow-on, surely the heart-stopping “will they, won’t they?” of the last two games could be avoided.

The morning started very quietly and slowly. Both Kraigg Brathwaite and Matt Taylor played carefully, taking no risks. Only 6 runs came in the first eight overs with Matt Taylor outscored Kraigg Brathwaite comfortably in the first hour. Brathwaite did not even reach double figures until the 22^nd over. Was this the start of the major innings from the West Indies captain that Gloucestershire fans have been waiting to see (so far, his top score is just 60)? Or would he continue to struggle to cash-in on starts in English conditions. Only 24 runs from the first hour, with Matt Taylor falling as the hour struck, edging Andersson low to Simpson behind. Matt Taylor 13, 43-2 and the night-watchman had done his job well: too well for the liking of Middlesex, one suspects. Up came the 50 at the end of the 24^th over as scoring started to become easier. Kraigg Brathwaite visibly moved up a gear with the arrival of James Bracey, taking three fours in four deliveries from Harris and Andersson, making you think that today might be the day.

With nothing much happening for the seamers, Thilan Walallawita, who has a curious pre-delivery routine that consistis of turning and wringing the ball in his hand, came on for an exploratory over before Lunch, possibly as much to test Kevin Hand in the commentary box as the batsmen. The session finished with Murtagh probing outside James Bracey’s off stump: one flew past the batsman’s edge but the session finished with a controlled deflection for four along the ground past the slips, followed by a beautiful cut to the Point boundary.

87-2 at Lunch from 39 overs. 68 runs for the fall of the night-watchman in 32 overs in the session and Middlesex needing wickets as the batsmen started to take control. Kraigg Brathwaite 31*, James Bracey 27*. After probably having the worst of conditions in the last two games, for a change, Gloucestershire could have no complaints on that score today.

Could Kraigg Brathwaite improve on his top score of 60 in seven innings for the Shire? Harris gave him width, Brathwaite cut hard and Robson took a fabulous flying catch at Point. Kraigg Brathwaite out for 33 and his inability to convert starts continues: 18, 36, 60, 21, 9, 16 & 33.  

So, now it was 89-3 and Gloucestershire were in need of a partnership. The hundred came up in the 44^th over (100-3), with James Bracey 34* and Tom Lace 2*. The runrate was slow but, miraculously, the Middlesex overrate, so often a source of anguish to them due to the threat of points deductions, was +2. You guessed that Tom Lace wanted a good performance against his former county, but he could not get it: Murtagh bowled him a straight one, Tom Lace played down the wrong line. LBW. Lace out for 2, the score 100-4 and the shine of the morning session wearing off quickly.

Slowly, oh so slowly, James Bracey and Ian Cockbain re-built against a persevering attack. Walallawita pitched one a little outside off, James Bracey saw it coming, skipped down the pitch and lofted it to the Long-On boundary for his 50 (115 balls, 7x4), 143-4. Up came the 150 and the 50 partnership in the 64^th over, with Gloucestershire needing to convert consolidation into acceleration to have any chance of more than two batting points. James Bracey, who had been dropped twice, both very difficult chances, was in the mood to supply it, first hitting Walallawita for a lofted four over Long-On and then repeating the shot for six next ball: 13 off the over, 8 from his next, as James Bracey moved to 72 with a reverse sweep. Then Ian Cockbain took 10 off a James Harris over and, suddenly, the tight control that Middlesex had exercised all day was loosened: 33 in 4 overs, more than Gloucestershire had made in the first hour of the morning. A glance off his hip from Ian Cockbain and up came his 50 (78 balls, 8x4). Unfortunately for him, the very next  delivery from Andersson went through him like a shell and left Leg Stump cartwheeling: 191-5 and battle very much re-joined after a fine partnership of 91.

In came Ryan Higgins who started to play busily. Up came the 200 and the first batting point in the 71^st over. 201-5 at Tea, Bracey 74*, Higgins 9*. 39 overs left for both sides to add to their bonus points. James Bracey was looking set for a century until he went for one shot too many and hooked Andersson to straight to a delighted Harris on the Square Leg boundary: Bracey 75 (143 balls, 9x4, 1x6), 205-6. Once again, the Middlesex fielding top class, throwing themselves around for everything. Ryan Higgins though took nine, including two boundaries from a Walallawita over to take the Shire into the lead: the question now was how much they could extend it?

On came the floodlights as the cloud cover increased. With George Hankins needing a score to keep his place, Ryan Higgins laid into the bowling, taking a special liking to Walallawita and scoring at better than a run-a-ball. Hankins though could not stay with him and edged Andersson, who was relatively expensive, but taking wickets, to Robson at Third Slip where he took another excellent catch. Runs were coming in a rush, but wickets were falling as the match moved on like an express train out of control.

On came Robson to bowl his (very occasional) leg spin for the last over before the new ball. Ryan Higgins cut him very hard through Point for four. 243-7 and Murtagh with the new cherry. Tom Smith murtaghed one that was too straight for a boundary that took the Shire within touching distance of a second batting point, which duly arrived in the 82^nd over. Higgins kept the scoreboard moving quickly: Murtagh was swung high over the Square Leg boundary to take him to 49 but, next ball, one kept very low and Murtagh got his revenge: Ryan Higgins LBW Murtagh 49 (43 balls, 6x4, 1x6), 260-8, the lead 50.

How many runs could the last two wickets thrash? Answer: not many. Tom Smith went after a ball from Bamber and edged through to Simpson (264-9). The last wicket fun did not last long as David Payne drove a ball from Bamber straight to Hanscombe at Mid-Off. 273ao. Probably 50 short of what it should have been. Middlesex though had stuck to their task well.

So, 19 overs left. Floodlights on. Some balls keeping very low, others popping. An interesting short session for Middlesex given that the second innings has been their bugbear this season.

By the 7^th over, Middlesex were in deep, deep trouble. Holden and Robson held out for three overs before Robson played completely down the wrong line to Ryan Higgins and was sent on his way LBW for 8, 12-1. Worse was to come. A ball from David Payne got big on Holden, who popped it up on the leg side and Payne made excellent ground to take a brilliant, diving return catch. 16-2, 47 behind still.

Time for Payne and Higgins to take a break. On came Dan Worrall and Matt Taylor. Handscomb fished at a Matt Taylor delivery and edged well short of Kraigg Brathwaite at 1^st Slip, but must have been mortified to see James Bracey’s incredible dive to take the ball one-handed in pure Alan Knott (or Jack Russell) style. Handscomb 4, Middlesex 23-3 and their innings in ruins, with a night-watchman (the unlucky Ethan Bamber) asked to act in the Horatius role for the last three and a half overs of the day. He did it and Middlesex closed on 26-3, still 37 behind, leaving the more nervous Middlesex fans worrying about the innings defeat.

With a lot of rain forecast for Saturday, this match may go into the last day, but it will take a massive effort for Middlesex to save it now. Gloucestershire are playing some excellent cricket and, if they do wrap up victory, it will send shockwaves through the chasing pack. Minor Counties West? Indeed!

Day 3:

The expected rains arrived but, despite the best efforts of Kevin Hand, doing his rain dance in the Lord’s Media Centre, Jupiter Pluvius’s efforts were a bit half-hearted. Lord’s being a very quickly drying ground, with some of the best covers in the country, the mopping-up exercise was relatively swift and play started at 13:10, by which time play had already been abandoned elsewhere.

With lowering skies and the floodlights on, conditions again favoured the bowlers. And with a night-watchman at the crease, Minor Counties West would fancy an early wicket to get some momentum.

For four and a half overs things went to plan for Middlesex. Horatius Bamber held the bridge at one end while Nick Gubbins set out to score at the other. Three boundaries in an over from David Payne took the score to 45-3, the deficit just 18. The bad news for Bamber was that it was not Lars Porsena who he had to keep out but, instead, Ryan Higgins. Higgins is not so good with the broadsword, but his inswinger is infinitely better than Lars Porsena’s: definitely too good for Bamber, who could only edge it through to James Bracey. 45-4, effectively -18 for 4. Not the best position. It got worse. Middlesex could not afford to lose another quick wicket. Robbie White got off the mark third ball, but that was as good as it got for him. Leave to a ball from David Payne that was not missing off by much. The next ball he also left before realising, too late, that this was the wrong decision: his chop down was too late to stop the ball hammering into off from the inside edge: 46 (or -17) for 5.

There then followed possibly the best phase of the match for Middlesex. Gubbins and Simpson batted solidly, sensibly and with aggression and brought scores level in the 27^th over: that slight danger of the innings defeat had vanished, but there was a long way to go to get a total to defend. A bouncer from David Payne that went way over James Bracey took Middlesex into the lead. Gubbins gave Matt Taylor the treatment with three fours in an over. Up came the fifty partnership at a run-a-ball, then Gubbins’s 50 – an excellent innings – and horrible imaginings started to surface in Gloucestershire minds. In the Sky commentary box Nasser Hussain speculated that putting up 300 would give Gloucestershire a difficult chase. However, when a side is down, luck does not usually favour it. Middlesex had had the worst of the conditions and now got the wrong end of the sort of LBW call that could easily have gone the other way: first, Simpson got a ball that he knew nothing about that squirted out to leg for a single off inside edge and pad, then Gubbins got one that hit pad and would certainly have hit the stumps, but could well have been pitching just outside off. Gubbins LBW Payne 52, 109-6 and things had swung right back to the Shire.

Simpson though, is a fine bat and set out to score runs while he could. Again, a partnership started to develop. However, it needed an act of god to save the match and what Middlesex were getting were acts of Payne. Ball pitched right up, Simpson chipped it back and a delighted David Payne took the return catch: 134-7. Simpson, really the last hope, out for 40. So often in the past James Harris has saved Middlesex with 50s from seemingly hopeless positions but, this time, it was his turn to feel the Payne. He survived two balls. The third was dead straight. His bat was not and the ball would have hit middle. 134-8. A double-wicket maiden from David Payne, 5-42 from him. A reward for some excellent bowling.

Andersson was still there, would he start to swing the bat? He tried to against David Payne and flashed a huge edge to Kraigg Brathwaite at 1^st Slip, who took a good catch, high and to his right after a juggle. 135-9, the lead 72. In came the Lambeth Lara, Tim Murtagh. Murtagh’s style now is to back away to leg and try to ladle the ball away in a style that suggested that the captain had erred in not declaring when the ninth wicket fell. Walallawita too backed away… sometimes… but was happy to stand his ground to Payne and whack it if it was in his half. A Payne over went for 13 as Walallawita thumped joyously for four and a huge six. Back came Dan Worrall to put some order. Murtagh, moved his front foot back towards Square Leg and tried to hit his first delivery into the middle of next week: James Bracey accepted the edge. 152ao. 90 to win. David Payne 17-5-56-6. Superb bowling.

Floodlights on. Thick black cloud. Perfect bowling conditions. A small target. Not the sort of chase that anyone likes. Probably Gloucestershire would have preferred to chase 200 or 250.

Middlesex probably wanted two or three quick wickets to see how the nerves were. Murtagh and Bamber with the new ball.  Kraigg Brathwaite took first strike. The first few overs were played calmly. Chris Dent took the majority of the strike and did the majority of the scoring. 26-0 from 10 overs, Dent 19*, Brathwaite 7*. Dent took boundaries off both bowlers, but also ran hard. It was the same pattern as against Leicestershire: fielders were put under pressure, singles became 2s and 2s became 3s. All the time the shadows from the floodlights were getting darker and it looked increasingly unlikely that the game could finish today. Chris Dent though was seeing the ball just fine. Bamber overpitched and Chris Dent thumped the ball emphatically through the Covers: Dent 25*, Brathwaite 9*, 34-0.

Bamber though, got revenge. Lovely delivery though the gate. Chris Dent beaten all ends up and the Off Stump cartwheeled to Leg Slip. 34-1. Chris Dent 25 (47 balls, 4x4). In came James Bracey and edgeg through Sam Robson’s hands at Second Slip. The ball went for four and he followed it with a Cover Drive four next ball. 45-1 from 15 overs (Brathwaite 10*, Bracey 10*) and half way there already. With three Slips and an attacking field there would always be run-scoring possibilities. Up came the 50 in the 18^th over, taking James Bracey onto 13: he then chipped Bamber gently and tamely to Murtagh at Mid On. 50-2, 40 needed. For all the talking up of the Middlesex chances from the Home Counties commentators, the body language on the pitch did not seem to suggest that Middlesex felt that they had the match at their mercy now and the light had improved again. Tom Lace took three consecutive boundaries off Harris to take the runs required under 20. Fifteen from the over, 73-2. 17 wanted. Cover drive from Tom Lace, Handscomb dived over it rather than just making the pickup and allowed it through for the boundary, 77-2, 13 wanted, Lace 24*. Even Kraigg Brathwaite awoke from this Boycottian slumber and crashed a boundary through Point to bring the runs required down to 7. On came Walallawita, with almost everyone saving one. 5 wanted at the end of the over.

Would Kraigg Brathwaite see it through? With three wanted he missed a straight one from Harris that thudded into the pad and he was on his way, 87-3, Brathwaite 21. In came Ian Cockbain, hero with Tom Lace of the Leicestershire chase and, somehow, it was appropriate that it was them who knocked off the last few singles. The game ended with a boundary for Tom Lace for a very convincing win. This was Gloucestershire’s first win at Lord’s since 2010 and a comfortable one it was too.

For Middlesex, it was a fourth defeat. For Gloucestershire, a fourth win. 95 points, a 29-point lead at the top. For Middlesex, surely the end of their chances of a top-two finish.