Middx Pass 40 Minute Masters Class

38 twice
By Barmy Kev, Diamond and London Leprecaun
April 16 2011

It was short and sweet and despite a few scares caused by Masters this was in the end not at all nerve wracking. However, Barmy Kev somehow tries to add a bit of drama for the day.

As the excitement unfolded yesterday and Middlesex were finishing off Essex, this presented a major reporting headache. London Leprechaun agreed to do report but said first hour would consist of describing journey (which is arguably more entertaining than the cricket report). However, my plan was to go today and leave after lunch due to other commitments. However, circumstances were such that I can see this game to a conclusion. 54 runs or 10 wickets wouldn't take more than an hour. So down to me to report despite a late bid for a Diamond 6 pinter job at 11pm.

Unusually for me I arrived on time. My usual 20 minutes lateness was not on the agenda. I jokingly asked how much it costs to get in and they not joking said £7.50. Marvellous you are really going to attract floating fans to county cricket.

Play is underway with the thinking that Simmo will open with Newman, but it's Dext. The opening single from Newman was heartedly applauded as was a two by Dext. But he was soon out playing no shot. I was reminded this makes his batting average 1 this season. Meanwhile, Scott Newman was in a hurry to have an early lunch. Housego did not get of the mark and was caught behind with score on 19 of the excellent bowling of Masters to very attacking fields. I then was panicking. Would Rogers be able to bat? The thought of Collymore and one handed Rogers needing runs at end was filling me with dread.

Meanwhile my friend next to me had his own crisis. His phone settings was somehow set to Russian language. He phoned people to say don't text as would be in Russian. I tried to help him change to English but did not know Russian for Settings to get him on route.

As match progreesed there were few alarms and my nervousness was slowly abating. The point I knew we were safe was when a quick but safe single, shy at stumps by Bopara , missed went through for potential overthrows and we decided not to run these, just not worth the effort. It has to be said once we were less than 8 away with 8 wickets left it was there. There was still a shout of "comon Essex" from a loud contingent behind. Scott Newman scored winning runs to equal his top score of first innings. This was followed by loud cheer from me and shout of " Can we play you every week?"

A few celebratory drinks, tea and water for me , followed in Middlesex Room and a very busy Tavern.

Nothing exciting to report maybe the Leprachaun can do better from a remote position?

As my report up Diamond obviuosly had no faith in me and has submitted his offering for today

Short and very sweet report on today’s proceedings.

Travel plans messed up by me not doing what I preach and checking the tfl website, Central Line not running between Ealing Broadway and Marble Arch. Praise the Lord for BR and the Heathrow Connect service to Paddington. A quick Bakerloo/Jubilee transfer saw me in the ground well before start time.

Beer prices for those of you who are not members are £4.20 for a pint of bitter this year, get your membership sorted it drops to £3 for a very fine pint of Marstons EPA.

Didn’t bother with a programme or scorecard thinking I’d see Eric in the lunch interval, what a fool I was.

Alfred E and Dex opened, Jolly having injured a digit fielding yesterday. Off the mark in sharp order and then disaster, by his own admittal later in the day Dex (the most honest cricketer I have ever met) “just missed one” from Masters. The Estate Agent replaced him and did not last long either. Malan and the imperious twitterer Alfred E saw us home for an eight wicket win before midday.

Not much of a report I know but I usually get the fag end of a loss to do, so much nicer to do the champagne cork popping end of an excellent win.

Met up with old friends in the Middlesex room and thoughts were shared for Aunty Janet who was not among us (get well soon old girl), a few beers were partaken off before we were removed from the premises with gifts of sandwiches in hand.

A walk back to Paddington and a train out to Ealing where Ken and I met a lass who was engrossed in her London Marathon entry magazine. It will be her second and Ken’s 11^th(watching) tomorrow. Good luck to all those taking part and the mammoth organisation behind the finest marathon in the world.

The County Championship season is a marathon as well but at least this year we are off to a fine start.

Derby next weekend anyone? See you there.

And The London Lepreachaun has chimed in. 3 reports for price of 1.

Now this was my plan for the weekend – worked out on Thursday. Do some uncancellable errands in the morning, stroll along to Lord’s at lunchtime and have a pleasant afternoon in the sun; decide what to do on Sunday depending on the state of the match Saturday evening. Now here’s the thing about this plan – Middlesex are not a side to be predictable so my plans were shot by that quite amazing Friday – not that I am complaining of course, but it did mean that I was never going to get to Lord’s today.

So my involvement with the day’s; scrap that - the morning’s; scrap that - the hour’s play was minimal. My smart phone is not quite smart enough to pick up the commentary (I was mildly alarmed when it told me I was not Flash enough to listen to audio commentaries.) so it was down to occasional score information. A quick check just after the start of play and see no early concern at 7 for no wicket. (I wasn’t worried honest – although Kevin (Hand that is not the barmier one) was kind enough to point out on BBC London this morning that our lowest ever score against Essex is 51!

Could not check for a while and next time I did it was all over – actually I am glad I could not check sooner because at 19/2 I might have had a little nervous moment. Good to see that the win was done and dusted quickly – Scott Newman is definitely one for such occasions – he won’t hang around and prolong nervousness. So onwards and upwards.

So what to do now I have a free afternoon? Inspiration struck – today is Holland’s national day, and the birthday of their Queen Mother and there is a Dutch festival at Trafalgar Square. So why not go along and try and pick up some information about our overseas tour in Deventer. The tube ride gave me time to muse over the last two days and compare it with the start last year when we blew the match against Worcester and the tone was set for the season. One thing hugely different – the fielding: last year dropped catches cost us that opening match; this year we hung onto most catches and what we didn’t were on the whole very difficult. Steven Finn’s caught and bowled to get Cook out was really spectacular and set off the whole 2^nd innings collapse. The other thing – this was truly a team effort - no one got a 50, no one took five wickets in an innings, but everyone got some runs, and all the main bowlers took good wickets. Keep that going and it will truly be onwards and upwards!

But I am sure you are far keener on hearing all about the Holland day and learning about Deventer than tube train musings. Sorry I can’t help you. The festival was crowded, noisy, and very orange – and had tulips on stilts. There were Dutch pancakes, Dutch chips, Dutch beer and Dutch cheese. But not a sign of any tourist information. So much for going Dutch. I came home to see that Somerset have been bowled out for 50 – at Taunton! A little reminder to take nothing for granted.

And a final thought – with nothing to do with cricket or Holland. I hadn’t seen the Olympic clock at Trafalgar Square so that was another reason to go. It’s a smart clock designed round the 2012 logo and it counts down the days on both sides. So I thought I would take a picture or two from both sides. Which resulted in these two pictures – now which Games shall I apply for tickets for?

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Middx Pass 40 Minute Masters Class

Posted by: Middlesex till we die (IP Logged)

Date: 16/04/2011 17:18

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:04:18:19:02:22 by BarmierKev.