Rogers and Notts Not Out

Way Out Weat reports on an enjoyable but at times frustrating day for his last visit to HQ for the season.

How quickly April and the season of optimism turns to September and a cold blast of reality. My final day of cricket for 2013, a season that has seen very little cricket for myself and ultimately a season that didn`t quit deliver for Middlesex as many thought we could win the Championship. Including your reporter for the day.

I somehow managed to persuade two of my friend Ben and Mark to join myself and my Dad for the day. The last time we attended cricket was Bristol back in May and that ended in a frustrating washout. The weather didn`t look too good as we travelled up to meet Mark via his sauna and swim at Swiss Cottage, alright for some. Thankfully things improved throughout the day although there was an element of four seasons in one day.

Mullaney resumed his innings alongside Taylor and we started with Dex and Rayner. With only ten overs to the new ball this was understandable but perhaps we could have seized the day and gone with Harris or Murtagh. This was the prelude to the general relaxed feel of the days play.

I tried to explain to Ben who isn`t a regular cricket watcher that Taylor could be awfully slow at the beginning of his innings and it would be good for the game if he got out quickly. After Mullaney reached his 100, Taylor indeed departed, LBW to Murtagh.  Samit Patel added impetus and seemed intent on scoring with 4s; I think I am correct in saying his first 24 all came by this method.

Mullaney skied one to Dexter to give Berg a deserved wicket and after some sketchy play from Hussey and Patel we reached Lunch without further wickets.

I have to confess that we were all a little underwhelmed by the days play and the weather up to now so we headed off to the pub for Lunch and managed to miss perhaps the best part of the day as Notts accelerated past 350 for four bowling points with the loss of Patel.

We re-joined play just before the 110 th over and Andre Adams was marking his elevation up the order with some mighty hitting. Not exactly out of the training manual though as it was all zero feet movement, maximum whacking. Entertaining to watch, if not a little frustrating.

There then followed another ridiculous delay for bad light although it must be mentioned that the many children present on a schools day seemed to be perfectly happy to carry on playing on the Nursery Ground. It is pathetic that we must suffer this issue with the light. Once again I will leave it to my friend Ben who cannot believe how many seemingly small issues can get in the way of cricketers actually playing cricket. If we are trying to encourage more people to watch cricket then things such as this do not encourage, only discourage.

The players came back on with the light almost identical to when they went off. Berg produced a beauty to see Hussey Junior edge one to Simmo. At this point I thought we would run through them but Read joined Adams in the bish bash bosh of the afternoon session. Adams fell on the stroke of Tea to what looked to be a very good catch by Buck, perhaps even a little bit of juggling as he stepped over the rope and back into the playing surface. A little tricky to see from my vantage point under the Media centre.

The declaration was made at Tea and then Buck and Robbo saw us through to the play with very little alarm. Rogers looked in fine form and will hopefully convert to a very big 100 tomorrow morning.

An enjoyable day despite the rather end of season feel of the play. It is always bittersweet to be saying goodbye to Lords and Cricket for another year but all being well we will all be back next April for that beautiful season of heady ambition and new cricket.