How we became Champions through Kev's eyes

Barmy Kev summarises the events from the drab start leading up to the end of a momentous season for Middlesex.   Even though we all know what happened the build up of the tension becomes unbearable.   Read on for the Champions    

The first 5 games of the season all draws there was no indication of the great things to follow. There were signs our batting is strong but a combination of bad weather and flat tracks at Lord’s wins were difficult to find in games we mostly dominated.

Our first win was the 6^th game of the season at Merchant Taylor’s against a very weak Hampshire side.  Despite the loss of 2 early wickets we totally dominated and fortunately the time taken out due to poor weather didn’t stop us winning.  Would this have happened at Uxbridge or Lord's?  That last day Sorry let a game slip away against Somerset, which compounded our joy. Little did we know this potential significance?   

The next gamethe most boring draw against Lanky that went one innings each. At this stage I was looking forward to the football season starting. There were the fun trips to Scarborough and Taunton to look forward to, but from a cricket perspective I was not overly excited.

At Scarborough fun was certainly had but when Yorkshire scored 406, I think I was entitled to think we would do well to survive this match.  Day 3, we piled on the runs, made the game safe and gave ourselves a very slight chance of winning.  Day 4 TRJ and Murtagh went berserk and one significant factor that 3 of TRJ’s 6’s by good chance went just over the head of the shortest player on pitch Kane Williamson. With 2 and ½ sessions left to bowl them out the win seemed unlikely and I gave up at lunch. My focus was on crazy golf and the Leprechaun headed off to Whitby, and then returned before the bus arrived.  Yorkshire capitulated we won by an innings for what was completely unimaginable at many stages.

Next stop Taunton for more “fun”. With our second string bowling attack, Bucko thought it was worth changing the pitch at the last minute to suit their first string seamers. Our dinkies got them out for 236 and with us at 212-8 the game looked close.  Can we eke out a lead,  then the 2 Jimmy’s response to put on an incredible 150+ stand that seemed to have saved us from defeat? At day 4 we had a slight chance if we bowled them out before lunch, but their last wicket hang on and early journey homes were on the agenda.   Buko declared setting an unlikely 302 in 46 overs. We gave it a go, but were falling short and there was a spell where rate required was round the 13 an over. Some brutal hitting by JK got it below 10, but then wickets were tumbling. We are in last over 2 wickets left can we hang on or shall we go for it. A 6 2 balls to go by Simmo on his birthday longest part of ground sparked massive celebrations. There were so many twists and turns in this game. Now I’m thinking yes we can do it, win can win this league.

Next game back at Lord’s against the Mexicans. This was the only game we were outplayed.  We are lunching final session with 5 down and I’m prepared for the worse.  Gorgeous George and Franco saw us to safety through and guess the events from Taunton worried our friends South of the Border of giving us a sniff of a win from their negative declaration.  A massive relief we got away with this, but I started to doubt our championship credentials.

We now have Durham and were all prepared for another bore draw at Lord’s before a ball was bowled. Even more so, when Durham survived the 1^st session. However, they are in free fall and collapsed.  Then, we lost 2 early wickets and Compo won’t mind me saying that he had more lives than a cat to survive that final half an hour. A major recovery occurred the next day, Gubbo and Compo suddenly making batting easy. A further Durham collapse, we win by an innings in 3 days. Now, the Championship is in our hands. Dare we believe?

3 away games, for which I was abroad for the bulk of.  Warwickshire away we would have definitely won if it weren’t for the weather.   Then again Yorkies were denied. A resurgent Somerset, after our win, lucky for them weren’t playing this set of games.

The game against virtually relegated Notts was always going to be tricky. Indeed it was against 241 to be 0-3 from a hat trick not the best of starts. Then 26-3 chasing 230 it doesn’t look good.  I woke up from my hotel room in Canada hearing Kevin Hand describing  Franco leading us to a victory with ease by 5 wickets.

So we go to Old Trafford. A win here we are virtually over the line, especially as Yorkshire was struggling, except this was against Somerset who are coming up fast on the rails. In reply to our 327, they are 6-4.  Calculations were now on bonus points conundrums to give us title day 1 of last game against Yorkshire. Lanky dug in, we took the foot off and were content for a draw. So we are left with more permutations for the last game against Yorkshire.

Somerset had deflated relegated Notts and it was obvious throughout they were going to win and indeed they did.   Effectively, it was down to the result at Lord’s Middlesex v Yorkshire and we had to win somehow,

With the ECB toss against us we did well to battle batting in tough conditions to make 270, Gubbo 125 crucial. Yorkies in all sorts of trouble with 4 early wickets. Bresnan, mocked as night watchman as genuine no. 5 a marginal appeal turned down he makes shed loads and they have a 1^st innings lead, how can we win this?  This was the crucial moment, with a rain delay on 349, many nerves all round Yorkie make it to 350. Good news for us as this meant Yorkshire can still win the league, with a draw useless to both sides, a win has to be set up. Are you keeping up? Our 2 early loss of wickets indicated the title was falling Yorkies way without anything needed to be contrived.  Gubbo and Mala battled so did those who followed and we reached the point, where it all depended on the agreed target. There was some farcical cricket that led to it being down to Yorkie needing 240 from 40 overs and us 10 wickets. From where I sat Yorkshire looked favourites. I heard of 3 Middlesex faithful left the ground in disgust with our tactics.  Wickets were falling steadily. Yorkie were behind rate but had batsman that could accelerate. There was little acceleration, wickets not falling , the title looked like heading for Ciderland. This is a blur with 7 overs to go, 4 wickets needed run rate creeping close to 10. TRJ one wicket, Hi Fi another. Next over TRJ 2 successive – I didn’t realise this was a hat trick, but who cares. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. There was ecstasy, tears, and more exuberant celebrations.

Writing this has highlighted how we so often dug ourselves out of a hole, while we coped with disadvantage of our “home” wickets. You do not win a championship by luck.  Full credit must be given to all those in our squad who chipped in, in some way, when it really mattered.

My wish is I do not want to wait another 23 years for our next Championship win and if we do please can we make it easier for my blood pressure.

CHAMPIONEES CHAMPIONEES OLE OLE OLE.