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Totesport National League Division 1:
Lords
End Of Innings
Middlesex Crusaiders Vs Lancashire Lightning
Middlesex: 210/7
D Nash: 15*
N Hayward: 7*
Middlesex make the 200 mark despite losing wickets fast!
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Middlesex romped to 210 in a surprising turn around, thanks to a Smith 85 from 139 balls Lancashire face a slight challenge. They need to go at 4.6 per over to reach the target, thats at least one boundary, which should not prove too taxing, the big thing is keeping up with the rate whilst not losing wickets. Smith put his team in a promising position as he accelerated the run rate at the end, his partners didnt stay with him very long though, Many perished after just a few balls athough in those few balls a few fours were scored which is what has given Middlesex such a total, they didnt even look like reaching 170 at one point.
Smith cuts on his way to a vital 85
Half Century
Styris send another one back past the bowler
Andrew Flintoff who has been short on wickets as of late got a well deserved breakthrough, bowling a tight outswinging line he gave Styris one to hit and Styris didnt get hold of it trying to knock a short pitched delivery out of the park, Muralitharan had been moved to square of the wicket on the off side and the New Zealander smasked it straight too him, a well executed plan. The next wicket fell soon after. Shah hit Cork for a six and two fours before trying his luck once too often, he picked out Muralitharan who took a simple catch to see of the livewire.
Styris belts another to the boundary
Smith cuts one away past gulley
Big Fred Gets The Breathrough
Cork struck again in his next over, this time it was the dangerman Smith who was sent packing, Lancashire had resorted to coaxing the batsmen into false shot, bowling short and in the corridor, looking for edges of shots that werent hit properly, this one was the latter, Smith tried an advance cover drive, he ran down the wicket and rocketed one straight at Muralitharan, it was still going at some pace when it came to him, he took a regulation catch to get rid of the opener who fell just short of a century. The last wickets went down in quick succession and in much the same way, both the same shot, advance backfoot cover drives, skyed straight to the SRI LANKAN off spinner, one looked as though it would fall short but Murali took a great diving catch to secure it, Cork finished with four wickets.
Smith on the pull
Dissapointment as the century goes begging
Murali proves hes more than just a top class bowler
So, Lancashire should really win this match at a canter but they cant afford to mess around, Flintoff has been dropped down the order to give them some depth in batting and Hodge has proved himself a dab hand with the bat, Sutcliffe is yet to really get going but this could be his day. Middlesex dont really have a match winnner in there ranks in terms of bowling, however, this could be to their advantage, the Lancashire batsmen wont be taking anything for granted but will be wanting to get this match over soon. Expect fireworks as Chilton wants to make it four our of four half centurys and he may even be looking at his maiden one day century of the season!
Scorecard:
Batting Statistics:
Bowling Statistics:
Smith Spider:
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: Both fixed now, hed grabbed another wicket too btw, i havent ninished the second 15 overs yet though.
