You're Notts Singhing Anymore

Kev reports on day at Grantham , with many twists and turns with a happy Eastenders ending

When fixtures came out last winter this was the stand out one for me. A new ground was the trigger and 12^th August was in my 2022 diary hoping all circumstances would allow me to attend.

Weather certainly not an issue, I was on a high about us beating Surrey (who cares it was a 3^rd X1?) and no train strikes today. There was 15-minute delay that at one stage thought would be worse.  Me, Rogers and Out shared a cab with our treasurer Dave Kendix, on him, expect our subs to go up further!

At ground meeting up with Middlesex faithful, there were early conversations about Margaret Thatcher’s statue being in Grantham town centre. Some unrepeatable words were used as reaction. This set the tone for the day.  

Our innings. First over Eski looked nervous he was dropped regulation slip catch went for four ( how crucial was that?) After that he scratched around while Rocky made 29 quick runs. So at 35-1,with Eski still on 4 there were reasons to be worried.

30 overs and 234 runs later there seemed little to fear. This looked 400+, maybe 450. Kevin Hand 1,000. Eski achieved his 3^rdsuccessive RLC century; some kind of record and Robbo had a ton to boot.

The lost of these two the scoring rate slowed, wickets were falling.  355 all out in final over was most disappointing under circumstances   

The other highlight was the appearance of our friend (Hacton) Les, who arrived to the Eastenders signature tune.  I’m sure you can work out link. Also their fielder named Hayes in our corner there was a chant "Your Middlesex Til You Die"   

Notts reply. Early 2 wickets by Yadav, clearly the best bowler here. Then another massive stand lasting 30 overs. It was at the point when they overtook us on D & L (We call it Vera) Robbo desperate measure was bought on to bowl. It is fair to say the first ball was a pie that luckily went for a single. Slater fancied this and was caught in the deep, Montgomery (whose one and only over went for 18 runs) next ball was deceived by something. Hat trick on and game now turning our way   Even more so, with dangerous against us Lyndon James soon out. 

Enter Fateh Singh (first name sounded like Fatty on announcement) was lashing out. Scoring at a rate we couldn’t find after our big partnership finished, The game was slipping away from us again. We were behind the Vera. Hameed was dropped, actually fielder never touched ball from one up in the air forever.  Despair from the Middlesex faithful and post mortem started.   

Deja Vu again Andersson bought back on with memories of his death bowling against Leicester, There is a very wide given. (Seaxe Man chants in his best Tom Jones voice. "Wide Wide Diana".  There was also a Green Door rendition due to the position of toilets). Back to cricket  nest ball a boundary.  It looked curtains then Berkshire's finest prised Singh out with one skier too many. (You’re not Singhing anymore) With scoring rate now Middlesex lower order like, Toby Greatwood had Hammed caught behind this the crucial one.  Victory now is suddenly in sight. Runs dried up, wickets were falling further, behind on Vera  and before we know it we win by 27 runs.  Never in doubt.

Ecstasy for the Middle faithful and as you can see was a buoyant journey home. There was a bar with beer garden on platform of train back to King’s Cross that was well utilised.

I shared highlights of day on social media. One of my Facebook friends due to his Middlesex links Russell Grant commented.“Wish I could have been there". I replied "I don’t think even you could have foreseen any of that”   

 As I type we are top of league, playing tomorrow the bottom team. What could possibly go wrong?