John Sheldon
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CricInfo Championship: Warwickshire v Middlesex at Birmingham, 20-23 Jun 2001 John Sheldon |
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Middlesex 2nd innings:
Warwickshire 2nd innings: |
They added 181 in 57 overs which denied Warwickshire the important early breakthrough they needed and allowed Angus Fraser the luxury of declaring and leaving Warwickshire needing 382 for victory.
Weston completed his second century in three innings, a stylish 230-ball effort which included ten fours and a swept six off Ashley Giles, which left Middlesex with a selection headache now that Owais Shah has returned from England duty.
Fleming, the New Zealand captain, again enjoyed himself on a good pitch as he reached his second fifty of the match and he appeared to be coasting towards his third century of the summer. But he fell eight short when he attempted to pull Giles for his second six and fell to a stunning catch on the square leg boundary by Mark Wagh.
Weston fell the ball after he reached his century, when he pushed a return catch to Dougie Brown, but there was no respite for Warwickshire's flagging attack.
Paul Weekes picked up the tempo and set up the declaration with a brisk half-century, which included six fours and a pulled six off Vasbert Drakes, and when he drove Brown to Giles at extra cover, Angus Fraser called in his troops.
Warwickshire were left with an awkward 40 minutes batting and their captain Michael Powell bravely decided to open the innings even though he had kept wicket all day in the absence of Keith Piper, who had a viral infection.
Powell survived to the close but Warwickshire's victory hopes suffered a further setback when Ian Bell was pinned LBW by Fraser's final ball of the day, a late inswinger.
The pair added 181 in 57 overs for the second wicket with Weston completing his second century in successive matches and Fleming falling just eight runs short of his third of the summer.
Their efforts ensured that Middlesex converted a slender first innings lead of 22 into a commanding one of 317 as they reached 295 for three at tea.
The partnership confirmed the impression that both sides had batted poorly on a good pitch in the first innings and some of Warwickshire's cricket looked careworn.
Skipper Michael Powell, who was forced to keep wicket because Keith Piper was ill, bowled Ashley Giles throughout the afternoon from the City End but the England slow left-armer struggled to make the breakthrough that was needed.
Instead Weston and Fleming pressed on comfortably and it required a stunning catch by Mark Wagh on the square leg boundary to end Fleming's innings when the New Zealander swept Giles.
Weston reached his fifth first-class century from 230 balls with ten fours and a swept six off Giles but he fell next ball when he pushed a return catch to Dougie Brown.
But those proved to be Warwickshire's only successes of a long and difficult day in the field and they were left facing an uphill battle to avoid their first defeat of the season.
The second-wicket pair batted through the morning session as Middlesex confidently converted a first innings lead of 22 into one of 213 as they reached lunch 191 for one.
Weston and Fleming added 122 untroubled runs against a toiling Warwickshire attack and both dealt roughly with slow left-armer Ashley Giles.
Weston reached his half-century when he swept Giles for a huge six and Fleming, the New Zealand captain, then pulled the same bowler for a four and six in successive balls.
Weston's fifty came from 118-balls and included six fours, Fleming's, from 114 balls with five fours and a six, was his second of the match.
Warwickshire were handicapped by the absence of wicket-keeper Keith Piper, who was unwell, which meant that skipper Michael Powell had to wear the gauntlets with Matthew Friedlander, a young South African who is playing Birmingham League cricket for West Bromwich Dartmouth, acting as 12th man.
Much of Warwickshire's cricket had a careworn look about it and they were resigned to having to make the biggest score of the match batting last to knock Middlesex off their perch.
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Date-stamped : 23 Jun2001 - 02:25