So frustrating to lose Middleton before the close. We are ahead in the game, but have had chances to be even more firmly in charge. Dawson's clearly not 100%, I'm sure he wouldn't have dropped that normally. At least he was able to contribute with the bat. We need to get 250 minimum in this innings to set Warwickshire around 300, anything above that would be a nice bonus.
So England v India in the SF then. TBH I'm happy. England won't be playing in the middle of the night and it's almost better to play India in the SF I think.
I don't think the Aussies will want Bangladesh bowling first. Their best chance of getting a favour from Bangladesh is probably for Bangladesh to bat first. If Bangladesh bowl first, the risk it that they then crash and burn in their run chase, in a futile attempt to improve their NRR enormously - thereby handing Afghanistan an easy two points. Or, indeed, it risks Bangladesh bowling Afghanistan out for something very low, and then duly succeeding in the super-quick run chase. A more "normal" match is likely to occur if Afghanistan are chasing. Of course, the Aussies would have to hope that they fail in that run chase.
Have people seen the video of Rashid Khan throwing his bat in anger when his team mate refuses a second run?
One more big partnership, come on. I thought Brown's ball was heading down leg-side actually and Organ threw it away as usual. His batting is a bit too loose to be in the top 6 (or 7?) really; I realise he was promoted in this innings to protect Vince last night. The pitch looks like it's flattening out a tad so I'd like to set them nearer to 330 if possible.
Yep, it's tight but the biased Hampshire fan in me says just sneaking down! I tried to freeze the replay when it hit the pad and there's one frame where it looks like it's hitting leg stump and another where I'm sure it would just be missing, hard to tell. Tidy enough from Turner so far in the 2s, 7 overs 1 wicket for 17, but he is out of sorts and needs a few games there to get his rhythm and confidence back a bit. It would have been helpful for Wheal to have played that as well, but I guess they had to take at least 1 bowling reserve in the squad with them to Edgbaston.
So, what is the plan for Hampshire? Get a lead of > 400? Bat for the rest of the day? Make sure Dawson gets his century, and Vince gets 150 at least? All of these things? At what point do we dangle the declaration carrot in front of Warwickshire, so that they either decide to try for a win, or try to bat out for a draw?
I think Vince will accelerate after tea and let Dawson get his century, then it will turn into some slogging for a bit.
