By comebackgatt
May 26 2011

Comebackgatt reports from Chelmsford on a day that saw ex Middlesex player Owais Shah score a fine 96. Interesting days play, and we also hear about ash clouds and moaning home supporters. read on..

Up bright and early, sun shining on Kent coast, no sign of any ash clouds. Set off on a route I could drive blind folded (decided against that). A253/A28/A2, roads I have travelled seemingly every two weeks during the footie season. Through the Dartford Tunnel which was pretty quiet and then onto Chelmsford. Parked at the pay and display and met up with Ross, one of my clients, who is an Essex fan who came up from Southend.

He informs me he had read the MTWD report from Beefy on the train and was disappointed at the apparent bad behaviour of some of the home fans. “We are not all Essex Boys “ he complained.

Arrived at ground at 10.45 and took our places. Middx 316-6 overnight and I am hoping Robbo gets a few more and we can push up near to 400.

Decent size crowd with a good Middle following judging by the reception Robbo and Ireland got. The latter earning more appals by hitting the second ball of the day for four off the bowling of Topley. He was quickly removed from the attack with Masters and Napier taking over. Young Sam still looked in good nick and Ross asked why he had not been in the team so far, too much good competition I answered to some guffaws from Essex fans around us. Anyway the total moved along nicely and pass 350 to gain our four batting point when two runs later Robb was given out LBW to Topley (look like going down the leg side to me) for a splendid 146, 352-7. Enter The Iceman batting at number nine, this brought rise to a few weak jokes about ash clouds etc, and I just wondered how quickly he would run out of partners.  Not to worry though as Tony Ireland played more nice shots and added three more boundaries to take his score to 24 passing his previous best of 22 (thanks to Playfair for that fact).

He took his total up to 29 when he was caught by Pettini off the bowling of Masters. Bergie cracked a couple of fours before he run out of partners, which he did when Dial M was caught behind off the same bowler and with Collymore at the other end it was Berg who was last man out caught (yes caught) by Shah with a toe end of bat cut for 22 leaving us 385 all out.

Mickleburgh and Pettini open the batting, Dial M and Colly the bowling. Short session till lunch which arrives at 21-0. We wander off to a local ale house and have a nice lunch whilst talking cricket, football (he is a Braintree fan excited about being the Conference Premier next season) and boring subjects like work!!

Return to ground and play has just started. Immediately a breakthrough as Pettini edges Dial M to Simmo behind the stumps for 13 and d it is 23-1. This brings Ace to the crease. I joined in the applause; I wish him luck at Essex but not today. First ball, he edges, just about to leap up when I see Gareth Berg put down a simple catch at slip.

EDITORS NOTE:  Some doubt as to whether ball carried to the fielder.

 I have an awful foreboding we might suffer for that, especially when Ace thumps a couple of fours. However at 44, Tim breaks through Mickleburgh’s defence knocking out his middle stump, and it is 44-2. Enter Ravi Bopara, left out of the Test team and looking to make someone to pay. Double change of bowling with Ireland and The Ice Man coming on. Ace hits Ireland  for six. Don’t know whether it’s just me but the odd delivery seems to be keeping a bit low. Hurrah!! Bopara edges Bergie to Rogers at slip, he hangs on and the home team are 58-3.

That brings Matt Walker to the crease to a few moans from Essex fans behind us, Ross gives them one of his steely looks (what was he saying about Essex boys?) Ace is now being to look in ominously good form as he takes ten from a Berg over. To be honest Walker doesn’t look too comfortable and it was no real surprise when he was trapped in front by the Iceman. Shah, now joined by young Adam Wheater, went through to his 50, including 6x4’s and one six.  Tea arrived at 114-4, Shah 52 and Wheater 18.

 An excellent afternoon session in the lovely sunshine. We had a snack then went for a stroll around the ground. Would Ace get a hundred? I think he might. We are still in a decent position though and if we could pick three wickets before close it would be even better although the forecast for tomorrow is grim.

After the interval Shah and Wheater look in fine fettle, first time I have seen the Essex youngster and he looks good. Straight stance seems to play the ball late and punches the ball nicely through the covers. Boundaries begin to rattle up and I am wondering with Dex should give Jamie D a few overs to see what might  happen. Ross decides he has enough of the moaning minnies behind us so we move away. Surrey fans still hold the title in the griping stakes but after today Essex are a close second. Finally Dial M got Wheater back in front and he was out for a useful 39, 150-5. Enter James Foster not a bad number seven. These two soon starting putting a useful stand together as Ace closed in on his hundred that most of us had suspected he would get against us. Jamie was brought on and in the next over I don’t know who was more surprised as Ace nicked a ball form Collymore through to Simmo who held on to a fine diving catch and he was gone four short of his ton. I was happy to join in the applause though he did look very disappointed, a class innings that we got used to seeing from him. 208-6 and in came Napier fresh from that amazing innings against Surrey last week. However to my delight he didn’t last long trapped in front by Colly now 214-7 would they save the follow on, probably up to Foster. He and Phillips saw it through to stumps at 235-7.

A cracking day’s cricket, the match is nicely balanced although, as I mentioned before, the weather may have a say in that