Veteran allrounder Rajat Bhatia is set to make his Rajasthan debut against Maharashtra on October 22

Sidharth Monga in Jaipur21-Oct-2015Rajat Bhatia, the former Delhi allrounder, has found a new home. Starting with the Group A Ranji Trophy match against Maharashtra in Jaipur on Thursday, Bhatia will represent Rajasthan, which is being run by a court-appointed ad-hoc committee.For a player to get a no-objection certificate (NOC) in the middle of the season is not a routine event, but it has prevented Bhatia’s whole season going to waste, and has given a young Rajasthan team an experienced hand, which they have often drawn from professionals.With four points from three games, Rajasthan are placed eighth in the nine-team pool, and face the risk of relegation. They played the first game at home, and shot Delhi out for a low score on the first day, but couldn’t convert that into an outright win. After that they travelled to east India to lose to Assam and concede a first-innings lead to Bengal.How Bhatia would have loved to make this transition before the first round, and play a team that has hurt him, Delhi. He is still not happy with the treatment he got. “I was sure my season was gone,” he said. “I thought maybe after the first game. Maybe after the next… but it was clear they were not going to pick me. This match, looking at the Delhi side, I can’t agree with the statement that I don’t fit in the XI.”I asked the selectors as to what was the reason for not picking me. I have not been dropped based on performance, or based on fitness. There was no explanation. They just said sorry. I don’t like to believe it but I have heard that the selectors wanted to pick me, but Gautam [Gambhir] didn’t want to.”Gambhir, the captain, of course told the selectors that Bhatia does not fit in his XI, so the selectors said they didn’t want to bench such a senior player. Given all that, Bhatia is thankful he wasn’t picked at all. “It’s a blessing in disguise that they didn’t pick me under some sort of pressure,” he said. “What if they had given me one game and then benched me? Then I wouldn’t have had this opportunity too.”I am thankful to the BCCI and to Rajasthan that I have been given this opportunity even after the deadline. That they saw that this experienced player sitting at home, so if he is available for Rajasthan, why not?”Bhatia has a prior association with Rajasthan. He was picked by Rajasthan Royals at the 2014 IPL auction after Kolkata Knight Riders didn’t retain him. Bhatia is the most capped Indian non-international in the IPL. Even though he turns 36 the day he makes his first-class debut for Rajasthan, he is a valued workhorse on the domestic scene. If he plays all the five remaining matches he would have played 100 first-class games. He has scored 5394 runs at 48.16 and has taken 119 wickets. Rajasthan hope his inclusion will bring some stability to their middle order, while his handy seam-ups provide a foil for Deepak Chahar’s swing and Nathu Singh’s pace.Rajasthan are hopeful of playing on a lively track that assists their quicks. But they are also mindful of being up against a settled Maharashtra batting line-up boasting of Kedar Jadhav, Rohit Motwani and Harshad Khadiwale. Maharashtra’s penchant to play attacking cricket will add some life to the contest.Rajasthan, though, can’t afford to take lightly the Maharashtra attack of Domnic Muthuswamy and Samad Fallah, who can be dangerous in these conditions. Having taken the first-innings honours against Haryana and Odisha, Maharashtra are placed fifth, a point behind defending champions Karnataka.

Justice Sweeney, the judge presiding over the Chris Cairns perjury trial in London, has warned the jurors to treat the evidence of Lou Vincent with caution, given his tendency to lie

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Nov-2015Justice Sweeney, the judge presiding over the Chris Cairns perjury trial in London, has warned the jurors to treat the evidence of Lou Vincent with caution, given his tendency to lie.In his summing-up at Southwark Crown Court, Justice Sweeney pointed out the “potential danger” that Vincent, who was last year banned from cricket after admitting accepting money to under-perform, “might have his own interests to serve”.Vincent secretly taped the Skype conversation in 2011 with Cairns’ co-defendant, Andrew Fitch-Holland, that forms the key piece of evidence in the charge of perverting the course of justice that both men deny. He has already admitted to corruption, fraud, money laundering and bribery in England. He has also confessed to match-fixing and, as the judge noted, has previously attempted to lie his way out of trouble.”In his case, you should be particularly cautious that he might have his own interest to serve,” the judge told the jury.”The prosecution say that nevertheless you can be sure he is telling the truth when he tells us that Mr Cairns recruited him to take part in cheating.”The defence say that Lou Vincent plainly has an interest of his own to serve, namely making allegations about a big name in the game in the hope of getting away with what he has done, or minimising its consequences, and that he has succeeded in doing so, as while he has received life bans from playing cricket, he had already given up cricket, and he has not been investigated or prosecuted for the undoubted crimes he has committed in this country and elsewhere.”It is incumbent on me to emphasise to you the potential danger posed by such a witness and point out to you that he might have his own interests to serve by giving evidence.”What you make of his evidence is entirely a matter for you, whether you are sure that he’s telling the truth or not.”The charge of perjury, which Cairns denies after stating during his libel action against Lalit Modi in 2012 that he had “never, ever cheated at cricket”, requires the evidence of more than one witness to be accepted as true.Nine witnesses were called in the course of the trial, but the judge said that the evidence of at least two of the three key witnesses would be required to justify a guilty verdict. In addition to Vincent, the other two are Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand captain, and Eleanor Riley, Vincent’s ex-wife.If the jury was sure that Cairns had cheated, then they would be open to convict on count one, perjury, and go on to consider count two, perverting the course of justice. However, if they acquitted on the first count, then they would be obliged to acquit on the second count as well.The judge will continue his summing up on Monday at 10am.

Sri Lanka Under-19s have retained their core team from the recent tri-nation series against India and England for the upcoming Under-19 World Cup which starts from January 27 in Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2015Sri Lanka Under-19s have retained their core team from the recent tri-nation series against India and England for the upcoming Under-19 World Cup which starts from January 27 in Bangladesh.Sri Lanka trimmed five members from the 19-member squad for the tri-nations series, but the only new inclusion in the side is Charana Nanayakkara. The squad will be captained by Charith Asalanka, who led Sri Lanka U-19s to the final of the recent triangular series, and was the leading run-scorer for Sri Lanka with 158 runs in five matches. Allrounder Shammu Ashan has been retained as vice-captain.Sri Lanka are in Group B of the tournament’s league stage, alongside Canada, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and will play their first match on January 28, against Canada.Sri Lanka U-19 squad: Kaveen Bandara, Salindu Ushan, Shammu Ashan (vc), Charith Asalanka (capt), Avishka Fernando, Wanidu Hasaranga, Kamindu Mendis, Charana Nanayakkara, Vishad Randika, Lahiru Samarakoon, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Jehan Daniel, Damitha Silva, Thilan Nimesh

Ireland will send a team to the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, taking the place of Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-2016Ireland will send a team to the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, taking the place of Australia. Cricket Ireland had indicated on Tuesday that it was likely to accept the ICC’s invitation to step in, although it now faces a challenge to arrange logistics with just three weeks until the start of the tournament.Australia withdrew from the World Cup due to concerns over security, with CA chief executive James Sutherland citing “reliable information suggesting there is a high threat to Australian interests in Bangladesh”. Australia’s Test team also pulled out of a tour of Bangladesh last year”Firstly, we are grateful to ICC for extending the invitation to us to participate in the tournament,” Cricket Ireland’s chief executive, Warren Deutrom, said. “Given the circumstances of the invitation, however, it was important that we used the brief time we had to investigate the safety and security situation in Bangladesh.”While we are fully aware of the heightened security risk in the country, all we can do is rely upon expert advice, which tells us that the tournament security plan appears very comprehensive – an estimation supported by the independent assessments we have seen. Of course, we shall continue to monitor events and maintain regular contact with ICC in case the situation changes.”Current advice from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns of a “high threat from terrorism in Bangladesh” and tells British tourists “to remain vigilant and take appropriate safety precautions”. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade suggests visitors to Bangladesh “exercise caution”.Cricket Ireland has also been able to work in conjunction with the ECB and Cricket Scotland, both of which have teams participating in the tournament.It is not known if any Ireland players have expressed concern about travelling to Bangladesh but, speaking before the decision was made, Deutrom said that the make-up of the squad was yet to be determined and could be influenced by the short timeframe.”We’re dealing with a number of enquiries, from players, parents and staff members, all saying what’s happening,” he said. “There’s an awful lot to digest in a short period of time from a security perspective … We’ve been doing our own independent security assessments and we’ve got to speak to our insurers and that’s before we even look at things such as selection – are the players even available, provision of kit, visas.”Deutrom compared the situation with that of the 2014 World T20, which “went off without incident”, and said that Ireland had been reassured by security plans drawn up by the ICC and BCB that were of “the same level that would be applied to a senior World Cup”.He added: “As our men’s and women’s squads discovered during the World T20, Bangladeshi people are incredibly welcoming and passionate about their cricket, so I’m certain our Under-19’s will look forward enormously to playing there.”Ireland will replace Australia in Group D and play India in their first match, on January 28 in Mirpur. Nepal, who originally pipped Ireland to the final place at the tournament by winning the ICC Qualifier in October, and New Zealand are the other teams in the group.

Hagley Oval is a permanent reminder of the earthquake that devastated Christchurch in 2011, but such reminders will only be intensified over the course of the upcoming Test between New Zealand and Australia

Brydon Coverdale in Christchurch19-Feb-20163:47

Christchurch’s coming back to life

Hagley Oval is a permanent reminder of the earthquake that devastated Christchurch in 2011, but such reminders will only be intensified over the course of the upcoming Test between New Zealand and Australia. Monday, the third day of the Test, is the five-year anniversary of the earthquake, which registered 6.3 on the Richter scale and resulted in the deaths of 185 people.February 22 will be recognised in Christchurch with a civic memorial service in the Botanic Gardens and a minute’s silence during the lunch break of the Test, at 12.51pm – the same time the earthquake struck. The date will be particularly significant for the Canterbury-based members of New Zealand’s team, including captain Brendon McCullum, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls and Corey Anderson.As if the city needed any further reminders of the tragedy, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch on Sunday. And on Thursday night, a 4.3 magnitude aftershock occurred, and was felt by members of both teams, who had arrived from Wellington the previous day.”Obviously a little reminder of what Christchurch can serve up with the earthquake over the last week or so,” McCullum said on Friday. “I guess that’s the beauty of sport as well: we get to go out and give the people of Christchurch the ability to support their team and enjoy the occasion rather worrying about things rocking and rolling.”Last time Australia played cricket in Christchurch was February 2010: the venue was Lancaster Park, and McCullum scored an audacious 116 not out as New Zealand won a Twenty20 match in a Super Over. Steven Smith played in that match and was still in his first month as an international cricketer; now he returns to Christchurch as Australia’s captain, and the redeveloped Hagley Oval is now the city’s major cricket venue due to earthquake damage to Lancaster Park.”The security side of our team’s given us a few pointers of what to do if there was a big earthquake,” Smith said. “And obviously on Monday it’s five years since the big earthquake. I guess until you’ve been here it’s hard to fathom what has actually happened in Christchurch, and you really feel for the people that experienced what went on five years go. It’s a tough time for the people of Christchurch.”This will be just the second Test match played at Hagley Oval, the first having resulted in an eight-wicket win for New Zealand over Sri Lanka in December 2014. The first two days of this Test – McCullum’s farewell to international cricket – are already sold out.

The BCB has lifted the 10-year ban it had imposed on umpire Nadir Shah in March 2013

Mohammad Isam22-Feb-2016The BCB has lifted the 10-year ban it had imposed on umpire Nadir Shah in March 2013. Shah had been banned on charges of corruption alleged during a TV sting operation. The decision to revoke the ban was made unanimously by board members during a meeting on Monday.Shah is now eligible to stand in Bangladesh’s domestic competitions, though it is not clear whether he will resume umpiring in the Bangladesh Cricket League first-class competition or in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.”The BCB felt he [Shah] was repentant and had rectified himself in the last couple of years,” BCB media committee chairman Jalal Yunus told ESPNcricinfo. “He wasn’t involved in any financial deals in the TV sting. He is one of our best umpires so as a first step he will be umpiring in domestic cricket.”Shah said he was happy to be allowed to umpire again. “I am very happy that the BCB has lifted my ban,” he said. “I am looking forward to getting back on the field. I had submitted a mercy petition in the past so I feel happy that it has been taken into consideration.”Over the last two years, the BCB has discussed Shah’s reinstatement in meetings, but couldn’t arrive at a unanimous decision.Three months after being banned, Shah submitted a mercy plea to the BCB to reduce the term of his suspension. Exactly 12 months later, he umpired in matches in the USA and three months later, he stood in a domestic T20 match after being told the BCB had lifted the ban, but the board president Nazmul Hassan said a couple of days later that the ban remained in place and Shah had stood due to “miscommunication”.The sting, conducted in July-August 2012, was broadcast by India TV, which claimed to have “exposed” several first-class umpires from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who were allegedly willing to give decisions favouring players for a fee. In the sting, the reporters claimed to belong to a sports management company and promised the umpires officiating assignments in events of all kinds around the world, largely in domestic Twenty20 leagues. All three national boards announced investigations following the broadcast. The BCB conducted a detailed investigation into the matter, with two committees formed by subsequent boards of directors.

Ireland coach John Bracewell has promised a more powerful approach to T20 cricket from Ireland after a disappointing show in the World T20 Qualifier

Sidharth Monga in Dharamsala07-Mar-2016Ireland coach John Bracewell has promised a more powerful approach to Twenty20 cricket from his team. He joined Ireland following their moderately successful 2015 World Cup, and realised after a disappointing show in the World T20 Qualifiers that his side needed to improve its power-hitting game.Although Ireland had Kevin O’Brien and Paul Stirling earlier too, most of their batsmen were touch players, like William Porterfield, Ed Joyce and Andrew Balbirnie. Even Niall O’Brien relies on cheek more than brawn. Bracewell felt the need to consciously work on intimidating the opposition bowlers.”We are physically more mature now, and even mentally we are tougher now,” Bracewell said. “And we had some concentrated T20 focus which leading into that tournament [qualifiers last year] we didn’t have. It is the first I had as a team. The climate changes all the time.”When asked to elaborate on “physically mature”, Bracewell said: “We are a bit more powerful now. We had a little of power-hitting. We changed our physical programme a little bit more, targeting power-hitting and making sure guys are in the right positions. They get confidence to strike the ball harder.”According to Bracewell, Porterfield and Gary Wilson are two examples of batsmen who have become bigger hitters. “Other guys are also getting the confidence to do that and believe now,” Bracewell said. “It is a matter of getting one thing on the night, and also the physical confidence to do that.”Even in this era of big bats, Bracewell felt power was indispensable. “Power plays a huge role,” he said. “Not all the grounds we play on are small and some grounds are big even now and intimidation for batters is a powerful point.”One of the other reasons, Bracewell felt, for Ireland’s ordinary show in the qualifiers was the pressure of playing at home and being expected to do well in front of home crowds. Ireland cannot escape that pressure over the next week. They are the darling Associate team with equal parts flair, results and underdog to them, and are always expected to do well when they come up against other Associates.”The landscape in Associate cricket is changing very quickly,” Bracewell said. “In fact it’s changing very quickly with the new qualification structures. It’s very difficult for Associates to qualify for the (50-over) World Cup, so this is the only realistic structure that’s in place for Associates to actually qualify for. Therefore, all the Associate teams are closing the gap on each other rapidly. Most of them are focusing on this as this is the only world stage that’s available.”Ireland is trying to qualify for Test cricket and also maintain a one-day profile. We still have a chance to qualify for the next World Cup so we’re looking at three formats. Now, with our resources, that’s difficult because we’re on a very limited budget. The Test sides have a minimum 10 million dollar budget more than what we have, so it’s a difficult thing. T20 is separate because the gap is narrowing in terms of the ability to play it and also the concentration to get better at it.”Now, Ireland are expected to win three matches in five days or go back to the invisible world of qualifiers. Bracewell said Ireland were trying to not look at it as a pressure situation. “Great preparation, that’s how I see it,” Bracewell said. “There’s no better preparation for the tournament than play in the tournament itself. That’s how I see it. I see it as a glass half full, not half empty.”It doesn’t matter what people call it [qualifiers or the first stage of the main event]. We’re looking at it as a great opportunity to qualify for the main tournament. And if we qualify, we’ll be ready to compete because we’re match fit in these conditions.”

After the shock of James Taylor’s retirement, it was an impressive show of character fro Nottinghamshire to close out victory

George Dobell at Trent Bridge13-Apr-2016
ScorecardJake Ball completed a five-wicket haul•Getty Images

Spike Milligan used to tell a story about a time when he was suffering from a bout of depression. Lying in bed and crying uncontrollably, he was brought a glass of water by his young daughter. She knew it wouldn’t help, but she wanted to try and couldn’t think of anything else to offer.Perhaps this Nottinghamshire victory might be viewed in the same light. A club reeling from the news that James Taylor’s career is not only over, but that he must undergo heart surgery in the next couple of days knows that, in the grand scheme of things, the result of a game of cricket does not amount to much. But they wanted to do what they could for him and have nothing else to give besides good wishes and encouraging performances You can be quite sure this result raised a smile from Taylor.It was, in the end, a victory that owed much to the fortitude and character of a team struggling to come to terms with the sad news they had received. Facing a target of 169 on a pitch that remained encouraging for seamers, they slipped form 72 without loss to 100 for 5 before rallying.Jake Ball, a much improved seamer who will surely be pushing for England recognition in the coming months, completed the second five-wicket haul of his first-class career in the morning and hit the winning runs in the evening, while Greg Smith, a former team-mate of Taylor at Leicestershire as well as Nottinghamshire, registered his highest score for the club in first-class cricket.”As soon as we found out about James we said we’ve got to win him a trophy,” Ball said afterwards. “He’s an exceptional talent and it’s sad that it’s all been taken away from him.”He’s been a massive part of this club for a few years. What we can do is put wins on the board and trophies in the cabinet for him.”Ball must have thought his work was over when he helped polish off the Surrey innings in the morning session. While Sam Curran – surely a fine batsman in the making – contributed five sweetly-struck boundaries, he was trapped in front by one that nipped back and Arun Harinath’s admirable resistance was ended when he was lured into reaching for a drive and edged to the cordon. He had batted on every day of the match and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.The Nottinghamshire chase began smoothly. Mullaney, who looks in glorious form, and the more careful Smith reached 72 in 14 overs. But when Mullaney was trapped in front, the next four batsman added just eight between them.Tom Curran, finding life and movement from a good length, claimed three wickets in seven balls without conceding a run at one stage as Michael Lumb edged one angled across him, Brendan Taylor was taken on the glove by a brute of a ball and Riki Wessels edged one that bounced and left him. It was, by any standards, outstanding bowling.Smith, however, stood firm. So grim had his red-ball form been – this was his first score above 20 in 13 Championship innings and his first half-century in 24 first-class innings dating back to September 2014 – that one national newspaper left him out of their fantasy league options at the start of the season.But he has worked hard with Peter Moores – the consultant coach at Nottinghamshire – in recent months and demonstrated a sound defence and calm head in a crisis. It took a peach of a delivery, bouncing and nipping away from a good length, to find his edge.By then, Nottinghamshire were still 17 short and left with a tail that were blown away in the first innings. But Brett Hutton produced two sumptuous on drives and Ball kept his head to see their side over the line. Nottinghamshire took 24 points and Surrey just four.There was encouragement here for Surrey, though. They left themselves too much ground to make up after a poor start to the game with bat and ball but showed spirit and skill in clawing their way back into it.They also showed – if we did not know before – that they have at least two outstanding young cricketers in Ben Foakes and Tom Curran. To out-keep Chris Read, as Foakes did in this match, is a rare achievement, while Tom Curran produced a series of beautiful deliveries to precipitate a Nottinghamshire collapse.This was a mixed debut for Ravi Rampaul, though. After three years out of the first-class game, he was understandably rusty and looked as if he were carrying a few more pounds – or even stone – than can be ideal for a professional sportsman. Ravi Ample one wag called him; Ravi Rampall-you-can-eat another retorted.He retains enviable skills, though. While some of his wickets may have owed a little to fortune – Samit Patel, slashing without foot movement, edged a long-hop to slip and Read and Steven Mullaney may have felt the balls that trapped them leg before were passing down the leg side – he can move the ball both ways. The donation of 26 in no-balls though (Ravi no-ball was another nickname) was costly in such a tight game. He will, no doubt, improve for the experience.Surrey were also hampered by the decision not to bowl Sam Curran. They were, perhaps, keen not to over-burden a young man in such a tight situation, though he has given every indication to date of relishing the heat of the battle.”We made it very difficult for ourselves over the first four or five sessions of the game,” Gareth Batty admitted. “You can’t get that far behind against a very good team and Notts are a proven team. We gave ourselves too big a hill to climb but it was a pretty good effort to try and turn it around.”There is no lack of talent in his Surrey team. Their Championship season may well be defined by how quickly they can adapt to the greater discipline required in the top division. The pace at which they improved in this game may, despite the result, offer cause for optimism.

Cricket South Africa has admitted to being “caught by some surprise” by the South African sports minister’s decision to ban it, along with three other national federations, from bidding for major global tournaments as punishment for the slow pace of trans

Firdose Moonda19-May-2016Cricket South Africa has admitted to being “caught by some surprise” by the South African sports minister’s decision to ban it, along with three other national federations, from bidding for major global tournaments as punishment for the slow pace of transformation. The sanction was announced last month and this weekend CSA will meet with the ministry to discuss what more the cricket board can do to meet transformation targets, to which it remains committed.”We believe firmly in the need for transformation strategies. We were caught by some surprise by what the minister announced a few weeks ago. It’s something which we will understand better when we meet on Saturday,” Haroon Lorgat, CSA’s CEO, told at the announcement for a new sponsor on Wednesday. “Across the board we are held up as the market leaders in so far as good governance, transformation and world-class administration. We’ll engage [with the government] and try to understand better why we were short on some of our dimensions.”CSA only fell 5% short of the ministry’s target of 60% players of colour in men’s national teams but was lagging behind in black-African representation. Only 9% of South Africa’s national men’s team is black African, which translates to one player in every starting XI. The ministry has not made public what they want this number increased to but may discuss that with CSA over the weekend.While CSA remains adamant that there is no quota for national teams, its most recent squad – the ODI group to tour West Indies for a triangular series in June – comprises eight players of colour [out of 15], including two black Africans, and indicates a shift in composition. All three players dropped from the previous ODI squad are white while all the new inclusions are of players of colour. Domestically, CSA has not announced any change to the targets that all franchise and provincial teams must field at least six players of colour [which does not meet the 60% requirement], including at least three black Africans.The ministry’s ban does not affect CSA too much because it is not due to host any ICC senior events until at least 2023, with only an Under-19 World Cup in 2020 on the calendar. Lorgat said CSA hoped to use that time to meet the ministry’s requirement and have the punishment lifted.”We haven’t set our sights on specific events just yet,” he said. “There are some conversations happening but it’s very early days at the ICC with future events. I have no doubt South Africa will be a sought-after venue and I’m sure by that time we will have completed our engagements with the minister, finding out where we were short and committed to making things right. The fundamental point is that none of us differ that we need to transform. We know where we want to get to. We’ve been aggressive in our own way to get ourselves transformed. There’s no doubt we’ll be able to align ourselves with the minister.”

Middlesex strengthened their hold at the top of Division One of the Specsavers Championship when John Simpson’s six gave them a two-wicket win with two balls to spare in a thrilling run chase at Taunton

ECB Reporters Network13-Jul-2016
ScorecardJohn Simpson celebrates his winning hit•Getty Images

John Simpson celebrated his 28th birthday by blasting Middlesex to a sensational two-wicket Specsavers County Championship win against Somerset at Taunton after 96 runs had been needed off the final eight overs.An enthralling game seemed to be heading for a draw when Tim Groenewald took four wickets to help restrict the visitors to 185 for 5, chasing 302 to win.But Simpson, with 79 not out off 80 balls, including four sixes and five fours, and James Fuller produced a stand of 86 off less than eight overs. A Craig Overton over went for 23 and, although Fuller fell, Middlesex wrapped up victory with just two balls to spare.The winning hit was a six over fine leg by Simpson off Jim Allenby after eight had been needed from the final over. The Middlesex wicketkeeper, who had claimed nine catches in the match, threw both arms in the air in celebration.Nick Gubbins contributed 76 to the run chase and, although Groenewald finished with five for 90, Middlesex took 23 points to Somerset’s three after four exceptional days of Championship cricket.Simpson said: “I’m almost speechless. The feeling of elation when that ball went for six to win the game was unbelievable. Jim Allenby was swinging the ball into my pads, so I just went with the swing. At first I thought it was going to be a one bounce four, but the ball kept on travelling over deep backward-square.”Credit the whole team because we never gave up trying to win. After a period of consolidation, James Fuller’s innings provided a real lift and I was able to finish things off.”I’m not sure how I am going to celebrate my birthday. We are staying down for the T20 game on Friday night and there is talk of golf in the morning. By then I will either be hungover or very tired.”Set 302 to win from a minimum of 46 overs, the visitors made a promising start and were 108 for one in the 17th over when Overton took a stunning catch at third man to dismiss Dawid Malan.Gubbins and Malan had produced an array of attacking shots to add 76 for the second wicket. Then Malan got a top edge off Groenewald and Overton made 30 yards running to his left before diving full length to hold the ball two-handed inches off the ground.Gubbins had faced 70 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes, when he miscued a back-foot forcing shot off Groenewald to Allenby at deepish extra-cover.When George Bailey was bowled by a perfect Groenewald inswinger for four it was 155 for 4 and Middlesex had to think twice about chasing a target of around seven an over.Allenby cemented Groenewald’s good work with an economic spell from the River End, earning reward when pinning James Franklin lbw for 28.The departure of the skipper at 185 for 5 seemed to signal the end of Middlesex victory hopes. But Simpson and Fuller changed all that with an astonishing assault, Fuller hitting three sixes and two fours in his vital knock.Jack Leach struck twice in the closing overs to increase the tension, but it was Simpson’s day.Earlier, the hosts had extended their second innings score from an overnight 348 for 6 to 446 for 9 declared, Peter Trego making 138, three short of his best score on his 200th first class appearance.Groenewald and Leach shared an unbroken tenth-wicket stand of 42, using up valuable time, but it still seemed a generous declaration by Chris Rogers against his old county in excellent batting conditions.In fact, it produced a wonderful finish and Championship cricket at its best.Somerset director of cricket Matthew Maynard said: “I am proud of our players. It was a fantastic game of cricket and we have come up just a bit short. We took a gamble on using a green pitch, knowing we would be asked to bat first, and the lads gave everything. Losing Jamie Overton was a blow.”Overton pulled out of the game midway through an over on the second day and will miss the Lions series against Sri Lanka next week. Somerset will investigate his lower back injury over the next few days but are hopeful there is no stress fracture.