Another Day of Disappointments

Janet reports from Lord's on Day three of the match against Gloucestershire. A slighty shortened day still finished with Middlesex facing their fourth defeat in as many CC games. W read how Janet's hopes of victory fade during another disappointing day for Middlesex

An asthma attack got me up at 6.30am (oh well it makes a change from the cat). I pottered around had breakfast, a marmalade sandwich (I haven’t replaced my broken toaster yet) and a cup of coffee. I packed everything in my ‘cricket bag’, put on my make-up and left home at 8.30am. Even allowing for shopping I knew I’d probably arrive at Lord’s too early.

 I had the choice of two bakeries and 3 shops. I went to Sharon’s and bought a salad (tuna, sliced egg and tomato and cucumber. They did not have anything else that I fancied so I went to Grodzinskis and bought ‘chick peas, a sandwich and a cheese cake (well they had no fruit salad again). I then went to a grocery shop to buy crisps and drinking yoghurt. 

I did arrive at Lord’s too early, but it was only 5 minutes and as I settled in my seat it started raining, but fortunately stopped before play started. My script was that we’d take 3 quick wickets and we’d knock off fewer than 250 runs. Our over rate was a healthy +2. O’Brien’s 4^th ball went for 4 as did Murtagh’s. The lbw appeal off Murtagh’s 5^th ball was turned down. The sun came out at 11.25am just as Murtagh’s 3^rd appeal was turned down. Too many balls are going for 4, and I see Danny Evans on the balcony. Just as I work out that Kabir Toor is on the field instead of Danny, it’s flashed up on the score board.

 Murtagh is so unlucky as an appeal for caught behind is turned down (193/7): definitely not sticking to the script. At last Berg makes a breakthrough by bowling Lewis for 43 (193/8), but Taylor gets his 50 soon after. Sub Toor takes a good catch to dismiss Taylor (222/9). Gloucs are all out one ball later when Toor takes another catch. 

We need 289 to win. Let’s think positive thoughts. We are going to do this! Strauss and Newman start positively as Strauss hits a 6 into the mound stand. On 27/1 Strauss drags a ball from Lewis onto his stumps, with 10 minutes to go until lunch. We are 37/1 at lunch. 

I saw Gareth Berg during the lunch break and asked if Danny’s injury was serious and he said Danny had a slight side strain. Just after lunch Shah swats at a head high ball from Hussain which Gidman takes comfortably (53/2). He didn’t even have to touch the ball! Now Newman has edged a ball from Hussain to Gidman (80/3). They’re going at over 4 an over. Do they realise they have 90 overs tomorrow also. 

Mr Shah senior turns up to find that he has missed his son’s innings It is now raining slightly. I check my i-phone and 4 other matches have fallen victims to the weather. Sussex have beaten Leics (making that 4 out of 4) and we go to Hove next! We are 110/4 as Robson is caught in the slips off Dent. My jaw is aching from clenching my teeth. Every time I think that we have a pair at the wicket to get the runs another wicket falls. Kirby get Simpson to drag one on (117/5) and we still have 172 to get. Can Berg stay with Malan to get the runs? Malan brings up his 50 with a cracking shot for 4. 

At tea we still have 137 to get, and it is getting increasingly gloomy. They come out in poor light after tea and Berg soon edges one behind (157/6). Shortly after the umpires take them off for bad light. Play restarts at 5.05pm, but it is still gloomy, how ever it is enough time for Malan to play a bad shot and give Batty a second catch (166/7). They go off for bad light again at 5.25pm, only for the days play to be called off at 5.50pm. 

Udal and Murtagh are at the crease and we still need 123 (however unlikely) to win All in all a disappointing day again