By Barmy Kev
July 9 2012

KEV REPORTS ON HOLLOW DEFEAT WHERE MOST PEOPLE MINDS WERE ELSEWHERE. 

This is a meaningless game, it’s peeing down, I need to make a massive diversion to get to the game due to Met Line being down and I have a vested interest on another bat and ball event in SW19.  All these factors may have put many off, but when it comes to cricket and Uxbridge there’s no stopping me.

I meet the Vermin at Queens Head ¾ hr late as I relied on a lengthy 114 bus ride to South Harrow followed by a Piccadilly Line change.  I thought I'd order the glass of wine with my food. The barman said there was a special offer if I order two glasses I'd get the whole bottle free.  I felt it would be rude not to take them up with the offer and this may explain the limited recollection for the report.   Beefy texted Vic whether he would picks us up from pub with his tractor. There was no reply

We arrived at the ground into the 1st over.  The score was us 5-0 from 1 over.  The first noticeable feature behind the side screen was on Gatting Way how wet it was, almost bog like. This made me appreciate what hard work the ground staff went into making match playable. We made ourselves towards Vermin corner and was delighted to see the Vermin Flag as all the Vermin were gathered. 

Vermin spreading

Meanwhile Middx were on 26-0 from 4 overs and had visions of a big score.    We were struggling to keep momentum with the outfield sodden and the ball often came to a halt on landing.  As we were discussing who’s more English Roger Federer or Andy Murray Paul Stirling skied one in the air for ages before being caught by Simon Cook. Crook looked dangerous but was later caught in deep.  AC went for a big hit which looked like clearing the fielder but Ball on the boundary caught it and did a disco dance movement to stay in field. Dexy held things together with 42 but then he skied Darren Stevens. Tom Scollay scored a useful 19.  In fact I really can't be asked to describe rest of innings but it was a struggle and apart from Murts at end everyone was caught out.  One more feature of our innings there wasn't a boundary after the 15th over.  We struggled to reach 124 for 9. In fact the lack of excitement was clear when the bar was more crowded watching the tennis.

Only here for the tennis

Kent seemed to find scoring as difficult at first.  Early wickets of Billing and Key gave us hope. Throughout the first 10 overs it was close on the Vera.   It was Azhar Mahmood and Alex Blake stand that proved decisive. I was hoping Blake would score 7 for my headline. It was noticeable Kent's big hits seemed to clear the boundary rope while many of ours found fielders.   One of Blake's sixes landed in a house in Gatting Way. There was further acceleration by Stevens who was there best bowler too that took Kent away from us. There was slight hope with Mahmood being run out in penultimate over but they were comfortably over the line with an over to spare.

It was interesting to hear two prominent members of our club and one player volunteering the same comment, along the lines. I can't wait for 20/20 to finish and bring on County Championship.   After a disappointing campaign it is now difficult to argue with that.