No Conversions for the Southgate Faithful (Day 3)

The Bowler

By Dingy Bags (concluded by Ged)
July 22 2006

Dingy Bags reports in detail on the first two sessions of play. Circus cricket is not Dingy Bags's style, but Ged was on hand to report on the target-setting antics on another glorious day at sunny Southgate. Deserted
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Anyone who has not visited Southgate for the first three days of this match should bear in mind that much of the outfield resembles the margins of the Sahara. We all know that Southgate is a true wicket and a fast-scoring ground; now factor current conditions into calculations.


Declare Behind?
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Middlesex bowled Sussex out in under four sessions, at almost exactly four runs an over. This was a better effort than it might appear at a distance. So day three arrived with high hopes: six wickets left and a deficit of 163. Of the four wickets that had fallen, Ed J had got himself stumped and Ace had holed out at deep backward square. I was unimpressed by suggestions that we should get to 400 and declare; as I saw it, we should aim for as big a lead as possible and try to put them under pressure on the final day. After all, we had picked Morgan as an extra batsman and Nash, for his batting.


Out-Groundsman of the Year 2005 AND 2006?
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Inspection of the wicket before play showed an almost flawless surface, no mean achievement by Steve Martin in this drought and in these temperatures. Styris and Dalrymple were soon into their stride and runs came at a similar rate as the innings average. Adams set very defensive fields, with the new ball twelve overs away. Mushtaq, who bowled a superb, extended spell at Horsham to undermine our innings entirely, was not as threatening and gave a few short balls. Perhaps his injury was still bothering him.


Ace Copying
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At this stage it seemed that getting through the new ball was the key to a vast total. However, there was a nasty shock in store at 372 when Styris rocked back to a Wright bouncer and cracked it square. Had he been trying to hit it for 6, I�m sure he would have cleared the tennis courts, but he half tried to roll his wrists on it. It still would have been six had it not screamed into Montgomerie�s hands, at full stretch above his head at deep backward square. Scottie looked 1) aghast 2) sick. Like Ace the previous evening, had he hit it even two yards either way, he�d have had a boundary. Like Ace, he opted to hook with two back, but for both to get out like that, to consecutive dismissals, was very unlucky indeed. With his departure, hopes of 700 had to be scaled back to 600 or so (keep dreaming!).


We Bat On
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Morgan was at once impressive. He soon rocked back and hit Mushie for 4 and was quickly into the 20s. He was the only batsman I saw hit that same bowler straight. 400 came and went and with it, no declaraton. It was clear the intention was to bat for plenty of the day and hope to put them under pressure late on. However, the new ball was taken and, at 411, Arafat trimmed JD�s off stump. It was now up to Morgan and Nash to take us to a lead. In fact the period up to lunch was one of almost total stagnation, the determination to see off the new ball plain to see. 93 runs in the session from 35 overs � a bit slow.


Eeyore
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At lunch, I had a Winnie the Pooh moment. I could hear Eeyore. Surely it was the heat! Not only that, he was talking about bowling to Brian Lara for two and a half days. This was surreal. Then I realised what was happening: it was only the lugubrious tones of Gus addressing the diners in the hospitality tent. I put aside a half-formed urge to listen out the back for free � not classy!


Irish Jig followed by "Yasir I Can Boogie"
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Nash was bowled by the very first ball after lunch and then Morgan, taking his career-shadowing of Ed Joyce a step too far, did a similar shuffle down the track and was stumped. This was from Rayner, the off-spinner built like a fast bowler, who was doing quite a good job of getting the scoring rate back up again. Louw was allowed just one huge six before the persevering Arafat (Sussex do well with their overseas players) replaced Rayner and quickly finished off the innings. In contrast to the Sussex knock, the Middlesex last wicket stand lasted a single delivery.


Non-Conversions
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Middlesex failed to get a lead because five batsmen reached 60 and not one of them went on to three figures. To lose one batsman between 60 and 85 is unfortunate; to lose five looks remarkably like carelessness. The other noteworthy feature of the innings was Mushie, the scourge at Horsham, no wickets in 42 overs (and only one maiden).


Silly Season
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I grew suspicious of proceedings up to tea, when I decided to leave. Sussex scored only 77 in 27 overs, admittedly to defensive fields, after a brief burst from Louw and the quite impressive, if luckless Silverwood. Sure enough, I see joke bowling and a ridiculous scoring rate has set up a run chase, thunderstorms permitting. I thought that was what was in the wind (the agreement, not the storms). I cannot see the point of watching such proceedings. So Middlesex supporters will be thinking of recent Southgate matches with Gloucestershire and Glamorgan this evening, and hoping. A win would be nice.


Ged picks up where Dingy Bags leaves off
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The impending post tea circus was foreshadowed by an exhibition of "catching and fielding" by Barmy Kev and a small cast of other characters during the tea interval. It was an absolutely glorious summers evening and, unlike Dingy Bags, I had only witnessed a couple of hours cricket come tea, so I was determined to sit out the day.

Rumours were spreading through the sparse crowd about a deal, so it was little surprise when Compton and Smith took over the bowling. What was a surprise was the two quick wickets that ensued. I suddenly wondered whether Styris was the most brilliant strategic captain since Brearly and that these bowling changes were for real. Oh no. The Sussex boys filled their boots. Nash and (I suspect reluctantly) Joyce served up the pies. Morgan executed a stumping off Nash's bowling. If someone even thinks about starting a "Morgan or Nash?" thread on the message board I shall scream!

My own purposes were somewhat frustrated by the circus cricket. I wanted to read and enjoy the evening sunshine, but felt in potential physical danger for each ball, so had to keep more of an eye on the cricket than it warranted.

I spoke with a couple of the Middlesex players in the field (well, they were hardly fielding and I was hardly reading). They claim to be a little daunted by the challenge of scoring 420 on a last day pitch against Mushy and the others. I get the feeling that they basically feel up for it but are trying to manage expectations and don't want to seem too pleased with the deal in case it backfires.

So with the target set (421 in a minimum of 96 weather permitting) Sussex declared to end the day and Ged enjoyed another 45 minutes of sunshine to finish his book.
A couple of hours of daft cricket has set up a potential cracker of a Day 4. Certainly a fair deal for the fans and here's hoping it's a good deal for Middlesex.

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