So near yet....

By comebackgatt
August 7 2009

comebackgatt reports from Canterbury on Day two of the match against Kent. It was Ladies Day and an excellent day's cricket for the large crowd. Hear about the splendid knock by Gareth Berg, and being comebackgatt, he fills us in with other bits such as cider, ugly old wives, brass bands and massages!

Got the 9.44 from Broadstairs, arriving at Canterbury West 25 mins later. Very reasonable fare at £4.10 return. Walked to the ground arriving in good time, then panic, left my press pass at home but problem solved as I spotted Lee, my kentonline colleague, and we used his.After all the fun of the fair on the field yesterday, today it’s Ladies Day and despite the iffy weather forecast, the sun put in an appearance and once inside we noticed plenty of ladies dressed in their summer frocks and adoring stunning hats.

Players took the field with Middle 50-1.Early blow when Sam Robson was caught behind by Jones off Mahmood in just the second over of the day without a run being added, then seven runs later Ace edged to slip off the same bowler and its 57-3!! Being to look like it might be a two day job. Turning in a lovely sunny day and on the field the two M’ (Morgan and Malan) are getting their heads down. Very interesting passage of play with Kent’s bowlers striving to make the breakthrough. Certainly holding the attention of a very good sized crowd. The Capt played some very nice shots amongst his defensive ones and it looked like these two were going to see us through to Lunch so it was a great disappointment when on 30, he got one that kept very low from Khan and was bowled. Worse to following when after just five balls Scottie edged a drive from Khan and was snapped up at slip by Van Jaarsfield. For the second day running a batsman caught behind or slip with minimum or no foot work. Berg faced just the one delivery and at lunch Malan was 29 no at 118-5, a lead of 132.

Lee did his pre lunch report and then we wandered into the Catering in Legends and had a decent lunch and a chat with a few ex Kent players who were there. We decided to perambulate around the ground to look at the events that make Canterbury week so interesting. We came across the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers playing “Liberty Bell” (theme from Monty Python) and I wondered whether they should be playing “Always look on the brighter side of life” for us long suffering Middle followers.

Back to the cricket.We have been speculating about what would be a tricky target for Kent to chase, anything over 260 might be tough, The Iceman and AC are holding firm, Malan has 37 and Berg 19 and its 148-5 the lead is 162.The sun is really shining and Gareth Berg has gone through to a fine 50 from just 59 balls, a splendid knock. I have been a bit critical of him before this season, but I will eat my humble pie at tea. Dawid is 45 not out and the lead is now 201, not sure whether I should amend my thoughts on the target, if the Kent boys get their heads down like, Morgan, Malan and Berg have then over 300 might be required with their batting line up.  The large crowd are really enthralled in this match, good tough county cricket, but at 209, Malan became the 12 victim to a catch behind or in the slips when he edged Tredwell to Jones for 49. A real shame he didn’t get to his fifty but then just before tea,  a couple more wickets went down, first Kartick caught for 16, then a great groan of disappointment from the visiting supporters as Gareth Berg, just two short of a well deserved and marvellous hundred edged Tredwell to Kemp at slip and we were 258-8.

Tea and the lead is 274. Getting very interesting. A quick cuppa and snack and another little wander. I came across the “Cider Tasting from Rough Old Wives” yesterday, and I thought some of them looked rather nice actually!! Today I considered the massage therapy, just the thing after watching the ups and downs of the last couple of days, but it was only a demo. Silverwood has decided to enjoy himself, has blitzed 10 fours out of 46 from 39 balls, Dial M watches quietly at the other end., however all good things come to an end, and Silvers was out going for one more big hit for 46, ( brilliantly caught on the boundary by Denly) followed shortly by Finn plumb leg before to Khan for 0, so we were all out 320 with Dial M undefeated on 11.  So it’s 335 to win, and still some cricket to play this evening. If we could knock over three then........

Well what a start, Key, run out for one first up, plays a poor shot second ball and Dial M takes the catch off Finny and its 4-1. Denly and Jones steadied the ship until Silvers, boosted by his antics with the bat, was brought on and immediately dismissed Jones the Keeper for 16, caught by the Capt, 42-2. Denly and Van Jaarsfield then blocked out the last 10 overs from Silvers and Kartick to finish the day at 49-2.

So I shall be back in the morning, which promises to be an interesting day’s play, with Kent needing 286 to win and the Middle 8 wickets. Could this be when we finally win our first CC match of the season? now where have I heard that before?