Rushworth of Wickets held up By Murts Last Stand

Barmy Kev reports on one of the maddest days of cricket ever. 

It was a strange but a good feeling going to a County match day 3 on a non working day.  My mood was helped on my journey by a decent weather forecast and Middlesex on top. My two thoughts as I approached ground were let's hope Murts is fit and whether Durham will avoid the follow on.  Little did I know what was to follow.

There was no Murts fielding , so it seems like our 3rd game in row with 10 men. Night watchman Rushworth was becoming irritating and a big stand with Jennings was being built. There was a run out chance, a dropped catch behind and Ollie had loud LBW shout which involved dancing and skipping turned down by umpire Hartley. At 12.35 as we were discussing what  Rushworth's career best was (46) Oliie's desperate appeal for LBW was jammy given out by Hartley on Ollie's 3rd skip for 40. It is now 229-5. They looked comfortable till lunch until Voges was brought on to the words from Dingy Bags "he always gets wickets when just put on" and lo and behold has Jennings caught behind 2 short of a ton. It's lunch 242 -6

It's looking better after lunch when Mustard was bowled after LBW shout of Voges and for some reason he didn't want to leave. New ball was taken under cloud cover for first time today after a very expensive over from Voges. "Who Arshad" was chant for next wicket now 270-8. Hastings battled but never looked comfortable against the pace and was caught in slips off of Finn lifter. At 289-9 are they going to save follow on, would we enforce it? 294 all out we must enforce it as only realistic chance of winning. But alas we come out to bat with cloud cover increasing, BTW our over rate is 4+, less work for Don Shelley for his break.  

Our thinking is we score at 5 an over and set tricky run chase for tomorrow. Gubbins was out early padding up. After a comical run out escape, Compo was superbly caught in gully by McLeod 22 2, Then Voges LBW 2nd ball, hang on we might do an England. Looks this way as Robbo out LBW from one that kept low, its 35 4 or should I say 5 as Franklin caught behind.  The 5 runs over bit is now at least going to plan.  Simmo is clean bowled, my head in hands-phew it's a no ball which takes us to 37, It didn't matter as with no more runs Simmo caught at slip. Rayner next out with no more runs. I wish I was making this up. The biggest cheer of day was single off of bat that took us to 38 followed by more muted cheer on run that took us to 39. I'm now match reporting on singles what has my life come to? One observation Rushworth, whose bowling has destroyed us, has scored more than our entire first 7. It’s 46 7 at tea.

I was gutted after tea I missed the runs that took us to a double figure partnership and couldn't carry out my planned pitch invasion for this milestone. I restrained myself when we reach 50. Dext didn't prove to be our savior in a crisis as he was caught at slip. We now have Hi Fi and Harry batting which is ironic because guess the only reason we didn't enforce the follow on was to rest them. Harry could have a rest as out caught off pad. Murts hobbles out with Simmo ( glad not Compo) as a token gesture we guess. He starts with a boundary first ball. We made double figure partnership and was too tired and emotional for pitch invasion. There was a 6 by Murts that was very well received by the faithful.   Simmo as Murts runner took a single running in wrong direction and somehow got away with it, as one of many farcical wicket running situations. When Murts hits a 4 to become our top scorer there was "he only needs one leg " chant from me only.  Finn finally out, us all out for 89 . Durham Target 259.

Durham ended up 24-2,with their batsmen leaving early for bad light amongst more confusion as Middlesex fielders staying on pitch. Confused? 

3 Positives

Watching cricket in glorious sunshine on a Monday morning without having to take any time off of work.

Our rubbish score but at least no bonus points at stake

Murts batting on one leg and ending up as our top scorer

3 negatives. 

Rushworth and Jennings 1 ½ hrs holding out before our first wicket

Our Incredible cluster of wickets

Had to be wrong decision us not enforcing the follow on