Confessions of a MTWD die hard

Beefy was on the few Middlesex faithfuls at Lord's today. Read on to hear about the hover cover coming and going, some confessions of not being quite there when it nearly mattered and the moments witnessed when an unlikely victory nearly happened.    

It’s a breezy, overcast day with some rain in the air as I take the train to Lords for day 4 of the latest county game v Somerset. I’m thinking the start may be delayed due to the weather and my thoughts are correct as all covers are on at my arrival.

 A quick headcount and I find there are 20 hardy souls in the Middx Room and 3 in the Tavern Lower. A pigeon adds to the attendance as he flies across the ground from the Tavern Stand in direction of the Warner Stand.

 It’s 11.15 and Gus takes a walk onto the ground with the ground staff and they start start to remove the weights holding down the covers. We hear the next inspection will be at 11.45.

11.20 and an over-confident Phil the Power throws the Times Sudoku in the bin after getting it all wrong and 10 minutes later all the covers are being removed. It is game on?

The players slowly emerge from the Pavilion and start to warm up, Will we declare is the main topic now and find out play is due to start at 12.15. We have declared now for the win.

We have Murts 1st over from Nursery End with Corey using Pav end as usual.

Corey's first over and the third ball gets the wicket we wanted as Suppiah goes for 4 c Malan b Corey and its 4-1. Murts joins in and soon its 4-2 as Barrow bags a pair LBW Murts for a duck its 4-2 and looking good.

Horrible grey clouds appear again as the PA says that change of bowler at Pav end. Rayner for Corey but Corey still carries on, Phil said Rayner has a long run up for a spinner! The short session finishes with Somerset on 38-2 and things looking good.

2nd session and we have Berg from Nursery End and TRJ from Pav end,. After the 3rd over the players trudge off as the umpires call for the hover-cover as the rain moves in, The players just loiter near the Pav steps and 5 mins later hover-cover is removed and we go back to playing. Ollie comes on for Berg as the wind increases and we watch Old Father Time whizzing round and round his pole. Hmmm wind is blowing him dizzy!

Wicket goes and Somerset are 81-3 as Hildreth is c Moggy b TRJ a great catch as Moggy runs from the deep to take the catch in front of the Tavern Stand in the swirling wind. With 22 overs gone we have given no extras yet, Good tight bowling.

Another Wicket and it’s soon 90-4 and another for Toby as Kieswetter is dismissed for 6 runs c Malan. The clouds get darker and ground staffs starts to run about like ants. Thankfully no rain so carries on playing. I’m glad we did  as another wicket goes and 113-5 looks good as Butler is out for 16 c Malan b Berg.

Now, it’ s confession time (part 1) and I start to feel slightly tired. I take a quick doze but soon get my full senses back as a huge LBW by Murts who is bowling from Pav end but umpire not moved, Berg still on at Nursery End. Compton reaches his 50 off 81 balls in 157 minutes. Now I see why I dozed off!

Couple of dropped catches by Malan and Rayner didn’t help, but these things happen.

At tea Somerset are 123-5 with 35 overs of the game left we have just given 2 extras in 40 overs thanks to superb bowling. The hover-cover is used as very light rain comes down, but it’s soon taken off as we resume on time, be nice to get an early wicket is mentioned.

Couple of loose overs after tea by Berg and TRJ allow Somerset to get to 140-5 and the ball was dispatched over the slips. Soon Trego was nearly run out he was well down the wicket as Denly missed the stumps, he would of been on his way if hit. Old Father Time is still getting dizzy!

Corey comes on for Berg at the Nursery End and Somerset are 153-5 with 27 overs left at 16.35. Trego and Compton get their 50 partnership and all thoughts of a win are drifting away as Trego hooks TRJ for 6 into the Mound Stand, Malan comes on for Corey at the Nursery End his is when we all thought the draw will soon happen as it’s 16.50 and its getting darker.

Everyone is just plodding along wasting time till 17.00 and the draw, the rain returns at 16.55 and the hover-cover comes on, the players leg it to the Pavilion.

Now it’s confession time (part 2).At this time, myself, Phil and Spillage say that’s it, won’t come back on now as its nearly 17.00 so we decide to head to the Tavern Bar a quick pint for rain to stop then home. In the Tavern between the Allen and Tavern Stands is a great view of the scoreboard and Spillage says 'They are back on and Trego is out'  he was bowled by Murts and then we watch the scoreboard with pints in hand as Overton goes c Simmo b Murts its 177-7. Very quickly we down the pints and head into the Middlesex Room and see there are 17 overs left, and the sun is out!

 They start the final hour with a minimum of 16 overs to go, can we actually still win??

Twice in this time, Thomas was facing Murts from the Pavilion end and as Murts was fully into his stride he pulls out of his shot. I’m not impressed probably Murts wasn’t either!

 Somerset take a 4 run lead as Denly comes on for Malan at the Nursery End and I get all confused. But I do know Robson came on to bowl the final over of the day a chance to see his different bowling action. He bowled 5 balls of the over when Chris Rogers shook hands with the umpire. This time we wait to make sure it’s the end of the game with Somerset on 227-7.

 We came close to the win, but a good well earned draw and 10 points in the bag.