Not Rickety today

By Barmy Kev
August 31 2014

After a long break from 4 day cricket with us in freefall we have a much eagerly waited game against Warwickshire who are on the back of some 1 day success, compared with our 0 days of success. I have Mon Tues Wed off of work and these will be my last days of cricket of this season. The sun is shining and forecast puts me in a good mood, plus  my 2 football teams won yesterday. I'm hoping the return to cricket won't dampen my mood. No Jubilee or Met Lines, thank you TFL, meant a Northern Line to Chalk Farm and walk across Primrose Hill. Unlike me for Sunday game at Lord's, I arrive before the start, just.

The first bit of news as Warks started looking comfortable Lanky are 1-2.  Meanwhile Warks 50 up with no alarms with 19 in extras! And the over rate is -2. Dext comes on and 1st ball best described as a pie dispatched with ease to boundary. As I said giving him false sense of security a slower one completely deceives Chopra and bowls him for 25.  Thereafter, Warks run rate slowed with Dext and Harris very economical and soon after Westwood was bowled off Dext playing no shot.  Trott came out to generous applause.  They survived to lunch 93 2. Over rate still -2.

Don did some magic over rate now -1.  I joined the Seaxe Box for their end of season party and another out in 20s Porterfield, looked plumb from my distant squarish view.  Extras were on 24 at this stage in danger of top scorer. Conversations in Seaxe Box diverted from cricket and Hain LBW, which I guess was plumb again.  A move from Seaxe Box coincidently as red wine ran out, I moved back to Upper Compton. Trott did some damage to Patel's 1st over and he was way ahead of extras. Then I had a clear view of wicket Trott out for 41 LBW from our most dangerous bowler Dext.  McKay Clarke took Warks safely to tea. WTF our over rate is now -3.

There was a fascination moment for spectators at tea of an air ambulance helicopter landing on Nursery End playing area holding up continuation of kids game.  This attracted a big audience. The Chopper swiftly left with no visible casualty. Maybe there was a mixed message misunderstood from a changing room of a need for a Chopra.  Whoever this was intended for I hope you are OK.

Didn't make it back to my seat straight after tea but heard McKay clean bowled. No worries hope more to follow it looks good at 205-6.  If only, extras no longer in danger of being top scorer as Barker and Clarke took total control. I was enjoying company of 2 entertaining friends who I met from my trip to Antigua for our 20/20 Stanford mega bucks and they will be there for first 3 days. But I'm frustrated by this big stand.   There was a dropped catch in slips , apart from that not a sniff of wicket. Warks close at 318-6

Looking at other scores and our position, lets hope it is a dead wicket and we can get draw out of this . The company today was excellent, but I have to say this was an unispiring day for Middlesex and am starting to fear the worse.