Warwickshire v Hants - Relegation battle

'Middlesex have been sloppy'

Somerset 202-4 v Middlesex

Anthony Gibson

BBC Somerset

The out-cricket, generally, has been pretty sloppy. Middlesex have not been at their best.

Posted at15:50

WICKET Hildreth (lbw b Patel) 41

Somerset 206-5 v Middlesex

James Hildreth is gone, reverse sweeping. Not what Somerset needed.

Ravi Patel has been Middlesex’s star bowler so far and picks up his third of the innings.

But hold on, there’s another wicket…

Posted at15:51

WICKET Van der Merwe (c Voges b Patel) 0

Somerset 206-6 v Middlesex

Two in two for Ravi Patel. Somerset are collapsing.

Roelof van der Merwe skips down the wicket first ball and nicks it straight to Adam Voges at slip.

Did he get an edge on that? Van der Merwe looks furious - maybe just with his choice of shot. Or maybe he thought it hit his pad.

Patel is on a hat-trick…

Posted at16:00

WICKET C Overton (c Compton b Patel) 1

Somerset 214-7 v Middlesex

This is turning into a nightmare session for Somerset. But a dream one for Middlesex and Ravi Patel as he picks up his fifth wicket.

Craig Overton has a huge swipe at the spinner but can only get a big top edge which Nick Compton takes in the deep.

The hosts have lost three quick wickets after tea at Taunton.

Posted at16:04

WICKET Bess (c Finn b Stirling) 0

Somerset 214-8 v Middlesex

Somerset have completely lost their heads.

Dom Bess sweeps Paul Stirling, but straight into the hands of Steven Finn in the deep.

They’ve lost four wickets for eight runs since tea.

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Posted at16:25

WICKET Leach (c Finn b Patel) 14

Somerset 230-9 v Middlesex

Jack Leach

Rex Features

Yet another Somerset batsman has holed out. What a session for Middlesex.

Jack Leach sweeps Ravi Patel straight to Steven Finn at deep mid-wicket to give Ravi Patel his sixth wicket.

Tim Groenewald is the last man in - how long can he stick around with Steve Davies?

Posted at16:31

Somerset 236-9 v Middlesex

Somerset number 11 Tim Groenewald is no mug with the bat - he averages more than 18 in first-class cricket.

But the pitch is starting to turn a mile. Home spinner Jack Leach will be licking his lips.

Somerset’s little ongoing collapse is quite significant…

By my half-arsed maths I reckon Hampshire would just need to draw with three bonus points out of a possible eight to finish above Somerset - if they won.

If they fail to reach 250, we just need to bowl out Warwickshire to stay up.

236 all out. :cool:

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Posted at16:34

WICKET Davies (c Voges b Patel) 27

Somerset 236 v Middlesex

Somerset are all out - Ravi Patel has 7-81. Fantastic bowling performance from the Middlesex spinner.

Only 1 batting bonus point for Somerset, but the pitch is starting to turn so Middlesex could be skittled for a low score

3 bowling points for Middlesex

16:38

BREAKINGYorkshire are safe

Essex 184-8 v Yorkshire

With Somerset only taking one batting bonus point, Yorkshire’s two bowling bonus points are enough to avoid relegation.

It’s now a battle between Somerset, Middlesex and Hampshire.

16:53

WICKET Compton (c Davies b Overton) 0

Somerset 236 v Middlesex 1-1

Craig Overton strikes! Nick Compton is gone without scoring.

Somerset are not out of this, not by any stretch.

The big paceman races in and finds the outside edge of Compton, Steve Davies does the rest behind the stumps.

So Middx closed on 18-3 :lou_facepalm_2: :lou_facepalm_2:

I though Lamb had retired years ago…

10:20

The permutations

With Somerset only collecting one bonus point, and Yorkshire claiming all three bowling bonus points at champions Essex, it left the relegation scrap with just three teams.

I’m bringing out the bullet points again to explain the terms and conditions of relegation…

  • Somerset MUST beat Middlesex to stand a chance of surviving
  • Middlesex will be safe if they pick up two batting bonus points (score at least 250)
  • Hampshire need a maximum of eight points against Warwickshire to avoid relegation

Basically, a huge amount rests on what happens at Taunton today!

Anyone fancy some punishment???

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