Middlesex (H)

[spirali]

The really frustrating thing about that Walter dismissal is that it was completely unnecessary, given the match situation.

[nat]

Good win. Any win is a good win.

[spirali]

Good win. Superb innings from Pepper, among the best that have been played for us in this format.

There were signs towards the end that the "all attack, all the time" batting policy, much discussed here during last year's competition, is still a thing.

[dazedpenguin]

Excellent win. An impressive first hundred (in FC, List A or T20) for Michael Pepper. He is great to watch when it's going well.

With no Cook, the team needs all the bowling options it can get.

[kingstonj1]

he's definitely NOT injured.

I think he's pissed after being left out following his 100 at Durham. He failed a late fitness test due to a 'back injury'.....although he was fit enough to carry out drinks/change of gloves etc as 12th man.

And who can blame him, going back to the face fits one of the lads average 20 painfully slow scoring putting everyone else under pressure, slow motion reactions at short leg previous incumbent,

He should be a decent player somewhere as Patel seems to be showing. We have no young openers coming through. So the club must have something up there sleeve surely....all very strange

Sometimes its about attitude and not always ability, it will all come out soon, but lets leave it to the management who have had us punching above our weight for the past 6 seasons.

Interesting so on his way then.what a shame.

Yes we tryst the management but no ones perfect.

[bwildered]

 Presume the unnecessary wickets of Walter, Critchley and Pepper, of seeing us home was to get the run rate up. Otherwise Goochie would be pulling their hair out.
Let?s hope Peppers slog feast, will improve and unlock his undoubt considerable talent, on a more consistent basis.

[SirChef26]

Did find it very amusing that Pepper had clearly made a mental note to himself not to play any reverse sweeps throughout his innings. Then once he reached his hundred and had the game won, he thought sod it lets go for one, and got out. Must be a psychological issue there with him and that shot, he obviously knows how much he gets out playing it and its starting to bug him.

He is comfortably the most fun player to watch in the team when on form. Middlesex would have been better off keeping Elgar at the crease rather than getting him out. That only unleashed the far superior T20 player in Cox, who effectively ended the contest with his cameo.

[nat]

Elgar is doing a fine job. Pepper would be well advised to put away the reverse sweep.

[Crisp]

Elgar is doing a fine job. Pepper would be well advised to put away the reverse sweep.

Thoroughly agree and Elgar's consistency gives us starts and solid bases, unlike the previous incumbent of last season.

[SirChef26]

2003 called, it wants it's T20 tactics back.

[bwildered]

 Pepper's century was the 13th by an Essex player in the competition's history and the first since Cameron Delport scored 129 off 49 balls against Surrey in 2019.

[Perov]

Delport's hundred came in 38 balls.