Ace and AC rock Glam.
Put us on the verge
By Beefy Roberts
August 19 2010
Beefy reports from The Swalec on day two of our match v Glamorgan. A cracking day's crickets despite the weather, Beefy reports all including his travel problems, comfort breaks and long lunches!1 A great read.
After meeting up with my mates at Cardiff yesterday(both Glamorgan members),i stayed at Daves place,and woke up worried,as the weather forecast was for a wet start and didn't want that.Opened the curtains to a bright blue sky and the sun out.Ha,ha another wrong forecast!
Dave and myself catch the bus to the city centre and I see the worrying sight of dark clouds forming,do they always hang over Cardiff i think to myself?,Walking to the ground,we meet up with Derek(the other Glam member) and light drizzle starts,here we go again I say.
At the ground,the umpires take two steps onto the ground,turn round and walk back and the hovercover stays put,come on I say,its nothing much,lets play!
At 11.15 play resumes,so not much of a delay we start with Murts from the River Taff end and Allenby gets a 4 through the slips,if only Malan had moved a bit more,he would of gone.Its Super Ped from the Cathedral Road end and over my left shoulder(towards Swansea direction) there are big,dark clouds looming I start shaking my head as more rain is coming after the first 2 overs the score moves to 162-8,Dave the glam fan said he can see a century stand coming here,don't be daft!
TRJ,hits the stumps at the River Taff end but sadly Allenby was well home but still a good,direct throw,black clouds go and bright skies are back,and the sun is out.
Its 175-8 with Super Ped bowling still,he sends 2 no balls down in this over,Dave the Glam fan said that Newman is quiet today,after the way he was shouting his usual encouragement to the lads on Tuesday,score moves to 186-8 and we just can't shift Allenby and JD.
Walking the Walk, not Talking the Talk
More dark clouds moving in,light drizzle turns heavy and the players do a runner and the covers come on this at midday,an early lunch is taken,the PA is unclear,sounded like he had started his lunch already as its all word of mouth that lunch is taken,in the members bar,no PA at all.
We take a longer than expected lunch,sorry but i missed the last wickets to fall(check the morning paper!),I can confirm that Allenby was not out 91,JD was LBW TRJ for 27 and Harrison c Simmo off TRJ for 26.
The Middle need the round figure of 250 to win with a day and a half to go,can we,will we do it??
The glam fan duo are willing their side on,a cautious start as there is no rush 2-0 after 2 overs and 69 overs to go,weather permitting,Simmo runs 2 but the coreboard only gives a single,was it a short run?? Harris to Simmo,the glam fan duo and their side go up for an LBW,not given it was FAR to high(not being biased of course)Tubby Cosgrove is giving a load of sledging,its going over our boys heads,probably round Cosgroves stomach!
Newman is facing Harrison and sends the ball for a lovely 4 with a square shot.
Again,Dave of the Glam fan duo starts! said a film has been bought out about the Middle and us trying to win the game called Mission Impossible,i look at him and just say time will tell.We take a few runs here and there and Harrison to Simmo from the River Taff end who takes a ball high on his bat and edges to Maynard in the slips who just,just misses it,we get a lucky 4,Simmo could of gone.
From the Cathedral Road end,Harris to Newman who sends a lovely drive down the wicket,4 more to the Middle,in same over Scottie [picture editor's note: I feel another "Scott or Simpson" debate coming on] has a wild swipe and misses the ball,why do it?
I'm getting close to a comfort break and another ball to Simmo,Bowling is Harris from the Cathedral Road end,and he has another high edge and is caught by Maynard its 31-1,this wicket fell BEFORE I took my comfort break!
As I need to dash for the toilet,I bump into to other Middx stalwarts Dan n Frank are here been there all the game and I only just find them!
Rain returns,on or off? Umpires,make your mind up please,off we go again,10 Min's later back on.Again there is no PA to inform those in the members bar what is going on,as there are no windows facing the playing area we have no idea what is going on!
We go back out,its 43-1 Newman 24,Ace 5 Harris to Newman from Cathedral Road end,an appeal for LBW not out.
Again light rain in the air and still 52 overs to go,another late finish,but I was hoping not as my train back is at 19.25.We carry on playing and Newman takes 3 good runs and the score is 56-1,Don't take any stupid chances i think as we got another day to get the runs.Newman gets another 4,and Derek of the Glam fan duo said we cant have this for much more,Newman just has to go! I just laugh.
Croft warms up,the sun comes out and the Glam faithful call for Croft to bowl,I say he is happy just standing around at the boundary.
Smiles from the Glam fans as Croft comes on from River Taff end,he bowls to Newman and Croft dances/appeals/screams to umpire for LBW,no way,not out........shut up!
The sun goes,more dark clouds,oh come on,please no more rain,we go on,off,on,off.Tea is taken at 75-1 there are 44 overs left as the rain comes down again,there is no chance of a drought in Cardiff,trust me!
Back from tea and Newman get his 50 well batted that man,its 96-1 and Newman sends the ball over the bowlers head into the River Taff for 6,its 102-1 and a new ball please umpire.
A wicket has gone,102-2 Newman is stumped by Wallace bowled Croft it was an easy stumping as Scottie was down the wicket to Croft,but well batted Scottie.
Derek of the Glam fan duo wants the Middle all out by 5pm as he has to go and wants a Glam win,i tell him best to come back Thursday for the Middle win.
Malan off the mark with a 4 and its 107-2 we need 143 to win,we start to make a move towards our win as Malan is dropped by Wright and next ball a 4 down leg side Shah is 47 no,Malan 20 no.The 150 comes up and the Middle one applauds,no one else is moved,am I on my own??
Shah goes for 47,he hooked the ball to the boundary and is caught by Harris off Cosker was he trying to be flash for his 50? Take your time,we got a day left!
Cosker to Malan and an appeal for caught behind,the umpire un-moved and its 151-3.Over my shoulder more dark clouds arrive,please,no more rain I've had enough now!
Missed a bit of reporting,as a cool pint of ale is taken,trouble is,its not the first we had,that started at 10.55 this morning!
Flying the Flag For Middlesex and That Flag is Flying High
Its 173-3 and Dexter is dropped by Cosker,soon Dexter goes its 173-4 b Croft c Rees and for the past hour its been spin from both ends its 183-4 with 2 overs left at 18.15 the overs are completed with the score on 187-4.Play just carries on,again nothing from the PA to tell whats going on thankfully Kev is listening to Kevin Hand who tells us its a 18.30 finish,at least someone knows whats going on! [Picture editor's note: Kevin hand didn't have a clue either - Ged had to point out the playing conditions to him!!]
Sadly,i leave at the end for my train home,a choice its £11 single today,if i stay back for the finish its £41.50 single,I'm gutted but cant afford the fare so its home i go.
With typical BR skills,the train is EARLY but there is a signal failure at Didcot,so my 2 hour journey back takes 3 and quarter hours!
Another good time in Cardiff was had by all.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:08:23:19:07:05 by Ged.
It is unlikely I will watch the series though as there are usually other things to watch on Sunday evening, while programmes from Sky One are not available on Virgin Media Video on demand.
Nigel and I had a smooth ride back on the 7.25 the night before. No sig probs.
As we now know, a Middle win. Look forward to Derby next week.
Slurry collapsed against Worcs and lost. Now there's a shame.
In a low scoring match: you would have to think the 163 run aggregate posted by Newman was crucial and well backed up by the bowling unit.
Mala's 115 run total was'nt bad either.
Going to the Gasworks 2moro, courtesy of Darren's ticket.
Many thanks Beefy for report and pics. What a good match you saw.