Let Them Eat Cake - Middlesex v Sussex Day One

Travel and Weather

As we know, this turned out to be the hottest July day on record. And at
Southgate we surely knew that. On a day like this, one had to feel for the
bowlers on the team losing the toss - it turned out to be ours.

 

Credit to them, they kept plugging away on a flat pitch - not the one expected.

 

I was held up by various chores and had to use the ZR to get to SG. All was well until J23 where roadworks slowed my progress so that I was 40 mins late. Sussex 34-2.

After breakfasting in the pavilion - cost £2.50 - I took up my duties.

 

[Editor’s note: I wonder what it is that causes our correspondents to be late almost every time?  I say this along with a genuine mea culpa – I live close enough to Lord’s that I walk, so I have no excuse.  And I usually arrive for the start of play.  But on the couple of occasions this year when I’ve been on reporting duty, even I’ve missed the first few overs of play!]

 

1st session

Morgan replaced Keegan from the previous match to further extend the
batting. From enquiry - I discovered that Spoons had dismissed both their
openers in the first three overs lbw. This had to be a bonus. It also slowed
their progress and Sussex were 40-2 at drinks. Bowling changes were made at both ends with at various points Peploe, JD and the Walrus replacing Spoons and Johan.

 

However there were no further alarms for Sussex who lunched at
116-2 and I guess had edged the session. 

 

[Editor’s note: sounds like they edged the session more than they edged the ball]

 

2nd session

JD and Spoons started the bowling after lunch. Yardy and Goodwin continued
their stand which was interspersed with some crisp off and on drives. Drinks
were taken at 167-2. At 174 the stand was broken, when the dangerous Goodwin was run out with a superb pick up and direct hit from the mid off position by Eoin Morgan. This pair had added 159. 1 bowling point but this was tempered with the lunchtime news that Warwick were 88-6 at Scarborough.

 

At 195, Johan Louw caused Michael Yardy to edge to Nash who took an excellent catch low to his left. Yardy just short of a well earned century on 97.
There should have been a further wicket 2 balls later when Compton dropped a routine catch off Prior at point. He was on 0. The Sussex score was 199. On
218, Morgan failed to get to a much more difficult chance off Styris, again
it was Prior then on 7.

Tea was taken at 254-4 Adams 45 - Prior 23. You would have to say Sussex
again edged the session.

[Editor’s note: at least they edged the ball a few times this session.  I wonder if we’re dropping more catches per match than the opposition – it certainly feels that way]

 

 

3rd session

After tea JD got quite a lot of stick conceding three sixes and a number of
boundaries to Adams and Prior. A mis-hit by Prior fell fortunately in no
man's land. He then repeated this off JD. JD eventually got his revenge
bowling Prior behind his legs for a rather fortunate 43. 284-5. The new ball
was taken with the Sussex score on 340. No futher success came our way and Sussex closed at 374 - Adams 101 and Luke Wright 41.

 

On balance it was Sussex's day.  [Editor’s note: Off balance it was still Sussex’s day]

 

Summation

 

Things did not go our way and not for the first time this season chances
were missed. This often happens to struggling teams. However to give the
lads credit they kept plugging away in the sweltering heat.

 

I thought Johan deserved better than he got. To get much out of this match now, will require a lot of hard work.

 

 

Let them eat cake

 

There was also an interesting extra in the last session when it was announced that it was Chief Exec Vinny Codrington's birthday. He duly appeared around the boundary sharing out the cake which I have to tell you was very tasty.

 

In his group was Director of Cricket John Emburey, who stayed on for probably about an hour chatting to our particular branch of the  Midd-x Barmy Army. From all of us John - thanks for sparing us your time.

Seaxe Man 19th July 2006 Walker Cricket Ground Southgate N14.