Chapple in the Morning Followed by a Hogg Roasting

PHIL THE POWER TAYLOR REPORTS ON A DAY DESPARATE TO FIND EXCITEMENT.   WE HEAR OF DESPARATE BATTLE FOR BONUS POINTS AND KEV  RECEIVING ABUSE ON THE BOUNDARY EDGE. READ ON.

I walk into the ground and announcement made re Greg Chapple missed it. Found out later he got presented with leather bound Wisden Book being one of 5 players of the year. 1st over Berg from Pav End and Ravi from Nursery End. Crowd smaller than previous 2 days. New ball taken and Bergie continues as Mr Perambulator informs us new ball taken after 1st ball bowled.

I take position Upper Edrich amongst Moaner's Mount. Lancs in no rush 30 runs in 1st hour, no boundaries. At last, 61 mins gone TRJ takes Prince c AC for 71. PA doesn't seem to be working (thank god). Lancs first boundary after 70 minutes. Just as waiting for Lancs to start putting champs pennant at half-mast, Lancs run a single. Wicket for TRJ Croft bowled, middle stumps lying on floor. Cross comes in and starts playing some shots waking crowd up. 300 arrives for relegation candidates. 10 overs for us to get a wicket or 50 Lancs to get another bonus point. Lunch 327-5.

Cross reaches 50 off 30 balls. Followers of relegation candidates stand and applaud. Desperate for another batting point, couple of near run outs. Tension mounts as off 1 over relegation candidates need 9 runs for a precious point and we need a wicket. Berg from Pav End -Cross puts ball in Lower Tav for 6. Next ball nicked Cross ct Simmo for an entertaining 59. Middle point and at 110 overs 355-6. 7 points each.  We now look for shade as move to Lover Tav.

We hear at this time Warwickshire beat Worcs by innings and lots and are County Champions. Congratulations to the Bores.

Hogg next out 375-7 c AC bowled Ravi.  400 up very slowly. At 426 Chapple stumped for 29 426-8, Sheepdip lbw Ravi and its 438-9. And finally Berg clean bowled Brown for 78. All out for a patient 448 lead of 2 for those not paying attention. Ravi finishes 4-126. Tea taken.

Our reply. As Beefy goes to bar and says he is going to take a wicket, Robbo lbw to Chapple and its 5-1. Denly survives an enormous LBW shout. Lanky players are pumped up. Put pressure on and hurry up batsmen, but no there aren't exactly rushing up to the other end for start of the next over. Lancs put early spin on with Kerrigan to replace the still fairly rapid Chapple. It’s Sheepdip who gets a wicket clean bowling Denly. At 44-2 could be interesting, very interesting.

AC in 50 up after 19 overs as another loud shout for AC caught behind not given to Lanky disgust  Heads drop. Buck hits successive 4sm square drives. 50 partnership up in no time. A flick through leg slip brings up Rogers 50.

Croft bowls an ordinary over. Hogg shouts from front of Lower Tav "well bowled Crofty". Barmy Kev says to Beefy, but rather loudly " that would be good bowling in division 2". Hogg replies as he walks pass " utter moron". Nobody disagrees.

Back to cricket 100 comes up in 30th over over. Kev leaves to celebrate his wedding anniversary, not sure what his wife is doing. As he leaves everyone shouts, "sit down". Hogg is no longer fielding in area. Middx survive to close at 129-2 without any further alarms.