Spin to Win

By Barmy Kev
August 16 2016

Barmy Kev reports on day 3, Middlesex beating Durham by an innings with surprisingly great detail on cricket matters. by his standards. Then again it's not every day we are top of the league, or perhaps....

After 6 mainly bore draws, a bit of a novelty here going to a days play with a good chance of win, every possibly of this happening today on a decent pitch with gloriously sunny weather to boot. My only worry was given two quality reports days 1 and 2 whether. I can match these high standards. However, today was when of those absorbing days when hardly a ball was missed, crick info not needed to confirm facts and a pleasure to report on.

First aim of the day is to rub the Geordies noses in it. Ollie was clean bowled early on and I cheered as there was clearly something in the pitch or did I lose the plot?   TRJ positive from the start and soon overtook Franco in the 20s despite a long head start. 50 partnership off 54 balls followed by a massive TRJ 6. This was almost Scarborough esque.  7 men on the boundary. 100 partnership 81 balls eventually broken after another TRJ attempted 6.  There were a few more lusty blows and we declare as Muts out. 332 lead. 

Simmo drops a toughie 1st over. No further alarms to lunch. Straight after lunch Eski spills an easy one. Both drops are off of Murts.  They reach 50 for 0 wondering how costly these misses will be.  

Ollie is on early, nothing to do with OR. Stoneman is deceived by one but survives, next ball leading edge spectacular caught and bowled.  Jennings long stride out to Ollie plum lbw. Brothwick even plummer next over. Richardson survives 29 balls for a painful 2 , another LBW Ollie strikes again. 4 down at tea. I’m starting to make plans for Tuesday.

Burnham plays on after tea. Now Colly looks solid. Podders is on and bowls a maiden with the England legend clueless on how to play his variable bounce. Next Podders over has him bowled anorher plkayed on, to the chant from Turkey Corner "are you watching Middle Luke "  Same chant followed as Hickey caught behind from an unplayable lifter.

We shout “bring on Ollie” as Coughlin had other ideas than an early return to The North East.  Our message reached Franco . Tickled COUGHlin shot caught close in 8 down 10 overs left with potential extra half hour.

Wood and Onions were have a bit of fun. 3 successive fours through 3rd slip with no 3rd man from wicket less TRJ on another day would have been infuriating. Spin to win, Mala on at other end with OR -1 their party over as in my view Durham's best batsman Wood out Eski this time hanging on to one. Onions has twice held out for England in desperate circumstances but here needed to survive 3 sessions. He was lofting well until one found its way to TRJ at mid wicket off of you guessed it Ollie, who finishes with a Michelle. We are ecstatic and hugs were shared in the Upper Compo. 

Sir Ollie leads the hanshakes

We are safe from the “R” word, but dare I use the forbidden "C" word? For now just say " top of the league, top of the league, we are Middle , we are top of the league" if you get my drift.