County Championship Round 9: Gloucestershire v Middlesex

 

Preview:

So, we arrive at the defining moment of the season. Despite consecutive innings defeats, Gloucestershire are still second in Group 2, just 10 points behind Somerset but, more alarmingly, only one ahead of Hampshire (who they play in their final match) and eight ahead of Surrey. There are just two games left and, this one, has become a must win game. However, with Day 1 already under threat from the rain unless the ground staff can get the pitch ready overnight after today’s  heavy deluge, time may already be at a premium to force a result whenever play does start.

With Chris Dent missing due to a broken finger, Ian Cockbain still nursing a sprained ankle, Ben Charlesworth just beginning his return from a dislocated shoulder and Graeme van Buuren still awaiting his paperwork, the Gloucestershire squad has an unfamiliar look. Jack Taylor and George Scott look set to return to the playing XI, with James Bracey to open with Miles Hammond. With no place for Tom Smith, the Shire look set to play a six-man seam attack. In theory, Ollie Price could come in as an off-spinner, but the rain looks set to scupper his chances.

As one who grew up listening to Jim Laker on TV stating that “if four seamers won’t do it, five won’t either”, to have six looks like overkill, but there is no question that this is where Gloucestershire’s strength lies. The plan is, most evidently, to ask the seamers to bowl out Middlesex cheaply twice.

The good news is that, this time, there will be no spin-friendly, used pitch, tailored to negate the Gloucestershire attack and Middlesex are possibly in even greater disarray than the Shire, with the sudden and unexpected departure of Nick Gubbins adding to the recent Lord’s dressing-room exodus. Middlesex have lost six of their eight matches so far and even winning the last two may not be enough to save them from the wooden spoon in Group 2. Like Derbyshire, in Group 1, Middlesex need a mathematical miracle to avoid Division 3 cricket when the groups split in two weeks’ time. However, the Gloucestershire batting looks light, with several players out of form, or out of position, or both. In contrast, the bowling attack looks well-suited to give Middlesex a lot of trouble if the pitch and overhead conditions favour seam. It could be a very strange, low-scoring match.

Day 1:

So, some surprises. No one quite expected the XI that was named, which had George Scott opening and both Prices in the XI: Oliver the off-spinning all-rounder and Tom, the medium pace all-rounder but no Ryan Higgins, who dropped out at 04:48 in the morning, on paternity leave. The XI, in batting order, was Hammond, Scott, Bracey, Lace, Phillips, Taylor J., Price O., Price T., Taylor M., Payne & Worrall. The impression was of a lot of inexperience in the team, although Middlesex also gave two debuts and the feeling was that if Gloucestershire could get through the New Ball, it would be a good day to bat.

After the Sunday deluge, there was an on-time start in sunshine, although with a lot of cumulus cloud around, with the cloud cover increasing through the day. Middlesex won the Toss and, not unsurprisingly, inserted, with Gloucestershire batting first for the first time this season. After a very slow start, George Scott fell in the 7^th over, bowled for 5 by Tim Murtagh who, after four overs, had conceded just two singles and removed the emergency opener to boot. It was an odd dismissal thought because George Scott seemed to half leave the ball, which took the top of middle. That made it 7-1 and the decision to insert looked thoroughly justified. With James Bracey not having had significant middle time since the Middlesex game on May 6^th, a lot was being asked of him to steady the innings with Miles Hammond, who has been in superb form. Batting was looking difficult for the first hour, but Miles Hammond then exploded to life with consecutive luscious Cover Drives for four off Andersson taking the score to 39-1 in the 16^th over.

James Bracey too was looking in decent form, although there is no question that the Middlesex change bowling asked many fewer questions than the New Ball pairing and that helped him to settle. Miles Hammond played an imperious On Drive to bring up the 50 in the 20^th over (Hammond 22*, Bracey 20*) and the impression was that the Middlesex decision to insert was not paying the expected dividends. Certainly, seeing no less than six changes from the side that had lost to Leicestershire, it was heartening to see the two batsmen on whom the innings depended most, looking solid as Lunch approached.

So, Lunch was reached at 77-1 after 32 overs (Bracey 31*, Hammond 35*), with the Shire looking at a positive morning, although the news from Southampton that Hampshire were looking set to get five batting points against Surrey meant that, provisionally, Gloucestershire were down to third in the Group, while the traditional Somerset lower-order fightback was also seeing them too head toward five batting points. That Somerset, in some trouble overnight, had added 166 runs in the morning session for the loss of just one wicket would not make the College lunch go down any easier. The message was that Hammond and Bracey needed to hang around for most of the afternoon, if they could, because batting points were needed almost as much as the win points.

At Cheltenham, though, the Middlesex supporters were already wondering about the decision to insert. It looked as if it was based on the suggestion that Pinner 2nds would have the Gloucestershire side 6-down by Lunch, so Middlesex would too.

Over Lunch, cloud cover increased. James Bracey was unable to build on his encouraging start. In the fifth over after Lunch he was only able to edge a ball from Blake Cullen to John Simpson for 38: 87-2 and Tom Lace in against his old County. Under pressure after a difficult season, Tom Lace needed a score, having played only 2^nd XI cricket recently, albeit scoring encouraging runs in his last couple of games. A pull for four got him off the mark and brought up the hundred in the 42^nd over. Then Miles Hammond went to another 50 (138 balls, 8x4) with an imperious pull to make it 105-2. When Andersson dropped one short, Miles Hammond launched him over Square Leg for six. All the while Tom Lace was nudging runs  and playing himself in carefully: a neat deflection past Slip earning him a boundary. Another big six off Andersson took Miles Hammond to 71*, with Tom Lace bedding-in nicely at the other end, no doubt helped by his partner’s confidence. The danger of the pull shot was illustrated though when Ethan Bamber bowled one a little quicker, Miles Hammond was late on the shot and wore it in the box, falling pole-axed: that the bowler appealed loudly for LBW just added insult to injury. Miles Hammond got back up, though obviously in pain and brought up the 150 with a drive to Extra Cover, but it is likely that the blow was a big factor in his dismissal.

As the batsmen looked to push on, who should be nominated to “go under the lid” at Short Forward Square Leg but Josh de Caires – better known as Michael Atherton’s son – making his First Class debut and slated to open with Sam Robson. However, he was not required in the dismissal of the still possibly shaken Miles Hammond who, this time not getting into line, edged Ethan Bamber to First Slip for 75, just when a century looked his for the taking. 153-3 and a first bowling point for Middlesex.

163-3 at Tea after 64 overs, with Tom Lace 28* and Glenn Phillips 5*. Could Gloucestershire push on after Tea with just now 46 overs left for bonus points to be accrued?

Again, a wicket fell soon after the resumption. Tom Lace got a ball from Ethan Bamber that bounced a little more and could only edge it to the ‘keeper: 166-4 and some gloss going off the day, but a dismissal that set a pattern.

A lot more gloss was to come of the day as the evening session progressed. Thoughts of 300+ disappeared in the collapse that one feared would come from a batting side that was shorn of experience past the top four. The riches of 153-2 became 187-6 as Glenn Phillips and Jack Taylor fell quickly: the former drove without due care and precaution and was caught at Cover, the latter padded-up to a straight ball. The Price brothers took the score past 200; Ollie Price clipped the ball past point for the runs that brought up the first batting point, but the pair then also fell in quick succession. Tom Price got a ball that lifted a bit more and gave Simpson his third catch behind. Ollie Price had batted very well and with a lot of spirit but got a good one from Bamber that sent stumps and bails flying. There was some late defiance from Matt Taylor and, just when it seemed that a second batting point could be rescued, David Payne and Dan Worrall became the fourth and fifth batsmen to edge behind, the innings closing on a frustrating 248. It could have been worse, but it could also have been a lot better, although the impression was that this was not the easy surface, full of runs of past years. The Middlesex bowlers stuck to their task well, with Ethan Bamber’s 3-32 the best haul. Scoring was never easy save, briefly, when Miles Hammond was making merry and enough balls were lifting just enough to make batting tricky.

James Bracey, Tom Lace and Ollie Price all get starts and all got past 30, but none of them was able to reach 40, all getting in and then getting out. Apart from Miles Hammond, no one else reached 15.

So, now, the question is, what could the Gloucestershire attack do with this surface in the morning? With the chances of a top-two finish slipping away, a devastating reply will be needed.

Day 2:

So, for Gloucestershire, a day that could well make or break their season. For Middlesex, a chance to salvage some pride from another disappointing season – since winning the Championship, each successive season has followed a downwards trajectory. In the end, the day went massively the way of the Shire and Middlesex only saved the follow-on thanks to a controversial sanction of 5 penalty runs against Dan Worrall for dangerous play.

A dull, grey, overcast, windy morning, after heavy overnight rain. The day looked ideally suited to the Gloucestershire seam attack but, before play could start, there was yet another earthquake. With England obliged to name a completely new ODI and T20 squad against Pakistan due to the seven positives between players (3) and staff (4), the selectors took what was effectively one player from each county who were playing. This meant that David Payne got an unexpected call-up and was withdrawn from the match, being replaced by Dom Goodman. For Middlesex, John Simpson was replaced by Robbie White. It meant that the much weakened home attack lost its main spearhead and that much depended on Dan Worrall to repay the faith that the Shire have shown in him through his multiple injury issues. It also made James Bracey captain: Gloucestershire’s third captain in three days of Championship cricket and fourth of the season in all cricket.

However, that said, once the action started, Josh De Caires was the focus of so much attention and got off the mark in the third over with an elegant dab to off for four. However, sadly for the many fans who hoped that he would do well on debut, he did not last long: Matt Taylor, who had already had a very plausible shout for a catch behind against Sam Robson denied (even Kevin Hand thought that the sound was an edge) bowled him a ball that was full and straight and pinned him LBW; 8-1, de Caries 5. The start was cagey, looking very similar to the Gloucestershire start on Day 1, with Matt Taylor, the wind behind him, a younger, faster version of the Middlesex mean machine, Tim Murtagh, giving nothing to hit, as the score inched along after an early wicket.

There was then a bizarre incident two balls into the ninth over when there was a long delay and an animated debated between the umpires. First, James Bracey joined it, signalling animatedly, then the bowler Dan Worrall joined in too. Finally, it was revealed that 5 penalty runs were awarded because the bowler had shied at the stumps after Eskinazi’s forward defensive and had hit him on the back, presumably accidentally, but the umpires were very unhappy about the incident, which they have reported as a Level 2 offense, constituting dangerous play given that the batsman had made no attempt to run. The over cost two No Balls from a highly piqued bouncer, as well as the five penalty runs and one thought that the captain needed to step in and tell him to cool it and concentrate on taking some wickets. 22-1 from 10 overs and Middlesex were seeing off the New Ball attack.

On came Tom Price for the 14^th over, bowling at a decent pace, in what was only his second First Class match. He was followed by second change, Dom Goodman, who immediately gave Steve Eskinazi one down the leg side. Eskinazi glanced and James Bracey flew through the air to take it, two-handed, at waist height, a long way down leg. Those who criticised Bracey after the Tests should have seen that catch. 34-2, Eskinazi 6 and Dom Goodman with a wicket-maiden on his unexpected return to the side. Soon afterwards Handscomb was very lucky to get away with an LBW shout from Tom Price: he was pinned on the stumps and looked plumb, but was saved by the call of No Ball. It would have been 49-3. Would that No Ball cost the Shire? It looked as if it might as big alarms for the batsmen were in short supply. Robson edged through the Slips at 58-2, but it dropped well short. Handscomb pulled hard at Dom Goodman and Tom Price almost pulled off a sensational diving catch in the Covers, but there was no sense that a collapse was coming.

Just as it seemed that Middlesex would reach Lunch in a fairly comfortable position, with the Sun getting brighter and batting looking as comfortable as at any time, Dan Worrall, quite literally, threw in a curve ball. First, Robson, who was looking very solid, became the latest batsman to pass 30, but not reach 40. He got a fast, straight delivery and watched the bails fly high into the air as Off Stump reeled drunkenly: 76-3, Robson 37 (91 balls, 5x4). In came Daryl Mitchell, LBW first ball, 76-4. Robbie White, the emergency replacement for Middlesex saw off the hat-trick ball but, suddenly, the match position was transformed.

So, it was 86-4 from 29 overs at Lunch, with Handscomb 20* and White 4*. Gloucestershire now clearly the happier of the two sides, especially looking at the scores at Taunton and the Ageas Bowl. However, during Lunch it got very gloomy again and rain started to fall. Despite this, the news that Leicestershire were putting up a decent fight against Somerset and that, even though there had so far been no play at Southampton, Hampshire were putting Surrey to the sword, must have made lunch taste a little better for the home side. For Middlesex, the thought that the rain might freshen-up the pitch for the bowlers was not so comforting. However, the intervention of Jupiter Pluvius was short-lived and the covers were off again quite quickly, even if the re-start was delayed by twenty minutes.

When play did re-start Middlesex must have wished that they had spent longer enjoying their lunch. In no time at all – in fact, it took just seven overs – they were 101ao. Astonishingly, briefly, the follow-on had come into play, although eventually just saved.

The collapse was as eye-watering as Miles Hammond’s blow in the box had been yesterday. First, Matt Taylor induced an outside edge from Handscomb – 88-5, Handscomb 21 – Bobby Bracey throwing the ball up joyfully. Then Tom Price got Andersson to edge to Glenn Phillips at 1^st Slip: 93-6. Then Matt Taylor got White to edge to Miles Hammond, low at 2^nd Slip: 93-7. The follow-on saved, Sowter edged Matt Taylor to Glenn Phillips at 1^st Slip: 100-8. Next ball, Tom Price got Cullen LBW: it was 100-9 and Price had a career best of 2-28.  Not satisfied, he cleaned-up Bamber, LBW, with the last ball of the over to finish with 3-29.

Middlesex were 101 all out, 147 behind. And, to think that they had been 76-2 shortly before Lunch and, seemingly, close to taking control of the match. Gloucestershire needed something devastating to keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive and, despite everything, had found it. You felt though for a Middlesex team that was clearly desperately low on luck and confidence. Given that their problems have come mainly in the second innings this season, you wondered if Gloucestershire already had enough to win.

The Sun came out and out went George Scott. He went back on his stumps to Bamber, overbalanced, pitched over and could almost be given out, LBW, from Square Leg: 8-1 and a duck for George Scott. It has not been a great game for him as emergency opener: not needed to bowl and out for 5 & 0.

Middlesex needed quick wickets but, suddenly, runs were flowing instead. Thirteen balls produced six boundaries as Miles Hammond and James Bracey warmed to their task of setting a big target. Bracey, who had looked so nervous playing for England, went up a gear and took four boundaries from a Mitchell over, the last of them a powerful hook to bring up the 50 in the twelfth over and was looking every inch the batsman who earned his England cap by sheer weight of performance. More runs for Bobby Bracey took the lead up to 200. It was fine viewing for Gloucestershire fans, not so good for Middlesex.

58-1 from 16 overs at Tea, Hammond 26*, Bracey 29*, the lead 205 and Gloucestershire seeming approaching an almost invulnerable position. Could they keep it?

Miles Hammond continued his excellent form and look set for another 50, but received a ball from Cullen that lifted nastily and was given out, caught behind, although it was not clear from the camera angle what it hit – glove or bat – as Miles Hammond tried to avoid it and went for 44 (66 balls, 6x4): 82-2. In came Tom Lace, who hung around for a while without ever suggesting permanence. James Bracey though was batting nicely and moving towards his 50. A clip off his legs raced away for four to take him to 46* and the score to 99-2. Another was stopped on the boundary, but brought up the 100 for the Shire. However, soon afterwards Tom Lace went to drive Andersson, missed and bails flew: 106-3 and Lace out for 7. In came Glenn Phillips, who has been in supreme form in T20, but is not having the same success in red-ball. At this point, you thought that a quick 30 would serve Gloucestershire’s ends better than spending fifteen overs for 10 runs. First though, the focus was on James Bracey, who wasted no time going to 50 with a clip off his legs. Who though would stand firm with him? Not Glenn Phillips, who got off the mark with a cut for four, but was largely scoreless until he had a wild slash outside off at Andersson and was smartly taken at Second Slip for 9: 132-4, the lead 279.

In came Jack Taylor, who has had an awful two years, to join his captain and, immediately, he realised what he had to do. For the last year he has been poking around, trying to build innings and getting out cheaply, but he is an immensely clean striker of the ball, something that he reminded the bowlers of… painfully. He began by cutting Souter thunderously for four then, as he started to feel confidence, the leather really started to fly. A flat drive off Souter flew for six. The 150 came up next ball. Back came Murtagh and Jack Taylor cover drove him for four, followed by a second and a third: 13 off the over and, in a trice, Jack Taylor was 29*. Meanwhile, James Bracey moved into the 80s while Taylor played just the innings that his side needed: a 4 and a 2 off Murtagh took him to 40* from just 28 balls and the lead to 335. Sadly, he got no further: Mitchell gave him width, he edged and substitute ‘keeper, White, took a superb catch diving a long way, to take the ball very low in front of the Slips: 189-5. In came Ollie Price, with James Bracey 81* and with plenty of time to make sure of getting to the milestone. Meanwhile, the news filtered through that, at the Ageas Bowl, Surrey had been bowled out for 79, were following on and had already lost Stoneman a second time. The good news was that Somerset had only taken two bowling points and their game was heading for a draw: calculating on your fingers, the top three looked set to finish this round separated by just a handful of points but, crucially, Hampshire seemed certain to start a few points ahead of Gloucestershire.

Sadly, Bracey was not to reach his century. Mitchell gave him width, James Bracey drove and offered a catch in the covers, falling for 88 (149 balls, 11x4). That made it 198-6, with the lead now 345. With talk that rain was forecast for Day 3, could Middlesex escape? The light darkened and, with the terrifying medium pace of Tim Murtagh putting the lives of the Price brothers in danger, the umpires took the players off.

So, 198-6 and a lead of 345 at the Close. Gloucestershire’s day. Despite Kevin Hand’s optimism, it would take rain, a lot of luck and some bloody-mindedness for the sixteen points for the win to escape the Shire.

As best as I can make out, if these games reach their logical conclusion, the points table will look like this going into the last round of matches:    

1. Somerset, 134 points
2. Hampshire, 131 points
3. Gloucestershire, 129 points
4. Leicestershire, 107 points
5. Surrey, 104 points
6. Middlesex, 63 points

Day 3:

Before we start, given the likely blanket finish to Group 2 and assuming that Gloucestershire and Hampshire duly complete their wins, but Somerset can only draw, what are the tie-breakers? In order, the first three are:

·         Most wins

·         Fewest defeats

·         Points in contests between tied teams

Most wins? Assuming that Gloucestershire and Hampshire win and Somerset draw, Gloucestershire will have 5 wins, Hampshire and Somerset, 4. Gloucestershire win in a tie-break with both rivals.

Fewest defeats? Somerset have 1, Hampshire have 2. Here, Somerset have the advantage over Hants.

So, if all three teams finish level on points after draws in the last round, the order would be:

1.       Gloucestershire

2.       Somerset

3.       Hampshire

However, for that triple-tie to happen Gloucestershire would need to make up 2 points on Hampshire in the last round and 5 on Somerset: it illustrates what is at stake today for the top three.

To get there, we needed first to complete the last day at the Ageas Bowl and at Taunton and Day 3 at Cheltenham. First order of the day was the rain radar. It said that Southampton looked set fair for the day (no relief there for Surrey), but Cheltenham had already been visited by morning rain and looked set for an on and off day, with a big storm on the way up the Bristol Channel, while the Taunton weather looked (and so it proved to be) terminally dodgy later in the day.

What happened at the end of the day, though, was that things took a most unexpected turn when Surrey held out for a draw thanks to a monumental effort of stonewalling, mainly from Hashim Amla, making a win for the Shire on the ‘morrow half a ticket to Division 1.

The best guess was that Gloucestershire would look to get the lead up to 400 and declare, if not bowled out first: that meant that scoring 253 was the target. With rain around, it makes no sense to take any risk of running out of time so, if play got underway on time and was not interrupted (both big “ifs”), Middlesex could expect to be batting around 40 minutes before Lunch.

An 1130 start was announced after the morning rain but, soon after 11, more light rain fell and the square was exposed for a couple of minutes before the covers could be pulled out. The umpires decreed an early Lunch and a 1230 inspection, with a view to a 13:10 start, mainly worried about how wet the College Square was. The Sun came out, at least occasionally, and play could start in the end. 80 overs were scheduled over two, long sessions.

Cullen opened the attack to Ollie Price, who put up the 200 and then the 350 lead in the first over of the day, scoring a confident two and a four. The former passed straight through the legs of Handscomb in the Covers, suggesting that there was something of an air of resignation in the fielders. It did not take long before Bamber started to have problems with the footmarks on the delivery stride and both sawdust and the tamper were in action. When the bowler was satisfied that the damage was repaired, we got into an “anything Ollie can do Tom can do too” situation of fraternal rivalry: the latter responding to two boundaries from his brother by getting off the mark with a nice drive for four, followed by a lovely clip through Midwicket for another. Eighteen runs from the first four overs of the day showed that the batsmen were going to get on with it, especially with the weather still threatening.

As a big storm that, surely, would have ended play for the day had it passed over, decided just to skirt the ground, we had the bizarre situation that rain was falling on the marquees, but not in the middle. The light darkened but that did not faze the batsmen, Tom Price accepting gratefully a couple of edges past the three Slips that ran swiftly to the boundary. Given the attacking field, anything the beat the close fielders was, despite the slow outfield, almost invariably going for four. From Middlesex’s point of view the score was advancing alarmingly fast, with 40 added at better than a run a minute and that could only mean one thing: Tim Murtagh was wound up for yet another effort to dig his side out of a hole.

Up came the 50 partnership at 248-6 (Ollie 24*, Tom 27*), in the twelfth over of the day, with the lead 395. By now, the Sun was out, the threat of rain was easing by the minute and Middlesex had no other aim than to delay the declaration as much as possible. A slashing cut from Tom Price went for four and brought up the 250 and the 400 lead: it was now just a matter of how many more James Bracey wanted. All the more contrast with the Ageas Bowl where, finally, a fourth wicket fell, leaving Surrey on a barely believable 34-4 from 43 overs!!!!

That, though, was just about as far as the lead went. Ollie Price edged Murtagh to the substitute ‘keeper for 33 (61 balls, 5x4), making the score 262-7 and the lead 409. Out came Matt Taylor; would we see a thrash and a declaration? He came up with what could only be described as a declaration shot and saw the stumps flattened: 263-8, the lead 410. Dan Worrall took a wild swing at his second ball and was caught behind: 263-9. Still James Bracey did not declare.

Surrey were now 40-4, with 33 maidens in the 48 overs bowled so far: 56 overs to survive.

Dom Goodman drove gloriously past the bowler for four, then hooked an angry bouncer for a single: 272-9, the lead 419. Would we see a tenth wicket partnership to drive Middlesex to distraction, or would one of the bowlers send down a straight one? Instead, Dom Goodman sent a slog into orbit: 272ao and the target 420.

De Caries started the chase with a couple of twos and then, last ball of Dan Worrall’s opening over, edged to Glenn Phillips, who put it down. Not the start that the Shire wanted. Second over of the innings, De Caries charged down the pitch looking for a single, was sent back by Robson and scrambled back thanks to a wayward throw. It was a nervous Middlesex start. The escapes extended the opening partnership to 16 balls: De Caries then repeated his edge off Dan Worrall to Glenn Phillips who, this time, pouched it: 4-1 and 416 still needed. A loud appeal by Dan Worrall for caught behind was not given, but a wicket still fell quickly. Matt Taylor had still not conceded a run when he thudded on into Robson’s pads. The umpire gave the LBW and Robson refused initially to walk, appearing to indicate that he had hit it, although it seems that what he was saying was that the ball had pitched outside leg: still, he had to go in the end, but a conference between the umpires suggested that he would be reported for dissent, even if a replay from in-line suggested that he may have had a point. Either way, it was 8-2 and Middlesex were in deep trouble.

What followed was an exhibition of control and self-denial that rivalled Surrey’s. Eskinazi and Handscomb embarked on a partnership that lasted 38 overs, but accrued just 48 runs. Matt Taylor ended the day with figures of 13-9-14-1, the Middlesex batsmen treating his bowling like a suspicious bomb disposal officer would treat an unstable World War II bomb. The result was 26 maidens bowled out of the 57 overs delivered during the afternoon.

Just when Middlesex had a real opportunity to grind down the young and inexperienced attack and maybe even set up a half chance of a last day chase, Dan Worrall pinned Handscomb in front and got the affirmative from the umpire: his dance of sheer joy showed what the wicket meant to the side. Handscomb had resisted for two minutes under two hours for his 14. With 21 overs left in the day, the Shire must have hoped for a couple more wickets. What happened though was yet more self-denial. Thirty-seven overs were bowled in the last two hours of the day – a monumental efforts by the standards of today – but just 45 runs were scored.

Thus, the day ended with Middlesex 97-3. With 96 overs to bowl on the last day and 323 runs needed, all four results are quite genuinely possible. It is a cliché to say it, but the first hour will be vital.

Right now, the top 5 is:

1    1.       Somerset, 134 points
2.       Hampshire, 123 points
3.       Gloucestershire, 113 points
4.      Surrey, 112 points
5.       Leicestershire, 107 points

Now, according to how tomorrow pans out, Gloucestershire will finish the day one of: 2^nd, with 129 and 6 ahead of Hampshire; 3^rd, with 121 points and needing to beat Hampshire in the last game to finish in the top 2; or 4^th, on 113 points and in real danger of playing in Division 3.

No pressure, lads. No pressure!

Day 4:

Blue sky, with plenty of fluffy white cumulus cloud. Nothing on the rain radar, but talk of potential, heavy showers later. And some fans bemoaning the flat, Cheltenham pancake of a pitch that would let Middlesex escape. What was evident is that Gloucestershire needed a wicket in the first hour but, if Middlesex could avoid losing one, their chances of escaping would be massively enhanced, even if all logic said that one of the four results was a lot more likely than the other three. Could a Middlesex side that is having an extremely difficult season, produce the depths of resistance that they would need to see out a full day of 96 overs, losing no more than two wickets in each session?

For much of the day it seemed as if Middlesex would save the game and might even have a chance to win it. The pitch was flat, the bowling too and, at one stage, just a single wicket had fallen in more than 80 overs of play. The overs were running out. The ball was getting older. The collapse, when it came, was astonishing and the end, sudden. From 241-4, with an early handshake looking likely, the last six wickets fell in nine overs for just 14 runs. It defied belief that a side that had resisted for so long and that had made the attack look totally ineffectual for the best part of three session, should disintegrate so quickly.

Dan Worrall said overnight that the pitch was not so flat as might appear, nor was batting so comfortable if the bowlers got their lines right. He made a point with the first over of the day when it took just four balls for the first, raucous LBW appeal that umpire Mick Newell considered long and hard. An opening maiden for Dan Worrall, bowling with three Slips and a Gulley. Mitchell though took three from Matt Taylor’s first ball of the day, bringing up the 100 in the 59^th over of the innings. The first nineteen balls of the day produced just that one scoring shot. It was evident that, at least for now, Middlesex were not thinking of chasing and the game continued in slow motion. A push for three that stopped just short of the Point boundary brought up Eskinazi’s 50 (173 balls, 4x4) and was the first runs of the morning off Dan Worrall. The biggest scare of the first half hour came with a drive for three from Eskinazi that brought up the 50 partnership, but ended with a desperate dive to make his ground as Dan Worrall broke the wicket. So, 14 runs from the first 30 minutes play but, from a Middlesex point of view, no wickets had fallen.

After four overs each from Worrall and Taylor, on came Tom Price, who had bowled with verve. Given that 15 overs remained to the New Ball, there was a need to rest the New Ball bowlers, which produced a burst of runs including a Cover Drive for four by Eskinazi: 8 off the over. Debutant, Ollie Price, came on to introduce some spin, giving a Price duo with the ball. A nice action showed that he was in no way overawed by the situation, but he was not posing a big threat either, although his job was to keep things tight before the New Ball and, if he could nip out a wicket, so much the better. As the New Ball approached, the brief flurry of runs ended and the Phony War returned. The first hour ended with Middlesex firmly in control of their destiny, fifteen overs bowled, 31 runs scored but, crucially, no wickets had fallen: 128-3, 291 needed. Gloucestershire had not managed the breakthrough that they needed.

On came Glenn Phillips with his quickish, flat off spin, giving an all-spin attack. Gradually, close fielders were added to make the batsmen think a bit, with Eskinazi surrounded by five close catchers for Ollie Price (Glenn Phillips only got three), but still no alarms. Up came the 80^th over and the umpire immediately showed the New Ball to crowd and players. Back came Dan Worrall for what was going to be a critical half hour before Lunch, Eskinazi, on 77*, approaching slowly… very slowly… his first century since 2017, already having his best Championship/Bob Willis Trophy score since 2018. After three maiden overs had been delivered with the New Ball, Dan Worrall went off and Tom Smith came on as substitute. Was Dan Worrall injured? Then, Worrall came back on and took the ball again, the process being repeated after his next over. So, it appeared that he must be getting treatment between overs for some problem. Five overs passed without a run but, in truth, that was because the batsmen barely had to play at a delivery and the New Ball was being wasted. Everything about Gloucestershire was, at this point, looking very flat. Even the juvenile sea-gull who was patrolling Long-On and had been for most of the match, seemed listless. Off they went for Lunch after seven overs with the New Ball, 155-3, 265 needed and, crucially, no wickets had fallen in the morning session. The odds were moving towards a chance of a Middlesex win, even if there seemed to be no obvious intent to keep the scoreboard ticking over: the key seemed to be that, for them, a draw would feel like a win anyway but, if they needed 100 or so in the last session with 6 wickets left, they would surely go for the runs.

Dan Worrall did not continue after Lunch, giving way to Dom Goodman, who finally get a bowl, which made no difference to the batsmen as Eskinazi moved into the 90s and Mitchell approached his 50, with the score 179-3 and just 240 wanted and 59 overs left. Surely Middlesex could not snatch this? There was no threat, no menace and the pitch looked totally batting friendly. Back came Tom Price to relieve Matt Taylor, but there was an air of inevitability about proceedings as an inexperienced attack was obviously losing heart. After three overs without a run scored, Steve Eskinazi produced a flashing cover drive as Dom Goodman gave him some width and up came his century – his first since 2017 – from 273 balls with 10x4.

Back came Dan Worrall for his third spell of the day, only deepening the mystery as to why he had been going off: maybe he was not injured after all? He gave Mitchell some width and saw the batsman cut hard to go to his fifty with a boundary. Eskinazi flashed at a ball from Tom Price and came so close to getting an edge. Then Tom Price got one to lift nastily off a length and hit him on the hand. Interesting. Dan Worrall produced a genuine edge from Mitchell that flew past Tom Lace in the Gulley and brought up the 200 in the 104^th over. The odd ball was starting to do something.

In retrospect, that delivery from Tom Price was the turning point in the day. A Leg Gulley was brought in for Dan Worrall and, immediately, Eskinazi clipped the ball, hard off his legs, straight to Ollie Price who had been put there for the shot, departing for 102. 201-4, a third wicket for Dan Worrall. Could there be an opportunity still to win this? Tom Price produced two edges in an over that did not quite reach the cordon. Briefly, things were starting to happen again after hours of chanceless play. However, Dan Worrall and Tom Price had to be rested and, again, the match started to go back to sleep to the extent that the sight of Cheltenham Town Council workers removing four portaloos on a lorry, combined with the prolonged absence of Dave Townsend from the commentary tent, led to raucous laughter at the prospect that he had been retired forcibly from commentary duty and was now in a Council warehouse somewhere.

222-4 at Tea. 198 to win and just 38 overs remaining. Two set batsmen. The draw was now firm favourite. What was to come defied all logic.

Miles Hammond donned his headband and shades, a sure sign that James Bracey was bringing him on to bowl in the hope that he might buy a wicket. With the Run Rate Required 5.2, 17 runs from the first three overs after Tea was actually ahead of requirements as Miles Hammond proved stylish, but expensive. The significant event, though, was at the other end where Matt Taylor came back for another, possibly final, spell. Three overs after Tea it was 239-4, with Mitchell 73* and White 24*, both well set and in no obvious difficulties.

Matt Taylor came in to bowl his twenty-sixth over, the 119^th of the innings and the fourth after Tea. And all hell broke loose.

Ball 1 – Mitchell clipped in the air to Leg Slip, just avoiding the dive of James Bracey, who tried to bring off a brilliant catch.

Ball 2 – White clipped off his legs for a long single. 241-4.

Ball 3 – Mitchell drove, missed, was given LBW and departed slowly, shaking his head. 241-5, Mitchell 73.

Ball 4 – Andersson edged to James Bracey, who took a good, low catch and sprinted off towards the boundary, celebrating, at a pace that would not have shamed Usain Bolt. 241-6. Golden duck for Andersson and Matt Taylor on a hat-trick. The momentum had changed 180 degrees.

Ball 5 – Matt Taylor to Souter. Hat-trick ball. Three Slips and a Gulley waiting. Short ball. Souter sways away.

Ball 6 – Souter blocks it.

Dark clouds are swirling behind the College and, for the first time, the weather enters the equation. How long before light became an issue?

Maiden over from Tom Price to White, including a superb Yorker first ball that White just about jammed his bat down on. Suddenly, Middlesex were staring down the barrel and looked a beaten side.

New over from Matt Taylor.

Ball 1 – Defended. Brother Jack, fields.

Ball 2 – Defended.

Ball 3 – Short. Into the body. Souter fends it gently to Miles Hammond at Second Slip, who pouches it nonchalantly. 241-7.

Ball 4 – Defended. Missed. Bracey takes it.

Ball 5 – Another play and miss.

Ball 6 – Thin edge. Simple catch to Bracey. Cullen looks ruefully at the pitch. 241-8.

Four wickets have fallen on the same score in sixteen balls. Matt Tayor now has 5-37.

Four overs pass. Bamber and White add 7 runs. Back comes Dan Worrall. The sky is getting darker and darker behind the College, the wind is rising and an electrical storm is approaching. Four balls: a quick single, a dab and run to bring up the 250 and a couple of dot balls. What has Dan Worrall got left? Bamber has faced 16 balls and has looked safe. Dan Worrall runs in to deliver the 17^th ball of his innings. On leg stump, clipped hard off his legs and Tom Lace pouches a very tough catch at Short Leg! 250-9.

White is 31*, but now has only the Lambeth Lara to support him. Once, more a batsman than a bowler, Murtagh is a genuine tail-ender now. It is now a matter of when defeat will come, not if. Matt Taylor takes a break and Tom Price comes back. Robbie White refuses an easy single early in the over, but accepts one, fourth ball. Murtagh hits the next ball towards Third Man for an easy single which is again refused. Last ball, defended safely. Twenty-six overs remaining.

Dan Worrall to  Robbie White. First ball outside off. Left alone. Second ball, wild down leg: 4 byes. Third ball, again down leg. White picks it up and clips it in the air to the Square Leg boundary where Jack Taylor dives and brings off a brilliant catch, just inside the rope. Middlesex 272ao. Dan Worrall 5-54. The margin 164 runs. A fifth win of the season for the Shire, a record that only Yorkshire can match. Middlesex did not even get close to the last hour. No one saw that coming.

The long and short of it is that Gloucestershire effectively have a cushion of 7 points over Hampshire. With just 2 bowling points, Gloucestershire ensure that they will finish second by avoiding defeat in their last game, starting on Sunday at Cheltenham.

Aftermath:

At Tea yesterday it looked as if the game was moving towards an early handshake. Set batsmen at the crease. A ball that was getting older. A tired attack that had taken just a two wickets in just under three sessions of play. A pitch that seemed to be blameless. The sudden nature of the end was so unexpected as to be utterly bizarre.

With the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, the key moment is clear. The ball from Tom Price that lifted and hit Steve Eskinazi started to put doubts in the minds of the batsmen. Then the Leg Gulley was put in to exploit any unpredictable bounce and Eskinazi hit the ball straight to the newly-placed fielder. Although Middlesex seemingly continued calmly even after Eskinazi was out, there was an opportunity. The bowlers knew that with one more wicket they would be into the soft underbelly of the innings and that meant that the batsmen could not afford a single mistake or dose of the unexpected. The ODI call-up meant also that there was no John Simpson to add some steel to the lower middle order and tail. When the wicket came so soon after Tea and, what is more, of the dangerous Mitchell, the Middlesex-watchers knew what was coming. Robbed of someone to keep an end closed-up solidly and with little batting to come, there was an expectation of a collapse. The phrase “one wicket brings two” kept being raised but, in the knowledge that, for Middlesex, all too often, one wicket can bring three or four. All the hard work of increasing the fragile confidence of the side was undone.

What was remarkable was that Dan Worrall and Matt Taylor, on whom so much depended and who must have been pretty tired by then, were able to raise themselves one more and exploit the breech in the Middlesex defences. Each bowled 38 overs in the match and now, due to the late start to the game, have just two days to recover before the winner-takes-all game on Sunday.

The Price brothers, with just one First Class match between them, gave admirable support. George Scott was little used but, like Dom Goodman, who looked to be far from match-fit, kept things tight when called upon. The amazing thing was that without David Payne, Ryan Higgins and Josh Shaw the attack was able to sustain pressure and exploit the opening when it came. The same attack skittled Middlesex cheaply in the first innings, setting-up a winning position.

The final game of the season now comes down to one thing: any respectable draw or better will ensure that Gloucestershire play in Division 1 and will have a chance to challenge to be County Champions when the tournament returns in September. In fact, even if Hampshire take all bonus points on offer in a draw, just ONE bowling bonus point plus the draw points will guarantee that the Shire finish above Hampshire.

So, Hampshire MUST WIN to finish above Gloucestershire unless:

•         Hampshire score 350 in 110 overs in the first innings and Gloucestershire take no bonus points at all in a drawn match.
•          Hampshire score 400 in 110 overs in the first innings and limit Gloucestershire to a maximum of one bonus point in a drawn match.

 

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.