Sterling is Strong against the Euros

Barmy Kev with help from Mrs Fozzie pictures the 3rd trip in a row trip to Holland is captured. As usual many amusing moments, strange behaviour and oh yeah a Middlesex win.  Also thanks to Mr Fozzie for idea of heading and Chris Rogers / Tim Murtagh picture.

Should I Stay or Should I go?

 When the CB40 draw was made my thought was please not Holland again. 2 trips previous years were fun but enough. The prospect of the watching us at Leighton Buzzard against Unicorns seemed more appealing. Lo and behold we draw Holland again Beefy Tours make their advance booking and I'm set to miss out. Then a month ago in a moment not sure if inspired or madness I book the trip. Again we are travelling by Eurostar. but this time less numbers in our party. Beefy and Ken PR are still with us. Andy West latches on and on their debut tour Mr and Mrs Fozzie.

I could give a Rotterdam for the Footie

There was a serious matter on my mind for the journey up. QPR are playing the Premier League Champions elect where a result maybe needed for our survival. The arrival in Den Haag looked like would be at half time. Then Beefy has a brainwave, our Eurostar train booked for Amsterdam stops at Rotterdam. We enquire if we can change there, which we could. In Holland there are not so strict rules about being spot on with Rail Travel destinations and this diversion saved us an hour and half travelling time.

My first priority on arrival at the hotel is finding a bar with Sky Sports.  Fozzie who arrived earlier is no good to us as his response to my text asking for advice was "dunno I'm in a tulip garden". Not a problem, conveniently virtually next door to us was an "Irish Pub" with lots of TV screens. We all know what happened in the football and I went through so many emotions. Funny story in pub with fake Man U fans. Someone who saw me getting quite animated said are you a QPR fan? Me and Beefy wearing our Ignis Middx tops responded yes saying we were wearing their away kit. He believed us. There was someone else who thought we were Essex fans.

 Yes QPR survive                                               Or would you rather watch tulips grow.

After the match a kind of celebration took place. I was tired and emotional. At our final port of call I ordered 2 mint teas while others still on beer. The barman said "aah you must be the designated driver". If your saw the state of me you'll realise how funny that was at the time,

Crash Course to the Ground

Today's the other important match. With a 1:45 start we had plenty of time in hand and we were all in the land of living early to make it to the ground in good time. The problem was no one in Holland seemed to know about the game. Beefy used the courtesy 20 mins free Internet at the Ibis to Google Map route from Voorburg Station. This is one stop from our local station. We were told this is in walking distance, which we found odd given the trek the taxi made the night before. It was clear the taxi driver with us as new arrivals he was taking the Ibis.

The other challenge walking to the station was dodging different forms of cycles and trams that seem to come from nowhere. Beefy described our walk as like playing chicken. I was the first casualty of day at Voorburg as I was looking for road signs I bashed myself in a painful place from a cycle rack. Ouch! We seemed to miss a turn from our Google Mapped route and tried to cross a residential estate to get back on track only to find it was a dead end. Even though there was 2 hours before start Beefy started to panic. There was a period where were doubting if we were in right direction at all. To our relief we saw Orange flags and some side screens and yo the Middlesex flag in the not to far distance.

Two other Middlesex fans arrived towards the end of 1st innings having been lost for 3 hours. This could have easily been us.

In ground we bought beer/wine tokens and placed ourselves in a very modern looking pavilion. Then I lifted the CB40 cup. First achievement was announcement we won 1^st toss of season met by loud cheers. Chris Rogers walked s wearing Tim Murtagh's shirt as was 12th man Tim Murtagh which led to chant of the day was "there's only 2 Timmy Murtagh's"

 First bit of Silverware　                                      There's only 2 Timmy Murtaghs

An All Round Sterling Effort.

Holland were put in and off to a decent start, with openers reaching a fifty partnership in the 10th over. Immediately after Berg achieved the1^st of his 3 run outs. Another big partnership followed and I decided it was time to perambulate.  At 114-1 with slow bowlers were at least keeping run rate in check.  Stirling was put on and off his 3^rd ball Borgas tried to hit over the top, which looked like Smudge was either going to tip it over for 6 or fall over boundary edge with ball but instead miraculously caught it inside. As I was perambulating further Ollie pulled of spectacular diving catch.  I was perfectly placed from my perambulations to witness both wickets.   

Pick the flight of that                                              Ollie's catch celebrated.

Wickets continued to flow freely thereafter. Mudassar Bukhari with some quick runs at the end ensured a competitive total 212-9.  Stirling finished with an impressive 4-26 from 6 overs. A local asked what I thought of score. I said 50 short.

During innings I asked Mrs Fozzie as MTWD official unofficial photographer to perambulate and take some cricket related photos. She came back with this.

Cow corner                                                          Ramps score from last week

Our reply got of to a terrible start.  2^nd Ball of innings AC’s 1^st he was clean bowled. Stirling followed up his wonderful bowling efforts with a quick-fire 28 before being dismissed going for another big shot. In the 10th over score was 47 for 2.

 From there onward Denly and Rogers looked solid although were struggling for quick runs early on. They both grew in confidence and once we were ahead of Vera we were always clear. Rogers gave one chance that needed a spectacular catch Smudge style on the boundary but missed. It was amusing seeing next ball him being moved to another position. When Bucko got his 50 still wearing Tim's shirt the chant was "there's only 1 Timmy Murtagh"

 The other feature was a ridiculously slow outfield where some shots that looked definite 4 s just stopped short in the long grass. We found out the Cricket Club control the maintenance of the wicket and the local authority the outfield. Any comments Vic?

 The match was finished with a 4 by Bucko, with Denly on 96. I asked Denly what he thought of the shot and won't repeat his response - but he did say he was pleased with result. As were we. As players came off we chanted, "Can we play you every year"?

Well batted Joe                                                    Let's all have a disco.

 Conclusion

Good cricket from us and reasonable weather were bonuses. We had an amazing time again. The hospitality everywhere we went was brilliant and were amongst great company. Next years draw you know where you can stick your Leighton Buzzard I want Holland again.