By The Diamond Ruled OK
May 28 2006

Diamond provides an excellent account of his day out with the kids at Lord's. His report also provides a superb summary of a comprensive Middlesex win in front of a large and friendly crowd of visitors and Middlesex regulars alike. Diamond's Dosh
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I knew today was going to be a late start as I had promised to take my daughter and her friend to the Ireland game, when I thought it was on Bank Holiday Monday, too late to change the plan when we realised I had got the day wrong . They are both choristers in a church choir and if they were MIA. they would be noticed.

Both are over 16 but still in full time education so I had no qualms in buying them juvenile tickets to get in, they don’t earn money so why should they pay full price, come on Lord’s sort this one out and get a few more students in the ground on match days. Rant of the day over.

A Chill Wind?
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Sat up the top of the Allen stand out of the wind, unlike my mates the Arctic Monkeys Andy and Brian who were in the teeth of the wind in the Compton lower, must have been freezing down there. The young ones settled in, one to some revision for an exam on Tuesday after half term and one to watch the rest of the Irish innings. Both enjoyed the drama of Ireland falling apart to some good bowling from Chad and Johann. They bowled Ireland out for 184 within the allotted overs.


Diamond and the Kippers
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Lunch was the ever popular “Dad I have no money” routine which involved the purchase of Middlesex room sandwiches, credit where it is due they might be expensive but they are a fine sandwich. My lunch sarny was accompanied by the Test and Grand Prix on the headset to drown out the noise of them eating .Straussie gone in the test and Murili bowling like a man possessed.


Two Eds are better than one
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The Middlesex innings began with a great start from Ed and Ed , 32 off 5 overs soon became 60 off 9 overs with ES on 47 and EJ on a mere 7. England then won the Test, Alonso the Grand Prix and these two won the match with ease. ES’s 50 came up off 39 balls with 9x4’s and a 6. The Middlesex 100 up off of 92 balls, nosebleed time!! The stroke play of both the Ed’s was a joy to watch and when EJ flat batted a 4 into the Grandstand not so big Andy was clearly audible giving it large from the Compton stand. EJ reached his 50 off 56 balls with 7x4’s and a 6 , which I missed , not in the loo for a change but the bar .150 up off of 116 balls, transfusion required !!


Irish Donkeys?
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Some of the Irish fielding was quite comical and error strewn , overthrows , diveovers, throwing the ball out of play instead of to the relay fielder, Saqlain Mushtaq doing his best to look like no one had ever hit a cricket ball towards him at height before .When EJ hit Botha for 3 fours on the trot the game was almost up. 177 of 22overs became 181 off of 23.

7 runs to win and EJ who had overtaken ES in the scoring stakes needed 7 for a 100. With 4 required to win he needed 5 for his ton. Botha bowled him a real dross ball and EJ went for it big time, a heave at the Grandstand only to see it go up and up and up, not enough legs I said and sure enough Johnston got under it and to his credit took a good catch. EJ gone for 95 and returned to the pavilion the hero that he is, clapped all the way from the middle to the steps. Enter Ace, the tie-run came off a wide, some irony there and then Ace tapped a single for the win leaving ES on 81 not out - a very very fine innings indeed and one that should shut all his detractors up finally. The ovation to which he left the field, in front of the other players, was noisy and heartfelt from all supporters Irish and Middlesex alike for the entertainment he and EJ had provided us with for about half of our allotted overs.

Can I get a refund on my other 25 overs please? [Editor's note: after your confession at the start of this piece, you'll be lucky to get back into the ground next time without being done for a few extra quid, mate!!]


Surgical Spirit
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So where do’s the title of this piece come into it I hear you ask ? The Irish green uniforms look like Theatre Staff in a major hospital but the only surgery being done at Lord’s today was a master class by Messrs Smith and Joyce. They cut with precision, sewed up 2 points and well and truly stitched up the Irish bowling attack.

I do not know for sure, as I have never seen a top surgeon operate, but our two Ed’s were clinical in their finishing today.

The young folks enjoyed themselves and as their previous game was one of the Southgate special games last season, they can come again to see if they can make it three out of three.