No place like Hove

By Barmy Kev
August 19 2021

A week after the event Kev reports on his take on an entertaining days cricket

I was running slightly late for my journey to The Hove. I thought I was not the only one as I saw someone on the platform at Canons Park station wearing Middlesex colours, presumably Hove bound.  I only later realised there was a test match at Lord`s 

My first sight of Hove was disappointing. The Cricketers pub was knocked down and being built into luxury flats. I was unsure if Sussex CCC owned it and proved a money-spinner. I believe Kent did something similar.  Also the deck chair end was cordoned off which I always thought added character to the ground. So I sat in a crowded Sharks stand with a fair amount of Middle fans.

As the Sussex innings progressed we were looking at all combinations of scenarios to qualify. They were all working in our favour except for our game.

Sussex score was based on two centuries by Haines and Brown. However, while they were there the score looked like 300. It was only brutal hitting at the end by Head and Weise that took score to 332. It has to be said some of our fielding was dreadful.  Ones turned in twos, misfields on the boundary edge. I`m guessing 30 runs cost, which I felt would not make much difference given my thoughts that we wouldn`t get near their score. 

Our reply with what was primarily a second eleven attack we got off to a flying start, which gave us hope until Eski was out. Chopra came in and with a Middlesex career best and average of 4, the runs dried up. There was a ludicrous moment where he holed out to the deep, was not out but refused an obvious single. Jack Davies gave us some momentum back with 3 boundaries in a row at one point.  It still all looked too much once Holden was out just short of ton. 54 needed off of 4 overs it looked further out of range. With some more big hitting from Andersson a series of wides. We find ourselves needing 7 off of four balls with us now favourites.  Next ball De Caires close to 6 but was caught on boundary edge. 4 to tie 6 to win off last ball we could only manage a single.  We lose by 3 runs and we now think of some small margins that cost us.     

There was disappointment we just lost.  However, I was reflecting another close finish in the RL50. 100 overs and 361 runs made for great entertainment. From the two games I witnessed the standard was not always the best, but overall this was a great advert for this form of cricket.