Back in Form

By Pantherlike with Barmy Kev
May 28 2011

Pantherlike gives a perspective from Down Under of day 4 up to Middlesex setting the target. He gives a detailed account of his hopes for the day, describes an unwanted distraction and explains how our innings pans out.  Having retired to bed, Barmy Kev explains why he could not attend day 4, but manages to probe the commentators via e mail and offers his tinge of disappointment with final result. It's worth a read honestly.

Answering B-Kev’s eleventh hour SOS to cobble together a summation on the final day’s play at Chelmsford, one could hardly refuse, particularly when one was surely going to get to sit and listen to another exciting Middx triumph?!  Well, the chances of that happening, were limited seeing as how just 32 overs had been bowled on day 3, so any chance of a Middx victory came with some conditions:

1.        The top order needed to get a wriggle on from the outset – check

2.       A wearing, yawning pitch, just grateful that this was the last day, and that these infernal cricketers wouldn’t  be back again tomorrow – check. Well how else could Bopara have clean bowled Sam?

3.       We needed a bowling lineup able exploit said pitch conditions, (refer note 2) – definitely check – clearly after Dial M had snagged a five-fer in the first innings (including a couple on the previous day)

4.       A new, vibrant team getting used to winning some matches and with a mindset of taking it up to the oppo

5.       A rival, perhaps a recently departed team-mate, we’re hell bent on making sure doesn’t get the better of the game – check!

6.       A timely declaration, I’d say around lunchtime, with the necessary target set (refer note 1), about 260ish should do it – probably not…

Failure to apply any of these was going to result in a draw, the declaration was the key thing.  So what would happen?  Let’s find out shall we??

Kevin Hand was playing guest as it was his away game, so David Brett (of BBC Essex?) got things underway.  Surprisingly, well for this listener anyway, Bopara opened up proceedings,

Unnamed sources who had made an inspection of the pitch reported it was duly breaking up and would become a minefield later.  Kev concluded that a lead of 300 should be a defendable total.  I might be just a tad too Aussie, being Victorian an’ all, but if this was the case, then surely 250-260 should be heaps?   Anyway…

Fellow Victorian and Star Recruit, Chris Rogers had left us on day 3 in no doubt as to his intentions.  33 off 25 balls at the end of that day, had clearly spelt ‘w-e-w-a-n-n-a-w-i-n-t-h-i-s’ and Chris was in a similar mood from the outset of the last day.  Essex’s decision to open with Bopara was seized upon by Rogers, who got going with a boundary in the third over.  Kev opened his day’s work by lavishing praise on the Victorian opener.  A top commentator is our Kev!

Capable night watchman Anthony Ireland was intent on doing a job, but was probably at the crease for too long, his solitary run coming off 32 deliveries. 

Masters thankfully cleaned him up, in the sixth over of the morning.  But the signs were ominous for batsmen.  If the bowler could get it in the right spot, then anything could happen.

Whilst Housego was coming out, TRJ ran some stuff out to Chris and received an earful on the conditions of the pitch.  Go and get ready son!  Dan was perhaps unlucky, dismissed for just 6.  Housego came and went fishing outside off stump for six.  Middx 64/3.

Whilst listening and always appreciating the lilting modulation, characteristic of Kev’s calling of the action, I found myself annoyingly distracted in trying to find the test coverage from Cardiff on the local Pay-TV, but alas, for some reason, just couldn’t find it…perhaps, our local Pay-TV boys had decided one day’s rain affected coverage was quite enough, and that the Womens’ Singles at the French Open was more reliable….incroyable!  Well, we’d better be getting the Lord’s test, or there’s going to be hell to pay.  But wait Watson!  What’s that unassuming red dot doing in the corner of the screen!  Ah, the rapscallions!  They’ve gone with the alternative viewing menu and stuck the cricket in there….sanity returneth….and on with the tale.

Essex were doing there bit to encourage the Middle to set a total.  Whilst Masters had had two early breakthroughs, Bopara was kept on and started serving up some decent dross.  Ravi went for 11 in the over following the Housego dismissal as Malan had joined Rogers.  Some 86 overs remained in the day, there was little doubt Middlesex would slash, thrash and hoyk the leather about to set up some sort of target.  But with the pitch failing, could Essex survive once they were set in?

Rogers passed fifty and then, surprisingly, went out.  Topley had joined the attack, and had immediate effect catching Rogers, our new run machine, leg before.

Dexter joined Malan, and set about lifting the rate.  Dex was in double figures within an over and the Middle cruised past the 200 lead mark before drinks.  You know, watching the Cricinfo, one could have been forgiven for thinking the boys weren’t really going at it, but the scoreboard was certainly ticking over.  That first hour gave us 80-odd runs!   Kev respectfully gave a quick prasee on the lad’s career to date, which had also included a stint at Essex.  Kent of course, had rated Neil and were disappointed not to be able to keep him.  The arrival of Denley though meant that first team selection was going to be more uphill for Dex, and Middlesex came-a-callin’.  You’d have to say he made a good choice and we’re all, well I am at any rate, impressed with Neil’s progress to date.  Keep it up lad!

The effort was maintained through to lunch, Dex getting it towards the fifty, Malan though falling just before lunch for 39 to Masters (caught by Napier).   Dalrymple, came and went, caught by Shah, playing against his old club.  Young Simmo was in next and saw it to lunch.  So, was rule 7 to be hereby invoked?  Not bloody likely!  Nope, the innings resumed after lunch, Dex seemingly convinced we needed 300+ to be safe…in his defence he was also going like a train, but those extra runs soaked up a good part of the second session, the innings finally declared upon 211/6 with Dex on 73 and Simmo on 13.

That meant that we would get just half the middle and then the last sessions at Essex and a draw loomed all around.  With that, this little vegemite lost interest in proceedings rather quickly, well, it was nearly midnight after all, drew stumps.  The eventual draw, despite the taking of seven wickets, how would that extra half hour have gone?, was really, a formality, but I’ll Barmier Kev finish off the day’s play. 

Barmy Kev takes over. Bear in mind this is the early hours down under.

I have spent best part of this match live at Chelmers. I did not attend day 4 due to the combination having too much to do on Friday and even if I did attend I would have had to leave 5:30. So I thought I'd opt for benefit of radio commentary as an excellent consolation.

I was not positive about result throughout. From my Ceefax/ radio view apart from Rogers, I felt there was not enough urgency in batting and like the commentators thought we could have declared earlier.  The commentators indicated the Shah, Bopara and Napier ( just as well 10 Der Scarter was not playimg) factors worried us. An e mail was read out about the game we gifted 2 years ago from a generous declaration. However, conditions and circumstances different here.

I had two e mails read out.

1/ Have been at Chelmsford so far, but can't make today.  So relying on your commentary. Apologies if any questions I ask today have aIready been discussed. Re Ace innings. Firstly, they were mixed opinions whether 1st ball he was dropped or it fell short. Given reaction of Berg seemed like a drop.  
Thereafter , Ace seemed to show a determination in his batting I very rarely saw in his last few years with us.  Am I being reasonable here? 

The answers were emphatic. Ace first ball did drop short. And point two yes I am being reasonable.

2/ Not a fan of nightwatchmen generally, especially in Middx case when you have depth with Berg at 8.  Ireland 30 balls for 1 may have been valuable in match saving position but in this situation where quick runs required I see little point in effectively demoting our big hitters.

The view here was general agreement saying runs more important then loss of wickets in context of game.

As they answered 1st wicket down Middleborough . Only 9 more in 45 overs. This seemed even more likely with Shah again edging first ball and getting away with it, was soon after out for a duck, I nearly fell of my chair. When Pettini was 3rd out I was forgetting about pessimism and thought we have serious chance.    All 3 wickets by Dial M.  Then oddly Ireland continued this over and commentary team didn't know why. It took a while before  they noticed him with our Physio Pete Waxman.  Unsure what was wrong until Richard Scott sent text to commentators saying is knee injury and unlikely he will be playing any further part. Very soon after in dropping difficult catch the Iceman dislocated a finger.  I felt the pain as was described how Mr Waxman had to put Iceman's finger back into place and was rushed off.  No more texts from Coach as he was now our 13th man. Amazingly after tea the Iceman was back bowling having returned from A +E.

Well we all know what happened the rest of day. I was at home for one more wicket. I left with 5 more needed in 17 overs.   20 minutes later from I Phone saw there was another wicket down.  Couldn't envisage a sniff of victory. Arrived in pub in Old Street forgot one of party was Glamorgan fan, so some stick there. Had a final check of score from phone , did we pull off miracle. No.

While satisfied with 10 pts , I felt the weather cheated us and Dial M's injury and thinking if only more positive intent with declaration. Then again cricket is an easy game from behind ones PC retrospectively.

Hang on Pantherlike has woken up with his summary.

I’m sure the think-tank will remind you that it’s all about the overall season and 10 points are very useful at this stage.  We’re still in a commanding position on the CC table and have to be staring down promotion.  I trust Gus and the leadership will continue to ensure the rotation of the squad and it’s development through the next few months will keep us primed for this worthy goal.