Wednesday, June 24th, 2015

Rhodes Praise For Worcs Showing In Drawn Game With Middlesex

Rhodes Praise For Worcs Showing In Drawn Game With Middlesex

Steve Rhodes felt that Worcestershire "acquitted themselves well" in the drawn LV = County Championship clash with Middlesex at Uxbridge.

Worcestershire collected 12 points from the game and gave a good account of themselves against a side in the top four of Division One.

But Middlesex, who trailed by 76 in their first innings, earned a share of the spoils thanks to another determined innings from skipper James Franklin (91 not out) while the pitch which proved unresponsive to spinners Moeen Ali and Saeed Ajmal.

Director of Cricket Rhodes said: “It was a hard-fought contest over the four days and we might have got more out of it.

"Middlesex fought back well in each innings and James Franklin was a rock for them.

"But Middlesex are a useful outfit, and are in the top four, so this was a good match for us and I thought we acquitted ourselves well.

"There was plenty of grass on the pitch and so there was never very much in it for our two spinners.

"We thought they might get more from it on days three and four, but it didn’t do much at all.”

Franklin said: “There were two tricky periods for us today – the first hour and then immediately after lunch when we had to face the second new ball.

"There was some pressure on us when Joe Burns got out and then when we lost two wickets to the second new ball but James Harris came in to play a great knock and I was really happy to see him play so well.

"We got through that second tricky period and secured the draw. Joe (Burns) also played well in this match, with two fifties.”