Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Play due to start at 11:15.

It's been raining in Bournemouth for the past two hours.

Didn't last long rain has arrived.

New ball is two overs old but I'm hoping play is delayed for a long time, because these two have taken root, and I can see the new ball disappearing to the boundary quicker.

Lancashire have put on 44 runs so far for the fifth wicket.

Middx are going to win!

Somerset losing would certainly balance out Middlesex winning. I think I'm right in saying that a draw for us and a defeat for Somerset puts us two points clear of Middlesex and 18 points clear of Somerset. Clearly therefore Somerset would have to win next week to have any chance of overtaking us - and even if they did that, we'd only have ourselves to blame if we somehow dropped below Middlesex despite them losing and starting two points adrift of us!

We'd either be level on points with Yorks, or 16 points ahead of them, depending on their result vs Warks (I'm assuming that one wont finish a draw). But really, they should only be a concern to us in the event that Somerset avoid defeat. We only need one side to finish below us, and right now that can be Somerset or Middlesex.

No reason for Essex to set something fair up with us tomorrow or declare early (just see the day and preserve their unbeaten record), and equally no desperation on our side to set something up that is heavily in Essex's favour. Simply, we look to bowl them out for not much more, and if we don't do that then we bat out the draw.

The worry is them setting us 180 off 50 overs, which is very possible.

budgetmeansbudget wrote:The worry is them setting us 180 off 50 overs, which is very possible.

Very much so. That little session has increased our chances of winning hugely. But it's also increased our chances of losing. (Like I say, I don't think Essex would choose to set us something chaseable - I'm sure they'd rather preserve their unbeaten record. But choice goes out of the window if you get bowled out)

Good start, RTD out in first over.

Abbott gets nightwatchman in second over, his first wicket of Essex's second innings!

The only minor positive in an annoying lower order partnership is conditions should still be okay for batting when we eventually bat?!

Whatever happens from here, it's going to be a tough chase.

Getting to a stage where we might want Essex to keep batting and batting.

It was all going so well 45 minutes ago, even Yorkshire were on course for defeat!

Finally a wicket, not sure it's a good thing!

Only positive, it's a sunny day out there right now.

budgetmeansbudget wrote:The worry is them setting us 180 off 50 overs, which is very possible.

185 off 65 overs is just as worrying!