Middlesex CCC
I Wasn't There
Were You There?
By Adelaide
February 16 2009
In the second of our short series of features reminding us all of the glorious Twenty20 Finals day, Adelaide bemoans the fact that he wasn't there. The narrative should have a great deal of meaning to all Middlesex fans who ended up witnessing the day in less than ideal circumstances. It should also raise a smile with you lucky so-and-sos who were there on the day. Many thanks, Adelaide.
Alas, I wasn't there. I never was going to be there, owing to other commitments. Afternoon saw me listening to the online radio commentary from
BBC. Is it just me or is there always an awful echo on those these days?
However, I did hear one commentator repeatedly referring to Durham wicketkeeper Ben Scott - not quite in the TalkSport class but after the
first six you wonder what they are on.
I sort of missed Typhoon's first six, coming back into the room to hear an awful echo of a racket which at
first (being a pessimist) I assumed must be another wicket. At that stage Durham were still in it - for about five minutes max!
Did find myself wondering why Collingwood didn't bowl, also why Breese never came back on, but it was probably too late anyway.
Given the way the semis had gone and that our spinners looked better than Kent's I felt reasonably confident about the final (but also quite relaxed).
Due to aforementioned commitment, I only got to the computer with the text commentary half way through the very last over! Sudden disappearance of relaxation!
Quick - get the online commentary - echo, echo, echo - Henderson .... kept his head .... slower ball ... showed guts ... (yes, yes, WHO WON? Simon
Hughes had the guts to bowl a slower final ball to Neil Smith and it went for 6!) ... echo .... Middlesex .... incredible .... so close (oh ****!)
.... Middlesex Crusaders are Twenty20 Champions! Silent cheer - back downstairs to aforesaid commitment - anyone for more coffee?
What Adelaide Didn't See Next
Funnily enough this very nearly matched my Carling Cup final experience. Got in, expected to see Spurs had lost 4-0, find extra time and "Woodgate
puts Spurs ahead...". Radio on, game over ... YES!
Of course sport is all just a bit of fun, isn't it?
Congratulations to all who went, particularly those who saw all three matches. One heck of a long day, but what a day!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:02:22:01:01:07 by Ged.
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
Finals Day had rolled around, and rather than heading south to the Rosebowl, we'd already headed into the West Midlands for my wife's brother's wedding. There hadn't been a wedding in the Allan family for about 15 years - and then one cropped up on Middlesex's first final since the world was in black and white.
Anyway, after a 9.30 ceremony at the Register Office (who gets married at 9.30am!!), we wandered along the canal banks into Brindley Place for the wedding breakfast - which went on 'til lunchtime. Then it was into taxis for a trip out to the Baptist College in Moseley for a really lovely relaxing afternoon, a short religious ceremony, a brazilin band, a bit of dancing, and quite a lot of wine. Sadly, I couldn't find a TV or even a radio to keep tabs on the score in the semi, so as afternoon rolled over into early evening, I hadn't a clue how the 'Sex had got on.
A taxiride back to the hotel later, I glanced at Sky News in reception to see 20 seconds of highlights of the win over Durham - wahay!- and found out that Middlesex were already batting in the final. The evening then took a lurch for the worse. Having expected to be at least able to watch the game on Sky Sports, I'd blithley agreed to babysit for my three and my two neices while my wife and the other grown-ups went out for dinner. We'd have room service, a couple of beers (me, not the kids) and watch the cricket. Except the hotel didn't have Sky Sports....and the kids wanted to watch Last Choir Standing....and the Lottery....and Casualty. I just wanted to keep up with the scores.
So the next couple of hours passed with lots of channel flicking, lots of nail biting - and five rather rowdy kids. I finally managed to wrestle the remote controls and got onto Sky Sports News as the presenter said: 'We're down to the last ball and Kent need just three to win.......Henderson bowls, Kemp plays it over his head....but he's run out and Middlesex are victors by three runs!!'
So, I wait 15 years for Middlesex to get a sniff of a trophy - and then can't be there for the big day. But we won. I had a really nice day anyway - and there's always another finals day and another Antigua trip to look forward to....well maybe another finals day anyway!
