Hold The Coach, the match ain't finished

Janet reports from Lord's on the fourth day, didn't get to see too much cricket as GLamorgan win just after lunch, their first win at headquarters for 56 years. We hear about Janet's travel, food, Shah and some interestingnews about the England 20/20 squad

Apparently, Glamorgan were so confident of finishing before lunch, they had their coaches home booked for 12 -1.00pm. 

Despite having a full fridge and plenty of supplies, I was too lazy to make myself lunch and bought it at a local bakery. I bought a salad (healthy) and a mini cheesecake (very unhealthy) and a sandwich. As I got to the bus stop I realised that I had forgotten the spare ‘battery’ for my phone. I worried myself silly yesterday about the ignominy of losing again within 3 days. I was mightily relieved at 9.00pm when I logged on and saw the score. Knowing that I was buying lunch and that it was Sunday I left home later, and got to Lord’s the earliest of the three days that I went. 

Once in Lord’s I read what I wanted of the Sunday papers, and disposed of them in one of the new recycle bins at Lord’s (I’d only asked for them two years ago). 

Waters opened from the Nursery End and both Malan and O’Brien got singles off the first over. I decided it was sunny enough to get my sunhat out (after freezing on Friday I brought my beret and gloves which fortunately were not used).  The first 4 of the morning came off the fourth over of the morning. The 200 comes up and Malan is still on 99 and O’Brien is in double figures. At 11.25am Malan gets his century. Soon after Dalrymple drops O’Brien in the slips, (I thought our luck had changed), but he’s caught by Cosgrove next ball (208/5). Just noticed that the scoreboard to the right of the media centre is a lot quicker in putting up the runs than the left hand one. I thought that they were all connected to the scorer’s laptops 

Simpson reaches double figures and we need another 152 Malan then edges a ball from Dalrymple to Wallace (236/6) and we still need 139. Berg came to the crease and confidently hit the first ball he received for 4, but soon after Simpson edges one to Dalrymple in the slips off Cosker. Our last hope is at the wicket Udal and Berg. The new ball was taken at 82 overs. Well they’ve got the target down to under 100. Can they? Both Berg and Udal are seeing the ball well!  Oh dear Berg is caught at the wicket for 28 (285/8). 90 to get can Murtagh and Udal do it? With 5 minutes to lunch, Udal hits one straight to mid-wicket and he is out for 23 (290/9).  Finn at least lasts until lunch despite an lbw shout off the last ball before lunch (294/9).  

Even the biggest optimist would expect 85 runs beyond our last pair. This proved to be the point as Finn was out soon after lunch and we’ve lost by 78 runs. 

Again I felt a lot batsmen got themselves out. I sincerely hope the batting coach sorts them out. After the match I asked Gus when was Shah coming back. He is due back next Sunday, depending on planes flying to the UK. If flights are delayed any length of time England’s 20/20 team will consist of all the players in the IPL.