For Foakes Sake Another Draw

Kev reports on day starting off full of hope , but ultimately a let down. We hear how he is annoyed by school children , but is heartened by pigeons in love, no doubt inspired by our + six life 

The nature of my job is that I pre book annual leave way in advance. Potentially I feel I have chosen a good day to take off today although regret not opting for yesterday too. Weather forecast for today says mainly sunny top temperature 68 degrees, but more importantly we are in a very strong position against our local rivals. There is a little matter of 14 wickets needed in one day, on a batsmen or bowling friendly pitch depending on which cricket "expert" you read . As for tomorrow we are relying on forecast depending on which BBC forecast you read.

My arrival was slightly delayed as had opticians appointment,  who couldn't get me to see what was round the corner. I should have gone to Specsavers. I’m travelling underground between 11.00 - 11:10 and chomping at the bit with no access to any internet feeds for any early wickets. I'm realistically thinking game on for us if Sorry are all out at lunch

I arrive at the Oval 11.15 and see no wickets lost. I try to make my seat in OCS Stand, same as per Sunday. But to my surprise I am surrounded by thousands of screaming school kids. They annoy me so much, I move to the completely opposite-end of ground which was not easy due to extra closed exits. Before I can take my seat there is a loud crescendo kiddy shriek for a boundary. I am about to sit down there's an appeal batsman, Curran unmoved then moved as umpires finger out.  13 more needed we can do this. 

I decided to put Kevin Hand commentary on to help concentrate on cricket and drown out the irritating kid's noise. There was a one ball delay in transmission, which made it hard to follow and those dreadful kids still came out on sound effects.  This shrill came out again as there was a streaky four, according to KH the first off of Murts after many overs. The commentators mentioned a tweet that Foakes scored the slowest ever  15 runs from a Surrey no. 6.  Meanwhile he was grinding away, tiring our bowlers out for if the  follow-on is ever enforced.

After 80 overs it's 160 7, the 2 an over strike rate fails to dampen the those kids enthusiasm. Another maiden, yawn sorry, and the new ball is taken.  Stirlo is a hero for the kids as fielding on boundary edge he has very young children baying for his autograph, with him occasionally obliging. I'm wearing my Stirlo shirt and wondering if I will get mobbed at some stage. With Murts next target I'm still not safe.

Sorry accelerate to 2.05 an over just before lunch. There may have been a drop at 1st slip in the meantime, but a wicket looks unlikely.   Lunch is taken with score, yawn again excuse me, taken with 200 reached off last ball of session. This was greeted by more wild hysteria from these kids. Over rate usual 4, but with a plus sign.

I lunch in their Pavilion. No dress code, reasonable prices and a proper cricket feel. In fact the ground as a whole is quite pleasant especially the view from the upper tier.  Coming to think of it, it will be a shame if they go down. Now steady on Kev.

After lunch Foakes reaches 50 off, zzzz, 204 balls. Batty out with 107 overs gone 213 score yes now less 2 an over, the next objective is another bonus point.  At 110 over cut off only 8 down and score 226. We are only beating them by 1 point, WTF.

So let's try to make them follow on and you never know.  20 needed with 2 wickets left to avoid this propect. It looked like drifting away and Pillans tries the rare tactic of attack to achieve this. Then Harry catches a well judged one in the deep on 237 and Ollie has a Michelle. It a 6fer as Rampual is soon out lbw. Follow on enforced.

Forecast check for tomorrow, it's still going to rain all day ,unless you believe Carol Kirkwood who I would not argue with face to face for personal reasons. So we need to effectively bowl them out in 45 overs to win.

0 wickets down at tea. Without the bad forecast we may still have a chance. I then witness a rare sight over rate 6 not in red  

Yes that says +6. I should have gone to Specsavers

After tea those 32 overs were hard work. At least the kids had left and could concentrate on other matters. I was entertained by the pigeons, two had escaped from the cluster and were , ahem, shall I say engaging well , doing to each other what Surrey were doing to us. I hope they remain happy together, bless.

Back to the cricket we have a few half chances but we never really looked like getting a wicket as pitch looks like a flat track.  That Miller bloke from Cricketer got it right. As far as what BBC weather forecast to trust "who gives a Foakes." This match has a draw written all over it!