Somerset 2016

That has been the rule this season, brought in to stop counties preparing seamer friendly pitches to suit them and to encourage spinners. So the trend has been for there to be no toss and the home team bat. But the visiting captain can elect to have the toss.

Somerset scored 60 off the last 10 overs, need 107 off the next 29 overs for maximum, 5, batting points.

Late Somerset collapse has evened things up a bit. Attritional but fascinating day at Lords but locals now more worried I think about Somerset win. 1 day down, both teams some way from max bonus points with the time left in game. All to play for.

 Need a miracle for Somerset to get any more batting points.  Maybe Middlesex can collapse and get zero points.  

Getting interesting now, table currently:

Middx 213 (Max 232 if win, 224 if draw, 216 lose)
Somerset 207 (226 win, 218 draw, 210 lose)
Yorks 207 (228 win, 220 draw, 212 lose)

Somerset report - http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2016/content/story/1057942.html - containing this pic...Gutsy - http://www.espncricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/252400/252427.jpg - Ouch!

Yorkshire batters Bresnan and Hodd score seasons' bests at Lords to deny Middlesex.

Meanwhile, at Taunton, Notts collapse to make Somerset favourites to win in three days.  

It has been rumoured that hundreds of thousands of Somerset supporters will be at Lords on Friday to support a special rain dance to be performed by - http://www.bathampton-morris-men.org.uk - and lots of wassailing to ensure a draw.

My last post wasn't right so I've deleted it!

Permutations a bit clearer now. Yorkshire need 350 and to win. Will they declare then? Do we need them to get there or close to take time out of the game? Will they be disinterested in result if they don't get 350?

Which means my last post was right! I got confused over what happens if Middx get 9 wickets but we'd win it on most wins.

Draw or Yorkshire win not scoring 350 is good for us. Middx didn't get enough points to take advantage of us not getting max batting points.

Somerset must declare at lunch, leaving Notts needing a miracle 541 to win.

Meanwhile Yorkies are moving slowly to get batting bonus points, 333/8 at lunch so may take all next session to make 400 plus;  can Middlesex bat out the last session today and most of tomorrow for a draw?

Middx need to win as well. Will Yorkshire declare at 350?

Will Middlesex and Yorkies contrive a result?  Yorkies deliver joke bowling so that Middlesex score c.380 in one session and half the overs tomorrow leaving Yorkies c.260 to win in c.50 overs?

More likely, I feel, is that Yorkies think they can win and go for bowling Middlesex out for about 280 by mid afternoon leaving c.40 overs to chase c.160.

Come on Middlesex...Nick Compton to score 100 off 300 balls and three others to score 50s off 150 balls each.

Nick Gubbins (knew it had to be a Nick) and Dawid Malan bat most of Friday to save Middlesex from defeat against Yorkies.  

Right Yokels, Middx fan here comes in peace. My first visit to Lord's for three years wasn't a particularly happy one as we struggled to compete with the tykes. Bowling and fielding was pretty ragged this morning and allowed them to get off to a flier. When the 9th wicket went down it looked like we should prevent the crucial  (for Somerset) batting point, but the excellent Bresnan and Sidebottom saw it achieved in a very tense passage of play either side of a tropical downpour.
The start of our innings was a disaster and I feared a defeat in 3 days. However Malan and Gubbins saw us through to the close fairly comfortably.
Perhaps with his season finished, Rogers could travel up the M4 to bat for his former county - he would relish this situation. In contrast, Compton has had a wretched match with just 8 runs and 2 vital dropped catches. It wouldn't surprise me if he packs in the game this winter.
Somerset have had a brilliant run in and if we can't win it, I hope you do. It would be a great achievement by Rogers who has transformed a side tipped by many for relegation. However, be prepared for two scenarios tomorrow. Either Brooks and co blowing away our batting in the morning or Middx batting on to force Gale to try to contrive a win with Franklin happy to go for the impossible. I don't think it will be a draw....

And likewise if it's not somerset I'd much rather it was Middx than Yorkshire.

It's going to be tense!

Go Middlesex, think of the prize money for runner-up - http://www.ecb.co.uk/sites/default/files/prize_money_for_domestic_matches_and_competitions.pdf - NO declaration.

AW! Nick is out.  

Middlesex need c.120 more from c.45 overs (or more) to leave Yorkies 200 + off ideally no more than 20 overs.

Think Middx will want more runs from less overs that you project, but it will be a 2020 style run chase at the end for sure, which is the best Somerset can hope for.

Agree Gerry, but I am hoping Middlesex get to that 200+ lead VERY slowly and think about the prize money so play it safe.

I still wouldn't like to call this. Think Middx are probably the least likely (10 wickets to win is going to be a big ask) but probably level between Somerset and Yorkshire?

Agreed, their dilemma is leaving enough time to bowl Yorkshire out, but not make it too easy for them. Mitigated by the fact that Yorkshire will be going for it and therefore prone to losing wickets. Middx will have to be brave which doesn't help Somerset.