Magnum With The Bat

By Kimmy
September 19 2009

Kimmy treats us to a terrific report on a gripping last day of four day cricket. From the agreed target to the very last ball of the four-day season, you'll ride the emotional rollercoaster along with Kimmy. But what exactly did Steve Finn say to the person who asked him to move and exactly which species of ice cream did Special K and Dial M eat? Only some of the answers follow!

So here I am bright and early... Left my house at 9.30 and the M25 towards Heathrow is quite light... I arrive at the car park about 5 to 10, a little worried I would have to queue to get in, but no problems I drive straight in to be greeted by a nice young chappie who takes my money and thanks me for the correct change!

I met up with Beefy who has secured a bench for us to sit on, dunno how my backside will hold up today, seems a little uncomfortable.....

It was lovely blue sky as I left home this morning and I put my sunscreen on... huh I don't need it in UB8 at the moment, if anything it looks like rain?

So... onto the game, coz that's what we are here for after all... So The Middle resume in the field and apparently the captains agreed a run chase of 330 off 75 overs..? Everyone we spoke to had never heard of this being made public before? I suppose it took a little bit away from us wondering what Derby would do, but I dunno...

It's a little quiet at the moment, nothing much happening , bowlers are bowling, batters are batting.... So my eyes wander around the ground to see what else is going on....

Just an observation.... Everyone in our team is wearing a long sleeved shirt/jumper except the iceman... is that because he's 'ard, or just so cool?

I go on to chew the fat with Beefy, trying to get my head round the game... What do the Middle do..? Do we let them get their runs quickly, giving us more overs to bat, however it'll also give Derby more overs to get us out...?

Do we bowl and hope we get wickets, but they might get runs...? Or do we try and keep their run rate down, but it'll take longer for them to get their runs, and therefore less overs for us to get ours..?

OH I DON'T KNOW!!!

Oh hello a little excitement for the Derby fans to my right... two 4's on the bounce, that's not too good now is it? They've moved on to 242 for 2.... see me writing it down helps coz the next ball is a dot ball... that's better!

I see the iceman's just got the nod from Shaggy he's next to bowl and he starts to warm up..... "do you notice everything?" Beefy asks.... yep where the iceman's concerned....

My telepathy isn't working and Dex replaces the iceman after 2 overs.... Mmmm, I'm not happy about this, C'mon the Middle....

Oooh hang on... the iceman has just made a great stop of the ball.. see if he isn't so hot with his bowling then he switches to his fielding....

ALL CHANGE, ALL CHANGE Housego's having a bowl now...

The Derby players not in the middle seem to be wandering to the changing room, I smell a declaration coming... but Smith is on 42, will they let him get his 50...? NOPE! They've declared......
 
 
So the middle need 330 from 75 overs... now where have I heard that..?
 

C'MON THE MIDDLE!!!!

Yuck! that's not nice! Derby's number 12 GROENWALD is stood right in front of me.... He's wearing black pants with his whites, lovey, they just don't go! And stop scratching yourself, it's really not pleasant!

Steve Finn' s here, oooh might see if I can have a chat, see if he's going to play tomorrow!

Opening for us is Compton and Housego, c'mon boys do your magic stuff!!

Mmm it's a bit slow and I see Hifi so I call him over, he's feeling much better and hopes to be in the side tomorrow.... if he's picked! then he gets shouted at by two blokes behind us... that they couldn't see!!! we wouldn't mind, but it was between overs!!! I can't write what Hifi said, it's not allowed!

12.15 and the ice cream van arrives... it's late of course, but apparently it had some engine trouble yesterday, so we're lucky it's here at all!!!

So the runs are coming but not very quickly I think, so it gives me time to have another look around the ground....

Ooops!! The elderly lady sat beside me (I'm 86 you know) opened her yogurt and it exploded all over her! How to not laugh out loud! That's not nice is it!!!! C'mon the middle save me from these childish antics!!

Beefy goes off to the toilet and my heart sinks as we all know what happens when he goes..... I cross my fingers and it works he comes back and all is well...
 
 
Here's lunch and we are 34 for 0 with 62 overs remaining....
 
 
We resume and Compos out! Oh no!! He goes for 8, never mind, he had a really good knock in the first innings..... AC takes his place, at least he wont get run out by Compo...

C'mon the middle concentrate!! 2 sessions to go....

Oh no black pants man is back!! Puts you right off your lunch I tell ya!!

I spy with my little eye Murts and Kartik at the ice cream van......

I'm not sure if we are a little slow on the run chase, I think we might need to become brave and whack a few.... Just as I write this down Housego whacks one for 4!!

But now he's out, bowled oh dear! Dex is in next... seems such a Sweet thing, but I've been told he is one of the big jokers in the team! Don't muck about now, we need you!

Murts and Kartik wander round and I explain to them that their fans on MTWD will want to know what they had..... Magnum classic and Kartik a solero..... They asked me not to tell anyone... I said we would keep it to ourselves....

I'm still worried about the run rate but Beefy checks it and it's fine...

Oh no! Dex is out, but a good knock of 34... every run helps! Simpson's in and we are on 135.....

C'mon The middle, concentrate, just keep going, steady...

I say hello to Ged, but he dashes off to the loo..... NO NO NO!!!! GED YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO!!!!! Another wicket falls.....
 
 
C'mon the iceman, do your magic, PLEASE!!!

AC gets his 50 with a lovely 4!!
 
 
Right in tea the iceman is out OH.... pooh! we are now 142 for 5 with 31 overs to go......

Oooh thought Shaggy would be in next but Adam 'fingers' London is in, he's a brave boy, injured but here he is!!

I can't write now as I have all my fingers crossed....

Oh.... no!! AC tries another sweep and is out.... No I think we are in trouble! I hope!!!

Hello Shaggy... you're in now...knock it about a bit if you're going for the win... or just be careful if you are going for the draw.... just don't get out.... Ooops spoke too soon... he's clean bowled...

I think that's 3 wickets out for 0.... Kartik's in... hope your Solero lolly helped!

On 206 we lose Kartik for 22, another useful knock, but we're losing wickets, we'll run out at this rate!
 

He's replaced by Murts, lets hope the Magnum lolly has done the trick!

Fingers gets his 50  and is a brave soldier, WELL DONE he is truly a star! We give him a well deserved standing ovation...

The Uxbridge Crowd Salute Adam London 

London is finally out on 65 and we clap and cheer him in...
 

Burton comes out and I have no idea how many overs we have left as Derby have bowled all the overs and there is still time left... We have 5 minutes left and I have to say both Beefy and I are on the edges of our seat.  This is like every thing's is crossed!! We need to faff about a bit!!

Derby are shouting for everything. The second from last ball and they go mad, shouting and shouting..... all the Middlesex players and supporters are cowering and cringing, but the umpire is unmoved and that’s what matters......
 

Phew!! we did it.... I recommend Magnums every time! Who says the county game isn't exciting?!!