Middlesex CCC
A large JD with a Choke
Ton Not Enough
By Beefy Roberts
August 21 2011
Beefy gives a detailed account of the twists and turns of a disappointing day 4 for Middlesex with views of Kent supporters in background and a Middlesex 5. We all know the result but this is worthwhile read of the experience through a Middlesex eye.
A nice easy journey to Canterbury for day 4 of our latest County game. I haven't been there since the redevelopments started so be interesting to see what has been done. The peace on the train is interrupted as a couple start to have a domestic before going on holiday, they will have an enjoyable time!
Arrive at the ground, pay my admission fee of £5, that's the price for 4th day of all county games there and was amazed how it has changed. Behind the pavilion and the stands either side is now a big building site, I was informed that the club are to have new offices built at the entrance to the ground in the future. But, they still have a proper scoreboard!!
The Kent locals send me on a wild goose chase after I ask where to get a coffee, went into the corporate bit, tried locked office doors then found the bar was selling coffee, yea, what a plonker! I settle for a seat square on to the wicket.
I hear a few Kent fans discussing the Middle and came out with some classics: " Dexter not having a good season,better last time ". " They lack a spinner, that's why they are getting Rayner in", " They will struggle if they go up" (another to follow later). The same people start to moan about Kent!
Bell rings, after the team huddle and the new ball is taken, Finn starts from the Pavilion end, not long until the first wicket is taken as Tredwell goes for 10, caught by Simmo off Finny bowling the score 293-7, Simmo first went up for the catch, Finny then appealed and the umpire took an age to lift his finger.
Murts starts from Nackington Road End, a nice over with just a couple of runs off it, Finny takes over and its another wicket as Ball goes c Simmo b Finn for a duck Simmo with a diving catch to his right, everyone thought he missed it (sorry Simmo!),what a great start we are having.
Kent fans again " Only bowler Middlesex have got is Murts!" Finny's next delivery and he does his falling over routine, but only a matter of before time it happened.
The sun is now out and Kent get the 300 up. Malan drops Coles off Finn and another Coles shot hooked fell just short of Rogers who just missed the stumps but the ball goes for an overthrow.
We claim another wicket as Coles goes for 15,c Simmo again Murts and again the umpire is slow to lift his finger after Murts turns and asks. Mahmood looks desperate to get a ton, he is on 90 and takes a couple of chancy singles. Kent fans say" this is going to end a draw".
The final wicket goes as Riaz goes for 2 LBW Murts, Finn takes 5 wickets again and Mahmood finished on 92 no. The PA gives the extras out, saying 5 penalty runs were given, did the ball hit helmet during Kent innings? The wickets all taken in about 40 mins in an action packed first session.
We have 80 overs to play with and 272 runs to get,going to be a nervy day now!
Robson takes first ball from Stevens who is bowling from the pavilion end, I then get a text from Dingy says Finn has been called up for the crucial one dayer v Ireland and tells me Morgan is Captain, I reply and say you sure its not April fools day!
Soon,our first wicket goes Newman goes for a duck bowled by Coles from Nackington Road End, this after he had 2 unplayable balls. it's 4-1.
PA announces next in is Christopher Rogers,is this a ploy to put players off? Using full first name? A s lunch nears, I grab a sausage and chips,very tasty at £4 beat the crowd I thought, as I sat down second wicket falls and its the last ball before lunch, Robbo is caught behind and it's 30-2.
Score's not looking good. Or is it?
Still OK though I think to myself as we have 68 overs to get 242 at 3.55 an over.
Kent Fans (it's the same ones every time) " Finn was never aggressive before he started to play for England". I decide its perambulation time, but go as far as the bar and get a pint, watch a bit of football and return to my seat as the afternoon session is about to start. Little did I know what was going to happen!
Malan comes in for Robson and is soon returning to the pavilion as he goes for a golden duck, caught behind its 30-3 and Captain Dexter comes in, and Captain Dexter goes back as he is also out for a duck, caught in the slips I sit there open mouthed and in shock as I text a few to give the grim news. It's only the 1st over after lunch and Kent take a drinks break!
Kent fans " Kids don't watch cricket, they just come to get players autographs"
JD now comes in, it's back to the walls and just concentrate I think, a couple of Middle fans are sitting behind me, a grand total of 5 seen today.
There is still bounce in the wicket and Kent have stuck with Stevens and Coles all innings so far I sit dreading the arrival of the two Pakistani bowlers.
The Middle 50 comes on the board, with 63 overs to go and 221 runs to win, I'm still sort of hopeful we can get there,then Rogers comes down the wicket to Stevens and goes LBW for 26,Simmo comes in as Stevens is ripping us apart. Get a text from Lower Pav saying it's pouring in London, I think we could do with it here.
Kent Fans yet again! " Middlesex have Finn, Corey, Murts, Crook and Roland-Jones, that's better than most 1st division sides"
60 overs left and we need 219 runs to win, I will take the draw now. Simmo hooks Stevens for a lovely 6 over the third man boundary. Trouble brews as the Pakistani bowlers warm up, as Tredwell takes over at the Nackington Road End, as Tredwell delivers to JD he dances down the wicket and dispatches a 6 over the bowlers head, next ball goes for 4 more runs, that's better I think.
There is light rain in the air as we reach 100-5 and the Pakistani bowlers take over JD on 40 and Simmo on 19,thenthe next wicket falls as Simmo goes for 19 he is caught by Jones off the bowling of Riaz, Smith comes in and we need JD to save the day now. Riaz to JD and a huge LBW appeal goes up, watching the umpire,he thankfully is unmoved(it looked high) bit more rain as the ground staff move to sit in front of me, all carry metal hooks, they must be expecting some heavy rain, we hope! Rain stops and the ground staff walk back to their hut and JD reaces 50. It's 117-6, we need 155 to win off 47 overs a run rate of 3.38, still the win is possible as we need JD to get over the finish line.
Soon, we are exactly half way there, we are 136-6 off 40 overs,needing a further 136 off 40 overs, never seen that before being spot on half way. Comon the Middle!
At tea, there is 36 overs left and we are 144-6,another 128 to win. It's now easy as we head into a very nervous last session its Middlesex v Overs Left v the weather. The sun comes out its clear blue skies so that's one part out of the equation.
Sititng nervous now, at tea time beer doesn't help as I need a visit to the toilet, back to seat and gladly no wickets gone. But Smith soon goes for 7 c Stevens b Ball with the score on 148-7. Big pressure on now,as the PA announces that Timothy Murtagh is next into bat (I'm sure he does that to put batsmen off) and Murts goes for a duck bowled by Ball. It's still 148-7 as Finn comes in,can Finny do same as Uxbridge last season, a 30 odd ball no score?
Tredwell is bowling to JD as he dances down the wicket and sends the ball over the bowlers head and the ball hits the plastic window on the commentary box for a superb 6, and he is now on 97 no. A couple of maiden overs doesn't help us, as we need 87 runs off 20 overs, just get a draw, forget winning now. The score reaches 190-8 as JD gets his really well deserved 100, the Middle players,and the 5 of us in the ground stand to applaud a great innings(it really was).
Can we do it from here? Read on
Finny soon looses his wicket and with the score on 190-9 he goes bowled by Tredwell,the ball hitting stumps and looked in slow motion.
Last man in as Corey comes to the crease, JD launches yet another 6 off Tredwell that appeared to go over the roof of the Frank Woodley Stand.
The 200 is up, Corey gets bowled by Tredwell and we lose by 70 runs, JD played a great innings, but the result wasn't what we were looking for.
A long, boring journey home ahead of me, I walk into town to do my lottery numbers in the hope something will cheer me up in Canterbury.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponA large JD with a Choke
Discussion started by Middlesex till we die , 21/08/2011 00:35
Middlesex till we die
21/08/2011 00:35
21/08/2011 00:35
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:08:22:17:21:10 by BarmierKev.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:08:22:17:21:10 by BarmierKev.
Thanks for the report Beefy and the text traffic during the day.
Slight error with my maths,it was only a 69 run defeat,not 70 as i put in report.Still hurts to put it though.
The five penalty runs were indeed for the ball hitting the helmet, as it was mentioned on commentary.
The clock on the Leslie Ames stand scoreboard is clearly broken, as it is stuck on 12 noon!
It is sad that as a result of our top five batsmen making a total of 38 runs, our remaining batsmen had too much to do.
The clock on the Leslie Ames stand scoreboard is clearly broken, as it is stuck on 12 noon!
It is sad that as a result of our top five batsmen making a total of 38 runs, our remaining batsmen had too much to do.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
