Chapel On Sunday
Shah the record breaker!
By Dingy Bags
August 9 2010
Dingy Bags reports on a beautiful setting, fine company, great beer, Oh and a loss to Middlesex.... But only just!
What a good game! OK, we came out second best but it was very close and no one who saw these 600 runs at this lovely ground can complain. Twice we looked as if we had the game won but we just lost it at the end.After a pleasant drive through the Oxfordshire and Cotswold countryside, I arrived at the ground just as the Seaxe coach was turning out the punters. I nearly ran one of them over. I found Beefy, Kimmy, Ken, Diamond and Seaxe Man who had located themselves outside a beer tent (amazingly). You had to pay a pound to join the Churchdown Club (for 2003) but then the beer was cheaper. Don’t ask. Some of the party got their money’s worth, with Doombar on gravity a tasty pint.It was my first visit to this ground. With the hills in the background and the college itself (not unlike Hogwarts) in the foreground, it has to be unique. There is the Chapel End and the College Lawn End and we were informed, solemnly, that the Tuck Shop was open. Billy Bunter had, presumably, been told to stay away.Newman soon got caught on the boundary but then Simpson and Shah put on 148. Ace hit a huge six right over our heads and Simmo showed some real aggression, hitting a couple of maximums of his own. He seems to be improving as a cricketer. Both went to their fifties in the same over, the eighteenth which Franklin bowled. He is a batsman who bowls a bit these days and, like Gidman, idles his way to the wicket. Still, at least they stride out, albeit slowly, unlike Dawson, who has a rather tiptoe approach.At 165, Simmo chipped the otherwise expensive Ireland to the long on boundary and was just caught. This ushered in the typical Middlesex throwing away of a great position. Malan was unluckily run out backing up and then Dex went the same way when Ace called him for a sharp single. It didn’t seem to matter at the time because Ace went on to his ton – eventually 111 from 92 deliveries – and Berg (43 off 26) and Shaggy (33* off 13, with two sixes) ensured that we had a great finish. At 278-8, with two overs left, Diamond reckoned that we had a good chance of making 200. I told you the Doombar was tasty.We were into plenty of chat and banter with the local supporters who included Harvey, enjoying a Middle game closer to home than any home game. We told them not to despair. They weren’t too pessimistic and one reckoned that 280 was about a par score. Murts soon had two wickets on the card and, with Ped bowling tight and Ro-Jo getting a wicket first ball, we had them 41-3. Marshall and Taylor then put on 59 before Smith had the Kiwi caught by Newman at exactly 100. It really looked to be our day; they needed nearly 10 an over.However, to increasing noise from a superb crowd (Glaws and Middle chanting) Taylor and Snell put on 158, without looking too troubled, except by the odd chance of a run out. In the 33rd over Simmo seemed to have a great chance of one of these but he couldn’t make up his mind which end to throw to and the chance was lost. Even Bergie had a bowl, though not especially successfully. At this point, the train commuters among the support had to leave – I kept Ken up to date by text. I soon had good news – in the 37th over, with 42 needed, Ped had Taylor caught by Shah and bowled Snell bowled two balls later. That over went for only 5 runs. Murts bowled the 38th and, although he conceded 15 runs, he also bowled Young. 222 needed off 2 overs and 7 down. Ped then bowled a great over from which only 4 came. So Murts ran in with 18 wanted to win and Lewis facing. Two twos came from the first two deliveries and then an edged four – 10 off three balls. He then mishit a six over point and smacked the fifth over extra cover.Handshakes all round with the Glaws boys in the crowd. Wonderful game; great setting. I don’t like losing but at least we had some great performances, Simmo, Ace, Ped, Shaggy and Bergie with the bat. Much better entertainment than the last two efforts.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:08:12:06:02:35 by Ged.
Thanks for the balanced view!
Kimmy
Great venue for cricket,worth the travel and all the enjoyment had watching a good game.
Kimmy
The fact we (Ken and myself) had to phone you to put you on the right track was funny , me rather visually impaired (by beer) and Ken not sure how his phone worked by this time .
This report is correct in saying that Gloucestershire needed 18 off the last over, as some reports lead readers to believe they needed 20 (although 20 was what they ended up getting). Looking at the over comparison it wasn't exactly a great change in momentum for Gloucestershire to score 20 off the last over, as although they had previously scored 12+ in an over just twice (overs 21 and 38), they had achieved 10+ in an over 13 times, including at one point a spell of six overs running.
Middlesex by comparison had eight overs of 12+ and 11 of 10+.
However, in both teams' calculations I have included overs of 12+ amount overs of 10+.
I have great sympathy for those who had to miss the exciting conclusion as I would certainly be annoyed if that happened to me.
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)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:08:10:08:54:04 by Jonathan Winsky.
Kimmy, I reckon the distance of 1.2 miles is transposed.
Closer to 2.1 miles I reckon. I knew that roundabout would be dodgy. Still I led from the front. Not bad for a guy 2 years off his century.
Quote:The Diamond ruled ok
JW , you might have been even more "annoyed" if you had missed the train we were due to catch and had to come up with £31 extra to catch the next one .
I cannot understand why anyone would make plans to attend a match, and then include in their plans that they will leave before the conclusion.
When I consider watching Watford play away, I always make sure that my return train ticket gives me plenty of time to travel from the ground to the station, and if I find that doing this would involve having to spend a lot more money than had I booked a ticket for a train that departs too early for my liking or if the trains do not really depart at times that suit me, then I just simply forget about attending.
Apart from in exceptional circumstances, I would never be willing to watch virtually the entirety of a close one-day match but then be unable to watch the conclusion, as my heart wouldn't be able to take it.
As for the distance between the College Ground and Cheltenham Spa station, according to Multimap the distance between those two places is (measured in a straight line) just under 1.2 miles.
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)
Better to travel and see 75 overs of cricket than not to travel at all I say .
We didnt plan the train times!
say no more.