Middlesex Falling Foul of Fell

I wake up to the usual alarm of Radio 2's Chris Evans show. He was saying it was raining all night , still raining and not likely to stop, presumambly from his London studio. That is my cricket day cancelled, time to catch up with domestic chores, until I discovered an hour later he was recording live from Glastonbury. I checked outside the window it is gloomy but not raining.

I left home in the rain and on train at Ruislip my I pod shuffle is playing Here Comes The Rain Again as it was peeing down. As approaching Uxbridge 11.45 and it's stopped raining. It was announced play due to start at 12.30. WTF can't they take lunch now to make up time?  To kill the monotony of rain watching Vermin Corner were building a coffee cup snake.  Just before 12.30 rain started again so there was an early lunch.  A nice touch  Rogers and Voges were spotted in the pavilion. 

Coffee Cup Snake 

Play started at 1.05. At 298-7 we looked well set for 3rd bowling point, maybe 4? Then Harry out for plum LB for 1 and TRJ caught in slips next ball.  Relieved to get to 300, 2 balls later. 50 needed of 8 overs for next bonus point. Here Comes The Raynor Again with some positive intent but we end up 309 all out with Ollie out for 25 from one that seemed to be missing 2 sets of stumps down the leg side. 

In reply there is a an early twist, Oliver Considers himself unlucky as he is given out with score on 8 in the 8th over.  No futher alarms till tea with 48-1 after 26 overs. Not the most exciting period of cricket.

The Vermin Corner flag is erected at tea. Soon after Mitchell out- Sorted!  Not sorted when the comfortably looking Ali was dropped at 1st slip on 36, this looks expensive. KenPR and ex moderator Ged passed our way for call of nature and were told by Vermin Corner not to come back until 3rd wicket down, a potentially long wait. Phil the Power then went for a beer break for this wicket. With my back to game ensuring they didn't return, Moheen Ali out apparently caught by TRJ, which prompted their return. If I was facing the game for this ball, I could give precise details of wicket for my absent friends.

We had a serious discussion. There was a succession of runs through the non existent 3rd man area all in all at a guess 60 runs for innings, yet hardly anything going through the existent mid off /mid positions. We had a comical moment where a lively Asian contingent took refuge under our Vermin Corner banner and they found it amusing when I offered them my Poppadum crisps and they offered back an invisible pie and chips. You had to be there, or perhaps not.

Cricket wise no sniff of wicket Fell did not fall finished on 75, with Gidman took Worcs safely to 195-3. Over rate was at one stage -4 but Ollie had spell after that hopefully took it close to parity.

Negatives

Very little excitement cricket wise

Over rate becoming issue again

At times was wet or cold

Positives

We made 3rd bonus point

The spirit of Vermin Corner lived on

Today beats being at work. Just.