Getting ready, I realise I look like someone who has just returned from Chernobyl, I glow everywhere! That will teach me to A/-Not take a cap yesterday and B/ ignore the weather forecast!
After yesterdays batting masterclass by Messrs Dexter and Simpson, I wondered what delights and enjoyment the Middle will bring to us today, little did we know. We need another 32 runs for the batting point, being 368-5 overnight, on arrival I plant my trusty coldbag on two seats and walk to the Middlesex Room for a coffee and see the picture on the wall. Yep, our Kimmy is making her debut today as a Liason Officer, Good luck to her for that.
Days play starts early at 10.57 with Simmo facing at the nursery end,Dernbach bowling. From behind,we here the usual words from a steward ' sit down please sir, you are in the way'. Turn round to see that IAN LOVITT has been asked that by the steward, nobody is safe with the Lords stewards!
Both Simmo and Rayner get settled. After a few fours from both, they reach their 50 partnership and takers the score on to 392-5, soon a superb 4 by Ollie towards the empty Tavern stand brings our 5th batting point,and our first score of 400 for the season. T,he sun starts to break through the cloud cover as Batty starts from the pavilion end, and we lose our first wicket as Simmo goes for 143 LBW Batty. Simmo walks slowly to the pavilion with players/pavilion standing,f ew in gransdstand stands to aplaude him off, well played that man. Its 407-6 when Crook comes in.
Not long after, Batty claims another, its Rayner c&b and Batty dances around the crease holding his hand in pain, hardly anyone saw that he caught the ball. TRJ comes in next.
On 419, TRJ starts to return to the pavillion as he is bowled by Dernbach. The score being 419-8 and Lower Pav said that's Slurreys first bowling point, until he is reminded its 9 wickets for a point, he really should know by now! On 110 overs its Middlesex 5pts, Slurrey 2 pts.
433-8 and Finny decides to dance down the wicket and sends the ball past Batty to the Pavilion for 4. The Middle are really enjoying themselves, then Crook goes on 440 c Hamilton-Brown, b Batty. In comes Corey as our last batsmen and 5 runs later its all over as Finny is caught on 14, we are out for 445. Batty takes 5 for 76.
The Slurrey innings begins,w ith everyone saying a nice couple of wickets before lunch will be good. Finn from Pavilion end to Wilson, Corey Nursey end to Brown. Lower Pav says Finny should change ends but knowing my luck he will get a wicket next ball..............he does,Wilson goes for a duck c Dexter off Finn. Soon its 10-2 Brown goes bang on lunch for 9 c Rayner b Finn,we are on a huge roll, everyone in the Midldesex room smiling. At Lunch Kimmy is propping the bar up looking for her first question(although she isnt drinking). After a chat and a pint ,it's back to seats for the afternoon sessionand not long to wait for another one. It's Corey this time who gets in the act, Davies goes for a duck with a superb Malan catch and its 12-3 blimey what's going on? 7 runs later and Corey strikes again, 19-4 and the ground is bouncing! Du Bruyn has gone b Collymore c Simmo. Only 7 overs gone and Lower Pav gets worried as Slurrey put a stand of 6 and he thinks they are settling down as they reach 35-4.
A bowling change as TRJ replaces Finny from Pav End, excitement as a good throw by Housego to the Pavillion End from square leg and hits stumps, sadly Hamilton-Brown was home. Maiden over by Corey and Slurrey crawl over to 50. F,inny is everywhere fielding is superb as well as bowling just can't stop him. Corey to Maynard who hooks the ball into the top deck of the Warner stand,we dont need this i mutter as they start to put a score on and it's 75-4.
Suddenly, Lower Pav and myself get a bit concerned,as Kimmy hasnt been seen since lunch, how is her debut going? Where is she? What do they do between lunch and tea? We say she is in a special room for Liason Officers, only released when the time comes.
Lady to my right says come on Crook,whoever you are as he takes over from TRJ at the pavillion end. Lower Pav said ' he is in a band you know, if it rains on Friday, will he do a Cliff Richard for us from the Pavillion?' Lower Pav just gets glares from all near him.
At last another wicket,it's 89-5 H-Brown LBW Crook for 47. At last back on track to bowl them out.
The Slurrey batsmen stop play, any excuse for help ,as a tour party go up the stairs to the Media Centre and seats are cleaned behind the bowlers arm. Come on useless, play the game I mutter!
We get another poor old Slurrey wicket its 118-6 as Batty goes for 19 c Simmo bTRJ. Slurrey shock everyone by putting some more runs on the board and reach 138-6. Maynard gets to 50 to applause from the Slurrey mob. Maynard the backbone of their innings, at least he was trying someone said.
Another wicket falls,its just so good! 138-7 as Jordan goes c Simmo b TRJ, Jordan's score? Don't know, and by this time just did'nt care! Following on? We sure hope so! At tea they are 139-7 with the wickets shared around with the Middle bowlers.
After tea,the ONLY minor fielding spill as Dext catches an edge from Maynard,c atches,fubles,catches,and drops the ball, unlucky capt.
A report comes in of an ambulance behind the Pavilion, as an eldery member has had a fall down stairs,and is carried out by streacher and oxygen over his mouth. Hope all is ok.
Here we go again,another Slurrey wicket, don't you just feel for them? No! its 165-8 as Arafat goes for 12 st Simmo b Rayner.
Gets a bit nippy so I decide to head to the Middlesex Room and I find Kimmy still propping up the bar. She hasn't moved since lunch and no alcohol either, been so busy. I get shown a new dress code for our room, as one person is walking about with a huge rip down a trouser leg, Thankfully nothing else on show! Needs a few pins,or better still new trousers.
Maynard is now on 97 and i have tried to get rid of him by having a visit to the toilet,not working he is still there. We strike again,its 203-9 as Linley goes c Dexter b Rayner and our 3rd bowling point. Dernbach in ,Denbach out its over, they are 203 all out as Denbach goes c Dexter b Rayner, leaving Rayner on a hat-trick .Oh yea nearly forgot Maynard was 98 not out, now isn't that just a perfect way to end their first innings??!! And, only 4 extras from our bowling superb job. A comment made in the Middlesex room ' can someone phone Sussex up, instead of asking Slurrey to bat again, see if they can pop up and give us a proper game '
Slurrey follow on I say 'here we go again, 12 overs left, do you think we can ask for the extra half hour?'
Finn from the Pav End, LBW appeal at Wilson, whole side goes up, not given. Then, we hit 'em its 1-1 as Brown goes for a duck of Finn, in comes Du Bruyn, out goes Du Bruyn its 1-2 yep,1-2! c Newman bFinn Finny on hat-trick,but sadly didnt get it. .3 overs left they are on 20-2 so no extra half hour,they finish the day on 30-2 and a great Friday looms. What about Saturday? Maybe sort a T20 game out, anyone fancy a game??
At the end of play,a few of us went to the Tavern for a pint of two. As we walked up the steps, into pub a long table was being set up for a meal, 4 Slurrey players and family members had a meal I just had to say to a few of the Middle, tha'ts probably the slurrey players having their end of season meal!
If you are at Lords on Friday, enjoy the days play and see us finish them off again...............COME ON THE MIDDLE!