Extras Extras, Read all about it

Barmy Kev reports on an eventful day at Hove with an Extra twist and some Horse Play. 

After two successive wins and we are top of the league, a sunny day forecast I was travelling down to Hove full of optimism. Minor irritation for journey according to QJump there was a direct train from Victoria to Hove but the train terminated at Brighton and there was a bus replacement service to Hove. No worries it was regular and I enjoyed the trip round the back streets of one of my favourite British cities Brighton. I arrived at the "Brighton and Hove Jobsworth" ground at 10:45.

We are batting and we start off with a cheer as Macmuffin first "ball" is a no ball, perhaps setting the tone of he day? It did not get much better soon after as Robbo was caught behind an awful wild slash we are 10 1 after 6 overs. Just as West Ham Tony was commenting on how patient Gubbins was he is out hooking caught on boundary for 0 after 35 patient minutes. Just before midday 35 2 nearly all our runs via edges through slips so it was a mighty relief when Voges drove a four through the covers to take his score above top scorer throughout so far our extras. Proper boundaries were flowing and at 69 2 West Ham Tony had  commented on how things were looking easier. I said I will put 69 3 in advance on report which proved the case Voges out hooking. West Ham Tony wasn't saying a word but sure was thinking we should be OK so he was to blame for 79 4 as Franklin out for duck. 

After lunch I take responsibility for next wicket as I have a call of nature Compo out 121-5. It was agreed I should just sit down West Ham Tony should shut up and we will close on 350 5. At 142 5 Extras at 40 was now again our top scorer.  They were following debates on whether Extras were at 1/4 a 1/3 or 2/7 of our total. I really need to get a life. As I was told QPR were relegated by losing 6 0 Simmo was out plum LBW , it’s now 169 6. Soon after 174-7 Dext out in 30s with Extras still top scorer on 48 . I just realised Shahzad was off injured and did not return, I thought it was us who only needed 10 men! 

12th man warming up?

After tea Ollie pads up it goes for 2. Umpire after long deliberation signals leg byes which is greeted by ecstatic applause by me at least and I'm sure inwardly by some others for the well paced 50. This is followed by 4 byes, which is greeted by chant from me  on my own "Extras closing in on a century". Meanwhile Prince Harry is out for 9. With Ollie plum LBW at 231 9 can the Watford Wall, TRJ or Extras take us to the next bonus point. "Proper" batting took us over that as a 38 last wicket stand we end up 269 all out. Extras not out on 62. 

Prince Harry opened our bowling and started with 2 fours off of him. Meanwhile it seemed like Sussex had poached our best player as Hi Fi was no balled and byes were conceded off of his bowling. Crucial wicket  by our Prince with score on 32 . He takes wickets in clusters on 4s or 9s. It was Hi Fi who took next wicket 45 2.  Yardy is 3^rd one down at 59. Ed Joyce survives two confident LBW shouts, one I celebrated but umpires finger remained unmoved. 

All and all honours even.

POSITIVES

Extras

Company for the day

As far as I know we still have 11 fit players

NEGATIVES

Our top order batsman giving their wicket away when seen seem to be well set.

Spending most of day studying and cheering Extras

Celebrating Ed Joyce wicket and given not out