Celebration time

By comebackgatt
August 29 2009

comebackgatt reports from Lord's on Day two of the CC match against Gloucestershire. A cracking days play, despite rain breaks, that saw 14 wickets fall and the visitors narrowly avoid the follow on. As well as detailing the events on the field we hear about travel, food (of course), snogging and a unusual passion for clouds. Read on

Things didn’t start to well, my train into town was delayed, (12 minutes late, points problem at Ashford Central.... as Reggie Perrin used to say), therefore it was just after 11.00 when I walked through the Nursery End Gates, and by the time I had got to the Upper Tier of the Pavilion play had started. A bit bright and breezy, the forecast is not bad although maybe showers later. Every good chance we will have an interesting days play.  

Still a newish ball and already a bit of swing, Dex goes through to his fifty but shortly after nicks one from Saxeby through to the keeper and we are 322-7. Enter TSO, can we get our fourth batting point? Sadly it doesn’t look like it, Saxelby and Kirby are getting swing (hope for our bowlers there then) and the wickets tumble. Kartick first caught by Ali for one to give Steve Kirby his 50^th wicket of the season, soon to be followed by his 51^st when Shaggy, after a fine knock last evening, tries a hook shot and is caught at long leg, five short of his fifty. The fourth wicket to go adding just 20 runs came when this current rash of run out continued when after a a bit of a yes/no interlude with Murtagh, Finny set off for a run was sent back and Gidman threw down the satumps at the non strikers end. Dial M no 3 and 342 all out. 

Now we await to see what our bowlers can do, certainly something in the wicket for them on would think. Yes, success in the fifth over as Dial M tempts Ali outside the off stump and Scottie does the rest 10-1. Five wickets in just over an hour, cloud cover does not seemed to be lifting, as long as the rain keeps away, this could be very interesting. Just look out the back of the pavilion, where the weather is coming from, dark clouds are looming. Nothing can stop the only and only Super Tim though, as after Marshall and Woodman seem to be steadying the ship, first Marshall is caught by Malan for 17, and then next ball Glos skipper Gidman is trapped in front ( giving Tim his 50^th wicket of the season) and the visitors are now 28-3.

Lunch comes at 37-3, with Woodman not out one from 44 balls, what would certain MTWD’s say about that. The Iceman has replaced Finny and is getting some good movement away from the batsmen I rather fancy Dex to get a few wickets with his little seamers. Had my Lunch of my yummy homemade vegan sausages rolls, washed down by a can of Gold Label, and left the pavilion for a wander round. Phoned office to find one of my young gals has got a panto in Durham, and she wants me to cover, right Jo Jo, a nice little journey then. Also another client has got an advert where she is going to be paid £4K for snogging!! This is turning out to be quite a day. 

Well those clouds are gathering but we are still on, Taylor has come in and looks although he feels he isn’t going to stick around very long, his first 20 runs coming all from boundaries. Dexs is on; let’s see whether he can wobble the ball around a bit. 76-3 and the rain arrives and off they all go. Another inspection of the clouds and I reckon it could be a long break. Hope I am wrong, a fair sized crowd is in and the match is well balanced. Those runs scored yesterday by Robson and London looking even more important at the moment. 

Well the rain break turned out to be just over an hour, during which time an early tea was taken so spent the time chatting to a few members about the demise of the 50 over competition next season, most agreeing that they were pleased with fact the Pro40 stayed but would hold judgement until next season.

Finally the players came back and when we did return, a wicket. Perhaps the break broke Woodman’s concentration because almost immediately he was caught by Malan off the bowling of Finny for nine scored off 116 balls.   Had another stroll watching a bit from the grandstand, concerned that a few darks cloud seemed to be overhead. Blimey you don’t get buses with me but clouds. After 35 overs first sight of our second (Shaggy bowled one over earlier) as TSO comes but in the next over it is pace that brings the breakthrough as Finny knocks  Franklin’s middle stump out for 16, 107-5. Good wicket that because he has been in good form, Adshead in next, he has just regained his place in the team and has an average of over 50, after him the tail (famous last words).

Then said cloud drops a short shower and off we go again. No predictions this time about how long for.  After half an hour play resumed. Taylor went through to his fifty, including 11 fours. He made a century in his first CC match but has never really kicked on from that. He and Adshead putting together a useful stand now. Hooray, the sun has come out and it is a very pleasant late afternoon. Then came a mini collapse with three wickets going down for one run. Adshead was sharply caught by Robson, off Kartick, but injured himself taking the catch and was replaced by Will Vanderspar. Hopefully it will not prevent him batting, but looked in a bit of pain as he left the field.  Then one run later Dawson was bowled by the Iceman with a peach that moved back late into the batsmen and then Taylor’s fine knock came to an end thanks a great diving catch by Finny at cover point off TSO. 149-8.

The follow on looked likely, even more when at 178 Saxelby was out leg before offering no stroke to Kartick. However, after a short break for rain Kirby and Lewis managed to avoid the follow on and a close of play Glos were 196-9, 146 behind.  I’m not sure Shaggy would have enforced it anyway, if we can get our heads down and set them over 300+, we must have a good chance. 

So quite an eventful day in what is my last day of cricket at Lord’s for this season, 14 wickets going down. It is a pity I can’t make Ladies Day tomorrow; I was looking forward to seeing Ruby, Daira and Kimmy parading in their best bit and tucker.