You may think that 78 runs for no wickets in the first session of 30 overs would be boring and slow. Well, probably for those brought up on thrashing and bashing – but for those who favour the game lasting more than a few minutes, this was true cat and mouse stuff! And I loved it!

Starting at 62/1 and progressing to 140/1 with both Robson and Holden going to unbeaten 50s just gives the bare facts in a stand – so far – of 127.

Robinson bowled for almost an hour extracting a bit of pace out of the pitch and giving the Middle the odd headache. Add Seales into the mix – and having at least one of them bowling at all times was an admirable aim – and life for a bat is not easy.

Mix in a few attacking fields – Holden was tormented for an age by a ring of five close fielders; two on the leg side and three on the off – and scoring was at a premium.

However, they both found ways of keeping the board ticking over in a tense morning.

The weather is a bit cooler with loads of clouds rolling through – including a short rain shower forcing two softies to put up their umbrellas – and there could be some life in this pitch yet!

In match terms, the Middle still need another 264 to avoid the follow on and there’s another 62 overs to score bonus points and fun to be had!

Tea arrives early as a result of a short shower which halted play for a few minutes but the Middle have reached 252/3. Holman and du Plooy fell in that session trying to force the pace but Robson goes to his hundred aided by Higgins. These two need to keep going as, on paper, the Middle have a long tail.

Even so, a session of to and fro. Whether the pitch is a bit fresher following the showers we’ve had is hard to say but with 38 overs to go today and the new ball due very soon, there’s a lot a stake still.

A couple of wickets for Sussex early on and the pressure is on the Middle.

And Robson obligingly goes, falling for the extra bounce of the new ball, for 136 but Fernandes joins Higgins. The scoring slows against the new ball, unusual fields applied to force the bats to find alternatives and Seares adds a little spice by exceeding the bouncer limit per over and I’m sure says a few words to Higgins as he keeps playing and missing! All good stuff!

The Middle look like saving the follow on which in essence brings the draw as favourite. After all, as I write this 13 wickets have fallen in 8 and a bit sessions so I can’t see a collapse coming sometime soon. Extras are minimal in the Middle innings (not the same when Sussex batted) but all points to a flat track!

At the close the Middle need one run to save the follow on at 403/6 – Higgins went for 106 but Fernandes is still there on 52no.

Cat and mouse each session may be, but the winner tomorrow will be the pitch but…?

@cricket51days