I had intended to go to Chelmers on Sunday but the weather forecast I heard on Friday night persuaded me to go to the first day instead. Noticing that there was a late announcement that a reporter was needed I volunteered.  Ged e-mailed me back to say “Yes please” but then almost immediately to say that Kev, who was going, then wasn’t, now was again. So I had to liaise with Kev when I got there.

Drove through rain until about 20 minutes away but skies were much brighter around the ground – and stayed so for much of the day. As I arrived, Essex were taking the field, having won the toss, and I found we’d left Asbo out of the squad announced. This meant only two front-line seamers, backed by Berg and Dexter. The selection was perhaps a little defensive, to my eyes.

Anyway, found Kev ensconced at the river end in his usual role of leader of the crowd and we agreed I’d write and he’d supply the pictures. It was easy to see why we’d been put in: from a distance the pitch had a distinct greenish tinge. First pair to use it were Masters and, once our very own, Chris Wright who hits the pitch much harder than in his Middlesex days and looks altogether more the finished article as a county bowler. Kev helpfully pointed out that our ex-players always do well when he watches them, whereupon Strauss nibbled him behind (that’s Wright not Kev) and departed the scene.

Amusing sight of the day was the first attempt of Kaneria at fielding. He runs like those guys training with a piece of giant elastic attached to their waists. As if by way of excuse, he left the field shortly after for treatment. Perhaps he does that after every piece of fielding he does. He certainly made little effort when he returned and must have cost his side a fair few runs over the innings.

The Crowd Was Transfixed 

Compo had started to time the ball well through the covers before, rather surprisingly, being bowled by our ex but we went to lunch with three figures up and only two wickets down. Session to us. After lunch, disaster as 117 for 2 became 124 for 6 and then 139 for 7. In truth, there was plenty in the wicket for the quicker bowlers, including some steep lift at times, and it did seem as if edges were inevitable. Shaggy was seventh out, clearly amazed to be given out and holding the pose to show the umpire just how far forward he had got.

We speculated that Essex could be ahead by the close but we reckoned without Berg and Kartik who had other ideas. Murali stated his case in the clearest fashion and at the first opportunity – he hit Kaneria for six off his first ball. In a hugely entertaining stand, both our men scored Middlesex personal bests, both scored their first 50s in first-class cricket for the club (these stats courtesy of various Playfair readers) and they put on, agonisingly, 99 for the eighth wicket.

Indeed, at tea they were going great guns, only for Berg to be bowled almost immediately afterwards.  When Kartik hit his third six late in the innings Kev claimed that we had now hit more sixes than in our entire 20/20 campaign, Silvers having hooked an enormous one in the meantime.  And there was still time for an enjoyable last wicket effort between Kartik and Finn.

Middlesex Legends Honoured 

Silvers beat Cook with the first four balls of the innings and continued to beat the bat regularly, yet remained wicketless through nine fine overs. At the other end Finn was rather more erratic but, to general glee, he got one to lift on Gallian who was well taken by Kartik at second slip. Finn ran in and repeated the feat next ball, Chopra gloving to Kartik who took an even better catch. So suddenly Finn was on a hat trick and bowling quicker, with better direction and with some real bounce. Walker survived but the introduction of Kartik brought an edge from Cook and a full-length, one-handed slip catch from the England captain – shades of 2005.

Many A Slip Twixt Cup & Lip (as Barmy Kev Might Put It) 

At least twice it seemed that Finn would be relieved but, in fact, he was bowling with venom now, sometimes to six (yes, six) slips. He duly got a faint edge from Walker and celebrated with the kind of jumping on the spot that most of us could only manage on a pogo-stick. He doffed his hat to the small but vociferous Middlesex contingent that Berg had also acknowledged earlier.

This was a great day’s cricket, especially after the disappointments, almost non-events, of many recent one-day matches. A sporting wicket, and how good to see one of those, gave the quickest bowlers some help, sixes were hit, leg spin and left arm spin took wickets, the momentum went one way then the other. And ended most certainly with Middlesex.

Who needs 20/20?

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