RESULT
Birmingham, August 31 - September 03, 2016, Specsavers County Championship Division One
242 & 267/7d
(T:338) 172 & 120/4

Match drawn

Report

Middx seize initiative after Westwood run-out

Ian Westwood's controversial run-out changed the course of the day, perhaps the match and may yet be seen as a critical moment in the destiny of this season's Championship

Middlesex 242 and 63 for 0 lead Warwickshire 172 (Westwood 81, Rayner 5-49) by 133 runs
Scorecard
At 122 for 2, with a second consecutive century seemingly well within the grasp of Ian Westwood and Ian Bell supporting him with dogged vigilance at the other end, Warwickshire might have quietly fancied themselves to defy Middlesex's spinners and claim a first-innings lead.
Then came a controversial run-out, which changed the course of the day, perhaps the match and may yet be seen as a critical moment in the destiny of this season's Championship.
Westwood was the victim, denied his just deserts in almost comical fashion. Bell drove towards mid-on, Ollie Rayner, the bowler, dived to his right in an attempt to cut it off and failed, but in doing so presented himself unwittingly as an obstacle to Westwood, who had answered Bell's call for a single.
Though stumbling, Westwood managed to stay on his feet, but by now Toby Roland-Jones had fielded at mid-on and was preparing to release the ball underarm towards the non-striker's stumps. Bell changed his mind about the run and Westwood spun round but with Rayner still prostrate instinctively stopped in his tracks, by which time Roland-Jones had hit the target and the stranded batsman was cursing his luck.
Back on his feet again, Rayner shrugged apologetically, while Bell spread his arms appealingly, looking in the direction of his opposite number, James Franklin, who quickly sought the counsel of the umpires. A discussion followed, prompting Westwood to delay his departure, but if consideration was given to withdrawing the appeal it was rejected and Westwood was sent on his way.
The word from the officials later was that since there had been no wilful attempt to obstruct the batsman there was no reason to turn down the appeal. Inevitably, there were mutterings about the spirit of the game but in this instance there was no onus on Middlesex, for whom a win here could go a long way towards clinching a first title in 23 years, not to accept a slice of good fortune.
Rayner admitted he was happy it was not his call to make as to whether Westwood should have been invited to remain.
"I'm glad it wasn't my decision but it is a bit of a funny one because if it had gone for one nothing would have been said," he said. "As it is the ball was hit back at me and I tried to stop the one, and if you look at it on the camera it is after that has happened that they decide to take the run.
"It is a shame when something like that makes such an impact on the game but a wicket is a prized thing in cricket, the umpires seemed okay with it and as far as we are concerned it is a legitimate run-out."
Westwood himself, though disappointed, regarded himself as a victim of misfortune - for the second day running, after being hit by the ball at short leg on day one - rather than anything more sinister. He had the consolation of another solid score and the prospect of a much better end to the season than its beginning, when a paltry 15 runs in his first five matches saw him dropped.
"It was just one of those things," he said. "Ollie was lying in front of me so it was impossible to get back, but I think the rule is that unless Ollie is deliberately impeding me, which he wasn't, then the umpires have to give it out. Then it down to the opposition captain as to whether to uphold the appeal."
In any event, it could hardly be argued, as Warwickshire collapsed to 172 all out, that the next seven wickets were a matter of luck. Within four more overs, Ravi Patel, the left-arm spinner called in for his first match of the season, had dismissed Sam Hain and then Bell via catches by first slip and the wicketkeeper, and then Rayner, who is enjoying an excellent season, took five off the reel.
He trapped Rikki Clarke in front, playing back, before Keith Barker gave him the charge and was stumped, then turned one sharply to bowl Jeetan Patel through the gate. Sam Robson took a fine catch at short leg to remove Chris Wright and Harry Podmore held on to a steepler on the run at mid-on as Josh Poysden completed the five.
The haul takes him to 40 for the season, in sight of the 46 wickets he accumulated in 2013, his best year so far. "It has been a good year, the pitches have been a little bit better and I think I know my game a bit better but I'm not trying to get ahead of myself," he said. "I'm just trying to get the ball in good areas. If you bowl a lot of overs there is a fair chance of getting a few wickets and that's what has happened."
Rain is forecast for Saturday, but after Robson and Nick Gubbins added 63 to the lead for no loss, Middlesex have an advantage of 133 and a productive morning would see them well placed to advance the match before any bad weather arrives.

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