Who knows?

By Beefy Roberts
August 12 2011

Beefy Roberts reports on a day at Lords where concentration is the name of the game, Beefy however has a lapse or two.....

No idea on heading for it!

An overcast day but warm today and an easy journey to the ground,walking to the Middlesex shop I went past  group from Harefield CC proudly wearing there kit, good to see a club attending county cricket.

Take my seat in the Tavern Lower, and Mr Perambulator starts to waffle his usual rubbish, LP arrives just before start and Kimmy text to say on her way via Tesco.

We resume on our overnight score of 198-6, and we start to chat about 250 at least today for a couple of points.Ist over Simmo is facing Vaas from the Nursery end, and his 2nd ball of the day goes for 4 between the tavern and mound stands brings the 200  up for our first batting point, square cut by Simmo for 4 off Vaas and a single taken puts TRJ on bat, he gives a lovely shot to long leg for 4, soon TRJ is dropped in slips by White easy catch as well,but luck on our side?, then a lovely drive by TRJ to the pavilion for 4 more .

First bowling change is Middlebrook from the pav to Simmo,and after Hall replaces Vaas from the Nursery end.

50 partnership arrives from a no ball, and soon the first wicket goes TRJ is bowled by Middlebrook, TRJ came down the wicket and his stumps go, if he had missed the ball would of been stumped.its 236-7 as Crook comes in.250 up to another no ball, and soon another wicket goes, its Crook who is caught by Peters off Middlebrook again for 12 in the slips, wicket taking spin? we ask.

The MTWD player of the month is in next, Murts comes to the wicket and a huge appeal for LBW on Murts, but thankfully not given as being to high.

Mr Perambulator gives the test score and mentions Morgan,we ask 'who is that'?

middlebrook stays on from Pavilion end,Vaas back on the nursery end.New ball is taken by Vaas and Evans replaces Middlebrook, Vaas to Murts who edges through slips for 4 runs.

At Lunch (taken 3 mins early,could of got another over in) we are on 296-8 Simmo on 46 and Murts 27. The players stay out in front of pavilion  as a presentation is made to both Corey Collemore and Chris Rogers for their county caps, and congratulations to both for getting them.

Well done Bucko and Corey

1st ball after lunch and Simmo gets 4 runs off Dagnett that brings is 50 up,and our 300 as well for our 3rd batting point.

Wicket falls as Vaas gets Murts for LBW,this after the umpire took an age to give him,he goes for 27, and Simmo didn't hang around for much longer as he also goes LBW from Vaas for 61,we complete our innings and are 317 all out, Vaas taking 5-76.

Mr Perambulator comment ' we have the Northamptonshire Bowling averages ' he did,of course, mean the bowling figures, he cant even get that right as we all laugh at him yet again!!

Northamptonshire Innings

1st over is Murts from Nursery end to Peters, and 2nd over is Colleymore from Pavilion.Scotty Newman comment ' 4 at tea lads,4 at tea ' big LBW appeal by Murts on peters but bit high.N'hants fishing and surely a wicket will come soon.good bowling by our lads,its 14-0 off 6 overs and we have dark clouds building above, but no rain thankfully. Murts/Corey partnership bowing well but still no breakthrough its 20-0 off 10 overs, looks like a long afternoon coming up!

Scoreboard shows Morgan gets a ton,but its for England and a ripple of applause for it.

Bowling change as TRJ replaces Corey at pavilion end, still good tight bowling and Loye doubles his score to 8 with 4 runs to the grandstand. Loye is still leading a charmed life as he has missed the ball so many times and frustration builds in the field, and stands.

The 50 is up off 94 balls in 66 mins and bowling change as Crook comes on for Murts at Nursery end.We need a wicket before tea,but just cant get on.Its play n miss, Play n miss etc, as its all that is going on at the moment,yawn!!

2 overs to tea,and JD on for TRJ its 78-0 at Tea off 24 overs.

After tea, murts returns from nursery end as someone walks in front of us, steps over the seats, trips and falls to the ground, dropping his pint of water, sniggering all round!!

Again its play n miss,play n miss,a rough count of 40 times so far,just hit the damn ball or get out someone says!

Murts to Loye big LBW appeal but not given and Northants 100 is up off 124 mins.

Bowling change as TRJ replaces Murts and soon both players reach 50, a big cheer erupts as the scoreboard show Slurrey have been well and truly beaten at Canterbury, wakes up the dozing few.

The reporter is watching the game, as he suddenly slips and nearly falls off the seat, Kimmy has a laughing fit,must be catching after last night!

Soon a strange sight happens, e all stop and stare as Andy West has obviously got lost, and sits in the Lower Tavern stand with his son, we later point him in the right direction of the pavilion, just hope he got back there OK!

Later, and at last after a bowling change with Crook bowling LP states that Crook is the one to take a wicket, and he replies with his wishes Peters c&b Crook for 75, and you could see the relief on the pitch.

Then, it happens to me.............with a box full of pistachio nuts, i put them on he seat next to be to share between the three of us, having done this before i knew the seat was fine. But this time the seat tips up, and all the pistachio nuts go everywhere, Kimmy again has a laughing fit, as does LP and myself. People are all looking at us to see what has happened. Some think I'm clumsy, but I'm just unlucky really!

We claim our second Wicket as White goes for 4, c Malan b Crook. The last over of the day is taken by Malan, we couldn't understand why, as Corey had his jumper off ready to bowl.

Close of play, Northants reached 188-2,we have 54 overs tomorrow to gain some bowling points, lets hope the lads can get them.