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A Day At The Cricket

Kent v Middlesex at The St. Lawrence Ground, Canterbury
County Championship (Div'n 2)
August, 2011

Day 2, Thursday 18th August, 2011

Middlesex are 55 for no wicket in replay to Kent's 1st innings 242

Clouds hung heavy over the re-development work at Canterbury’s St. Lawrence Ground as they seem to have over Kent all season; even the first view of the ground as you approach the Bat & Ball pub on the Old Dover Road is not encouraging, i.e. the house-builder’s hoardings and the ugly T20 floodlights. Inside the ground, there have been some improvements, but much work remains in progress. With the nearly-refurbished pavilion still wearing some scaffolding at the front, the overall impression is not helped by the fact that this game is being played on an outer-most strip, necessitating tatty-looking canvas temporary sightscreens in front of the Frank Woolley Stand (although at least this meant that the ludicrously-replanted lime tree Mk II stood outside the shifted boundary rope).

Against this backdrop, and with the visitors looking in a strong position overnight as they push for promotion (unlike Kent, who are looking to avoid the Championship’s wooden spoon), Kent could be forgiven for looking second best, and they did for most of the morning as Middx built on their overnight 55-0. With the exception of the lively Adam Ball, Kent bowled poorly before lunch with Riaz and Stevens perhaps surprising Newman and Rogers respectively into edging catches. At lunch, Middx were well set at 159-2. As the cool breeze picked up, Riaz emerged after lunch appearing in need of in-pocket hand-warmers.

Strangely, in the middle of the afternoon, things brightened up. As shadows started to be discerned on the ground, so Kent started to click and four wickets fell for just five runs: First, Robson edged the impressive Coles behind, then Dexter was trapped LBW first ball. Dalrymple survived the hat-trick ball but five runs later succumbed to Key’s leg-slip trap off Tredwell, bringing Simpson to the crease only to also fall first ball, LBW to the spinner. From 204-2, Middx had slumped to 209-6. Through all this, however, Malan looked ominously solid and occasionally broke out as when he used his feet to loft Tredwell over mid-on and two bounces onto the boards in front of the pavilion. By the time Smith was 7th out at 238, Middx were nearly on equal terms; by the time bad light stopped play for tea, they were narrowly ahead.

Close: Middlesex are 258 for 7, Malan 55*, Murtagh 7*, a lead of 16.

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A Day At The Cricket
Kent v Middlesex at The St. Lawrence Ground, Canterbury County Championship (Div'n 2) August, 2011
Day 2, Thursday 18th August, 2011 Middlesex are 55 for no wicket in replay to Kent's 1st innings 242 Clouds hung heavy over the re-development work at Canterbury’s St. Lawrence Ground as they seem to have over Kent all season; even the first view of the ground as you approach the Bat & Ball pub on the Old Dover Road is not encouraging, i.e. the house-builder’s hoardings and the ugly T20 floodlights. Inside the ground, there have been some improvements, but much work remains in progress. With the nearly-refurbished pavilion still wearing some scaffolding at the front, the overall impression is not helped by the fact that this game is being played on an outer-most strip, necessitating tatty-looking canvas temporary sightscreens in front of the Frank Woolley Stand (although at least this meant that the ludicrously-replanted lime tree Mk II stood outside the shifted boundary rope). Against this backdrop, and with the visitors looking in a strong position overnight as they push for promotion (unlike Kent, who are looking to avoid the Championship’s wooden spoon), Kent could be forgiven for looking second best, and they did for most of the morning as Middx built on their overnight 55-0. With the exception of the lively Adam Ball, Kent bowled poorly before lunch with Riaz and Stevens perhaps surprising Newman and Rogers respectively into edging catches. At lunch, Middx were well set at 159-2. As the cool breeze picked up, Riaz emerged after lunch appearing in need of in-pocket hand-warmers. Strangely, in the middle of the afternoon, things brightened up. As shadows started to be discerned on the ground, so Kent started to click and four wickets fell for just five runs: First, Robson edged the impressive Coles behind, then Dexter was trapped LBW first ball. Dalrymple survived the hat-trick ball but five runs later succumbed to Key’s leg-slip trap off Tredwell, bringing Simpson to the crease only to also fall first ball, LBW to the spinner. From 204-2, Middx had slumped to 209-6. Through all this, however, Malan looked ominously solid and occasionally broke out as when he used his feet to loft Tredwell over mid-on and two bounces onto the boards in front of the pavilion. By the time Smith was 7th out at 238, Middx were nearly on equal terms; by the time bad light stopped play for tea, they were narrowly ahead. Close: Middlesex are 258 for 7, Malan 55, Murtagh 7, a lead of 16.