Middlesex 223 all out (Steve Eskinazi 79, Ari Karvales 5-41) and 188 (Jack Davies 71) beat Somerset 102 (Steve Finn 4-31, Tom Helm 3-16) and 298 (Chris Gibson 62, Ben Green 52, Jamie Rew 43, Kasey Aldridge 56, Nathan Sowter 4/69) by 11 runs
Three pieces of interesting overnight news greeted both Somerset players and supporters alike.
The bad news was that the 5 run penalty awarded on the second day had been removed increasing that the total runs required by the Somerset batsmen to 310. The good news was that both Steve Finn and Tom Helm had been recalled to the first team squad to face Hampshire on Thursday so a proper second XI v almost second XI match could be played out. It was also great to welcome back Kasey Aldridge to the team after his close season injury replacing Jack Brooks who left join the first team squad.
Where to start on such a dramatic day?
Ben Green and Clive Gibson duly started the run chase rapidly. The reached the 50 partnership in just 7.5 overs, I had to blink twice to make sure they were still in whites and playing with a (new) red ball, a start any T20 side would have been proud of! The lumbering goods train of yesterday had been replaced by the express version of the Cider Train.
Unfortunately the opening pair did not quite get through to lunch unscathed, Ben Green was given out LBW off Nathan Sowter for 54 off 79 balls, but nevertheless an opening partnership worth 87 in 25.1 overs and a good start to the run chase. Lunch was taken with Somerset on 90/1. An excellent mornings cricket for the Somerset batsmen which put them very much in the contest.
After lunch Chris Gibson, on his debut for the seconds, reached his half century off 114 balls without looking to be in very much trouble. Gibson went on to score 62 before being caught off the bowling of Hollman (136-2). Will Smeed came and went regrettably picking up a ‘pair’ (139-3).
Sam Young continued in a positive manner and reached 20 before being caught by Steve Eskinazi. 135-1 had become 142-4.
Ben Wells and Jamie Rew added 38 for the 5th wicket before Wells fell LBW to Nathan Sowter for 26 (180-5). Rew continued in the very positive manner we are becoming accustomed to, scoring 43 and bringing Somerset back into the game until he was caught by Blake Cracknell off Ishaan Kaushal (241-6).
Kasey Aldridge brought Somerset closer taking the score to 294 with a superb 56 on his return to Second XI cricket. With invaluable support from Sam Elstone and George Drissell it seemed an unlikely win was on with the umpires allowing the extra 30 minutes of play, to achieve a result. But with just 12 to get Ned Leonard was the last man to go, for 2, off a top edge he probably won’t remember too fondly.
A disappointing result for but plenty of encouraging performances. The highlights for me were 5-41 for Ari Karvales and the batting of Chris Gibson (62), Ben Green (52), Jamie Rew (43) and Kasey Aldridge (56).
This final (third) day’s play was an excellent contest made better by the absence of first-teamers like Helm and Finn. While I accept that such players have to have the opportunity to recover fitness and form there surely has to be a limit on the number of such players in any game and wherever possible parity on either side?
This was a true second XI game on the final day and will have served as a real development day for this crop of highly promising academy graduates. While results are always nice to achieve the competition must be seen in a development context and to that end this was a huge success.
Whether Helm and Finn will feature against Hampshire and whether this run out for them is of any benefit will have to be seen.
In other Seconds Watch News, Peter Trego captaining Nottinghamshire made 60 and took 4-19 from 9.3 overs.
