Middlesex (A)

[dazedpenguin]

Critchley is out with a knee injury. Lawrence is back and Benkenstein is in the squad (although I bet Nijjar will play). I'd guess Beard will come in for Allison. Middlesex haven't been great this year, but let's see which Essex turn up for this one. Probably a must win with Glamorgan, Hampshire and Gloucestershire competing with Essex for 2 places.

Squad: Harmer, Allison, Beard, Benkenstein, Cook, Khushi, Lawrence, Nijjar, Pepper, Rossington, Sams, Walter, Westley

[Niel01]

We need this win v Middlesex to keep us in top four. With best will in the world can’t see us beating Surrey at Chelmsford tomorrow - even if we do win the toss and bat second !! Especially with no Critchley.

[JasonP]

We need this win v Middlesex to keep us in top four. With best will in the world can’t see us beating Surrey at Chelmsford tomorrow - even if we do win the toss and bat second !! Especially with no Critchley.

If we were playing Surrey tonight I think we’d have a pretty good chance but I presume that Roy, Curran and Topley will be back for tomorrow.  They’re missing tonight’s match as well as Pope, Overton, and Foakes who won’t be back obviously.  Tom Curran , Pollard and Clark are all injured as well.

[dazedpenguin]

Lawrence in for the injured Critchley, Beard in for Nijjar. So Allison keeps his place. Big call.

Team: Rossington, Khushi, Pepper, Lawrence, Walter, Sams, Westley, Harmer, Beard, Allison, Cook

Middlesex won the toss and put Essex in.

[Niel01]

That is 5 consecutive tosses in T20 that we have lost. Clearly an aspect of our game we need to improve on !!  Risk playing Allison again - his confidence must be pretty low and another probable hammering will do him no good.

[Andy]

The Nasser school of tossing.

[nat]

That is 5 consecutive tosses in T20 that we have lost. Clearly an aspect of our game we need to improve on !!  Risk playing Allison again - his confidence must be pretty low and another probable hammering will do him no good.

the alternative is ...

[nat]

2-1-5-3.

THAT's my boy.

[dazedpenguin]

That was a good team performance with some exceptional fielding- especially from Harmer. Good to see Lawrence and Beard back and Allison should get some confidence from this performance (I would have picked Nijjar, so what do I know).

Top 4 looking very possible now and 6 wins already makes this a better season than last year.

[nat]

Despite agent Sams trying to lose the game it was a good win. Bring on the Slurry boys.

[Andy]

Despite agent Sams trying to lose the game it was a good win. Bring on the Slurry boys.

Even had the gall to question umpire Mallender about that wide in his last over!

Harmer dives a lot better that Big Adam.

[SirChef26]

That is 5 consecutive tosses in T20 that we have lost. Clearly an aspect of our game we need to improve on !!  Risk playing Allison again - his confidence must be pretty low and another probable hammering will do him no good.

the alternative is ...

Porter. He'd have done very well tonight on that deck, better than Allison did.

[bwildered]

Still got to win games whoever you play, but a great team performance, out fielding outstanding. Looking better this season than for the previous couple, with the younger players now starting to step up to the mark.
Work in progress, but most changes and tweaks to the side have been justifiable.
Good to see Beard back, gives us more options in the bowling department.

[essexfan548]

2-1-5-3.

THAT's my boy.

Triple wicket maiden ....

[LeedsExile]

Agree about Beard. I would like him involved more. Also thing Porter could do a job. Not looking good for Nijar though. Even with Critchley injured he is not selected.