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Ladies Day All One Way - Middlesex v Essex Day 2

Winning Titfer
By LizzieJ feat. Diamond June 7 2008
It was Ladies Day and the cricketing traffic was all one way (Middlesex's) on Day 2 at Lord's. Our cub ace reporter, who happens to be a Lady, LizzieJ, reports on proceedings. Having been tipped off that she would arrive fashionably late, the ever-chivalrous Diamond came to Lizzie's rescue and wrote up the first session. But sadly neither Diamond nor Lizzie got their mits on the free booze.

First Session


Anyone who wants to read about the cricket should probably skip this paragraph, as I was working until one and didn’t rock up until about half past two. However, if anyone is interested in my ramblings about my day at work, stay tuned.

Spent three and a half hours of my life where I usually do on a Saturday, at the wonder that is Britwell Library. Was horrified when one of the teachers at my school came in, I had nowhere to hide, and was forced to advise him and his small child about toys. Lovely. Also signed up for lots of overtime, while making sure none of it clashed with cricket. Skilfully done.

Had my head in a book 'til one rolled around, and then I was out of the workplace like a bat out of hell.

Found out via voicemails only Billy G had gone for 56, Shah and Joyce still in and going well. As it was indeed Ladies Day, I glammed up for the occasion in the not so glamorous location of Paddington station. Once attired in a dress and heels, I eventually settled into the Allen Stand with a mate. Now for some cricket.

[Editor's note: Having been tipped off that Lizzie was due to arrive "fashionably late", the ever-chivalrous Diamond came to Lizzie's rescue and wrote up the first session.]

Diamond's Session One View 

Ladies day at Lord’s today so a shave and some deodorant was called for before heading off out. My best dress was not back from the cleaners so any chance of free Champers in the Harris Garden’s had to be given a miss. A good journey up from sunny Ealing to be greeted by cloudy skies at “the Wood” . Breezy across the ground with sunny periods when the sun escapes the clouds, quite pleasant for sitting out but not the warm sunny day the weather forecast had predicted .

And they are off!

75-1 at the start of play Middlesex needed a good partnership building session between Billy and Ace to future the good work done by Dial M, Iceman and Scottie yesterday. The Test match, Epsom Derby and the start of the Euro Football Championships may have had something to do with the low crowd turnout in the ground by the start of play. Tudor opened from the pavilion end and clipped the bails with his first ball, fortunately it was the bails at the bowler’s end he brushed on his approach to the wicket.

Middlesex were underway again off the fourth ball of the day. Bopara opens from the Nursery end with a couple of maidens. I then noticed two major changes since the last time I was at Lord’s, squads numbers on the scorecard and best of all a section on the scoreboard with the word Fielder on it , thank you whoever listened to those gripes from folk that these were missing and saw fit to deal with it.

75-1 at the start became 98-1 by the end of the 37th over of the innings with both batsmen playing some good shots. Essex’s over rate had slipped to -3 by this time. The 100 came up off of a Tudor no ball (one of 24 extras in the innings before lunch).The legitimate ball is despatched to the mound stand fence by Ace for four. A ball change followed in the 37th over, I was sat there thinking “I hope this one doesn’t do what the one they gave Anderson in the Test yesterday did.”

Masters and Kaneria replace the opening bowlers, Ace sends Kaneria’s first ball to his favoured mound side for four. The 50 partnership came up with Billy on 43 and Ace 30.Today’s loo break saw no loss of wicket but it did have the physio on to deal with an injury to Billy inflicted by Masters (I only missed one ball!) Ace soon overtook Billy in the runs only to be passed by the kid who reached his 50 (and the Middlesex 150) off 178 balls in 225 mins with 6x4’s. tenDoeschate returned and had a mare of an over including 4 byes which Foster had no chance of stopping, it was almost wide enough to be called 4  wides . In the same over Ace brought up his 50 off 107 balls in 149 mins with 7x4’s. With both batsmen on 52 the 100 partnership came up from 225 balls in156 mins. Any celebration of this was cut short just before lunch when Kaneria had Billy caught by Bopara for 56.(200balls,246 mins,6x4’s) 169-2 and lunch called on the fall of the wicket.

A lead on first innings of 8 runs by lunch was good work well done, just a shame to spoil it in the final over before the break. Derby day today and Ladies day at Lord’s so in the nicest possible way I now hand you over to Lizzie for the afternoons report.

I’m off for a pedicure or a massage now. On second thoughts let’s just make that a pint. 

Second Session


I was horrified to learn that I missed out on my freebie Champagne as that finished at one. How sad. My friend informs me that it was nice; I’ll take her word for it. There was also a competition for best hat, apparently won by a stylish number that had a wicket on the top. Was I jealous? You bet I was.

Kate Roberts pictured during Ladies Day during the LV County Championship Division Two match at Lord 

Shah seemed to be stuck on 78 for a while, and it was getting darker. There was the promise of rain around three, but thankfully whoever promised me this lied. Ace soon picked up with the weather and the three hundred came up quickly. With the score at 306 Joyce was clean bowled by Tudor for 63, sad not to see him reach a ton but a valuable contribution nonetheless. Tea was taken with Middles only 3 down, Essex gaining their only point so far (which pleased me enormously) and Shah on fire.


Third Session


We decided, as we were both dressed like ladies for once, to go and sit in the Pavilion at tea. Have to admit, was slightly awestruck like a small child walking through. I resolved to dress better at cricket and come back to that spot. We eventually parked it on the middle balcony, and I continued to enjoy the cricket, while my Essex mate spent most of it with her head in her hands. She only laughed when Finny smashed into the door. Cruel, but I’ll admit, but quite funny. No offence to Finny, naturally. Shame.

Middlesexs Owais Shah during the LV County Championship Division Two match at Lords London. 

 

I was gunning for Ace to get 150, which he was only 6 shy of, falling lbw to Kaneria, but his knock was excellent and couldn’t have been timed better. He departed with the score 356-4 now, and it was up to Morgan and Scott to see out the day. Both did in style, Morgan bringing up 62*, and Scottie agonisingly close to his 50, but left stranded on a well crafted 46*.


After show party…or not


We decided to go to the Pimms party afterwards, then promptly decided against it after learning we’d each to have part with a tenner. We’re students. We’re exceptionally poor. It’s free alcohol or nothing!

I quite enjoyed the opportunity to dress up, and was nice seeing others doing the same. Thought it fitted in well at the Home of Cricket. Ladies Day = good idea, but keep the Champagne please until hard working citizens can get there! Also incredibly pleased with the score, fantastic to pass 400 and good to see Ace do so well. A fabulous day.

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Re: Ladies Day All One Way - Middlesex v Essex Day 2
Posted by: Ged (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:06:07:22:42:43

Many many thanks to Lizzie and Diamond for this superb report.

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Re: Ladies Day All One Way - Middlesex v Essex Day 2
Posted by: LOVERBOY (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:06:08:08:43:02

Lizzie and Zandra certainly added much needed glamour to the occassion.
The free champers can only stretch so far Liz,and why even Loverboy downed a glass or two.
Many heads turned when the delectable duo appeared on the middle balcony,not least in the home dressing room,your seats perhaps a little too close for comfort girls.
The highlight of the day was off course Pimms with the players,and your abscence from the partying was commented on by several salivating young turks.
But Lizzie,LB is only an OAP himself and much as I'd have liked to have slipped you a tenner when you asked,didn't really want to put you under any pressure.
Start saving for next year girls,but excellent reporting at least,by ace cub reporter Bizzee Lizzee.thumbs downthumbs downthumbs down



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:08:18:59:41 by loverboy.

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Re: Ladies Day All One Way - Middlesex v Essex Day 2
Posted by: Lizzie J (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:06:08:09:52:36

Thanks to Diamond for the additional coverage!

Thank you LB. We are very glamorous. And hmmph, I hope you enjoyed your Pimms then!

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