July 2008 Archives

Leicestershire 0 for 1 (1 over). Dippenaar 0, Nixon 0.

Anyon, recalled to the team in the light of Woakes' absence with England U19s and Martin's hamstring injury, strikes with the third ball of the match, an in-ducker which traps left-hander Boyce plum lbw.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Leicestershire have won the toss and chosen to bat in pursuit of their first batting point in four attempts.

Warwickshire: Maddy, Poonia, Powell, Trott, Troughton, Frost, Botha, Salisbury, Carter, Tahir, Anyon.

It is sunny and very warm here in the noble city which gave the world Gary Lineker, Willie Thorne, the Elephant Man, Bill Maynard and the Pork Pie Roundabout.

Middlesex 18 for 0 (6 overs). Compton 9, Malan 9.

Rain has stopped play again.

Middlesex's players have commented on how remarkably shiny Warwickshire's players kept the ball for so long. They do work very hard at that in the field with Botha, in particular, a renowned shinemeister.

Middlesex 170 all out and, following on 223 behind, 4 for 0 (2 overs).

Richardson edged Maddy into the slips, Finn fell lbw to Martin and Scott's doughty 37 ended with a pull off Martin which Poonia clutched at deep long leg much in the manner of Graham Dilley taking a certain famous catch in the Ashes Test at Headingley in 1981.

Martin 3 for 43, Woakes 2 for 31, Carter 2 for 49, Maddy 3 for 33. All bowled extremely well.

Tea has been taken.

Stewards walking round square with hands clasped behind backs.

Drizzle has stopped. Play should resume reasonably soon, further rain notwithstanding.

RAIN STOPPED PLAY. Middlesex 153 for 7 (58 overs). Scott 33, Richardson 0.

Scott and Kartik added 44 in 12 overs before the latter, having scraped his way to 17 in highly unconvincing fashion, had a big mow at Maddy and sent up a skier to Woakes at extra cover.

Mizzling drizzle was falling then and seconds later, after former Bear Alan Richardson lumbered in at the unusually lofty position of nine, it intensfied and, yet again, the players left the field.

Middlesex 110 for 6 (46 overs). Scott 11, Kartik 0.

Murtagh slashes outside off stump at Woakes and edges to Frost for 2. Three wickets in five overs. Game on.

"Blind Date" was the most appalling and crass programme in the history of television and everybody associated it should feel thoroughly ashamed.

Middlesex 98 for 5 (42 overs). Scott 1, Murtagh 0.

Cricket has resumed as the sun peeps through the clouds and Warwickshire wasted no time in striking two big blows. A well pitched-up delivery from Carter found Shah's feet in a tangle and prompted an lbw decision. Shah out for 42. Then Morgan drove airily at the left-armer and Trott took a difficult catch nonchalantly at second slip.

Two big wickets which preserves the Bears' hopes of pressing for a victory. They need to bowl Middlesex out for 244 to bring the follow-on into play.

The mizzling drizzle continues. Early lunch taken at 12.45pm.

It is a grey and sombre scene about which it is difficult to feel too buoyant - most of all for one member of the Bears' camp who has just taken a hit from a callous local.

Physio Gerhard Mostert popped into Uxbridge town centre to find a pharmacy to get a few things for several players who are suffering from colds. As Mostert parked up, a man was lurking nearby. Precisely eight minutes later, the fizz returned to his vehicle to find that this charmer had clamped it.

The cost of getting the clamp removed? Wait for it....£280!!

Even the eternally easy-going physio was a bit disenchanted by that. This bloke watched him park up, waited for him to go, then struck. Nice.

Rain has stopped play. Middlesex 95 for 3 (39.1 overs). Shah 42, Morgan 21.

Mizzling drizzle has set in, one of several ingredients combining to shepherd this staccato contest towards a draw.

The red crane has just swung 180 degrees.