Middlesex vs Worcestershire – County Championship Division 1 – Mitchell left to rue bold move after Middlesex triumph
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Middlesex-c817 at the Lord’s stadium, London, on May 6, 2012.
Bad Light and rain on the first three days had left the game to a solitary conclusion – the draw being the favoured result. However, with Worcestershire remaining winless from their opening three games, it was their captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Daryl-Mitchell-c52533 who proposed the idea of chasing down a target of 283 in 96 overs on the final day.
The stats had been calculated following a first innings declaration from the visiting team on 45 for no 2 after Middlesex had posted 327 in their initial outing. Now, with the hosts forfeiting their second innings, it meant that all three results were a possibility as the players took the field on day 4.
However, with overcast conditions on offer, it was the Middlesex bowlers that held edge, all of whom then ensured that their side came on top – bowling out Worcestershire on 150.
The visitors began the innings with skipper Mitchell partnering Australian overseas player, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tim-Murtagh-c2673 despite offering little fluency.
Klinger, who had earn praise from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Christopher-Patrick-Adams-c50949 following an impressive half-century at Oval a couple of weeks back, was the first player to depart, caught on the crease by Murtagh.
His departure opened the flood http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Moeen-Ali-c1990 (1) – leaving the visiting team reeling at 35 for 4.
The fourth pairing of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gareth-Berg-c1457 both grabbed their respective second scalps – the former pinning Cameron lbw, while the latter accounting for the dismissal of his partner.
The tourists lost two more before reaching the three-figure mark, and while the 9th pairing offered resistance with a 54-run stand, Steve Finn then ran in to take the final two wickets as Middlesex completed a resounding victory.
The defeat left Mitchell to defend his decision of taking a riskier approach. "The way the points systems works out I think it's very important to try and win games of cricket," Mitchell said.
"We set our stall out in our pre-season meetings that we want to try and win games and we felt that this was an opportunity. I think it was a little bit stacked in their favour, maybe 60-40, but you have to draw five games to get the same amount of points as you do for one win," he added.
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