when_you're_smiling

Middlesex chased down 387 to win by five wickets with two overs to spare against Durham. Im sure you can guess who the previous record for the highest run chase in a 50 over cup game was made against. Interestingly Ben Raine was on the losing side in both games.

Don’t take this as a ringing endorsement but I think I’d rather him there than Soumare or Skipp to be honest.

I think Marti will have learned a lot from that, probably one of the things being we don’t have the strength in depth a lot of people say we have. Also, Hamza isn’t a right back.

Hamza had a player to the left of him, so had to be Soumare to close him. Edit - his right!

It’s what I expected really. It’s youngsters or players playing because they’re out of form or rusty. In Hamza’s case he’s not even in his usual position. It should be a good learning experience, (especially for Monga with the home crowd against him) and reckon they’ve got enough to get through still. They will have to be much better in and around the box though.

How strong a side have Middlesbrough put out to get dicked 4-0 at home?

By the sounds of it, I think pretty much everyone, including Leics, were for it. It’s on the provisio the games are more spread out and on days that bring in the best crowds. Will also have the quarters and finals day done before The Hundred rather than wait six weeks after the main tournament finishes. From what’s been reported, looks like there’s too much disagreement on the way forward for the championship so likely there won’t be much change.

Bar winning the league we’re currently in last time? I didn’t see somewhere that often agents tell their players coming from not as developed countries to make their hair recognisable so they stand out. Obviously if you make a lot of mistakes though….

Beat me to it!

Other players with two relegations include Muzzy Izzet, Steve Guppy and Matt Elliott.

Hopefully a wake up call to the top of the order. I didn’t see much of it but it looks from the scorecard that’s where it was lost today.

I’m no huge Faes fan, but come on you snowflakes, if you give it out don’t get upset when it comes back.

That free kick was meant to go to Justin but was under hit.

I’ll take a stream if anyone’s found one.

Yep. Especially daft as it’s heavily rumoured that all the IPL sides that have bought into The Hundred now want to turn it into a T20 league.

Only just put this on but has it been a Wrexham wankfest? Swear Hinchcliffe would be saying it’s a pen normally given how far is arm was from his body.

Ha ha. I was thinking that as well!

It’s amazing how I always forget how forgiving Championship sides are when it comes to missing chances and not punishing mistakes. Gray’s 40 odd yard pass to the keeper is the only shot nearly on target.

I thought we’d have an impossible job and spend years trying to replace Kante but the club managed it (at the second attempt as Mendy was first) through Wilf. I don’t think we’d have been anywhere near the top five Prem finishes or FA Cup without him.

I’d have Soumare in. Can see a middle two of Winks and Skipp getting swamped and bullied too easily. Maybe Hamza would be a shout for this game. Blimey, writing this and I’m getting even less enthusiastic for the season, which I didn’t think was possible.

Think you’re underestimating how hungry and up for it Wednesday are going be. Having already been written off it’s the first time they’ll be able to concentrate on football for 90 minutes. I’d love for our team to be up for a fight….however….

As @Bert said, all four. They mentioned Tattersall along with Davey and Green and then added they ‘understood’ Eskinazi is joining us. One of the presenters, Nick Friend, is well associated with Middlesex.

Pretty sure our fans are showing their support by leaving in the 85th minute.

Listening to The Cricketer podcast and they reckon we’re signing Stephen Eskinazi from Middlesex next season on top of the three already mentioned. Always thought he was decent, though his Champ batting average is only just over 30. T20 average is higher and first class over 55.

It’s not that I didn’t understand the hate for Fofana, but I don’t know why everyone didn’t just expect it. He’d behaved the same to come to us in the first place.