by st_brendy » Tue Apr 12, 2016 9:37 pm
Spent the day down there. Not exactly the most thrilling of afternoons, but understandable from us given a) no Topley, and b) our low score and a day washed out meaning that the best we could realistically hope for would be a draw. Over after over of Dawson bowling it outside leg-stump, and Bell and Woakes just kicking it away.
I don't quite know what Warks' game plan was. I understand them needing to be cautious to start with, especially after falling to 10-2, because the last thing they'd have wanted was a batting performance akin to most of ours, and open the door ajar for us to win a low scoring thriller. But come late afternoon, when they were about 170, I thought they really should have pushed on a bit. An 80 run lead with four wickets left is a great position after two days, but we're after three days. The only way this game doesn't finish a draw now is if we bat horribly again next time round. There's simply not enough time for Warks to score enough runs to really extend this 80 run lead (to, say, 250 or 300) and then bowl us out by themselves. They would need our assistance in that.
Solid century from Bell, he was never, ever troubled except for one edge off McLaren when on 44 which fell short of slip. But too slow and scratchy if Warks were looking at forcing a win.
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Thanks for everything Pothas. You'll be missed. My nickname for you was apt and I will never forget it. For the last time, arise Sir Nic.