By Diamond
April 29 2007

The Diamond Ruled OK reports on the climax of the Middlesex v Northants match. While others were selfishly watching or listening to the World Cup Final, Diamond was busy writing this excellent piece. Shine on, you crazy Diamond.

Happy Days are here again

 

Travel Breaks.

 

My first day of cricket this season.  Any worries about the journey up were soothed by Red Ken’s army of engineers not messing about with the Central line for a change. I got to Lord’s too early.  I was greeted with “Sorry Sir we don’t open till 10.00” on flashing my shiny as yet unused membership card at the gate. A wander along the High Street showed me just how affluent the area is, £3 for a coffee and £3 million for a house!  [Editor's note: which did you buy, Diamond?]

 

All change.

 

The ground appears to be undergoing a lot of changes. The new cushions on the seat bases and backs in the Allen are most welcome and the programme appears to be for the whole ground to be refitted. Not so pleasing are the temporary seats on the eye level of the Media Centre, erected on scaffolding and in green so they don’t match the seating below them,.  They also spoil the sight line of what is a lovely ground to look at normally. My only hope is that they are really temporary. Those travelling up by road this early part of the season might like to be aware that EDF have a very large hole in the road behind the Tavern and single lane alternate traffic under light control, might be worth giving a miss if you can.

 

Excuse me I have a complaint!

 

Now the Middlesex Room is a grand place, not as rich in history as the Pavilion but you can always guarantee a good pint. Not anymore you can’t!!

Where’s the Fullers London Pride gone? Have the MCCC had a major falling out with the boys from Chiswick or were they under orders to become Marstons retailers as they are the beer of the ECB! Questions need to be asked, maybe a committee formed, drastic action, drinkers chaining themselves to the Pavilion rail in protest! We all know none of this will happen though and Marstons is a more than acceptable pint, it just seems a shame that we should dump a Middlesex Brew House for a Kentish one, if they aren’t from Kent someone will correct me I’m sure.  [Editor's note: Marstons is from Burton-on-Trent, Diamond.  I'm rather partial to the stuff myself and have never felt entirely at home with Pride.]

 

To Business.

 

A bright sunny morning with a good breeze running down the ground lifted my hopes and the ground itself looked in perfect condition. A visit to see Eric in the shop to pick up my David Nash Benefit Tie (silk Knocker, not the cheaper polyester one, but your worth it!) and a baseball cap and then into my brand spanking new comfy seat in the Allen lower, crowd a bit sparse for a Saturday 4 ^th day of a game where a win was the likely outcome but I suppose the football season is reaching it’s height (or depth if you a Bee’s fan).

 

Pre lunch.

 

Richo finished off the over he had started last night. No breakthrough from him or Woody in the first half hour. What was noticeable was the audible level of the players encouraging each other and the quick change rounds between the overs everyone knowing where they were meant to be and getting there sharp.

 

Overs 15 and 17 from Woody to Afzal were the type of overs the Northants man will have nightmares about for years. Two body blows and a big LBW appeal in the 15^th which was a seriously aggressive over. The 17^th saw Rogers take a single first ball, probably didn’t want a going over as well! Skipper calls up the bat pad man so to negate this Afzal tries to hook Woody into the road works only to see Kartik take an excellent catch running in.(31-2).

 

Kartik’s introduction came in the 24^th over. The 25^th over sees that old combo of Johnno and Knocker remove Rogers for 20,(53-3). Murtagh replaced Johnno but no further wickets fell and the lunchtime stroll on the hallowed turf was taken with Northants on 99-3. Nice to see old faces in like Chris Thomas and “Gerry the Book”.

 

Post lunch.

 

Sales and Wessels provided some stout resistance for a good few overs after the break. Best shot of the day Sales 6 into the top deck of the Grandstand which the stewards had to recover.  Both made 50’s before Wessels was caught by Billy G off of Kartik’s bowling for 58. (182-4)

 

There was little or no fizz to R.Whites innings as he became yet another victim to Kartik caught by Hutton for 8. (196-5) “Zulu time” now.  Having watched him for a few years now I am aware that when the mood takes him he can be lethal with the bat as Stuart McGill would tell you. Talking of him I heard on the radio that the World Cup Final had been delayed by rain in Barbados.

 

200 up off of 337 balls and just after Sales lets fly another 6 into the Grandstand. I was quite pleased when the next ball Kartik bowled to him went into Skippers hands, Sales gone for 81 and Northants in trouble on 211-6. Tea taken at 214-6, another good session for Middlesex.

 

 

Will we do it?

 

Post tea to the 80 over mark was a quiet session of play, bowlers probing and batsmen desperate not to play any shot that might cost them their wicket and their side the game. The umpire then intervened and handed Richo a new cherry. The third time it was used Van Der Wath generated slip catching practice for Skipper and was gone for 5 (234-7). Woody replaced Kartik who had bowled virtually unchanged all afternoon from the Nursery end and low and behold second ball of his over he removed Klusener, well caught by Billy G on the dive, there was some doubt from the umpires and batsmen as to him taking it clean but I’m pretty sure he did and Klusener walked, gone for 25(238-8). Richo then trapped Wigley, plumb LBW (247-9), Brentford win, Spurs win, can Middlesex make it a treble? He then finishes it off with a good caught and bowled to get rid of Brown for 4, Crook the not out batsman finishing up with 8 .

 

255 all out and Middlesex win by 154 runs. It being umpire Roy Palmers last game at Lord’s he lead the players off to a good ovation. Knocker the ever reluctant hero was then shoved up the steps first as befitted the only century maker in this match, what a change from last weeks game.

 

Man of the Match.

 

Very tough call this one, there are so many. Billy G for two good innings and some fine catches, Murali Kartik for his bowling stint today which must have helped Richo get the figures he did, Skipper for a good first home performance in charge and a well organised side?

 

Any of these and probably more I have failed to mention but my MOM award goes to none other than our Centurion and keeper of the short haircut David "Knocker" Nash ,well played Sir .