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As soon as we query Harris batting so high, he starts hitting the bowling to all parts! 65no from 55 balls but surely just delaying the inevitable Lancs victory.

captaincolly wrote:As soon as we query Harris batting so high, he starts hitting the bowling to all parts! 65no from 55 balls but surely just delaying the inevitable Lancs victory.

He's getting the runs. But he's still very much doing it in the manner of a lower order batter. He almost needs to clam down slightly. He's a big danger of just sticking one straight up in the air. He doesn't need to hit everything.

st_brendy wrote:

captaincolly wrote:As soon as we query Harris batting so high, he starts hitting the bowling to all parts! 65no from 55 balls but surely just delaying the inevitable Lancs victory.

He's getting the runs. But he's still very much doing it in the manner of a lower order batter. He almost needs to clam down slightly. He's a big danger of just sticking one straight up in the air. He doesn't need to hit everything.

Yep. Required rate isn't too testing, Lancashire seemed fairly subdued in the latter part of their innings despite plenty of wickets in hand.
Lancs still fairly strong favourites imo but they're just threatening a Durham-style snatching defeat from the jaws of victory performance. Surely though there can't be much batting strength left for Middlesex if this partnership gets broken.

Harris out stumped for 117. 84 needed from 58 balls.
It was Harris' first century in any format and only the 2nd time he has batted in the top 6.
Anderson with another run out from the very next ball and it's Simpson so probably game over now.

First 5 all go in a clump.

Looks like the second 5 might do likewise.

With one massive partnership in between.

losing Harris was unfortunate, but to then lose the other set batsman 2 balls later smacks of just being careless

muddled thinking?

67 off 37

if Harris and/or Simpson had still been there, Middlesex might even have been favourites from this position

Sowter and Roly Tobeland must be wishing that Stokes was available to bowl at the death

Durhamfootman wrote:Sowter and Roly Tobeland must be wishing that Stokes was available to bowl at the death

Yep. 20 run defeat so as you said, the two set batsmen getting out to consecutive deliveries was the defining moment. Great effort after 20 odd for 5 but so close to a sensational win.

could have been Spurs-esque

Somerset off to a flyer. Azhar again showing his value. Notts attack not as strong as earlier in the competition.

Hants/Lancs game a bit more balanced.

Looks like Notts pulled it around a bit in the middle.

All south final then, unless Lancs pluck a miracle from the hat.

Seems to have been a big drop off in potency betwesn the Lancs opening bowlers and the change bowlers. They almost came a cropper against Middlesex and today they again took early wickets and then changed the bowling and released the pressure. And this time Lancs didn't have a big score on the board!

Anderson had to come off after getting a whack on the knee.

Doesn't look too serious thankfully.