Middlesex CCC
A Very Bruising Defeat.
Best not good enough
By Beefy ( Sausage ) Roberts
May 8 2011
Beefy reports on a bruising Middx defeat in more ways then one. We hear about about a man trapped in a toilet, tin cans for a bell, the scoreboard breaking down, strange seagull behaviour and an injury to one of our fans. There's some cricket too. Read on.
Saturday Evening
Having seen the weather forecast for overnight rain, I wonder what
to expect on Sunday, and although the news that our Ollie won't be playing
against his second team was expected we still have a strong squad, as do
Sussex.
Sunday Build Up
A 15 minute walk to Uxbridge station was welcomed, being dry after
rain helped and was humid and overcast. A record time of 45 minutes was
recorded from Uxbridge to Victoria where I met Seaxe Man and we get our
train on time to Hove, then we get told there will be a diversion and an
extra 40 mins travel time due to the usual weekend engineering works. Then
another problem, someone got trapped in the train toilet and had to be
set free by the guard! But we still get to meet up with Diamond and Ken
in the Sussex Cricketer for lunch (they were waiting outside for it to
open, drink problem I think!).
After a good lunch,we get in the ground,now called the Probiz
County Ground. It's first time the new stand is opened, being at the sea
end, along with new media centre at same end. Not over the top
buildings, they fit in well and the pavilion is having major work as
well.
Diamond gets a lovely hug/cuddle from the Sussex Shark mascot,he is
happy now so we take our front row seats. Peter the Warner Stand steward
is behind us and there is a good Middle turn out,Pink all around the
ground.
And The Game with Middx "Batting" First
Bell rings for play, sounds like 2 tin cans being knocked together
and we find out the Middle won the toss and decided to bat. Newman/Malan
come out to open, Newman at Cromwell Road end,at 10-0 loss Diamond takes first
fag break, oh no,first wicket we say, but thankfully nothing!
At 25-1 I have taken a tactical and it happens, Newman goes for 9
bowled, his wicket sent everywhere, bowler from the sea end Stirling next
in and didnt last long,this being after Seaxe Man said he hopes he lasts
for 15 overs. He didn't and goes with the Middle on 29-2. Next in comes
Rogers who we hope gets a few on the board for us,but next Malan goes
and we are in deep trouble on 29-3 with only 7.2 overs gone,and captain
Dext comes in, our power play finishes and Sussex decide to take the
bowling one, no surprise there. It soon goes from bad to worse as Dext
goes for 1 and we are on 38-4, the wheels have truly come off this
game,and Bergie comes in.
With Bergie and Rogers in,we hope for runs on the board,the 50
comes up to applause from the Middle faithful,and we watch a seagull
trying to fly, it took 3 attempts by running and flapping wings,needs a
bit of a lesson we say, but then,the seagull manages to take off on the
4th attempt,we wave him off for a safe flight.
Another wicket goes,its a nasty 56-5 as Rogers goes LBW for 9 was a
half appeal by the wicketkeeper,bowler didn't move and the umpire gave
it...wasn't our day. Ben Scott is next in to settle a rocky ship.
After 20 overs we are only on 69-5,Scott on 4 not out,lost count
the amount of balls faced but one of our party said
block, block, prod, prod just wasn't attacking enough,another Middle
supporter said ' bring in Adam Rossington ' now,that's a thought. Bergie
is trying to get runs, taking the odd chance to get Scott on the non
facing end.
Soon,something happens we are use to this season at home,the
scoreboard packs up! i shout ' send it back to Argos! ' and,as its on
the pavilion facing the corporate people,another scoreboard is bought in
on a trolley. As the corporate couldn't see the bottom line of
scoreboard, the staff removed the advertising boards to allow them to see
it. I offer to work the board to add runs,not take wickets off, but was
told thanks but its ok!
Bergie takes 4 balls to get runs, then sends Scott to not face so he
can at least get something,reaches 50 to cheers from the Middle then he
is next to go on 52, we are 107-6,Smith in with Scott on 10 not out.
We chat to Fletch and Loz,Fletch telling us gleefully that his
beloved Brighton FC are having an open top bus tour at 17.30and he is
going to see it, dragging Loz with him to make up the crowd no doubt!
At 110, we lose another Smith goes for a duck he chopped on and we
are depending on Scott to get runs as Murts comes out,Scott decides to
not hang around and goes with us on 117, 8th wicket down now and hope is
lost. Next in is Finny, next out is Finny LBW and Ireland comes in with
Naved on a hat-trick Ireland defends to stop him getting it. Our last
wicket falls on 123 as Ireland goes,we decide its not enough and I try
to persuade Diamond to get his photo taken with the Sussex mascot,but he
went all shy and said no!
Sussex Innings
Murts opens the bowling from Cromwell Road end to Joyce,Finn from
Sea End and we get our first breakthrough Prior gone LBW Finn its
6-1,umpire took ages to lift his finger,at this time we all add our
prediction for result. Diamond:86a/o,SM 110 a/o,Ken a draw or Middle
defeat, Beefy 84a/o.
Sussex settle down and its still the Murts/Finn bowling combination
as they reach 34-1.First bowling change as Bergie comes in for Finn at
sea end,but just cant shift these two who are slowly knocking the runs
off 43-1 soon gets to 53-1 off 12 overs Bergie has a maiden over,needed
but we think its game,set,match to Sussex Bowling changes are Smith for
Murts and Dext for Bergie and the first DLF maximum comes and they get
to 86-1.
We have 3 seagulls squawking as they don't sound happy about the
scoring,and one of them has the boundary rope in its beak trying to pull
it in,go for it my son!
Another DLF maximum as the ball is launched in our direction by
Luke Wright,mind the ball goes the shout,we all see it but Ken
didn't.................the ball hits Ken on the left knee and bounces
back onto the field of play without hitting the advertising hording or
the ground before...........good shot Ken we say! We heard him say
ouch(or words to that effect) and we asked him to get his knee out for
the lads so we can inspect the bruise,but he declined to do so, we wanted
to see if the ball has left the seam showing. No one asked if he was
OK,forgot to!
Score rattles on to 103-1 and Ken is still rubbing his knee,you ok? We finally ask.
The score goes to 107-1 and the 100 partnership comes up,at this point the the result is known and i put notepad and pen away.
Moving On
Onward to Holland next,for what will be a hard game.
Thanks to Diamond for the lift home and hope Ken's knee gets better soon!
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Discussion started by Middlesex till we die , 08/05/2011 22:33
Middlesex till we die
08/05/2011 22:33
08/05/2011 22:33
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:05:09:12:02:39 by BarmierKev.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:05:09:12:02:39 by BarmierKev.
Well it is good you can have so much entertainment watching our team get hammered. Would appreciate knee updates from Ken.
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
That bruise should be just right for a photo on Wednesday.... A few glasses down his neck and we'll get the camera out!!
Thanks for the report! Glad the sea gull got away okay!!!!
Kimmy
Thanks for the report! Glad the sea gull got away okay!!!!
Kimmy
Excellent report Beefy, esp as I was alongside.
Diamond's aside's kept you onside.
Ken's knee. He reckoned he would have preferred being hit on the knee by a Middlesex DLF maximum...another day maybe...but hey his hobble to the car was quick.
Quicker than Roy Keane....
Good day by the seaside....pity about the result.
I wish you better luck on the trip to Holland...
Diamond's aside's kept you onside.
Ken's knee. He reckoned he would have preferred being hit on the knee by a Middlesex DLF maximum...another day maybe...but hey his hobble to the car was quick.
Quicker than Roy Keane....
Good day by the seaside....pity about the result.
I wish you better luck on the trip to Holland...
Top stuff Beefy , almost like I was there.
As pointed out by Seaxe Man and Beefy the away support was very good in numbers , be a few less in Holland Thursday but no less noisy.
As pointed out by Seaxe Man and Beefy the away support was very good in numbers , be a few less in Holland Thursday but no less noisy.
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