Steven says Finni to the Falcons

Beefy reports from Lord's on a splendid performance as Middle go back top of their group with a convincing win over the Falcons. As usual a report filled with events on and off the pitch. A great read for all Middle fans...

Having arranged to meet Kev and Kimmy for a pre match beer at 14:00 I left Beefy towers at 12:50 thinking that will give more than enough time to reach destination...............Wrong! To start with, roadworks at the top of my road meant all buses were late getting to Uxbridge station eventually I find an earlier signal failure has also delayed the Met line, great start!

Eventually I  get going, and have to text both Kimmy ‘n Kev to say in running badly late, and I get a reply saying meet in tavern first instead of original plan, great idea as that gives me enough time to mug the cash point, and put a few quid on a tip I was given at Goodwood(see thread ' going off the subject '!).After the train gets taken over by French and Italian exchange students, I eventually reach meeting point, 25 minutes late. Hope this lateness letter is accepted by those concerned!

As the game is on Sky, this will be bit shorter than usual (I hear the cheers about that!).

Derbyshire win the toss and decide to bat, with half hour to play it’s a very sparse crowd, but we decide to take up our positions at the top end of grandstand, near the Warner Stand, and hear that Smith is in for Colley with a very dry wicket no surprise really, but we hope Colley is fit. Sitting in front row is an Indian lady wearing a Tendulkar shirt, we tell her the game is over, he was out twice and you lost! She just smiled. Murts from Nursery end, Finn from Pav end, the score trickles on to 6-0 as Finny bowls to Guptill who sends a lovely drive where Newman makes a superb stop, saves 4 runs, next ball, Guptill tries to send ball over Murts head, he jumps up and tips it to stop another 4 runs, lads look up for it big time.

Kimmy does a balcony check, on parade are Gus, Bergie who, Kimmy tells us, is without his cast, using a band to exercise, R Scott, M O'Neill and some young kid!

WKT, its 15-1 as Hughes goes for 7,c Dexter b Finn, and we have Robbo as 12th man today.

Mrs Tendulkar takes a photo of a pigeon, bored already?

Soon, another WKT as Derbys get to 16-2 and Guptill goes LBW Finn, he isn’t happy with decision, but if you’re out, stay out!

One of the Headingly 7 text to say in Pavilion, we wave, he waves back, didn’t get seen doing that.TRJ is walking around and we ask about fitness and says is ok, playing 2nds next week, good news.

Patsy sends a text to say we have been seen on tele, one of our lot, no names but he sits in Lower part of Pavilion asks Is it on Tele then? I didn’t realise.

Kimmy takes over, as I do a quick run to get to bookies and collect winnings and Dexter bowls one over and takes himself off to be replaced by Smith and Madsen hits back to back 6's. WKT and its 67-3 Madsen bowled by Crook, I must be half asleep as I  shout out well bowled Smudge, I get told by LP that it was Crook as the run up gives a clue.

Kev, who is on reporting A/L does a bit, as I go to bar to get the round after getting winnings on horse .85-3 and it gets a bit dull as Durston(in Kevs fantasy team) who skies on for an easy Dalrymple catch and Derby scratch about for odd singles and 2's here and with their score on 103 and a good run out Smith goes, and after the umpire asks third Ump who gives out to cheers. Fielding is much sharper and a missed run out, but they happen, I return to seat and miss the catch of the season, Rogers with his one handed catch in front of pavilion,Kev said best catch he has ever seen, I have to wait for the video screen to show it, and agree with him.

Mrs Tendulkar has her photo taken with Finny.

LP starts to talk about the final, dont plan ahead I say, as he reminds me I have booked A/L at work for the day, ok,I said, say no more.

WKT,145-7 Park goes for 25,b Finn c Murts we all think he dropped it, a difficult catch, but it was sunglasses falling of head, another top class great catch.

WKT 153-8 Jones clearly bowled by Finny with a superb Yorker, that’s 4 so far for our man.

WKT 167-9 Groenwald b Finn, a great return for Finny as he takes a fivfer and figures of 5-33, his best ever CB40 return, great bowling/fielding all round by the team.

Mr Perambulator starts to talk during mid-innings, we decide he is just waffling on about pure rubbish, will he just shut up please!

The scoreboard doesn't lie

Middx Innings

Newman faces as Kimmy n Kev visit Middlesex Room,Newman didn’t hang around long,goes for 7 and we are 22-1,Stirling in next to get some runs and at 47-1 Stirlo sends a lovely 6 into the mound stand, run rate is 6.2,we need 4.0 looking good.Derby fans have smuggled a flag into ground,and its on show in Warner Stand, but steward sees it and it’s taken down, looked more like some washing hang up! Stirlo and Mala looking good together run rate is 6.3,we need 3.7 and Vera is on 35. 73-1 and 50 partnership is up to chants of Middle,Midlde,Middle start, a cry of 'come on falcons' is heard, nice to hear some Derby fans made trip. A comment is heard saying' Stirling is better that the euro'

WKT,79-2  as Stirling goes LBW for 43 bit of dodgy decision.

A double dive as Mala sends a superb 4 and two fielders are laying on the floor trying to stop the ball.Run rate is 6.1 we need 3.3 and we are flinging towards victory then WKT its 97-3 and I get the blame as usual as I needed a toilet break and Mala goes for 41 st Sutton, b Smith and, as I return to seat I get really bad looks from everyone.

102-3 run rate is 5.9 need 3.2 and dingybags gets asked to take a photo of some ladies sitting in front of us.(WAGS?)

111-3 Grandstand in our area is rocking as we near the finish line and Hughes has his best over yet, ‘it goes for hundreds and we shout keep him on!

133-3,136-3,139-3 runs keep coming as one of the WAGS shouts out ' come on sexy dexty' Kev says if he gets out its your fault they reply he is to ogood to get out!

As the score gets to 1 we shout its over Derby, throw the towel in, and go back to hotel.

After only 29 overs, we get the win by 7 wickets.

Celebrate good times. Come on. 

To be honest,this has to be one of the best 40 over performances I have seen for a long, long time. Whole team were superb, and, in Tavern later, a the lads came in, it went silent and they were cheered in to appaluse.That made them all smile, and the feel good factor is back again.