Difficult choice

By Barmy Kev
August 26 2022

Barmy Kev reports on a comprehensive Middlesex defeat ending with an accurate message from up above. This report carries a MTWD health warning.

Last Sunday we just needed one win from two games to qualify for ¼, quite possibly semi final of RLC.  The Glous defeat seemed like we did not score enough but could have been closer. At end our two most economical bowlers picked up injuries and the run chase becomes easier than expected. Both not playing at Hove.

So off to Hove now knowing a win will give us a semi final, unless there is a massive swing with Leicester.  A defeat we are almost certainly out depending on other scores

Sussex are batting in light drizzle and sea fret. The crowd is a healthy circa 4,000, take note ECB. 150-2 from 30 overs. Tilan is economical.  With wickets in hand I’m thinking of score between 300-350, which I would fancy us to chase.

20 overs and 250 runs later I’m despondent.  Andersson line, length direction was dreadful, this not a good tournament for him. The crowd applauded his ton. I’m wearing his shirt and was questioned if it was me bowling. What was odd other bowlers Malan, Robbo could have been used. Luke had two left.  Harris also struggled.  Some of our fielding was dreadful with not stopping fours, overthrows and a few dropped catches. There were whinges about wet ball and at one stage Eski took players off when rain slightly heavier only to immediately return. don't ask about the last over going for 20. This was all soul destroying.

 Kev or Martin?

400 looked beyond us, although we were up with their scoring for each over. for bulk of our chase. However, to keep up with what was needed from less generous bowling and fielding meant loss of wickets. This resulted in an inevitable collapse and even getting close to a win was not on. 

So we switch to other factors.  QPR Chris was doing sums to work out how many runs were needed to overtake Glous. His complex mental arithmetic he made it 133, we later found it was 128.  It gave an excuse for random applause that noone else understood.  We started to follow BBC more than our game relying on other scores and thinking of away trips Fri Tues.  No favours from Surrey, but Warwickshire, Leicester games in the balance.  I was actually relieved Leicester scraped through as couldn’t face more torture 

We lost by 157 runs, an embarrassing trouncing.  A Sussex fan complimented our support and humour. I think our laughter was masking the pain

To sum up our day a passing gull left a deposit on Chesham Steve trousers with something that reflected our performance.    

Message delivered by observant gull