Dial M for master batsmen
Star with the bat
By jhfq
August 10 2010
jhfq cuts his teeth on reporting for us by covering day one of the Middx v Leicestershire game at Lord's. Interesting days play that saw Hoggard take six wickets for the visitors and Tim Murtagh blast a quick fifty. Read on
Play started under an overcast sky, but Middx elected to bat anyway.
Hoggard opened up from the Nursery end and Buck from the Pavilion. 5th over, Newman hit two good-looking 4's off Hoggy, and was caught at the wicket off the next ball - 15-1, Here we go again! Couple of runs, Ace looking very tentative, then Hoggy again, Ace lbw for 1, and Malan caught in the gully first ball, 22-3. Here we go again for sure! Hat-trick ball wide outside off, no need for Dex to play.
Simpson had played a couple of pleasant shots, and in over 14 the sun came out - but so did he, caught at the wicket off Malik - 33-4. Oh dear! But the skipper and the Iceman stuck to it - quite a few edgy shots from Dex, Bergie looking more secure, and lunch was taken at 76-4.
Hoggie had bowled almost all morning, replaced by Henderson for a couple of overs of spin just before lunch, with Malik and Buck alternating at the other end. Beefy and I repaired to the Middlesex Room for a pint, and ran into various others, including Seaxe Man and LP, and the usual sort of discussions took place!
By now, all cloud had cleared, and it was a beautiful sunny afternoon - sun screen on in the Tavern stand. Hoggy and Malik resumed, with Hoggy soon relieved by Henderson, and the Lesser skipper put Hoggy back on at the Pavilion end - seemed to think he was the Man! Scoring rate accelerated considerably to 120-4, and it was a race to be first to 50. Dex was dropped at slip by du Toit, who promptly took off his sun-hat. But not much later, with the hat back on, he caught Dex (on 47) off a faint edge (off Hoggy again) - 130-5 and the partnership had fallen 2 runs short of 100.
The Iceman went to his 50 in the next over, but was then lbw to Henderson for 53, while Davey, not looking at all comfortable edged two successive balls from Hoggy wide of the slips for 4. Udal came and went for a duck, giving Hoggy his 5th wicket.Toby stuck around for a while, after being dropped at what used to be called silly mid-off (don't know what the modern name is). Josh was caught in the slips for 11, giving the Lesser skipper his 6th wicket, and he finally took himself off with figures of 20-5-63-6.
Toby went soon after, caught off Malik - 169-9, and the chance of any batting points looking remote! But then the fun started! Murtagh and Super Ped stated hitting the ball all round the ground, with Tim particularly strong on the legside. This was great to watch, and the possibility of a batting point rapidly grew less remote. Dial M achieved it with a pull for 6 well up into the grandstand! Naik came on to provide tempting spin from both ends, with a very spread out field, and Tim pulled another 6 into the Mound stand to bring up the 50 partnership. Well done that man! In over 66, he went to his very well-earned 50, and then the innings ended at 219 all out.
Latish tea was taken, and we again toddled off to the Middx room for a well-deserved pint, which caused your reporter to get back to his seat a little late!
Murtagh opened from the Nursery end to Smith, and Collins to Boyce, who was quickly lbw for 5 - 16-1. Some maidens followed and du Toit was given out in the same manner - 22-2. Looking good! But Ace failed to react to a catchable ball at gully, apparently distracted by the need to wave to David Nash, who had just sat down in the Tavern stand. Smith played and missed to 3 balls in a row from Super Ped, who was replaced a little later by Toby, and their 50 came up in over 16.
Dexter brought himself on at the Nursery end, and Smith nicked JUST over the keeper's head for 4. Halfway through Dex's next over, Simpson moved up to the stumps, and promptly dropped a catch. (OK - Scotty fans, you can bitch now!). He was back deep next over! Pretty regular scoring continued from Smith and Taylor, until Shaggy came on at the Pavilion end to bowl 3 straight maidens - good sign for tomorrow perhaps? Lesser finished at 105-2.
A very enjoyable day's cricket in lovely weather, though it would have been nicer if Lesser had been 4 or 5 down. But tomorrow (today actually as I type) is another day, and the early morning rain has stopped............
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:08:14:07:58:59 by Ged.
When I was a baby, my dad would find a way to shield me from situations I didn't like. If I got bored, he would recognise the situation by entertaining me. If I wanted to use a toilet, he would recognise the situation by finding me a toilet. If my legs became tired, he would recognise the situation by picking me up. So my way of thanking him for all that is by recognising that John Simpson's presence in the Middlesex side is really winding him up, which is why I condemn Simpson's presence.
Simpson is an OK batsman and an OK wicket-keeper, but when I tell my dad that, he says that he would like our wicket-keeper to be someone who is more than just OK at batting and keeping.
I admit I am not the greatest of sons as I never help with the washing up, cooking or laundry, but that just makes it even more important for me to recognise situations where my dad (and my mum for that matter) is getting wound up and for me to act upon the situations.
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)
That is why the names of each of the last three goalkeepers with Watford connections to break into the England sqaud are:
David Benjamin James
Benjamin Anthony Foster
Scott James Loach
My thought process was that I wanted to point out that if you put the forenames of the two goalkeepers I have seen make the transition from Watford to England since I started supporting the club since 2005 then you will get the name Ben Scott as those two goalkeepers are Ben Foster and Scott Loach.
However, I then thought it would be harsh to not mention David James, who played 89 times for Watford between 1988 and 1992.
In the vain hope that his middle name would be Scott, I looked up James' middle name and was reasonably delighted to discover it was Benjamin, so I decided to research the middle names of all three goalkeepers and realised that James and Loach shares two names with Ben Scott while Ben Foster shares one name.
Well done to Scott Loach in being named in the England squad for tomorrow's friendly v Hungary. I just hope Fabio Capello doesn't go and give him a central contract and restrict his appearances for Watford! Oh, and hands off Tottenham, who I have long known would like him!
* According to Cricinfo and Cricket Archive his first name is officially 'Ben', but the Cricketers' Who's Who 2005 it is officially 'Benjamin'. For the purposes of this post, I would certainly rather it be 'Benjamin'.
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)
Fine debut and great meeting you.
You need to watch that Beefy, he's likely to make you late for all sorts of things whilst drinking!!
Have a safe trip home, lovely to meet you! stay in touch and see you next season!!
kimmy
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)
Of course, round here, one of the best ways to start an old debate all over again,is to include a phrase such as
Quote:Karseng
"just before all the debating starts again....."
!!
Got home at 7 last night (1am London time) and read the 3rd day report. Been listening to Kevin Hand this morning while I unpack - hmm a bit short of runs perhaps. But I'll be cheering for some great bowling and fielding this afternoon.
Middle Middle Middle = Sex Sex Sex!!!!
Hope the hurricanes leave you alone.
Keep posting and get those dates booked for 2011 as soon as the fixtures come out.