ASharp Zaidi Batters us
Only Here for cricket
By Barmy Kev
July 29 2016
Kev reports on a day decribing his moods swings during a defeat that ebbed and flowed in a simlar way. Those who chose not to go will be happy with their choice after reading this,
I walk towards Lord's today having just read for the first time properly about this Franchise nonsense. Is this the way forward? Ironically on my I Tunes music shuffle I hear the song Tragedy. However, I swiftly find some perspective on this theme.
I am in the ground just before the scheduled start. This is one for the Oxymoron Thread. It is raining heavily as play is due to start I look at my phone weather app, which indicates in my location currently it should be cloudy with no rain forecast, I wouldn't have minded the promised 66 degrees? It rained for 45 minutes, but credit where due there was a great rush ( you would have never seen this at a 4 day game?) to take covers off for a reasonable 7.20 start time, 16 overs a side.
Our openers were steady but I felt we needed Stirlo, no idea why he wasn't playing. Masters bowled a wide that was closer to the next games wicket. Gubbo out big straight hit in the deep trying to push on as rate at 7 just after the power play. Franco surprisingly in at 3 ahead of Gorgeous and he was struggling to get ball off of square. Mala hits our first 6 a lofted straight drive after 9 overs. Same over Franco tried to repeat this and to our relief with wickets in hand he was out. Gorgeous doesn’t actually make much difference and is out in similar fashion. A bit of acceleration then Simmo caught out in the deep same position as previous 1st 3 dismissals. Bit a variety Higgins is cleaned bowled. A late cameo by TRJ and Mala but 125 seemed at least 30 too short. A text from Beefy watching on SKY was Mala's, our top scorer with 68 not out, interview thinking were 20 too short.
Their reply starts with Ollie opening our bowling. Not sure about this tactic but wicket first over seems a good idea to take pace off. Finn difficult to hit then next over TRJ wicket put the pace on. 10-2. It's 34 2 after power play. We were 37 0 at the same stage . I'm still thinking Essex are favourites. Sowter looks unplayable 2 dots wicket, only 2 off his first over but I continue to think Essex have upper hand. I'm optimistic when Below Para is run out due to mix up. Essex 55-4 with Vera at 70. What could go wrong?
James Harris is now on. Forgive my lack of faith I was at Taunton at the end I'm worried and settled for the 12 off of his 1 and only over they had to try. Text from Beefy at home. "Rob Key reckons we are favourites we are cursed." Another big over for Essex off of Sowter
This match is virtually even now and we are at crucial part of game. But what really matters to the masses here is the Mexican Wave which made it twice round the ground including the Pavillon then on a third lap to the Pav area a wicket which I missed from my now obstructed Lower Warner view. This wicket was cheered wildly around us and then the same people cheered a Ashar Zaidi hit a 6 from next ball.
A Higgins over there was an obvious wide, then next ball just missed off stump just under bat was given a wide, the unobstructed TV screen confirms this was a bad decision. Following TRJ over is punished , why can’t we take the pace off Ollie can bowl an over? It's all going wrong Zaidi is running riot and taking game away from us. Someone with a Middlesex headband thingie cheers another Essex 6. My head is in my hands, I'm not interested in this and just wanted to leave. Why did the rain had to stop.
Essex won. The crowd close to 27,000, loads of money made for MCC. Everyone seemed to be bouyant apart from me.
Optimism soon returned. We are still on for the treble. As far as 80,000 at Wembley for this London Franchise, if it happens everybody enjoy your day, I won't be there, as will have a tiddlywinks commitments for the whole of July. Meanwhile , then I will be supporting the Mighty Middle double efforts as I still feel our club is making great progress and it is not the end of the world for cricket. This is of course assuming they don’t destroy our identity for the longer form too, please say they won't.
Meanwhile here's hoping for Northants away for 1/4 final to give me a chance of watching us going for glory in this form this year, while it is still possible.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:07:31:23:20:13 by BarmierKev.
Perhaps we don't want a home quarter final - no leeway in the MCC agreement for any extra dosh raised. Would we get a few quid as an away quarter-finalist?
Just a though..
Good point about the MCC agreement. Perhaps something is included for a home QF, but reduced to reflect the chances of it actually happening. Given our recent record Middlesex ought to be biting off the MCC's hand for that!
Also worth noting that the Lanky QF at The Oval demonstrated that you are really down to the supporters by that stage, the marketing time being too short to get in the City boozers. So arguably a match might make a loss rather than a profit anyway!
Adelaide
Paul Stirling’s absence was due to a shoulder injury, although it is hoped he will play when Essex return to Lord’s in the Royal London Cup on Sunday.
Had we been able to secure a home quarter-final, I am almost certain it would have taken place at Lord’s, as it was listed on the ground’s 2016 fixtures poster as a provisional fixture, while Middlesex would have been keen for the match to be played at Lord’s, and MCC would have been keen to have staged the match. Our inability to play our 2008 quarter-final there was not due to MCC being reluctant to stage the match, but because the ground was being prepared for a Test match.