Morning everyone
Welcome to county cricket – live! where you can escape any early
Ashes fatigue to discuss the ins and outs around the grounds. Today Paul
Weaver will be at Hove where Middlesex reached 445 for five in their
first innings at the close on Thursday in reply to Sussex's 229. Before
everything is up and running, why not read Richard Rae's report on Warwickshire's defeat of Nottinghamshire as they stepped up the defence of their County Championship title.
Paul Weaver checks in
It’s another beautiful day beside the seaside at Hove, with blue
skies and a gentle breeze. But championship leaders Sussex might prefer a
bit of unlikely rain because they’re going to struggle to get out of
the hole they’ve dug themselves into here.
Middlesex, with Steve Finn restored to the side after being left out of the England team, are favourites to win and end Sussex’s unbeaten record in the First Division of the championship.
They resumed a little while ago on 445 for five – that’s already a lead of 216 – with John Simpson on 39 and Gareth Berg 26 not out.
Simpson has moved on to his fifty but Berg is out, caught at long off by Steve Magoffin off the bowling of Monty Panesar.
I’ve just bumped into England selector Ashley Giles in the coffee shop. Monty has been out of sorts lately but will be one of the men Giles – who was at Lord’s yesterday to see his old Warwickshire charge Ian Bell score a century – has come here to watch, along with Finn and Luke Wright. It’s 479 for six.
Middlesex, with Steve Finn restored to the side after being left out of the England team, are favourites to win and end Sussex’s unbeaten record in the First Division of the championship.
They resumed a little while ago on 445 for five – that’s already a lead of 216 – with John Simpson on 39 and Gareth Berg 26 not out.
Simpson has moved on to his fifty but Berg is out, caught at long off by Steve Magoffin off the bowling of Monty Panesar.
I’ve just bumped into England selector Ashley Giles in the coffee shop. Monty has been out of sorts lately but will be one of the men Giles – who was at Lord’s yesterday to see his old Warwickshire charge Ian Bell score a century – has come here to watch, along with Finn and Luke Wright. It’s 479 for six.
Monty leads the way
The arrival of Ashley Giles here appears to have worked wonders for
Monty Panesar, who has not been at his best in the first half of the
season, writes Paul Weaver. Giles, England’s former slow left-armer and now a selector, looked on as Monty collected a five-for.
After Simpson was seventh out, caught behind off the bowling of Chris Jordan, Panesar collected the last three wickets. First he had former Sussex all-rounder Ollie Rayner lbw, then he had Tim Murtagh stumped and finally he had Corey Collymore caught behind. That gave Panesar – who had been dropped for the Middlesex match at Lord’s earlier in the season – a return of five for 95. And this morning he had figures of four for 16.
But Middlesex made 496 and that’s a lead of 267. Sussex will have to bat until about tea tomorrow to make this one safe and on this pitch it would be no surprise if they were bowled out today.
After Simpson was seventh out, caught behind off the bowling of Chris Jordan, Panesar collected the last three wickets. First he had former Sussex all-rounder Ollie Rayner lbw, then he had Tim Murtagh stumped and finally he had Corey Collymore caught behind. That gave Panesar – who had been dropped for the Middlesex match at Lord’s earlier in the season – a return of five for 95. And this morning he had figures of four for 16.
But Middlesex made 496 and that’s a lead of 267. Sussex will have to bat until about tea tomorrow to make this one safe and on this pitch it would be no surprise if they were bowled out today.
Lunch at Hove
At lunch on the third day Sussex are 31 for one, and that means they are still 236 behind, writes Paul Weaver. The Sussex second innings did not get off to a good start when Chris Nash was given out without scoring a run.
He appeared to glove Murtagh to Adam Voges at first slip. But the batsman did not seem very happy with the decision. He remained in his ground for some time, before dragging himself off to the dressing room. But Luke Wells and Michael Yardy have dug in well.
He appeared to glove Murtagh to Adam Voges at first slip. But the batsman did not seem very happy with the decision. He remained in his ground for some time, before dragging himself off to the dressing room. But Luke Wells and Michael Yardy have dug in well.
Paul Weaver reports
Middlesex look in the mood to wrap things up on the third day here.
Finn came into the attack for the 19th over of the the innings and with
his fourth delivery he had Luke Wells caught at second slip by Rayner.
Then, in his next over, he had Rory Hamilton-Brown caught at first slip by Voges for a single.
In the over between, Collymore had Michael Yardy caught behind, so Sussex lost three wickets for three runs in the space of ten delivieries. And Finn took two in the space of four balls. Sussex are now 68 for four, still almost 200 runs behind. It’s a good match for them to save from here.
Then, in his next over, he had Rory Hamilton-Brown caught at first slip by Voges for a single.
In the over between, Collymore had Michael Yardy caught behind, so Sussex lost three wickets for three runs in the space of ten delivieries. And Finn took two in the space of four balls. Sussex are now 68 for four, still almost 200 runs behind. It’s a good match for them to save from here.
Tea at Hove
After losing their fourth wicket with the score on 45, Sussex
counterattacked thrillingly through their captain, Ed Joyce, and Luke
Wright. The pair put on 110 in 25 overs, Joyce stroking the ball
elegantly and Wright thumping it with great power.
Then Joyce was caught behind off Neil Dexter. His 47 had come from 84 balls and included six fours. But Wright, now joined by Ben Brown, is still there at tea on 67 not out, and Sussex are 172 for five.
Steven Finn bowled a 10-over spell, sometimes with good pace, and then returned just before tea for another couple.
Then Joyce was caught behind off Neil Dexter. His 47 had come from 84 balls and included six fours. But Wright, now joined by Ben Brown, is still there at tea on 67 not out, and Sussex are 172 for five.
Steven Finn bowled a 10-over spell, sometimes with good pace, and then returned just before tea for another couple.
Middlesex made to wait
With about an hour to go on the third day Sussex’s chances of saving
this match look hopeless but Middlesex must be sick of the sight of
Luke Wright.
Against all the odds, Wright saved Sussex from defeat at Lord’s earlier this season, with a half-century in the first innings and a truly heroic 187 in the second. Now he has struck another century to defy Middlesex – including Steven Finn – in their ambition to get the match over and done with by tea-time.
Wright (105) and Ben Brown (22) have put on 67 and the score is 222 for five. They need another 45 to make Middlesex bat again.
Against all the odds, Wright saved Sussex from defeat at Lord’s earlier this season, with a half-century in the first innings and a truly heroic 187 in the second. Now he has struck another century to defy Middlesex – including Steven Finn – in their ambition to get the match over and done with by tea-time.
Wright (105) and Ben Brown (22) have put on 67 and the score is 222 for five. They need another 45 to make Middlesex bat again.
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