Gareth Roderick believes Worcestershire’s LV=Insurance County Championship match with Middlesex at Merchant Taylor’s School is “in the balance” after two days.
The wicket-keeper-batter praised the efforts of Ed Barnard (69 not out) and Josh Baker (36) in helping Worcestershire gain a narrow first innings lead and then the attack for keeping the Middlesex total “within striking distance” with a sterling effort in sweltering conditions.
Roderick, who himself put on 71 runs for the sixth wicket with Barnard, says Worcestershire will be looking to take the remaining four wickets tomorrow morning, when Middlesex resume on 180-6, and then trying to chase down a target, albeit on a pitch still offering assistance to the bowlers.
He said: It has been a tough game so far. The two sides have been quite evenly matched. I think it is in the balance at the minute.
“Both sides are probably a good half-hour or hour away from saying ‘we’re in the driving seat’ so that makes for an entertaining game going forward.
“To get up to their score after being 50-5, the boys did well and the Ed (Barnard) and Josh (Baker) partnership has essentially made it a one innings match.
“The heavy roller has been used twice and slowed the pitch a little bit so it is not quite doing so much and the way the boys really stuck at it today in the heat was really good to keep us in the game and within striking distance.
“But it is one of those wickets you never quite feel in on, so 20 or 30 runs can seem like quite a big swing.
“It’s about if we can get a cluster of wickets in the morning and also limiting the boundaries.”
