Middlesex Crusaders: Into the future (a story)

[qpeedore]

Middlesex started their innings off very slowly, scoring at under 2 an over for the first five overs. Strauss fell lbw to a good ball for only 4, and Morgan soon joined him in the pavilion after being bowled. Compton walked out to the middle and joined Smith with the run rate above 5, but they immediately put some fears to rest by rotating the strike often with quick singles. Compton also hit two boundaries off of successive balls, with Smith repeating the feat in the next over. Middlesex’s fears were calmed somewhat after that.

Nottingham kept bowling well, however, and the asking rate soon pushed itself above a run a ball. Smith and Compton did what they could to try to maintain it, until they hit 13 runs between them in the 25th over to bring it back down under six an over. They hit at least a boundary an over for the next few overs and soon the rate dipped below 5. They both brought up half centuries in the same over. First was Smith, with a simple push square of the wicket. Compton was more aggressive, hitting a boundary to bring his up. Strangely, even though Smith had been out in the middle since the start of the innings, he had only faced one more ball than Compton.

Middlesex must have been wondering about their net run rate, as they never seemed to stop scoring their runs at a fast pace. Compton and Smith continued to hit at least a boundary an over while still managing to give each other equal shares of the strike with singles spread between the big shots. Compton survived a run out appeal, but the replay showed he was just in his crease.

Compton eventually departed for 71, but the game was in the bag. Joyce came in and just gave his captain support for the final few runs. Fittingly, Smith hit the winning run, a cover drive for a single.

End of Middlesex innings: 179/3(38.1), E Smith 80*, N Compton 71, P Franks 1-22(8), S Patel 1-24(6.1)
Middlesex win by 7 wickets
Man of the match: N Compton

(Okay…Compton DID take a wicket but, to me, Smith should have gotten it…which is why I suggested a look at the MotM stuff in the suggestions thread.)

[qpeedore]

Cricinfo news

Middlesex coach praises captain

Middlesex coach Ryon Cupidore had praised the efforts of captain Edward Smith for his leadership abilities.

"He's definitely leading by example, setting the standard by which the rest of the team has to go by. But he's also taking what we say in the coaching sessions and implementing it out there on the field. During the course of a game, he's the one who has most of the control over the team, and it's good to see that he goes along with what the coaching team tries to lay out in theory for them."

Cupidore also responded to his critics.

"If you're looking for a guy who makes everyone happy, then look again. What I'm trying to do is build a team here. And the guys are happy to agree with my ideas. They want to win too. But winning isn't everything, of course. But there will always be critics, and I invite it. I work well under pressure."

[IndiaWarrior]

well written,but above things are real or fantasy.

[qpeedore]

Very much fantasy. Not real at all! Simulated in the game with some embellishments on my part to make things a little more exciting.

Ryon Cupidore - that's me.

[rishi]

HELLO there

Hello Mr. Cupidore!!

It would be nice to have some very interesting screenshots as well.
Turning point of game, retired hurts, a hattrick? Look forward to have visual picture (very carefully selected) along with your very interesting story!!

[rishi]

Carry on going

Keep it up!!

[qpeedore]

Hmm...screenshots, I'll think about that. Maybe I could use one of those video editing softwares and create like a highlights package. BUT...that would take a lot of time.

It's something to consider, though. Definitely.

[qpeedore]

27th August, 2009

Gloucestershire vs. Middlesex – County Championship, Division 2

Gloucerstershire: H Marshall, G Hodnett, A Gidman, K Kendall, M Gitsham, C Spearman, S Adshead (wk), J Lewis, S Kirby, A Ireland, I Fisher

Middlesex: A Strauss, E Smith ©, E Morgan, N Compton, E Joyce, B Godleman, B Scott (wk), C Bucknall, M Kartik, C Silverwood, S Finn

Forecast: The rains seem to be holding up for the duration of this match and the sun should be out in all its glory for much of this game. There will be some cloud cover, but nothing too threatening.

Pitch Report: Another flat pitch, with no signs of wear on it at all. The sun has really dried everything up nicely and the ball should give even bounce to the batsmen. Definitely bat first on this one.

Toss: Middlesex, who chose to bat. Ed Smith: “This definitely looks like a great pitch for us to post a big total. Hopefully we’ll get a result in this one, unlike the last game. When the sun hit this it may open up a few small cracks so we’ll see how the second innings plays. It could be very tough in the second innings for both teams, so we need to post a good total now.”

[qpeedore]

Report: Middlesex played an unchanged team from the lineup that cruised to victory in their Pro40 fixture a few days ago. There was some talk around of Murtagh maybe feeling a little bit of weariness, which is why he sat this game out and Bucknall came in. Only the coach would be able to answer that question.

Strauss and Smith walked out to the middle. Smith is in exceptional form this season and only a few runs behind the top season scorer, Jacques Rudolph. He would have been hoping to get some runs on this flat pitch and possibly surpass Rudolph in this game. Strauss, on the other hand, had bigger things to play for, namely a recall to the England squad.

Middlesex started off very slowly, only 19 runs coming off of the first ten overs of the day. The pitch seemed true, however, and there did not seem to be much risk in the batsmen playing their shots when the time came for that. The fans in the stands had to wait until the 14th over for their first boundary, Strauss finding the fence off of the bowling of Ireland. Smith hit his first four two overs later, but off of the bowling of Lewis instead.

Lewis did get Smith in his next over, however, removing him lbw for 19. Two overs later he almost found the edge from Strauss, but in the end it turned out to be a very good leave. Strauss tried to show his authority in Lewis’ next over, hitting him for consecutive fours before blocking two very good deliveries and then edging the fifth ball past the slips and to third man. He continued to try to hit at least a boundary an over but in his forties that trend suddenly stopped. He brought up his fifty in a slightly risky fashion, with another edge past a diving second slip that beat third man and went for four. He alleviated all fears the very next ball by hitting the middle of the bat and sending the ball through midwicket for another four.

Having taken two chances, Strauss settled down well but still played his shots. He survived another close call three balls before lunch, but the umpire was correct in determining that the ball pitched just outside the line of leg stump. Middlesex went to lunch on 114 for the loss of only Smith, with Strauss on 74 and Morgan on 17 at the other end.

Strauss was run out in unfortunate circumstances after the break, going for a second run that just was not on. He went for 75. Compton came into the middle ad immediately announced his arrival with several fine shots. He soon settled and it was Morgan at the other end who suddenly took over. Morgan’s first ten runs took almost 60 balls, but his next 40 was scored at almost a run a ball, showing a good ability to switch gears.

Compton had a huge scare when, on 44, he hit the ball right back to the bowler Lewis, who took a sharp chance and immediately started celebrating. Compton started to walk but the umpire suddenly signaled no-ball. Morgan walked straight to Compton and they had a long discussion in the middle of the pitch before Compton nervously went back to the striker’s end. He took a quick single to get himself off of the strike and no doubt would have thanked the cricketing gods for his lifeline.

He went on to post his fifty a few overs later, having calmed down a lot and starting to play his shots again. In the next over he hit his first boundary since the no-ball, much to his relief. Two followed one, and three followed two, and Compton looked back to his usual self. At the other end, Morgan had played his way into the nervous nineties, but showed little signs of it when he hit the ball just enough to evade the diving mid off fielder and get himself the four runs needed to reach his third century of the season. Middlesex went to tea two balls later, with Morgan on an even hundred and Compton on 68, with the overall score 274 for 2.

Compton survived another close call in the over after tea, being given not out to an lbw appeal that looked very good to the naked eye. Replays, however, suggested that the ball would have just missed leg stump. Gloucester took the new ball as soon as it was available, looking to get a breakthrough with the harder ball. Middlesex denied them that opportunity for 18 long overs until Morgan finally top edged a sweep to get himself caught out for 148. Gloucester finally had their third wicket with the score on 355.

Compton brought up his century in the next over, with a good looking on drive that the fielder simply had no chance of getting near to. Two overs later, he slapped a six backward of point to show the bowlers that he was taking advantage of his many near-falls. He was eventually caught at short leg for 118 with three overs to go in the day.

No night watchman came out, instead, Godleman came to the middle and he and Joyce saw through to the end of the day.

End of day 1: Middlesex 395/4, E Joyce 13*, B Godleman 5*, A Ireland 0-88, S Kirby 0-100
Middlesex lead by 395 runs

[qpeedore]

Day 2: The bowlers seemed to enjoy the night’s rest, coming back on day 2 and giving Middlesex a bit of problems at the start. Runs came in singles for the first few overs, and Kirby got a wicket, Joyce falling to a good catch at short leg. He followed this with a great Yorker in his next over to remove Scott. At the other end, Fisher got Bucknall to edge one to the keeper and Middlesex found their strong position slipping a little. When Goldeman edged to first slip, it seemed all but over for their first innings.

Kartik and Silverwood seemed to have something to say about that, however, featuring in a 55 run partnership that saw both men play some great shots that would put more established batsmen to shame. It ended when Silverwood was bowled for a handy 34. Kartik stretched the innings past 500 before he fell lbw to end things.

End of Middlesex innings: 511/10, E Morgan 148, N Compton 118, I Fisher 3-107, J Lewis 3-122
Gloucestershire trail by 511 runs

[qpeedore]

There was enough time for one over before lunch, which went for 5 runs. Marshall hit a boundary to get Gloucester going and one leg bye past Scott.

Hodnett seemed to take over after lunch, outscoring Marshall in terms of boundaries, but Marshall worked the field to keep scoring at a decent rate himself. The opening bowlers tried very hard but they could not get a breakthrough and Smith eventually decided to rest them and give his other bowlers a chance but not even that seemed to bother the two batsmen.

Middlesex finally got their first wicket after 23 long and hard overs, Joyce bowling Marshall for 36. Hodnett survived a close run out chance a few overs later, just grounding his bat in time. He went on to hit Kartik for a boundary in his first over to bring up his fifty. He would not carry on, however, as Kartik had him caught at first slip off of the very next ball. He went for 52 with the score on 108.

Two overs and eight runs later, Kartik had his second wicket, trapping Kendall in front for an lbw. Gloucester went to tea on 131 for 3, with Gidman on 24 and Gitsham new to the crease on 3.

None of the bowlers looked too penetrating after the interval, allowing Gitsham to outscore his partner and reach his fifty first. Gidman made his fifty several overs later, but was bowled by Compton in his second over without adding to that score. Bucknall then had Spearman lbw for only 9, but the impressive-looking Gitsham was still at the crease on 75. Gloucester closed the day with a big task ahead of them but still in the game.

End of day 2: Gloucestershire 265/5, M Gitsham 85*, S Adshead 12*, N Compton 1-38, C Bucknall 1-34
Gloucestershire trail by 246 runs

[qpeedore]

Day 3: Silverwood struck in the first over of the day, removing Adshead via lbw for 16 after he had hit a four the previous ball. He would have added another wicket two balls later, but the leg slip fielder dropped a very easy catch and Lewis was allowed a lifeline. Gitsham entered the nineties in the meanwhile, stroking the ball to the boundary frequently. He brought up a well-played century with a single through the legside and was applauded by his teammates from the pavilion.

Middlesex then had the opportunity to take the new ball but refused. That decision paid off for them in the 81st over itself, with Finn getting the old ball to reverse a little and Gitsham edged to Scott without adding to his even hundred. Finn then delivered a peach of a ball to remove Kirby without scoring. It swung in late and rapped him right on his boot in front on off stump. He ended the over with a good bouncer to the new batsman Ireland that was barely avoided.

Finn needed to be rested, however, and Middlesex brought on Bucknall and Joyce. The tail lingered, however, and the target to avoid the follow on kept getting smaller and smaller. Ireland hit a career-best 30 before Joyce finally got him to edge one to the keeper. Three runs were needed to avoid the follow on with one wicket in hand. He almost had he last wicket two balls later, but first slip dropped the catch. Middlesex looked clearly deflated.

Bucknall came to the rescue, however, grabbing the last wicket with just one to go to avoid the follow on. Middlesex would have been happy to at least have the option, but it remained to be seen what would happen.

End of Gloucestershire innings: 360/10, M Gitsham 100, G Hodnett 52, C Bucknall 2-50, E Joyce 2-60
Middlesex lead by 151 runs and have enforced the follow on

[qpeedore]

With enough time for two overs before lunch, Middlesex bowled with a very aggressive field. Some runs leaked, as expected, and Gloucester went to the break on 9 without loss.

Some sharp fielding from the man at point did Marshall in after the break, with the throw directly hitting the stumps and Marshall still about a foot away. Finn then had Hodnett caught well at second slip by Strauss and Gloucester were 24 for 2. Gidman hit Finn for 11 runs a few overs later, starting with a huge six past mid on, and following it with a four and a single. Kendall was no slouch either, getting off the mark with a boundary and following it with another just three balls later.

Bucknall replaced Finn and went for an expensive first over, but settled down in his second. Joyce, meanwhile, had replaced Silverwood and bowled two maidens in a row before having the first runs scored off of him in his third over. He came back to strike at the end of that over, however, with the ominous-looking Gidman getting a faint edge to the keeper.

The slow bowlers came onto bowl afterward, and Gloucester went to tea on 103 for 3, with Kendall on 31, and Gitsham, the first innings centurion, on 15.

It took some time after the interval before Middlesex had another breakthrough, Kartik getting Gitsham lbw for 41. At the other end Kendall was two runs away from a fifty. He went on to reach that milestone two overs later but would not make another run. Kartik trapped him plumb in front and Gloucester were 149 for 5.

Kartik continued to look dangerous and almost had himself another wicket, but a sharp chance was put down at second slip after a juggle. Gloucester went on to negate the lead and closed the day on 207. Middlesex still had the edge, but Gloucester were making them work.

End of day 3: Gloucestershire 207/5, C Spearman 17*, S Adshead 38*, C Silverwood 0-37, C Bucknall 0-36
Gloucestershire lead by 56 runs

[qpeedore]

Day 4: Nothing of note happened within the first few overs and it looked like Smith had a plan in mind to just bowl until the new ball became available. Middlesex immediately took it after 80 overs but had to wait another 5 overs for their breakthrough, with Silverwood getting the wicket of Spearman for 37. He was dropped on zero late yesterday off of the bowling of Kartik.

At the other end, Adshead posted his second fifty of the season and looked in good touch. Joyce eventually removed him for 61 but he had helped the lead get to something that Gloucester could bowl at.

Lewis was bowled by Bucknall for a quick 30 after playing more than a few shots in the process. He then went on to beat the edge of the new batsman’s bat several times but could not get another breakthrough. It was Kartik who got Middlesex their ninth wicket, bowling Ireland for 4 with just two overs to go before lunch. The last wicket fell when Finn had Kirby lbw with the final ball of his over, just before lunch.

End of Gloucestershire innings: 318/10, S Adshead 61, K Kendall 50, M Kartik 3-50, E Joyce 2-54
Middlesex need 168 to win

[qpeedore]

With two full sessions to go on the final day, nothing too risky was needed by Middlesex, and they started their chase slowly but steadily. Strauss did start to play his shots, however, and nobody could blame him with all the form he had been showing. Smith soon got in on the action, scoring some of the runs that he should have gotten in the first innings.

Strauss was bowled by Kirby for 20, however, and Smith was run out a few balls later for 25. Suddenly Middlesex had two down. The two first innings centurions joined each other at the crease again but Morgan was caught well at first slip for only 19.

Middlesex kept things quiet until the interval, taking the singles and not looking for too much risks. It paid off, as the deficit was only 58 at the break and they were still only three down.

Compton and Joyce played well after the break, not looking for the big shots and instead just working the field around. Compton brought up his fifty eventually, and hit the wining run two overs later to seal a good victory for Middlesex.

End of Middlesex innings: 168/3, N Compton 55*, E Joyce 40*, S Kirby 1-38, A Ireland 1-39
Middlesex win by 7 wickets
Man of the match: N Compton