Middlesex CCC
Jolly Rogers provides great mix with Captain Morgan Rums
Not jjust a 1 day wonder
By Barmy Kev
June 14 2014
Barmy Kev reports on one of our better county championship days and some personal mini crisis with some atmospherics thrown in
Notts v Middlesex day 1
I have been complaining all season about lack of CC Saturday play and so far have managed 4 Sundays 1st days only. Due to some Mickey Mouse footie game we have a Saturday start and I have Mon Tues off. Potentially 4 days cricket bring it on! My only whinge was I had previous 2 days in office in sweltering heat and forecast not so promising but at least little chance of precipitation delays. On journey I enjoyed passing St. John.'s Wood station where some hardy souls were getting off for early appearance at Test. .Meanwhile I'm having a panic at St Pancras. I aim for 10am train I'm 20 minutes early casually walk to ticket machine. There is a massive queue due to a machine broken down. I catch train by the skin of my teeth. This train is running at Billy Godleman speed especially through Derby and is severely delayed. The midday start due to another Mickey Mouse game night before is helpful. I miss the 1st 20 mins I hear we loss toss are batting and I dread us being all out on my arrival. The score is 37 0 and been told by our faithful no alarms
I hear I missed the minutes silence for Don Bennett. Undoubtedly a Middlesex legend. RIP.
I'm in ground. 2 successive straight drives for four by Buck off Fletch set the tone and we reach 50 in 9th over with a glorious cover drive by AC. We were about to go an hour without losing wicket until AC comprehensively bowled making a useful 17 in 60 opening stand.
Vic joins to say hi and leaves us straight away as it starts to p down. Same happened last year at TB. It was a passing shower but our ex Groundie is on cover duty. Sadly Dext is out caught at slip by Wessels for 0 and it was agreed not a good time to mention May player of month presentation. Wessels rushed off due to blood injury and his return to field proved to have significant impact. There was a short rain break and we were steady to lunch 97 2 apart from LBW shout for Buck that looked close but no ball given.
Then my crisis I am typing my report from mini I pad and running out of juice no worries I have recharger I think and pavilion has many accessible power points. Oh flip I took wrong charger in my haste this morning. 4 days with no internet not an option. Trip into town bought right charger missed 40 minutes of play and score moved on to 164 for 2 with Rogers on 98. First ball I saw was inside edge to bring up ton. By all accounts got to 90 in no time with him dominating by regularly coming down wicket and attacking, He was on nervous 90s as if he was closing in on first ever ton. Once passed 100 Buck was back to way he was before. Meanwhile Moggy is closing in on a 50 , I was advised he had a lucky escape with drop catch by Wessels early on 20. His 50 bought up with you guessed it a reverse sweep.
Runs were coming thick and first and a Moggy straight 6 bought up first Middle Middle Middle chant. It was now a case of what's going to happen first Bucks 150 or Moggy's ton. Scare as Rogers dropped by Wessels on 146 perhaps obstructed by diving Read who didn't trust him. Buck on 149 Moggie on 99 and both milestones achieved in short space of time. There are easy runs to find as the expensive Siddle was gifting runs and then resorting to short pitched stuff that was left alone. 282 for 2 at tea Moggy and Rogers were greeted by ecstatic applause on return to pavilion.
After tea more of same in fact Diamond with quote of day " clapping these boundaries is becoming monotonous". Buck on 180 a dart of ball that kept low caught by James Taylor. 2nd best quote of day from someone clearly not bought up properly " went to right fielder for one that kept low" .
Moggy scores a single when on 137 which results in massive cheer from Middlesex faithful as he surpasses his best score for us. The Notts fans near us are curious. When we explained why big cheer it was asked did Rogers achieve career best we said no just his average. 3rd best quote of day.
Denly was looking confident scoring his first 12 with boundaries. Moggie had a life dropped not resisting a hook , which led to a circus chant. His 150 bought up from yes a reverse sweep more ecstatic monotonous standing up applause. From nowhere there was a shout of "common Notts" followed by more applause. At 381 Denly is caught at slip by Samit Patel which improved Siddles figures to 1-74 of 13.
As SImmo who was looking uncomfortable hooks a 4 it is 400 up with still ten overs to go. The loudest Middlesex La la la followed . A Notts fan asked if we chant at 20 20 I won't repeat our reply. Simmo soon out from unplayable one from Siddle. Good news for us there are demons on this wicket.
Stirling in and batted as if he didn't want to get out. We applauded his first single after 16 balls. We batted out rest of day slowly. Final chant "boring boring Middlesex.
Cricket wise it doesn't get much better for us. I really think from what I've seen from wicket and our bowling attack we have a great chance. 3 days still to go so trying not to get too carried away.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:19:19:13:20 by BarmierKev.
That's not a criticism of those that got out cheaply- by all accounts this track is not a motorway. Therefore two big scores should see us well above par.
There again- as one of your number in Vermin Corner is so fond of saying 'Never judge a wicket until both sides have batted' etc, etc.
Glad you are all having a good time.
Quote:BarmierKev
For some reason the front picture is upside down. Turn it round you'll see Moggy's vital statistics.
Moggie now the right way round, so not just Aussies can see his stats.
