Middlesex CCC
A Bridge too far......
The iceman... Man of the
By Kimmy
July 19 2010
Kimmy reports on another fine display by the Middle as they battle to not only win the game against Essex, but to gain entry into the Quarter finals...... Editors note: This report contains scenes of violence!
So....
When Kev asked me to do today's report I decided that it would be short and sweet...
We won, we're through.... We lost we're not through.... I didn't think about the alternative as that would be too painful... We won but lost.... noooo!
I set off nice and early... (earlier than I wanted as the trains weren't kind!) There were delays and false starts and slow running, but I eventually made it to Liverpool Street to meet with the others with time to spare.
I met up with Beefy Seaxeman Barmy Paul and Fulham Paul and we set out on our trip to Chelmsford together....
That trip was uneventful and we followed the masses to the ground. It was turning into a lovely warm sunny day, there were plenty of food outlets and ice cream sellers and we made our way to the pavilion.... will they, wont they? Was the question asked, and I'm happy to report no emails will be sent to Essex by Beefy!
So we settle ourselves down for the match and have a bit of banter with some Essex lads, who wanted us to win they they could have an away jolly somewhere, they much care where, just not at home!
I'm busy talking and concentrating on the game, I forget (again!) I'm reporting and after we loose our first wicket I think 'oh heck, better get my book out!'
So... as I remember were were on 1 and Dex is out on an lbw shout! A little uncalled for I think, what's done to upset anyone....? but so be it.... ACE comes out to play with Warner... (nicely, may I add...)
Chambers comes in to bowl and Warner hits him for 5 boundaries off the first 5 balls and the last one of these the umpire call 'no ball'!! Apparently his nick name is Bruno? Anyway the next thing we see is him and Warner squaring up! I can see jaws moving, but I can't hear, and next thing Chambers has pushed Warner in the face grill.... The umpire steps in between the two... brave man I thought! And Bruno is dragged away.... We look out each other and wonder who would have won...? Warner, without a doubt!
Only thing is, Bruno is fired up and has to bowl the 'no ball' ball to Warner!!! But it's a nothing ball really.... and the game carries on....
The Essex boys start to take the micky out of our pink shirts, but soon shut up when we explain why pink... I dunno we've worn them for years, in a blaze of publicity and still other teams don't know.... Or have forgotten... or just don't do away matches...?
Ten just as I start a sigh of relief Ace is out, and the nerves start to kick in a bit...
AC comes in and straight away he starts to hit it about a bit.... We move onto 78 off 8 overs and are jogging along quite nicely, but could do with a bit of acceleration when... Oh AC is bowled by Chambers.... Morris doesn't seem to like us much does he? Actually I think it's Maurice....
I was just writing that we could do with something a bit special when out walks Berg... Could ask for anything more!!
Warner and Berg survive the Chambers over but Flowers bowls to Warner and he is stumped for 37! It didn't look out to me, but I guess the umpire has the last word and he said out!!
Warner gets heckled a bit as he walks back in but I don't think he heard it.... Ben Scott comes out and we all know he has come back from Worcs a different batter.... He can certainly knock it about a bit!
I'm a bit happier now two solid batters at the crease.... however I do wonder why big hitter Hendo isn't out there.... Maybe there are other plans for him....
Mean while Berg keeps playing with the back of his thigh... As though his hamstring is playing up! When he's not batting he's fiddling!
I hope he's okay. Please be okay for Uxbridge.... I haven't taken days off work for you to be out injured y'know!!
Berg decides that the best way not to hurt himself running is by whacking a couple of 6's over the hospitality tent!! He does it so well.. He then hits a single and keeps the strike....
With the help of these two the score moves nicely onto 120 after 15 overs...
Oh no!!! Bergs out! Caught on 41... Oh poop!!! Well done the iceman, you've played your part so well (as always!!)
So now it's time for Hendo...C'mon hit it about a bit!!
Which he does... and after 17 overs we are 141.... We really need 180 on this pitch, I am still a little worried that it wont be enough. I don't think we can get through, but a wind will boost the boys no end!!
Hendo hits the ball for 4 and is out next one. The crowd is getting a bit lively now 'Essex, Essex' is the cry......
Shaggy strides out, I hope his hand it okay which is still strapped up, but we know he can hit a ball too...
Oh dear I speak too soon, he manages to fall over the first ball and then is bowelled the next one! Oh dear!! we're now 156 for 7, we are fast running out of batters and overs.... We need to try and just keep a level head and bat sensibly.... Ah good Smudger comes out, now there's a good lad!
And we end out 20 over on 173 for 7.... Not quite 180, but a good score none the less. Ben Scott is to be congratulated for his 43 not out!! What a batter!! Well done!!
There's mutterings from the Essex boys, they think it might be just too much, but then again they are hoping for an away match next round, if they win it's a home tie for them!
So... we spend some of the break practising our finding and bowling....
They have their ECB batsmen out first and Super Ped strikes in his first over to get Cook out!! WOOHOO!!!
OB wanders past with an ice cream... ooh now that would be nice... I wonder if the ice cream works the same way as the toilet break for Beefy (who didn't go whilst we were batting!) Ha ha....it seems talking about it is enough for Timmy to get a wicket this time!! Essex are 22 for 2 now....
I wander off ice cream hunting and come back to them being 51 for 2.... What we need is a little bit of luck.... And that luck comes in the form of Hendo! Essex are now 55 for 3! But hold on.... Scot Styris comes into bat and I've seen him hit this season, and get the winning runs! Now I like Scot, but it's just a shame he's batting for the other side!! NO NO I don't mean it THAT way..... I mean... Oh you know what I mean!
Well we seem to be restricting them... but hold on one of the iceman's balls has just gone for ^ that's not working then.... C'mon the middle we can do this....
Essex are now 75 for 3 after 12 overs and I am worried..... I don't like us to loose it's not a nice feeling!
It has gone a bit quiet here... we're looking at the other scores and even if we do win, we wont get any further.... it's just one bridge too far!! And there I have it.... One of the most stressful things about being a moderator is thinking up the titles.... And I have it!!!! Now I'm happy, and if I'm happy then the middle can be happy.... reminds me of a song...
I have to say that Ben is a great wicket keeper! He's keeping really well and is a bit noisy out there, just like he should be!!
And he has a great partnership with Dex when one of theirs is stumped off Dex's bowling!! Essex are now 96 for 4..... It doesn't really matter what we do now, as we will not get through.... It seems such a shame as the boys have battled hard....
And now we have another great partnership of Berg Bowling Shah catching!! Essex are now 104 for 5 in the 16th Over... they still need 70 odd and I am a little hopeful we just might do it y'know....
Beefy goes to the loo just as Berg comes into bowl again... and it seems the opposite is happening.... They hit us about including Foster getting a 6.... Come back Beefy!!!
And now Smith drops a catch.... Oh poop again!!! which could be costly and the next ball goes for 4!!
Well.... here comes the last over.... They need 21..... Super Ped to bowl... no pressure, but bowl well my friend!!
1st ball goes for 4... poop!
2nd ball goes for 2....
3rd ball goes for....
Actually I don't care coz they finish on 162 for 5 and we've won!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!
but it just wasn't enough.....
The iceman was given man of the match.... Well done you!!
But it was just a bridge too far!!!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:21:13:13:43 by BarmierKev.
However in saying that, I am sure Middlesex supporters would have killed for an away quarter-final as it is better than nothing.
Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford
(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)
Oh yeah.... Beefy, the man at the station.... Na... Oh ok... we met some very drunk bloke half way up the stairs... we couldn't get past him anyway and he asked for our help. Beefy and I both thought he'd falled, untill we were knocked out by the alcohol! Luckily I'd spotted the pcso and called for him to help... Well he bought some of his station staff mates with him so Beefy and I made a swift exit..... We don't 'alf pick em!!! I blame Beefy!!
So JW... you see all fun and games!!
Kimmy
Most of the time find out about the other clubs as well,home is home...............away is well,away i suppose!
I enjoy them,as you get to look around the clubs members areas,always things of interest to take a look at.
And there is always something funny going on.
The guy on Chelmsford was one of a kind,he was as peed as a parrot.He was sitting on the steps,cold box in front of him.I reckon he looked at the top of the steps and just gave up!
He said ' i cant understand it,im never this bad'!As the station staff turned up,we went for a walk to the far end of the station.
At this point,some bloke was on his phone,talking loudy about his mate wearing tight leather shorts............
I thought I attracted nutters at stations
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
This report is close to being a perfect example of that.
Well done Kimmy. You are truly MTYD.
With 8 wins and 8 losses a bit of an up and down campaign.
Of the 8 losses, at least three had opportunities to win but were passed up.
Insufficient score in the powerplays let us down. Sunday, the reverse was true and we never lost control from there.
54 playing their 32. The crucial over was number four, when the Rocket took Chambers out for 5 4's which caused the bowler to lose his rag, and it was handbags at dawn.
So although not getting a massive score, Warner did have a bearing on the result of this one.
Anyone for The Edge next Monday night.
