Woo Hoo! Simpson gets a ton
Well Done Simmo
By Beefy Roberts
April 23 2010
Beefy Roberts reports on Day Two from Northampton, possibly our best of the season so far. Apart from describing a good day's play including John Simpson getting his first hundred, it seems there was a bit of a MTWD party going on!! Read on...
Day 2 at sunny Northampton,Kimmy and myself arrive a bit late,due to the trek to the bus station.We both decide on arrival a coffee is needed.Walking around the back of the indoor nets we meet Mark O'Neil a quick chat and he introduces himself to Kimmy(Myself and Seaxe Man spoke with him yesterday,he did same introduced himself),he said he was hoping to see us post 400 today and remarked how pleased he was to see the youngsters get among the runs,he also said he has high hopes for Bergy who,he said can bat/bowl and field.
We take our seats in the indoor net end,meeting up with Lower Pav and Dan.First two things Kimmy mention are Simpson and his Orange gloves and said she needs to ask him why he wears them,and then she mentions the Spurs v Chelsea game to Lower Pav,who sinks into his chair.Next thing Kimmy asks is if both Dan and Lower Pav phoned each other before setting out today as both are wearing the same white Middlesex polo shirt.
Anyway,to the cricket! The score reaches 329-5 Simpson reaches his 50,off 115 balls and 8 fours.110 overs pass complete with 3 batting points,the 350 is up with Berg on 41 and Simpson 54 both are playing well finding the boundary with ease.A wicket falls at 12.15 and Kimmy is not happy as its Berg for 41 c Hall b Evans it was a wicked delivery and he just couldnt get the bat out of the way the score being 354-6.
Next in is Shaggy and was nearly caught and bowled by Evans,Simpson sends a lovely shot over the bowler to the Pavilion end for 4 and a couple of Northants fans are heard saying how good Simpson is batting and remarked on his good shots.Suddenly,Lower Pavilion starts talking about being a film star,saying he looks like Al Pacino and was approached in a major store by a young lady who thought he was Al Pacino.
The same Northants members as before say Finn and Evans will be hard pushed to get 4 wicket between them on this wicket,at that time IOB was seen having some training and was moving well,hopefully not out of the team for long.The score reaches 380-6 with Simpson and Extras both on 65 not out.Evans(the Northants one) sends a ball down to Shaggy and takes him by surprise pitching up,next ball Shaggy gets his own back with a lovely drive for 4.Lucas to Shaggy and an appeal for LBW is shouted to the umpire,who ignores his pleas Lucas kicks the ball away in disgust to jeers from the Middle faithful.
Lunch arrives and the score is 391-6 Shaggy 15,Simpson 70,Extras 66,same as yesterday with quick overs and the 32 overs are used by lunch.At this time a question is asked regarding the extras,which county has given the most in an innings? Kimmy phones her husband,who does a google search for the answer,but was unable to find out for us.
The afternoon session starts,Lower Pav and Dan sit down, both with their 75p chocolate bars.We reach 400,Shaggy on 18,Simpson 74 and Extras 68 all 3 are scoring well,a sudden sharp intake of breath as Shaggy takes a wild swipe at the ball,thankfully missed it! Lower Pavilion asks if anyone wants suncream,I was fine with a Carlsberg thanks,Kimmy then gives Lower Pav instruction on how to apply the lotion, saying to rub it in well to cover the whole area.Shaggy cracks the ball out of the ground for a 6(DLF maximum for Seaxe Man),next ball he was caught behind for 25 with the score on 417-7,we are all hoping Simpson doesn’t run out of partners as he is on 84no and nearing his career best of 87 that he got on the same ground last season.
Murts is dropped on 1 by the slips,a dolly catch,then Simpson reaches 89 a new career best and Murts soon goes after,he was caught behind but umpire unmoved, in true sportsmanship he walked, well done Murts. Simpson is now on 97 no and the nerves are bad enough with us, he must of been even worse in the middle, the players balcony is full and he takes 2 wild swipes at the ball, but missed both times,then he hits a 4 and reaches his maiden 100,he turns to the balcony and lifts his bat to the applause, then around the ground as most of it was standing for him.Well done,a great innings.As he gets his ton,the declaration comes on 442-8,finishing on 101 no and extras also did well finishing on 69 no.
Murts takes 1st over from Pavilion end, with Lower Pavilion turning and saying it will be a draw, said he is always optimistic.Finn from the indoor net end, and Shaggy tells people on the balcony to stop opening and closing the curtains, and right behind the bowlers arm............probably not cricket fans. Finny bowling really well, just a nick says Dan, all we need for 1st wicket, it won’t be long, on his 3rd over,5th ball sent down a perfect straight ball but was left by the batsman, if hit it he would be out.Kimmy spotted Berg walking round with hands in pocket and mutters he looks like he is going for a country walk, and said to herself take your hand out. We do and end of day prediction and Dan said 160-2, Lower Pavilion 130-5, Kimmy 137-4, Beefy 171-4.
Evans is looking good in the field, and then a break through a wicket its 44-1 Loye b Finn c Malan 13, then Berg takes his over from the Pavilion end, and smacks Wakely on the hand, it hurt!Kimmy then spots a guy wearing cut down shorts, saying they were far to short, very short, you can take away, but not add! Then cricket takes a backward step,Kimmy and Lower Pav start to discuss Coronation Street and a few other soap operas are mentioned.Then, Lower Pav,Dan jump up, and I’m not far behind as we thought Strauss had taken a catch above his head,Kimmy unmoved as the ball goes towards the boundary rope, we get huge stick from the Northants fans for our early celebration.
At tea its 64-1,Evans takes first over after tea, sends a yorker down as his first ball, superb delivery well dug out by the batsman, then Berg from Pavilion end to Peters, London tries to stop the ball and ends but smacking his finger he goes off and Josh Davey comes on as 12th man.Murts is giving loads of encouragement while fielding and then takes an over a wicket its 94-2 Wakely was clean bowled by Murts for 24,all 3 stumps on the floor,wonderful.Sales is next in,Kimmy says let’s get him out cheaply. Berg to Peters and Strauss drops a catch, through his hands.Danny Evans comes on from the pavilion end, and bowls Peters for 62 its 108-3, next in is White,
Evans takes his wicket in the next ball for a golden duck. On a hat trick, Lower Pav said he has never seen a hat trick, and still hasnt,Shaggy caught a bounced ball, and then had a quick dance with the ball.The Middx few have had a bit of fun upsetting the locals with a bit of friendly sledging and we all get carried away, no notes taken for a bit but the score reaches 156-4, extras only 13.
The close of play score being 178-4.Tomorrow should be an interesting day, with more sun forecast lets hope the Middle can make hay, an all round very good days play for our lads, well played all.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:04:26:14:42:17 by comebackgatt.
Ay Curumba!!
A list of all first-class hat-tricks taken by Middlesex bowlers can be found here and a list of all first-class hat-tricks taken v Middlesex can be found here. In 1981, Middlesex bowlers took two hat-tricks and in the same season there was one against us, but since then there have been no further instances of a Middlesex bowler taking a hat-trick, yet there have been six against us.
However, Angus Fraser took a hat-trick v Sussex in the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1988 and Dirk Nannes did so v Essex in the Twenty210 Cup in 2008.
Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford
(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)
Quote:Jonathan League Onesky
although the fact that the majority of the entries are from the modern era means either that the list isn't comprehensive or that extras are more common these days than they used to be.
2 runs for a no-ball will certainly skew things towards recent CC matches
We were cursing yesterday that either you weren't with us, or none of us had a contact number for you.... We all knew you would come up with the answer for us so thank you!
Great report Beefy!
What you forgot to mention is the playing with your new camera! Where's the photos to go with the report?!
Kimmy
The proof of the iceman wandering round with his hands in his pockets!
And Beefy I think the phrase was 'scruffy urchin'!
Kimmy
Two things.
1] I did look a bit like Al Pacino in my youth, but that was many years ago and when I was about 7 stone lighter.
2] I have actually been fairly confident throughout, we would win this game,but with The Middle you never know.
Can I also say that you and Kimmy were great company throughout the day.
Likewise to you and Dan....
A great day all round I think
Kimmy