To do or not to do that is the question.

By Diamond Ruled Ok
July 22 2006

Prospects for a full days play did not look too clever when I was woken at 04.30am by a thunderstorm, the rain continued off and on for most of the morning.

Prospects for a full days play did not look too clever when I was woken at 04.30am by a thunderstorm, the rain continued off and on for most of the morning. I decided to go for it anyway and headed off up the North Circular to Southgate arriving to park outside the church just as the clock struck 10.30am. A few covers were still on bearing testament to the fact that the North of the capital had also had some rain overnight in fact as late as 07.30hrs according to some of the staff. Perambulations at this stage were banned due to the sticky outfield. I only hope it will not stick too much during our innings. Lots of punters around the ground seemed very unhappy with yesterday afternoons proceedings, my self I saw it as the only way of setting up any chance of a positive result for either side, both of whom could do with one for totally opposite reasons.

In the beginning.

If we were to do well today we needed a big opening stand between Smithy and Compo. 100 plus would be good, though both getting to double figures would be a start. They started well, so well that Arafat was removed from the attack after just two overs the second of which had gone for sixteen runs. A good effort by the boys considering the lad got five’fer in the first innings. Lewry from the other end bowled good tight aggressive lines and proved hard to put away. Quite a small crowd in for a pivotal day like this I thought but then the state of the game and the weather plus the Open on TV may have put many of them off, not to mention it was a bottom v top clash, a bit like going to watch the Arsenal at Bolton on a Wednesday night, you would love to but you know it ain’t worth the hassle. By his fifth over in the heat Lewry was visibly slower and more manageable. Mushtaq Ahmed was introduced in the tenth over and the 50 came up off of the last ball of the eleventh over. One of those “yes no, is it me who is out?” run outs then occurred at 64-0. Compo hit the ball, Smithy ran, Compo stayed, the fielder threw, missed big time, still neither batsmen seemed prepared to try and get back and Smithy was run out from the gathered overthrow at the bowlers end, 64-1. The 100 up in the 25^th over and then Ace and Joycie went in quick succession 105-2, 109-3, Mushtaq taking his first wickets of the game. Where the wheels about to come off again? Would Compo handle the pressure? Would the steak baguettes at lunch be as good as usual? Compo got to 50 with a four off Arafat and lunch was taken at 118-3.

Lunchtime assessment.

“Chasing” 421 was still on but needed Compo to get a very big score. 66 overs left to get 303 runs at 4.59 per over. The loss of three top order batsmen would make it harder and our run rate at lunch was 3.933. Weather could also play a part with clouds rolling in and the wind picking up. Tame Mushtaq and we could still do the job in the time allowed.

Frustration.

Not long after I had worked out the above calculations the sides retook the field only to come off again as the rain started leading to the loss of 35 mins play and worse still as far as Middlesex were concerned 9 overs.

With 57 overs left in the game the asking rate became 5.31 per over, still gettable on this wicket. Mushtaq started bowling with seven men close to the bat, only mid on and mid off out. Play continued in light drizzle which would not have been much fun for the batsmen or the bowlers.

Here we go again I think as JD gets his stumps uprooted by Arafat for 14.Enter the Skipper bringing more rain with him. Big appeal for LBW first ball is survived by virtue of the fact that a run goes up against his name on the scoreboard. 45mins are then lost to another rain break and a 4.10pm restart with tea having been taken sees only 32 overs left in the game and all chance of a Middlesex win gone , now can we keep Sussex from winning? The sun then puts in a brief appearance; it’s first since lunchtime all too brief, rather like Skippers 16 runs, 185-5 when he holes out in Faldo style to Lewry off Rayner, not what was needed in the situation. 20 overs to keep the gate secure. What’s Compo doing? Done big time LBW Lewry for 86, a good knock once again, if only he would concentrate all the time! Knocker and Eion must now hold up for the rest of the overs or we will lose this game that 20 mins ago was still in our control. No fancy stuff just defend the Fort. The sun disappears again but Knockers head still glows in the middle. Mushtaq returned with 15 overs to go, the 200 came up, as if it mattered.205-7 a Rayner wicket maiden sees Knocker heading for the dressing room with 16 to his name. Can the young ones hold now the senior man is gone?

Hold the line, Hold the Line!

Eion and Pepsi needed to be very careful , still seven men �round the bat , spin from both ends and Sussex with their tails up sensing they are about to throw down the walls of Fortress Southgate.Lewry switches ends , Mushtaq keeps plugging away and we are down to 18 balls to go with 3 wickets left. A maiden well played out to Mushtaq has us all thinking we can do this. Enter Arafat with other ideas , second ball of his over pins Pepsi LBW for a very good 0 , did all that was asked of him , keep the ball out. Enter Swing, just remember your South African history son, you know Rorkes Drift, the movie “Zulu”, just hold that thin white line! At 6pm the church clock chimes and all of Middlesex cheers, only to be reminded by the PA announcer that the last hour finishes at 6.05pm, groans! Eion then falls prey to Mushtaq well held by Montgomerie for 5.

Last line of defence time, can Silvers and Swing see us over the line or will they perish. The over is survived and after much ranting at umpires by Mushtaq they decide to remove the bails and call it a draw. It might not have been five past by your watch Mushie but it was by the umpires and certainly was by the time you allowed him to get into position for the next over!

Conclusions.

The walls of Fortress Southgate are again safe though we had to fight to the last man over these four days. A draw some will say is not good enough, but hang on , it was against the league leaders and they are no mugs to be honest they look a really good outfit , well drilled and wanting to win, hence Mushtaqs final outburst. A few lax shots and poor decisions today , you know by who guys but we stuck to it and did the job well in the end .A draw is far better than the loss we were one ball from getting.

Sussed !!

No longer am I a man of mystery ….. I was sussed by Barmy Kev, Barmy Paul and Lord of the Chairs , I knew it was Kev due to the verbals the “couple” of Sussex fans in front of the pavilion were getting! Nice to meet you guys.It must have been the notebook rather than my James Bond good looks that gave it away . Now bring on this Pro 40 stuff….. and the Welsh. Should be a good game on Sunday, be there folks, unlike today