Two for the price of one at John Lewis
By Barmy Kev
April 6 2014
Barmy Kev opens our reporting season with a less than impressive day for Middlesex. From miscommunication at home to dropped catches in the evening we hear about weather delays, beer delays, ins and out in both teams and of course a Middlesex collapse. Onwards and upwards.
Build up there was a misunderstanding when explained to Mrs will be leaving 7am, she thought I said first game was at Home . I was heading for Hove with a spring in my step after all it's the start of season and was not deterred by the heavy drizzle as I left home, it was 7.45 when train was at St Johns Wood.Station. Bet I'll be late next week. One for the oxymoron thread.
As the train heads South the sky is progressively grimmer and rain heavier. I was reflecting 3 of last 4 Sundays I was out in garden sun bathing; it reached point I thought if I can witness 1 ball today that would be a bonus. It had stopped raining when I arrived at Ove station and it was very dark. Outside ground I see floodlights that weren't,initially on,then hooray they are switched on. We may get some play ear. At 11 there is a pitch inspection due to dampness in outfield I'm at a loss on any difference when play started at 12. We lose the crucial toss - what's new - and unsurprisingly we are put in. Ollie and Denley not selected Rosso is.
The first ball of the season was bowled by Egg Mcmuffin to Bucko outside off stump well left; the season has started. This is where ball by commentary stops. I was relieved in 1st over one goes through slips for 4. In 3rd over not so lucky as edged straight into gulley's hands .
AC looked comfortable until with score on 36 Sussex were celebrating a wicket caught behind, except the umpire did not agree. We were stuck on 36 for some time and Robbo was out fending on a wide one caught behind. 2 openers out - time for our mid order to come good.. We survived to lunch 40/2. Honours slightly in Sussex favour.
Dingy , Beefy and myself had a pleasant chat with staff at Real Ale bar in ground. Beefy drink was delayed due to bung in barrel not letting beer flow. He was asked if he had piiars on him. Beefy apologised saying he left them in his bag. Problem resolved with help of gardening tools on hand. And then the sun came out.
The comment of day was early on in next session. 12th Man Rory Crusty the Clown came out in a high visibility jacket. Seaxe Man remarked " is he on day release?" Dext was soon out one he could have left alone chasing a very wide one. Moggy next we were taking bets on whether he will use reverse sweep first ball. He didn't but was out to an unplayable one. Waitrose on a hat trick. We survive that but every ball seemed a potential wicket. Prior dropped one in slips perhaps he left it for keeper. Soon after AC caught in slips. Now down to our 2 keepers. Rosso next caught behind at this stage the only consolation I couldn't access MTWD. We are on 73 for 5 for an age . Simmo who was struggling gave juggling catch in slip. 3 bowlers were used a slight gap without a wicket against their best bowlers so they change it with 4th seamer and then first ball of spin Harris is clean bowled by one that turned a long way. Our 12th man Ollie must have enjoyed that. Next over by spinner Murts caught in the deep not a good shot. A late cameo from TRJ and Hi Fi got us to 100 well received by the Middle faithful. Kev says he will do a streak if we get to 200, No such luck 105 all out when TRJ was bowled made. Score made bad reading but never judge a wicket etc.
For reply when Ed Joyce hit first ball for 4 it did not bode well. A confident caught behind turned down, shortly followed by Edmund cleaned bowled by Murts. At 28/ 2 Wells caught in slips by Robbo there was talk of points deduction for wicket. Beefy takes first wicket of season on visit to gents and we gain first bonus point of season as Yardy is either LBW or, if he got an edge, caught behind. Oh no Prior plays a bad 1 day shot to Finn, TRJ should catch it he doesn't. We needed that. Our over rate is in familiar red territory. This partnerships continues to flow and we go off for bad light with floodlights on full blast; don't they play day night cricket here? Another for oxymoron thread.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:11:09:36:36 by BarmierKev.
Congratulations. That surely is a record for posting the quickest report after the days play has ended.
Let us hope we do not regret Prior being dropped. An excellent report as usual.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:04:06:19:08:01 by lower pavilion.
Yep,spot on report Kev from a nippy,frustrating first day of season.It was mentioned on another thread,but free tea and coffee for whole of the first session was a really nice touch(take note Lords?,ha,ha!)
But,a special note to the groundstaff,well done for your hard work in getting the game on after the wet start,loved watching the tractor grand prix,as it zoomed around the boundary pulling the rope.Found out it was a guy called Andy the groundsman who was the driver.
Free tea and coffee first session a brilliant bit of PR.
MCC probably thinking of the same thing next Sunday.
Well done Kev
We wended our way to the Palmeira afterwards, for a bite to eat and a pint, after watching the dregs of the Westham v Livabirds game. in the Pav.
Doombar was not available (in Palmeira) I think dinghy said.
As db remarked, the free tea until 1pm a nice touch. Same again in the Middlesex Room next Sunday!!!!
The only thing I would add is that here was the slightest touch of T20 about the day, with music drifting up from the Brighton Marathon taking place down on the coast. Probably a better day for running than for cricket!