By Barmy Kev
July 29 2002

Barmy Kev here reporting on four Balmy and Barmy days watching Middlesex take on Gloucestershire at the Cheltenham festival. Firstly, it has to be said the the setting and atmosphere was one of the best experienced in County Cricket. The ground is not too disimilar to Southgate with a wonderful backdrop of a Chappel and a College. Despite for the home team being a meaningless midweek fixture and very disappointing limited support for us, most days the ground was close to full. This is great arguement for festival cricket to be expanded more and from a Middlesex point of view , am certainly in favour of moving more games away from a hollow Lords. However, our MCC chums may have something to say about this.

Anyway on with the cricket. So we lose the toss and the opposition are batting first. We get an early wicket of Spearman-looks promising. Hancock comes in, to jeers here comes another episode of the Hancock half hour-due to the fact he never bats more than 1/2 hour and of course this most have been an omnibus because he makes 112 which sets the foundation for a big total. After that, the rest of Glous middle order batsmen made useful contributions and close at 367 for 6. Abdur, again was our only bowler who ever looked like getting wickets. Shame we couldn't bowl him from both ends. Cookie was poor, the Cat again ineffective but Laraman showed a bit of zip. I left feeling we were out of the game, but was reminded by a local that they were in a similar position against Glamargon last week and managed to lose.

Day 2. Well we struggled to bowl them out Alex Gidman made 92 and the final total was 494 and we missed a bowling point. I had earlier put a bet on at 5-1 that Ed Joyce would be our top scorer. He was fielding near me and I thought I would show him my betting slip. This I thought would give him a confidence boost. The Glous fans thought I had put undue pressure on him. Well this proved to be the case as he made nervous 5 and was caught trying to hit over the top, a very unlike Joyce shot. Perhaps it was unfair of me shouting out, I would have been better off backing Tuffers. Nerves seemed to effect the rest of the batters, this not Kev induced, Straussie out to a bad shot on 49 and Abdur only made 6 runs. Hutton and Shah were both run out with schoolboy errors-yes, no, pardon. -Shah particular disappointing as he seemed on for a massive score. It again needed Weekes and Nash to steady the ship leaving us 218 for six at close-follow on still a long way off. I was thinking has the bubble burst-especially in light of the fact my trip to Hove last year proved to be our turning point.

Day 3. Fortunately Nashie and Weekes (with contributions from Cook and Larraman) took us comfartably passed the follow on, but both had reprieves. Russell dropped Weekes on 51, which proved to be costly. My chant of "dodgy keeper" didn't go down well with locals. Anyway picture this, Weekes on 98 Larraman just out, last ball of over, the Cat comes in. So Weekes is facing, everyone on the boundary he hits ball straight to 3rd man. Tuffnell wants the single a massive NO from the other end. Next ball is hit for four and next one out. The Cat never faced a ball which was a shame as this is nearly always the highlight. Anyway, would have settled 363 all out at beginning of day. The next question, on a good batting pitch is Mark going to do us another favour with a generous declaration-locals thought unlikely. However, what we didn't bargain for after a steady start from Glous was the Cat's demon bowling, with Straussie replacing the injured Nash behind the stumps. He was unplayable, picking up the 1st six wickets in a incredible 7 for 52 spell out of a close of play score of 175 for 8 a lead of 306- game on. One other feature of the day was Martyn Ball's benefit dinner which I attended and guess who was the first at the bar. Yes the Cat-unfortunately the bookie wasn't taking bets on this. Oh yeah, Ed Joyce for some reason sat at a table as far away from me as possible. Me and 2 barmy friends managed to liven up a staid MCC like do.

Day 4. All three results on. We needed these 2 wickets early. With Spearman batting at 8, recovered from injury I presume, shielded tail effectively. Tuffers picked up 8-66 ( me and egg on face is appropriate after earlier opinions stated on the board) So 362 required at 5 an over, probably what a declared target would have been, apart from the odd lofty six we didn't really go for it. Despite a few shaky moments, from lunch onwards the draw was the only likely result as it proved with us closing 265 for 5, and thankfully Ed, demoted to 6, on 38 not out. Hutton loked good for his 88.

It was an enjoyable few days helped by the weather, some good cricket and Real Ales and quality Ciders at £1.80 a pint. Also the locals who invited me into their tent, provided decent banter aswell as plenty of alcohol induced laughs. A special thanks to Hazel from Potters Bar for pointing me in the right direction during my stay.

Middlesex till I die

Barmy Kev