RESULT
Taunton, September 15 - 18, 2014, LV= County Championship Division One
523/9d
(f/o) 223 & 328/4d

Match drawn

Report

Wretched Middlesex slip nearer drop

A match that started with Middlesex facing the outside possibility of relegation looks likely to end with them staring it in the face. It is entirely possible they will leave Taunton with only one point

Middlesex 64 for 7 (Leach 2-3) trail Somerset 523 for 9 dec (Hildreth 182, Trego 91, C Overton 63) by 459 runs
Scorecard
A casual observer popping into the county ground to take a last look at the charming old pavilion before its demolition could have been excused their confusion. Informed that one side had just decided to "part company" with their director of cricket, they would surely have presumed that it was Middlesex.
For while Somerset, who could still finish second in the table, have batted with application and bowled with skill, Middlesex, who are now right up to their neck in the relegation battle, have bowled inadequately, fielded worse and batted quite wretchedly. A match that started with them facing the outside possibility of relegation looks likely to end with them staring it in the face. It is entirely possible they will leave Taunton with only one point.
They seem inclined to bemoan their poor fortune. And, to some extent, they probably have a point. But it is not poor fortune that saw them drop at least three chances and continue to stand too deep in the slips after it became obvious that this pitch was low and slow. The worst offender was probably Dawid Malan, who put down a straightforward chance at mid-on to reprieve James Hildreth on 97.
And it is not poor fortune that saw them bowl too wide and too short and fail to take advantage of an unusually green surface.
And it is not poor fortune that they have batted without application and squandered wickets to loose strokes. Neil Dexter, caught behind attempting a violent force, John Simpson, caught at deep backward square-leg after attempting a slog-sweep to his third delivery and top-edging, and Ollie Rayner, who missed a lavish drive, will feel especially culpable.
And it is not poor fortune that they failed to select either James Harris, signed at great expense, or Ravi Patel, sometimes mentioned as one of the brightest young spinning talents in the land, for this match.
Without a win since May - they were briefly top of the table towards the end of the month - they have been playing like a Division Two side for some time. For a squad blessed with their quality of individual players and their budget, it has been a hugely disappointing season.
But it would be a shame to detract attention from the excellence of the Somerset performance. While Hildreth remains, aged 30, infuriatingly inconsistent, he is also, at his best, a high-class player. This, his first century of the season but the 30th of his first-class career, was an increasingly fluent effort characterised by patient defence at first and then, as the conditions eased, well-timed strokes all round the wicket.
He put on 170 for the sixth-wicket in 49 overs with Peter Trego, 144 for the seventh in 30 overs with Craig Overton and only fell, caught behind as he attempted a reverse sweep, as he tried to set-up the declaration.
In truth, all three men were benefitting from the hard work of Somerset's top-order. Johann Myburg and Tom Abell did not go on to register the significant personal score but, in terms of seeing off the new ball and the pitch at its freshest, they did a fine job for their side.
If Trego was obviously disappointed not to register his own century - he pulled a long-hop to midwicket with the landmark in sight - he could console himself in the knowledge that his stand with Hildreth had taken this game well beyond Middlesex. With every over the visitors were kept in the field, it became more obvious that their spirit was sapped and their energy spent. And, with every over, this odd pitch, green but dusty, wore more and promised to offer more assistance to the spinners. Jack Leach was gaining extravagant turn by the close.
Weariness was clearly a factor at the start of the Middlesex innings. While Sam Robson and Chris Rogers both received fine deliveries - Robson was the victim of an almost perfect away swinger and Rogers got a wobble seam delivery that left him just a fraction - perhaps, had they been fresher, their feet would have moved a little earlier. Malan, with statuesque feet, missed an inswinger while Joe Denly perished to a recklessly loose drive well outside off stump.
While Somerset battled hard and earned the opportunity to attack weary bowlers, Middlesex attempted to force the pace. It was at best naive cricket and at worst carefree. Only Eoin Morgan, watchful and compact, provided meaningful resistance and offers any hope of surpassing the follow-on mark of 374.
An injury to Overton might also offer them some respite. Overton was forced off the pitch mid-over towards the end of the day having hurt his left foot or ankle in delivery. He spent the evening icing it and is said to have a good chance of taking the field on day three. It speaks volumes for Middlesex's feeble resistance that it took Myburg, the substitute bowler, only two balls to strike.
Somerset also profited from bowling fuller and straighter than their Middlesex counterparts and their slip cordon standing a couple of yards closer. That has nothing to do with luck.
Whoever is appointed the new director of cricket at Somerset - and it seems certain to be one of Ashley Giles, Jamie Cox or Marr Maynard who is named in the next week or two - has an intriguing challenge.
There is young talent at the club, certainly. But there are also some important players nearing the end of their careers - the likes of Marcus Trescothick, Alfonso Thomas and perhaps even Trego - and a sense that the club management's impatience for success is not entirely helpful. Brian Rose left as director of cricket after they regularly finished second; Dave Nosworthy could see them finish third in his second season in charge and still be told it is not enough.
While there has been some frustration at Nosworthy's decision to sometimes field experienced South Africa-born cricketers ahead of locally developed talent, it is hardly surprising that he has needed to take a short-term view upon occasions. Knowing the axe always loomed, he has not always had the chance to take the long-term view. Whoever replaces him will require more patience from the club management.

George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

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