Match report day 2: Middx v Lancs in Championship 2004 by Neil Adams

Scorecard:

Summary for Day 2

Early morning rain followed by persistent bad light prevented the second days play from starting on time. The umpires regularly inspected the conditions and eventually set the start time for 12.40pm. Unfortunately only 2 balls were bowled before a brief shower forced everyone back to the pavilion. An early lunch was taken.

Play finally commenced at 2.25pm. 44 overs had been lost to the weather. Owais Shah was bowled by Chapple for 34 as the fast bowler completed the over which he started before the interval (78-3). Ed Joyce found an inside edge to a Chapple delivery in the 29th over to leave Middlesex on 119 for 4. Warren Hegg taking a comfortable catch. Dominic Cork bowled far too much short pitched bowling and was generally highly ineffective, Mahmood and Hogg lacked any cutting edge. Strauss and Weekes handled Lancashire's attack with little fuss. One could have been forgiven for thinking Lancashire's bowlers had just returned from the Caribbean, not Andrew Strauss.

Keedy and Hooper bowled in tandem after the tea interval, partly due to the bad light, partly as an alternative to the pace attack, but mainly due to the slow over rate (-2). Andrew Strauss who past 50 just before tea, despatched Keedy for 2 maximum hits, while Weekes provided excellent support in a stand which eased past the 100 mark in the 60th over. Cork returned from the Nursery End with another barrage of bouncers. This time he induced a poor stroke from Weekes. The ball flew high into the air over the top of first slip. Hooper turned and dived full length to hold a remarkable catch (252-5).

Bad light returned again at 6pm to end play for the day with Lancashire trailing by 21 runs. Without any doubt, Lancashire are struggling to save a game for the first time this season. They will need to bat and bowl much better as the match progresses.

Key Notes of the Day

After 3 inspections, play was due to start at 11.45am. The players made it to the edge of the field but retreated again due to light rain.
12.40pm - Play starts but 2 balls bowled only - no change to overnight score
Early lunch taken at 1pm
2.25pm - Play starts - 60 overs remaining
Shah bowled Chapple (Off stump) 34 - 78 for 3 in the 19th over - Joyce 32*
100 for 3 in the 23rd over - Joyce 42* Strauss 6*
Joyce caught Hegg bowled Chapple 44 - 119 for 4 in the 29th over - Strauss 19*
3.47pm - Middlesex players offered bad light but turned it down - 145 for 4 in the 37th over
152 for 4 in the 39th over - Strauss 40* Weekes 6*
50 partnership - 170 for 4 in the 42nd over - Strauss 46* Weekes 18*
50 Strauss from 78 balls (9 x 4) - 184 for 4 in the 45th over - Weekes 27*
Tea - 186 for 4 in the 46th over - Strauss 53* Weekes 27* - Over rate minus 2
200 for 4 in the 51st over - Strauss 62* Weekes 32*
100 partnership - 219 for 4 in the 60th over - Strauss 71* Weekes 40*
238 for 4 in the 64th over - Strauss 83* Weekes 47* - Middlesex take the lead
250 for 4 in the 65th over - Strauss 91* Weekes 49*
50 Weekes from 102 balls (4 x 4) - 251 for 4 in the 66th over - Strauss 91*
Weekes caught Hooper bowled Cork 50 (Turned and run from 1st slip - full length dive) - 252 for 5 in the 68th over - Strauss 92*
6pm Bad light stop play - 257 for 5 in the 72nd over - Strauss 92* (12 x 4 & 2 x 6) Nash 5*
Lancashire over rate plus 2 - 7 overs play lost
Middlesex 5 points, Lancashire 2 points