At one stage in this morning’s play I thought that Sussex had actually stopped! The first hour brought 28 runs in 15 overs – in stark contrast to the fast first hour yesterday.
But once both Pujara and Simpson reached their centuries and the pace quickened so that 90 runs were scored in the session of 31 overs. The mental blocks it seems (and I think Pujara took 45 minutes to score his first run today) were overcome and the need for bonus points became apparent! Sussex made it to their third courtesy of a Helm no ball!
Middlesex seemed a bit lost too at times. The newish ball at the start did a lot more in the first half hour than in most of yesterday but no chances were offered. A wicketless morning of hard toil.
The pitch continues to be as flat as anything so it could become a match of 500 plays 500 – currently Sussex are 385/4 at lunch and it looks on the cards.
Will the pace increase in the afternoon? Will Middlesex take any wickets? Let’s see!
And it did but at the cost of a few wickets! Sussex clearly aim to set a score which gives them the chance to bowl the Middle out twice. Pujara is out almost immediately to as un-Pujara strike as you’d ever see! Is it his last innings at Lord’s?
Hudson-Prentice adds a quick 50 partnership with Simpson before departing; Simpson himself tries a reverse hoik (inelegant in the extreme) and is bowled for 167 so that Sussex arrive at tea as 507/7.
The best I can describe the Middle’s bowling is that most bats offered themselves up and we’ve seen five catches of the seven wickets to fall – again a hint that there’s nothing in the pitch.
And on Sussex press after tea – no declaration so let’s grind Middlesex down still further. But how much further? 🤔
Another 47 to be precise – Sussex declare at 554/9 leaving the Middle a tricky 19 overs this evening. Seven of the nine wickets fell to catches so bats are getting themselves out rather than the opposite. However Sussex have a couple of international quicks in their eleven, so the next hour or so could be interesting!
And it was!
The main difference between the sides, to date, is the sheer pace of the quicks. The Middles are good county level pace whereas Robinson & Seales are several notches faster. Both Robson & Stoneman were worked over by both with Stoneman falling for 4.
The slower pace – and I say slower advisedly! At most 5-10mph but still fast! – of the Sussex first change is noticeable and that’s what the Middle need to capitalise on!
By the close the Middle reach 62/1 – a long way still to go.
So we can probably expect more of the same tomorrow unless there’s a drastic change to the pitch overnight – or the situation gets into the heads of the Middlesex team?
Cricket51days 