I've just been looking at the rain map (yep, so sad I know) & it looks pretty grim for rest of the day, so that's a for Hants. Anyway, just a thought; with it being so obvious rain at the Oval this eve, wouldn't it make more sense for the authorities, with the ok (?) of the captains to alter the match from 50 to say 40 overs, which then would have possibly allowed the game finished before a rain end ? Fraught with difficulties, I'm sure but gotta be better than what's in store with a frustrating end & DWL results?
England won. Lewis who had got the Windies within a hairsbreadth of a win with a fantastic 176 n.o. has been diagnosed with a fractured ankle.
It's ok we won, but could have been an exciting finish. Our players did great to get us to this position when we looked down and out....either result was possible, though perhaps it favoured the Windies and depended very much on the next wicket. The Windies are a strange bunch this series....England definitely the better, more consistent, team, but the opposition had flashes of brilliance. Had a couple of powerful batsmen who could do real damage if England didn't bowl well or fielding wasn't spot on. Over a series England would win, but the Windies were capable of winning a match. Shame this one didn't go to the end.
I'm assuming it isn't Hales who kicks the bloke on the floor? I know that is seen as the worst thing you can do in the eyes of the law during a fight. Having seen the footage I think Stokes might be OK, one of the guys he is fighting with hits one of Stokes' friends with a bottle before Stokes gets properly involved. All depends if the guy wants to press charges though I'd imagine, don't think there is enough there for the police to independently charge Stokes (I may be wrong).
11.30 start. So presumably we're down to 80 overs for the day. The last eight of which will be with the new ball, if we're still out there then.
That's just enough overs lost to bring the draw back into play. A required rate of three an over is nothing huge, of course. But equally, if we're looking to block our way through the day, then it might not be reached.
Basically we have no excuses, nine wickets left against the worst team in the league, already relegated, knowing that we stay up if we survive the day. If we go down then we deserve it IMO.
So if Somerset are victorious by lunchtime, I wonder what the mindset will be of the players at Edgbaston? Will Hants become more nervous or will it take the edge out of the game. Both teams might like the idea of one of the capital's teams playing in Division 2. Looking at the pathetic response Middlesex have made, (Somerset proved you can bat on this wicket) then they deserve their fate. Furthermore, I would not make them favourites to bounce back next season. Sussex look as if they are getting their act together again, Northants will want to go the extra step while Warwickshire are maybe better prepared to bounce back first time. At the moment I would make Middlesex the 4th best team in Division 2 of those likely to be there.
That is going to take up time. And as Tom suggested "bad light" may well paly a part. Meanwhile at Taunton, Middlesex are heading for defeat with an abject display of batting. Someone suggested Somerset might be docked points regarding the pitch. Maybe Middlesex should be docked further points for such an awful display with the bat, this from a county that has its share of current and ex-test batsmen (Compton, Robson, Voges and Malan) in the current 11.
That is going to take up time. And as Tom suggested "bad light" may well paly a part. Meanwhile at Taunton, Middlesex are heading for defeat with an abject display of batting. Someone suggested Somerset might be docked points regarding the pitch. Maybe Middlesex should be docked further points for such an awful display with the bat, this from a county that has its share of current and ex-test batsmen (Compton, Robson, Voges and Malan) in the current 11.
If we stay, we owe Chris Wright a pint. He has bowled awfully this morning. And the new ball now isn't as new anymore.
