Murtagh at the Gallop

Beefy Roberts reports on Day Two of the Derbyshire v Middlesex match. After spending a day in the rain in Derby, Beefy gets to see an interesting days play. Read in detail the events on and off the field as they unfolded in front of his eyes.

Well, after Tuesdays latest offering of the 'barbeque summer' the forecasters said we would be getting I opened the curtains to see what to expect for the start of the day. Overnight winds had blown the covers away from the bowlers run up ,I thought oh no, here we go again. Bit later I looked again and saw the ground staff struggling to put the covers back on, and I must admit that the staff did a superb job in getting the playing area fit to be used, well done lads.

After Ken and myself walked around Derby and had breakfast, we venture into the ground, a good turn out as well by the locals and a handful of Middx supporters. Find out from Seaxe Man that the Middle won the toss and put Derbys in, Kartick twelfth man, Richardson in. Murtagh took his first over from the 'indoor net end'(not sure what they called each end),Finn from the 'media centre end'. Soon, it’s back to usual this summer and the brollies go up, not to  much rain this time so play continues, thankfully.

 Murtagh then changes ends, and bowls from the media centre end and an appeal for LBW goes up, looked slightly high but given,but we don’t care if it is bit high,I said. Just as we all start chatting about how much improved the fielding is and the groundstaff hard work, the players do a runner as the rain pours down, covers on for a 10 minute delay with the score on 35-1,after play resumes Derbyshire get to 50 runs off 18 overs,I mutter to myself ' this is bloody slow '!.Then a huge appeal from Murtagh and rest of team for a caught behind, our lads are convinced its out, but after a quick chat the square leg umpire said not out ,we heard a nick off the bat,and that’s not being biased at all(is it?)Then.................players and umpires start to move towards the pavilion for a quick rain break, but as the covers are taken on by the tractor the umpires send them back, and play resumes once again.

At lunch Derbyshire are 62-1 it has been a slow morning but the interruptions for rain don’t help at all. I suddenly realise that things are going from bad(rain breaks) to worse as I can’t have a pint because I’m driving back that evening.I have never drunk so much coffee at a day of cricket!!Berg comes on to bowl after lunch from the indoor net end ,I’m saying to Ken and Seaxe Man that I though Berg had improved a lot from the start of the season,and as we are chatting the physio is seen walking round the ground,he stopped at Murts ,oh no, don’t say his injury has started to play up again! But it was ok, just passing a drink to him and a quick chat.

Finn resumes his bowling from the media centre end and takes a deserved wicket of Madsen for 43 Morgan taking the catch and its 83-2,soon its 92-3 as Finn takes another next in is Wavell Hinds, here we go I thought, some quick runs for them here, and Murts not looking very comfortable and hasn’t bowled since lunch, he continues to stretch and flex the ankle, but he finally comes on at his favourite media centre end, bowling to Hinds and he gets him,LBW for just 7 and its 106-4 and gets our first point soon its 109-5 Redfern LBW 13 off Murts,

I mention we can forget the ankle problems ,great to see Murts back and looking on fire and making up for lost time when injured.Then,the dark clouds of gloom gather and more rain threatens, and the ground staff head to the covers yet again, but luckily didn’t need them this time.

The ball then gets thrown in, but didn’t see by who, and it looks like it hits Pipe on the head, unfortunatly as he goes down on the ground, looks like he damages his left leg as well. The rain finally arrives and all the covers are quickly put on, this time its heavy stuff and an early tea is taken,the PA(which we are sitting right under) informs of an inspection at 4pm.As the rain easies off,I take a quick comfort break(too much coffee) and saw what I thought was a totally different way of taking your own tea/coffee to the ground..........3 people had set up a table, own chairs, next to the table was a big container with cold drinking water in it, next to that was a single ring gas cooker with a big kettle on it, boiling away merrily to itself had to walk passed it again to really see I wasn’t imagining it!

Play resumes, and Pipe has to retire hurt,Murts is back to put more terror into the batsmen from the newly named Media end again its 120-6 but with Pipe off its 7 down really with Smith c Nash b Murts another wicket for super Timmy Murtagh,boundries are hard to come by, with the outfield being damp, but Seaxe Man tells the outfield is drying up, 139-7 Wagg c Nash b Murtagh and its Murts 5fer.Stefan Jones comes in to bat and with Murts bowling I’m saying another wicket on the way and Jones dispatches 4 fours on the trot, but is Murts is forgiven for the fours as he is sitting on his 5fer.Shaggy has a bowl from Media end, Groenewald is dropped by Ace, and next ball is hit for a 4,Seaxe Man being right it is drying up on the outfield, the tailenders just wont go, and get to a 50 partnership.

Derbyshire are on 201-7 and we are saying  that didn’t expect to get to that amount. Ken and myself decide that with a bit more rain forecast ed we will be leaving about 6ish,so we would miss the last 10 or so overs, as we start to walk around the ground with Derbyshire on 220-7 Murts takes his 6th wicket ,Groenewald for 48, caught by Morgan, the 8th wicket  partnership is a new record for Derbyshire v the Middle since 1949.

We leave the ground for a very short walk to the car and the next batsmen was Pipe with a runner and we hear the PA say that the wicket was taken by Tim Murtagh, we missed his 7th, that is just typical! The old saying ' never leave before the end ' certainly worked that time.The drive back was much easier than the marathon journey up, getting home for around 20.30 and it was decided by myself after dropping Ken off that a pint was well overdue.It was an enjoyable time at the ground,with all the staff more than helpful, so cheers to you all. 

 EDITOR'S NOTE

After Beefy's departure, Nantie Haywood was bowled trying a wide slog and had his off stump pinged back by Finn, Derbyshire all out 247. Just time for young Sam Robson to make his Championship debut, sadly it didn't last too long, being caught down low at first slip by Rogers off the bowling of Wagg for one. Ace and Compo saw us to stups at 16-1.