Danny the Champion of the World

Persons of certain vintage will be familiar with the Creedence Clearwater classic Bad Moon Rising and there is something about John Fogerty’s masterpiece that insinuates rather than baldly states an impending doom. So to me it is with Middlesex these days. We were at it this morning. I thought we might squeak an extra bonus point. We did. I thought we could cause them trouble. We did. In yards. I didn’t think we would lose three wickets at the end of the same day for not much more than nada! So that was it and the ‘Sex in microcosm. Fabulous effort by the tail enders to nudge us over 300. Fabulous effort by the bowlers. The top order? Not fabulous. Not even close. Again.

Starting at the start this was a great day. I bowled out of the N13 barrio at 9-ish to make the 10.08 to Chelmers with the rag bag of Sorry and Essex who made up the contingent. Not many Middle but that’s how it is these days Got to Chelmers and the Members section from the off and I was simply looking for the 300.

We needed 37 with big Vern (from Viz ?) and Shagster at the crease and both added valuable runs although the second ball launched off the bowler had the fielder scurrying back over the wicket and so nearly produced a catch. This passage when we settled included a couple of great strikes including a crunched cover drive and a beautiful stroke through mid wicket that had me dreaming of 300+ and plus. But and always but Vern was adjudged lbw a decision he and I disagreed with by a stretch and when Shaggy was caught off the bowling of Nel without owt else happening we were in the mither.

That was when the second good bit started. Both Finny and Danny E played really well in the see stances. We needed 15. They hit a boundary each and ran the rest to set us up. And started up the first Middle Middle of the day. Tipped the 300 and base camp established.

And thus to the double ought gaugers. Essex started off reasonably comfortably although Cook didn’t look in touch at all. I should point out at this stage the shotgunners had clearly shot up some sub-station no doubt in the course of some
”blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag” and nothing electrical worked over Chelmers way, not the station indicators, not the scoreboard and criminally not the pumps in the Pavilion causing us all to limp through to lunch on bottled beers. Not good.

The burberry clad chav powered scoreboard meant I’m pretty sure that Gallian had about 18 before Cook even got off the mark and everything he touched seemed to streak away. Justice was about to be meted when big Vern took the first change and bowled said Cooker first ball and without much further ado took Chopra’s sticks to boot..

From that minute on it was enter the dragon (Evans?) exit the Essex. The Danster was virtually unplayable 6 for 35 of 14 and a bit overs with 6 maidens. I couldn’t even tell you his best ball. When he wasn’t taking wickets he was cutting batsmen up bouncing varying and generally having them all with kippers. The guy was awesome. No other word for it. I should, say he was ably supported by big Vern and Timbo but it was his day by yards. We had been taking clutch wickets all day and then he absolutely rolled ‘em so that we lead by 95 runs which was almost unthinkable at the start of the day.

However and there is always a however with Middlesex these days we had to bat out about 10 overs and to be perfectly honest we did it godawfully. Ed0 collected his second match 0 to go with Shaggy’s and Strauss was caught in the slips to give Nelly Furtado 3 in about five seconds and put Essex right back in it.

The match synopsis has to be a good effort from tail enders, an heroic effort from bowlers and another limp effort from top order. From a position of absolute control to plummet back into the balance as only Middlesex can and as only our top order can.

Is anyone listening? Have we heard this before? Hello?

S E

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• Lost Our Way? Essex v Middlesex Day 1