I’d been eagerly anticipating the start of the 20/20 season, although I’d be the first to admit it is not my favourite form of cricket. I’d been planning what to wear for some time, and found that I could wear all pink, from my skirt, t-shirt, cardigan and coat. I even set the Sky+ to record the match.

I pottered around, made myself something to eat during the match. I phoned the office to find out what time the gates open and was told 12.45pm. I got to the Grace gates to be told that MCC members will be let in at 1.10pm and Middlesex members 15 minutes later. Talk about discrimination!

When I finally got in I found that the ‘dug out’ was in front of my usual seat in the Allen stand. I tried moving to the next set of seats, but still did not have a clear view due to media men. I then relocated to the seats in front of the pavilion. Boy are they uncomfortable compared to the padded seats in the Allen stand.

I swapped knitting patterns with my friend (she’d promised me one for a cricket sweater which she knitted in pink and navy, and she liked what I was knitting and as I had a spare copy of the pattern).

The first piece of news was that Surrey had won the toss and would be batting. Silvers bowled the first over and only conceded a leg bye and one run. The carnage then started, as Surrey took at least 5 per over, but more often they scored 10 per over. Our one success came in the 6th over when Newman miscued a ball from Silverwood straight to Richardson. They ended up with 186/1 off their 20 overs. A tough ask.

Spot the ball competition 

Middlesex Innings

Collins opened their bowling, and Billy and Compo opened the batting for us. This over yielded 2 runs and a leg bye. Gunther bowled the next over from which 6 was scored. When Collins next over went for 15, I thought that we still had a chance. Gunther had other ideas, as Compo was bowled 2nd ball for 7 (24/1). Dexter was next in, but he had only made 2 when he skied a ball direct to Benning off Elliott’s bowling (29/2). This brought Hendo to the crease. Elliott’s next over saw the demise of Billy with a Yorker (46/3).

With wickets tumbling and an ever steepling run rate, my heart sank as I just knew we’d blown it.

Hendo was next out. He’d hit a few 4’s but was nothing like we know he can bat (74/4). Malan and Housego fell in the next Schofield over leaving us 79/6.

Shaggy hit our only six but soon holed out giving Benning an easy catch (91/7).

Scotty and Silvers batted out our overs, but it was already a lost cause.

The luck was against us, as when they top edged it fell safe, ours went straight to fielders.  We were also missing many key players, like Murts, Moggy and Ace and of course TSO.

The good news is we’ll have Moggy and Ace back for Wednesday, and TSO will be available from 29th. The bad news is that Murts is likely to be out another 2 months as he sustained a serious ham string tear