Pod Casts a Magic Spell

Barmy Kev reports on a day with a frustrating journey followed by a rare concept day 1 of 4 an entertaining days cricket.

I thankfully game Richmond a miss. My last day of cricket was that vital unexpected win at Scarborough with many emotions. Today I am hoping for a relaxing day at Taunton with not a lot to report on. How wrong was I from leaving home start to finish.

 I'm aiming for 8.51 train scheduled to arrive at Taunton 10.54 . I may just catch the start of play. I leave home in good time so I thought. I'm at Canons Park and train is stationery for 15 minutes due to signal failure at Neasden and crawls to Wembley Park. There is a Met line train waiting whose doors close as the chasing pack arrive. Well done that bloke who risked his life and stuck his leg out forcing the almost closed doors to reopen it is still touch and go on whether I'll make it to Paddington in time. The train after the 8.51 is 9.57 I'm at Baker Street at 8.40 Rogers and Out who is on train hour ahead sends a text to say he is stuck somewhere due to signalling problems at Reading. I am hoping a slight delay at Paddington may buy me time. I make it on 8.51 train without a ticket by the skin of my teeth. As on train there is an inevitable announcement delay is due to signalling problem the train will be stuck here for an indefinite period. At least I have time to go out purchase ticket. 45 minutes waiting GWR website describes this as a "minor delay." Does Richard Scott write for them as a sideline ? GWR state we able take positives out of this as train left soon after. I arrived at Taunton 45 minutes later than expected but I heard  we were running 20 minutes short.

I miss half a session where all I know we are fielding it was 6 for 1 and then they recover. I arrive at the ground  it is 72 1 . R & O advises what I missed was Podmore has bowled well without luck but Harry is expensive and Tresco is dominating our bowling. This prompted Harry bowling Tresco, played on we think.

They are scoring quickly rate at 5 an over Rogers gets his 50. Much needed wicket when Fuller has Hildreth plum LBW. Honours almost even at lunch now.

We are having a what I thought was a well deserved liquid lunch with Dasher Denning. Tempting to stay on here and watch this Scot trying to win Wimbledon. Even more so time when there was a slight rain delay after lunch. Weather improved we return for cricket This was certainly not the best ball of the day but Rogers is out fending down the leg side off of Podders at 133 4. What a scalp initiative now with us. At this stage

I discover they changed the pitch an hour before start of play as the original was deemed as "worn". Not a problem as a spectator. We have an Interesting period to follow where there is something in it for batsman and bowlers, I'm not used to this. Most of the runs are going through to 3rd man area where another strange matter of having a fielder there, mainly Harry saving many runs. I actually couldn't take my eyes off of this game. Trego our nemesis before he started to look dangerous is caught at first slip by the most impressive Podmore Overton quack quack 154 6. Another spell of boundaries and near wickets and its 172 7.

There was early tea due to rain . More liquid needed as we saw Brit Andy Murray win crucial tie break. Back to cricket. Every ball looked a potential boundary or wicket I'm still trying to get used to this. They went off for rain back straight away. It was announced Englishman Andy Murray won Wimbledon . Ollie dropped a dolly at slip at some stage but caught a speculator one that resulted in 236 all out. Was this a good score? No idea

When Robbo was out 2nd ball, I was fearing the worse. Eski and Gubboe consolidate off for rain and called back again before they were close to pavilion steps. Bucko fails to cut off a boundary he was reminded by few Middle fans remaining he is "Middlesex till he dies" We close 51 1 What a day,

Can we play here every week? Good idea if only my blood pressure can stand it.