Warwickshire v Middlesex - match drawn

Day 4
Draw
A decent performance from the 3 fit bowlers and Trott ensured Middlesex didn't have it all their own way, but in the end a solid partnership for the 8th wicket saw Middlesex to a draw. Maddy and Salisbury were a big loss in this position as they could well have made the difference in breaking the 8th wicket and going on to win the match.
Its a blow to lose 3 players, but there are positive signs in adversity in that it was Middlesex who were in the position of trying to save the game on the last day. Its a small step, but its nice to take a "winning" draw rather than a "losing" draw!

Day 3
Close
Middlesex 124-1 (trail by 19 runs)
Warwickshire 438 all out
(Frost 90, Salisbury 81, Botha 50, Trott 50)

Some great lower order resistance and class put Warwickshire in a position from which they would normally be looking to win, however with the injury crisis during the match and with some possible inclement weather to come tomorrow a draw looks very likely from here.

Salisbury was in the field at slip this afternoon, to ensure that if his calf injury improves he will be eligible to bowl tomorrow.

Lunch - Frost has continued to bat sensibly with a couple of flourishing shots thrown in for good measure. A nice on-drive bought him four and he unpacked his hansom extra-cover drive again, which also took him to his half-century last night.

Botha looked a bit scratchy this morning and fell shortly after making a defiant half-century, Salisbury has provided good support to Frost with some bludgeoning blows to take the lion's share of the 32 runs added since Botha departed.

More bad news however in that Salisbury injured his calf warming up and is looking very immobile in the crease (hence his Inzimam rather than Penny approach to scoring this morning). He is batting with a runner (Troughton - who has practised playing some solid looking defensive shots over at square leg) and is not expected to bowl again.



9am -
Darren Maddy needs an operation on his broken thumb and will be out of action for between six and eight weeks.


End of play Day 2

Warwickshire 272-4
Botha 41*, Frost 54* (Trott 50)

Middlesex 297 all out
(Maddy 4-25)

Botha and Frost batted very sensibly in overcast conditions between tea and the close of play to ensure that Warwickshire go into the third day only 25 behind. The picture is a little bit less rosy in that they are effectively for 5 following an injury to Maddy and with Zondeki likely to bat with a runner, and not especially reliable with the bat under normal circumstances it maybe that he won't bother.

This means that catching and overhauling Middlesex is down to the two at the crease and Salisbury, with Tahir and Anyon capable of holding up an end for a while with support.

Zondeki has had a scan and has a groin strain which will keep him out for around 2 weeks. Maddy has a suspected double fracture to his right thumb.