Peter H
02-05-2023, 04:27 PM
I got into the habit of writing “weekly” updates of Division Two for MTWD and thought I’d repeat that his season. I’m not going back to the first two “rounds”, but with only two games this week just gone, I did feel I should start last time out. So let’s crack on with round four, played from 20th to 23rd April:
Division One, Round 4
There were a lot of runs scored this week: five team innings exceeded 350 runs in a grand total of 3783 runs off 968.4 overs (3.91 runs an over).
We’ll start with The Middle and a welcome first win of the season. We drew both matches with Div 2 champions Nottinghamshire last season and in both games it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Notts were the better side. That we managed to draw both owed much to the weather and a strange declaration at Lord’s that gave no time for Notts to earn the win they deserved. This match would be different, although weather once again played a large part in the result.
Middlesex won the toss and under clear blue skies elected to bowl. A good start from openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett saw the visitors to 117 before Hameed was caught by the captain off Ethan Bamber’s bowling. The next three wickets cost only 35 runs, but Duckett was still there. He would go on to score his maiden century of the season, 177, before Ryan Higgins tempted him into an injudicious shot that fell into Martin Andersson's hands. Able support from Lyndon James (41) and captain Steve Mullaney (46) offered hope of a big score, but with seven of the eleven batters failing to score more than 10 runs, Notts score of 364 might be considered disappointing. In return, Middlesex scored just 274 with Mark Stoneman’s 76 and Ryan Higgins’ 53 being the only scores over 27. By the end of day three Notts had put on 158 for 6, Joe Clarke top-scoring with 52.
With rain delaying the start of day 4 until 15:30, Steven Mullaney appeared to right the wrongs of last season and immediately declared setting Middlesex a target of 249 runs in 40 overs. A brave decision, Mullaney should be praised for sacrificing a draw in the hope of a win, and a threat of defeat. With Sam Robson moved down the order, the hosts treated the target as they would a limited overs match which in effect it was. The batters quickly got ahead of the required run rate and, despite wickets falling regularly, managed to reach their target with one over left, but more importantly the light threatening to halt the game prematurely. Pieter Malan top-scored with 61, Max Holden added 53.
Middlesex (20 pts) beat Notts (5 pts) by four wickets.
At the County Ground, hosts Northamptonshire won the toss and decided to put Hampshire in to bat. Hmmm. They must have been pleased to get opener Fletcha Middleston out for a duck in the second over, with Felix Organ the second wicket on 72. Then 268 runs were added for the third wicket, Nick Gubbins caught behind for 125. Captain James Vince scored 186 before finally being 7th out. Wickie Ben Brown contributed 55 in a total of 482 for 8 declared. Northants reply didn’t start well with opener Ricardo Vasconcelos lbw first ball; and it didn’t get much better. James Fuller took 6 for 37 as Northants were all out for 149, including 8 from ‘keeper Lewis McManus who broke his finger during the first innings and didn’t bat again. Asked to follow on, Northants fared even worse, amassing just 63 runs with captain Luke Proctor the highest scorer with 18. After the match, Fuller said he was "...just happy to be contributing."
Hampshire (22 pts) beat Northants (1 pt) by an innings and 270 runs.
Lancashire travelled to Taunton, won the toss and put Somerset in to bat. 19 year old wicketkeeper James Rew was the hero of this match, scoring 117 in the Somerset first innings. His captain proved an .... no, I’m not going there. Tom Abell scored 151 in a partnership of 244 that righted the proverbial ship from a gloomy looking 24 for 3. The hosts were all out for 441, James Anderson took 5 wickets for 76. Lancashire then demonstrated that it was a batting wicket by scoring 154 for the first wicket. Keaton Jennings tore his hamstring while unbeaten on 189, then Josh Bohannon scored 85 before bing the second wicket on 376. Lancs were all out for 554, James Rew taking six catches. Somerset went into the final day just 72 runs behind, but lost their first six wickets for 169 to put a Lancs victory clearly in sight. They managed to bat out the day with all-rounder Kasey Aldridge hitting his maiden first class half-century, ending unbeaten on 58 in a total of 256 for 6. James Rew hit a six and nine fours in a, er, spirited 47.
Somerset (10 pts) drew with Lancashire (12 pts).
In Kent, rain was the winner at Canterbury, taking out half of the first two days play and the entire of the final day. Essex won the toss and decided to bat, and their decision looked a good one as they scored 451 for 5 declared. Opener Nick Brown was highest scorer with 159, Tom Westley’s 148 not far behind. Wicketkeeper Michael Pepper was unbeaten on 52. In reply, Zak Crawley hit 170 as part of Kent’s 342 for 7 before rain ended the contest. Nothing more to add.
Kent (8 pts) drew with Essex (12 pts)
Here's the table after round four, I'll add more stats when I complete round 5.....
Pos
Team
Played
Won
Lost
Drawn
BAT
BOWL
TOTAL
1
Hampshire
3
2
1
0
4
9
45
2
Essex
3
1
0
2
6
8
40
3
Warwickshire
2
1
0
1
8
6
35
4
Surrey
2
1
0
1
5
6
32
5
Nottinghamshire
3
1
2
0
4
9
29
6
Lancashire
3
0
0
3
6
8
29
7
Kent
3
1
1
1
2
5
28
8
MIDDLESEX
3
1
2
0
1
9
26
9
Northamptonshire
3
1
2
0
0
7
23
10
Somerset
3
0
1
2
4
8
22
Division One, Round 4
There were a lot of runs scored this week: five team innings exceeded 350 runs in a grand total of 3783 runs off 968.4 overs (3.91 runs an over).
We’ll start with The Middle and a welcome first win of the season. We drew both matches with Div 2 champions Nottinghamshire last season and in both games it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Notts were the better side. That we managed to draw both owed much to the weather and a strange declaration at Lord’s that gave no time for Notts to earn the win they deserved. This match would be different, although weather once again played a large part in the result.
Middlesex won the toss and under clear blue skies elected to bowl. A good start from openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett saw the visitors to 117 before Hameed was caught by the captain off Ethan Bamber’s bowling. The next three wickets cost only 35 runs, but Duckett was still there. He would go on to score his maiden century of the season, 177, before Ryan Higgins tempted him into an injudicious shot that fell into Martin Andersson's hands. Able support from Lyndon James (41) and captain Steve Mullaney (46) offered hope of a big score, but with seven of the eleven batters failing to score more than 10 runs, Notts score of 364 might be considered disappointing. In return, Middlesex scored just 274 with Mark Stoneman’s 76 and Ryan Higgins’ 53 being the only scores over 27. By the end of day three Notts had put on 158 for 6, Joe Clarke top-scoring with 52.
With rain delaying the start of day 4 until 15:30, Steven Mullaney appeared to right the wrongs of last season and immediately declared setting Middlesex a target of 249 runs in 40 overs. A brave decision, Mullaney should be praised for sacrificing a draw in the hope of a win, and a threat of defeat. With Sam Robson moved down the order, the hosts treated the target as they would a limited overs match which in effect it was. The batters quickly got ahead of the required run rate and, despite wickets falling regularly, managed to reach their target with one over left, but more importantly the light threatening to halt the game prematurely. Pieter Malan top-scored with 61, Max Holden added 53.
Middlesex (20 pts) beat Notts (5 pts) by four wickets.
At the County Ground, hosts Northamptonshire won the toss and decided to put Hampshire in to bat. Hmmm. They must have been pleased to get opener Fletcha Middleston out for a duck in the second over, with Felix Organ the second wicket on 72. Then 268 runs were added for the third wicket, Nick Gubbins caught behind for 125. Captain James Vince scored 186 before finally being 7th out. Wickie Ben Brown contributed 55 in a total of 482 for 8 declared. Northants reply didn’t start well with opener Ricardo Vasconcelos lbw first ball; and it didn’t get much better. James Fuller took 6 for 37 as Northants were all out for 149, including 8 from ‘keeper Lewis McManus who broke his finger during the first innings and didn’t bat again. Asked to follow on, Northants fared even worse, amassing just 63 runs with captain Luke Proctor the highest scorer with 18. After the match, Fuller said he was "...just happy to be contributing."
Hampshire (22 pts) beat Northants (1 pt) by an innings and 270 runs.
Lancashire travelled to Taunton, won the toss and put Somerset in to bat. 19 year old wicketkeeper James Rew was the hero of this match, scoring 117 in the Somerset first innings. His captain proved an .... no, I’m not going there. Tom Abell scored 151 in a partnership of 244 that righted the proverbial ship from a gloomy looking 24 for 3. The hosts were all out for 441, James Anderson took 5 wickets for 76. Lancashire then demonstrated that it was a batting wicket by scoring 154 for the first wicket. Keaton Jennings tore his hamstring while unbeaten on 189, then Josh Bohannon scored 85 before bing the second wicket on 376. Lancs were all out for 554, James Rew taking six catches. Somerset went into the final day just 72 runs behind, but lost their first six wickets for 169 to put a Lancs victory clearly in sight. They managed to bat out the day with all-rounder Kasey Aldridge hitting his maiden first class half-century, ending unbeaten on 58 in a total of 256 for 6. James Rew hit a six and nine fours in a, er, spirited 47.
Somerset (10 pts) drew with Lancashire (12 pts).
In Kent, rain was the winner at Canterbury, taking out half of the first two days play and the entire of the final day. Essex won the toss and decided to bat, and their decision looked a good one as they scored 451 for 5 declared. Opener Nick Brown was highest scorer with 159, Tom Westley’s 148 not far behind. Wicketkeeper Michael Pepper was unbeaten on 52. In reply, Zak Crawley hit 170 as part of Kent’s 342 for 7 before rain ended the contest. Nothing more to add.
Kent (8 pts) drew with Essex (12 pts)
Here's the table after round four, I'll add more stats when I complete round 5.....
Pos
Team
Played
Won
Lost
Drawn
BAT
BOWL
TOTAL
1
Hampshire
3
2
1
0
4
9
45
2
Essex
3
1
0
2
6
8
40
3
Warwickshire
2
1
0
1
8
6
35
4
Surrey
2
1
0
1
5
6
32
5
Nottinghamshire
3
1
2
0
4
9
29
6
Lancashire
3
0
0
3
6
8
29
7
Kent
3
1
1
1
2
5
28
8
MIDDLESEX
3
1
2
0
1
9
26
9
Northamptonshire
3
1
2
0
0
7
23
10
Somerset
3
0
1
2
4
8
22