2nd innings hat trick?

By Beefy Roberts
August 15 2012

Beefy reports on a good day at the Oval, with diversions for fish and chips, the perils of border control south of the river, upside down score cards, and no balls from a certain ex player.  Great read to set you up for day two 

So,after a long,grumpy,miserable and slow underground journey we finally reach our destination of Mexico.
As we did arrive much later than expected investigation work gave us the news we had lost the toss yet again and the Mexicans decided to bat.

We had a couple of publicised changes,but Murts opened the bowling from the pavilion end,TRJ was to take the Vauxhall end; Berg and Collymore are the drinks waiters. On the tables in the pavilion are the Mexicans year book for 2011, all free to pick up and take away, obviously not a big seller for the county champions elect this year.

We have taken our seats on the 2nd level of the pavilion as Murts takes the first wicket of the day,and Mr Burns is caught by Malan. As this is happening the efficent ground staff have taken positions near the covers, rain on the way? we ask ourselves. A few drops of rain do appear,but nothing to worry about as they reach 17-1 off 7 overs,9 runs off a Toby over.We do get a bit more rain,but us from the Middle dont worry and keep our seats.The home side take singles here and there,each run being applauded by the natives; easily pleased are the mexicans.

The umpires do have their first weather chat of the day,but still we carry on playing,and thankfully as well because we didnt have to wait long for the 2nd wicket of the morning, Ansari is on his way back for 10 runs and Rosso gets his first catch of the day bowled by TRJ.

As the murk gets worse,the floodlights are turned on and the rain gets heavier so the umpires decide it's time to take cover and the groundstaff bring on the main cover and the blankets soon get put in place.
At 12:15 the rain still comes down over the barren land of Mexico so we take a walk around the corner to the local bar,finding out play will resume at 13:30,after an early lunch.

I find a local chippy,and return to the Alamo,after getting my visa out to re-enter the ground a grinning steward tells me " you can't come in this gate, you need to use a turnstile to be swiped in", I show my visa to the lady turnstile operator who didn't even look and I just walked in over the border. I take a seat and enjoy my take-away meal. I then look at my visa and see there isnt even a bar-code on it; the steward obviously didn't like my Middlesex shirt, can only be at the Alamo.
As I return to the pavilion seats I see us get our first point and they are 28-3 as De Bruyn goes LBW to TRJ for just less than 1. The floodlghts are still on. Still the natives applaud each single run the home team take.Something catches my eye,and I notice a native has a scorecard with the Mexicans badge printed upside down - hmmm could be a collectors item as I check mine and it's the right way up.
Soon,another wicket for the mighty Middle as Crusty has his midlde peg removed by Murts for 2 runs,and we are flowing nicely, they are 33-4 now. Murts is bowling to Roy(not seaxe man) and a huge LBW appeal, but too high and umpire un-moved,but didn't take long for yet another wicket as Toby strikes again and Harinath is LBW for 14 and they are 41-5,very happy Middle!

Suddenly,the home side gets a boundary 4 runs and the natives cheer, I'm looking for the mexican wave! The rain returns and the reluctant ground staff slowley walk to the covers,as they finally reach their destination the rain stops and play resumes.

Bowling change as Dext replaces Toby, no PA to inform us, but we knew what was going on; next up its Crook for Murts.Dexter gets a wicket as Davies is caught by Rosso for 16,they are 73-6 and its another point for us Alamo falls silent.

Dark clouds roll in,and Batty is now the next to go,he is LBW to Dext for 9 runs and its 97-7. More rain starts to fall as a rousing round of applause from the natives,all because the home side finally reach three figures.

Rosso looking good behind the stumps as quick work for a stumping on Roy is ignored by the square leg umpire. Yet again the players are taken off as rain returns and snailpace groundstaff put covers on,tea is taken with the Mexicans on 103-7.

After tea, we move to the 4th level of the pavilion,getting a good view of London town,the floodlights are again turned on as the local side is 111-7.As Kimmy says ' Come on Timmy' he obliges with the wicket of Kartik,he is bowled for 23 runs and they are 138-8,yet again the Alamo falls silent, was so funny the way the natives go silent so quickly!

Jason Roy reaches 50 and to be honest is the only Mexican to perform today,our 3rd bowling point turns up as Murts strikes again and Linley goes and joins the duck pond as he is caught by Robson for less than 1 run they are now 144-9 and a batting point looks remote now. Next its Dernbach's time to go 'quack,quack' as he jumps into the duck pond as Murts grabs another for less than 1 run. So,this years champions elect are all out for 144 and Tim Murtagh takes 5-37.Tobey gets 3-38 and Dext chips in with 2-35.

The Middle come out to bat,Buck facing at the pavilion with dirtbag(durnbach) the bowler from the Vauxhall end, Linley is on from pavilion end.

We are on 30 without loss,and concerns arrive,as Buck signals to the players balcony and we are worried if an injury has hit him,but nothing to worry about as he plays on,weather brightens up and the sun is shining on our batsmen; Robbo changes his bat.

50 up for the Middle as Kartik comes on at the pavilion end,Batty takes over at the vauxhall end but it didnt take long for Kartik to start the old favourite of his............yep,no ball was the cry a couple of times.

Buck carrys along,and reaches a well deserved half century off 71 balls with 8 fours. He has done a couple of wicket walks but looks settled; Dirtbag comes on for Batty and not long after Buck has his bails on the deck and an edge gives Buck out,you can tell his annoyance with himself as he walks back.
Nightwatchman Tom Smith comes in,and we finish a very good day on 99-1 Robbo 29 and Smith 1 not out.

Was a great bowling display at the Alamo today,lets hope our batsmen carry on the same good form tomorrow.