This is a Barmy Kev report with a difference . I didn’t want to touch alcohol today as Thursday is my badminton night and my play does not need any further hindering. I also took my lapdog with me so I can type as day goes on. Thought this would be preferable to my normal blurred recollection day after.

Typically I arrive at ground from short journey from Edgware 10 mins late. I could guarantee had I’d been travelling to Cardiff I would have got there ½ hour early. There was a surprisingly sizeable crowd mainly made up of enthusiastic school kids -well it beats being at school. They were cheering every single very loudly, but I was concerned about their boredom threshold as some were trying to start Mexican Waves after 15 minutes.

So onto cricket. Rymps gained selection over Smudge. There were moans amongst the Turkey’s about no Housego. And with Ice Man at 8 , this looked on paper a strong line up. But of course cricket is not played on paper. As I type Strauss out Lbw for 8. He looks unhappy and from Upper Edrich looked like going down the leg side. No scope for a referral here Lord Brockett.

Rogers and Newman our normal openers in and Rogers early on plays a confident straight drive for 4 and next ball edges caught behind for 4. Soon after Newman follows caught behind with a wild shot he won’t be proud of. All 3 wickets down to Harris. With the ball swinging furiously from Nursery End AC is done by one caught spectacularly at 2^nd slip. 33-4 not good and was thinking Berg at 8 maybe a blessing. Was also hoping our bowlers can get similar movement. Meanwhile incessant screaming from kids was beginning to irritate me.

While, Dext and Rymps were digging in occasionally playing and missing, it occurred to me our top score was extras on 12. It was not until 12;40 Dext overtook extras with a glorious cover drive. 4^th wicket stand took us safely to lunch at 74-4,

We were allowed to perambulate. This a decision that maybe was regretted. I’m sure Mike Hunt was not impressed with 100s of kids doing handstands and all sorts of kiddies games on the hallowed turf.

I thought I’d try eateries available at the ground. The choices at Tavern and Middlesex Room were very limited. The Warner where there was a better choice was fully booked with a half hour waiting list. So it was an overpriced square pie for me.

I also got told off by a steward for not being “loud enough”. She inferred I am only loud for the tele!

AFTERNOON SESSION
1^st over after lunch 2 successive boundaries by Dext. There seemed less swing around. He was letting loose but was shortly out having just after having played and missed to what can be described as a very loose shot. Partnership took us to 105-5

Rymps was closing in on a 50 and looked set until again chasing a wide one caught in slips. Simmo didn’t last much longer as was LBW as plum as you can get giving Harris a Michelle.

As we were struggling I had a look at Fletches Middlesex On This Day book had a scan of 19^th Nay to read on this day 1948 Erich and Compton put on 342 for 3^rd wicket which is still our record. Seaxe Man who was with us was there, but couldn’t remember if he was watching this from the Edrich or Compton Stand.

Back to today, with Ice man in at 8 you always felt we had a partnership in us ( not quite Edrich and Compton proportions) and perhaps Dial M ideal partner. Then a ridiculous dismissal. What looked like an easy 2, but Dial M staying put Ice Man did not realise this until he was more than half way down and couldn’t scamper back. What was worse he appeared to injure his hand diving back. TRJ and Stan didn’t last much longer. all out for 150 and early tea.

In the words of Lower Pav never judge a wicket until both teams have batted on it. 43 overs to make some inroads. Before a ball was bowled I posed the question to the Turkeys if we bowled them out for 0 would we enforce the follow on. This proved very quickly irrelevant as Dial M’s 1^st over was untidy with 2 wides. By the 8^th over 40 for 0 and we clearly weren’t getting the same movement out of the pitch.

TRJ was introduced to attack and immediately found the right line. 4^th ball was well pitched up and skied a dolly to AC. This I hope is start of freefall. Sadly not for us. Bragg and Rees after shakey start batted with consummate ease as ball stopped swinging. I was trying to look for positives , but when I saw score showing our over rate -3, all we had to show was a negative score. Glam passed our score with just a wicket down with one ball left. At same time I received text to say Morgan had surpassed our score too.

I realise we will have better days , but today very difficult to take.