By Peter Roebuck at Lord's
First day of four: Gloucs 232-9 v Middx
IT HAS been a rotten season for Middlesex. ``The worst in 42 years,'' said one member. Captain and coach have seemed at loggerheads, their batting has been inconsistent and the bowling erratic.
Former England team chaplain, the Rev Wingfield-Digby, had turned up, so things must be bad. Bottom place beckoned. A win was urgently needed.
By stumps Middlesex were well placed. It had been a topsy-turvy, windswept and shower-bedevilled day. At first the visitors seemed confident after being obliged to bat first on a slightly uneven surface.
With Robert Cunliffe cover-driving capably and Tim Hancock defending diligently, they took 50 without loss whereupon a collapse began as Angus Fraser - playing his first county match for six weeks - and Richard Johnson bowled full and straight.
Within a few overs, Gloucestershire had subsided to 67 for five. Hereabouts, Johnson took three for four in 10 balls.
Next came a recovery as the lower order tried to make amends. Bobby Dawson played some crisp strokes and Jack Russell scrapped in his familiar way. Middlesex's opening bowlers had hardly sent down a bad ball but they lacked support. It took Johnson's return to break the stand as Dawson drove loosely.
Gloucestershire's position continued to improve as Martyn Ball hit hard off the back foot. The day hung in the balance. At last Jamie Hewitt found his rhythm, taking three wickets in 10 balls as his outswingers found the edge, but the last pair took advantage of some curious fields to add important runs.
Day 2: Gatting eyes fitting exit
By Peter Roebuck at Lord's
Second day of four: Gloucs (238 & 49-4) lead Middx (158) by 129 runs
MIKE Gatting's last championship match at Lord's continues to defy predictions. A presentation will be made on Sunday in his final appearance which will be an AXA League encounter. Next season he will take charge of the Second XI.
Meanwhile, Gatting is trying to lift his county from the basement. A late tumbling of wickets revived hopes of a happy ending to his 549th match.
Persistent pace bowling and sharp slip catching had put the visitors in a powerful position. Mike Smith and Courtney Walsh skilfully worked their way through opponents for whom autumn will come as a blessed relief. Walsh wrecked the middle order in a hostile spell and Smith took four wickets in 10 balls to end a tentative reply.
Middlesex batted without confidence. Immediately Richard Kettleborough was neatly held at second slip and a beauty ended Mark Ramprakash's strangely unsettled effort.
Resistance came from Owais Shah, the stylish pretender and Gatting, the ageing Lion, still driving through cover. Both fell in Walsh's lively second spell, Gatting hooking and his partner flicking nervously at a lifter. Later Walsh took his 93rd wicket of the season. He is expected to sign a new two-year contract with Gloucestershire, which means missing the World Cup.
Gloucestershire led by 80. Tim Hancock reached 1,000 runs in a season for the first time before Middlesex struck back and it took some assured batting from Mark Alleyne to steady the West Countrymen.
Day 3: Batsmen trapped by incompetence
By Peter Roebuck at Lord's
Third day of four: Gloucs (238 & 88) bt Middx (158 & 72) by 96 runs
SIXTEEN wickets fell for 111 runs on a day of appalling batting. The pitch was not to blame as the umpires marked it 'good' but both teams were incompetent against the moving ball.
Batting techniques have gone to pieces and fundamentals have been neglected. Covered pitches may be to blame but Gloucestershire's batting is shaky, and it showed.
Yet they played with spirit while Middlesex were a sorry sight. No one took responsibility, irresolute strokes were played and the captain, Mark Ramprakash, was the worst offender.
The visitors must have feared their early collapse would cost them dearly. They lost six wickets for 41 runs in 66 minutes as Angus Fraser moved the ball around. Mark Alleyne lost his bearings, Matt Windows was held at second slip and Bobby Dawson's defences proved inadequate. Mike Smith drove to mid-off and Martyn Ball was confounded by a grubber.
Obliged to fling the bat, Jack Russell was caught at deep cover. He was stationed at nine because two nightwatchman had been used. Presumably it makes sense to someone.
Middlesex needed 169 but they had troubles as Mike Gatting had hurt an elbow and Ramprakash was sick. Their trouble deepened as Andrew Strauss was held in the slips and Owais Shah played an immature stroke.
Predictably, Gatting and Ramprakash found the match resting upon them, but Gatting, in his final first-class innings at Lord's, was beaten on the back foot and returned to the shadows to warm applause while Ramprakash drove wildly, yet seemed convinced of his innocence.
It was the worst day's batting I have seen in county cricket.