By Coops
October 6 2012

THIS IS THE MUCH AWAITED PART 2 OF COOPS EXPERIENCE AT THE OVAL REPRESENTING THE MIGHTY MIDDLE.

For those who missed or needed reminding of part 1 . Click here.

http://www.cricketnetwork.co.uk/main/s66/st178188.htm

Kevin Hand opened the bowling and looked pretty useful.  In fact everyone bowled well. Surrey had a few good players. Tudor came in pretty early and was knocking the ball all over the place. Wickets were going regularly though.

The highlight had to be a catch by Fletch. He was out on the boundary, the ball was high and he took off like a swan, he seemed to hang in the air for an age, took the ball and then landed like a bouncing bomb (without the bounce). We all thought he lost the ball. But just like the lady in the lake with Excalibur, his arm shot up with the ball still in his hand. Quality! Then there was a caught and bowled by Pinky, which was top drawer.  The standard of fielding was excellent.  Until….

Tudor was the once scoring all the runs. He was the one we had to get out. The opportunity arose when he drove the ball straight at Gus. What happened next was straight out of Monty Panasar’s school of fielding, straight through his fingers. Comon skip!

We eventually got them out in 20^th over for 165.  Our target was 166 off 20 overs. Come on the Mighty Middle.

Gus got us all together for what can only be described as a Churchillian moment. Unfortunately what was said cannot be repeated on here for fear of MTWD website being closed.

I was to open the batting. The rules were you had 1^st shot grace and once you reached 30 you had to retire.  My first ball was a swing and a miss. The next was edged between the keeper and 1^st slip (well placed). I was up and running.  By the end of the second over I was on 5.

One of the highlights of the day for me was they had a scorecard. I can’t tell you how it felt seeing my name in lights. Then I noticed all my runs had gone to my batting partner who was on 2. A quick moan to umpire, who was straight on the radio and sorted.

In the next over a glorious cover drive for four. It just felt so sweet. As I set off to run, twang I felt my hamstring go. I couldn’t believe it. I had to retire on 9. Hopefully the rest of the team could get the runs.

Unfortunately, we were losing wickets in clusters. Adam Rossington was the only one scoring freely. He had to retire on 35. At 8 down I had to go back with Pinky as my runner.   There was I batting at the Oval with Angus Fraser as my partner.  This is stuff dreams are made of. Then Gus was out and it was down to me and Adam Rossington called back. I scored 2 more runs, but then I got an in swinger, which totally did me for pace. It was all over. We scored 132. Surrey win by 33 runs.

Our line up and scores

Ian Patchett               2

Tel Cooper                 11

James Mumford           5

Tom Bennett              12

Greg Hammond          12

Adam Rossington(Wk) 41 *

Kevin Hand                11

Pinky The Panther       2

Fletch The Duck          0

Dan Langan                8

Angus Fraser (capt)    10

I have to say as a write, I can barely walk.  But it was worth it. The whole experience was fantastic.   A massive thanks goes to Becks, Loz and Fletch for organising it. I think they are going to try to make it a regular event. If they do, be sure to enter. If you need help with any poetry I’m your man.

Footnote to Kev

Kev this does not mean I’m doing match reports for you!!