Middlesex v Hampshire T/20 at Uxbridge CC, 2nd June 2009.

The importance of a successful Twenty/20 game to a club like Uxbridge cannot be underestimated. Financially in difficult times for all sporting clubs, this could mean the difference between break even and a big annual loss. We are extremely fortunate that Middlesex continue to support us.

A match against Hampshire CCC is always interesting for me. A few years ago my son and I were Hants members and regular visitors to Northlands Road. Gone however are the days of Mark Nicholas’s wonderful sides including the Smith brothers, Gower, Marshall, Terry, etc and of course a certain Shaun Udal, tonight’s Middlesex captain.

And so to the match, for which we have been preparing for the past two weeks. Expectation throughout the day was high; there was a buzz around the ground, anticipation that this could be the night Middx stood up. By 4.30pm, it was clear the Middx faithful were going to support their team as a good crowd gathered in blazing sunshine. Hants won the toss and had no hesitation in batting.

The captain took a wicket in his first over and all looked good. Carberry and Ervine unfortunately took the game away from Middx and despite good performances from the spinners, 181 was a large score. Perhaps the biggest interest amongst the ground staff was the sweepstake for the innings total, ranging from 152 to 210.

The Middx openers got a start but the innings never gained the necessary impetus required and wickets fell at regular intervals. Dawson bowled a good spell and Ervine completed a fine match by mopping up four wickets.

Go ahead, Sean, bayonet the wounded, everyone else has!

Unfortunately the batting was a like the ice-cream, soft.

As a club, it is over to the financial staff now to declare whether the income will allow for a new mower for September.

Let’s look forward to getting back to LVCC cricket as soon as possible.