From what little I could endure of the Eurovision non-song contest, it seemed to me that the Swedish winner was being crushed by or trying to escape from a vicious sunbed which was trying to attack her. I may have got that wrong but…there’s no need for sunbeds today at the Oval as the real thing appeared for the first time in a long time!
As we’ve seen before, dear reader, the games the mind plays in cricket matches are as important as the physical skills on display. And so it was with the Middlesex bats as they progressed from 128/3 overnight to end, just after lunch, all out for 240. Nine of the 10 wickets fell to catches (to Foakes in the main) and a lead of 69.
Higgins continues his excellent form but goes for 42 but there’s little else of note. Not making 250 in either innings says a lot! Perhaps the Audi* they had in the first match is playing on their minds still?
Surrey sped to victory in just over the hour for the loss of Burns for 14 and should open a lead at the top of Division One. This team – nay, squad – don’t know how to lose; they can come from behind at any stage of the match, they have that level of self-belief; the squad is a mix of experience and youth and often home-grown.
From what I’ve seen so far this season, they look the team to beat and we’re heading towards the half way point in the Championship in the next month or so (stupid I know!) so momentum could be lost; but it’s the same for every team.
And whilst the sun shone, and the odd clout temporarily removed (see previous blog), Surrey begin to shine as the real thing!
* An Audi is four noughts/ducks/zeros in a row!
Cricket51days 