Deventerful Trip (Part 2)

Barmy Kev's second parter, the day of straightforward win for Middlesex . However, nothing straightforward about day as Barmy Kev becomes a media tart. We learn about a new Middlesex song and how the day finishes off with a wrestler and potential new additions to the playing staff. Pictorial evidence assisted by Beefy Roberts and Big Harvey. Enjoy your viewing.

Yes there was a cricket match and the next morning heads not too sore as we headed for the ground. At this stage Big Harvey joined the party and we met a very pleasant gentleman called Bernard. Two taxis from 2 different destinations as those going by train got lost on way to station just missed our train and opted for taxi option after all.

Didn't take this root to ground

First aim when arrived at ground was to get our flags up, which is always a strategic exercise in itself.

         flagging already

So on to the match. I was not confident about our prospects, given the form the Dutch carried into this tournament, the close run affair at Lords and our unfortunate preparation. Nerves were settled as Colleymore 1^st over is a double wicket maiden. Next over Dial M found edge twice but 10 off of it, followed by another Colly maiden. 2-2-0-2, pretty good analysis for starters. This is where over by over commentary stops.

Time to do a full circle round the ground from our position close to pavillion.  As walking round  was able to speak to Colly who was in very isolated part of ground at long leg. He said “there is something in wicket”, which I guess contributed to him being virtually unplayable. Walking further round Dial M knocks off Tommy Coopers stump ( just like that! ) . TC stands his ground , there is a conversation with umpires and he is reprieved with no sign of no ball being called. I carried on walking feeling very confused thinking games could turn on such instances. We passed the drinks tent and thought good time to have 1^st drink of day. The choice was 2 Euros for beer, 3 for water and 4 for Sprite. Tough choice. As I turned my back contemplating their price structure, no more magic from Tommy Copper but by Simmo as he took superb leg side catch changing direction off Colly’s bowling (well that was what I was told).

Going for cheap option

It looks like we are bowling Colly right through, then with 1 ball of his spell left he walks off not limping , with Dex bowling his final 1 ball. Has our injury curse struck again? Talking of curses Hobbo mentions that Middlesex have not bowled any wides and before I could say another beer please. Hi Fi’s first over two wides.

We were about to return to our place having almost done a lap, then a man with microphone comes up says he knows nothing about cricket (do we?) and wants to interview us. Loads of random questions were fired with random responses given. I was asked about what I thought of Dutch Cricket and really didn’t feel qualified to comment. Of course Big Harvey has seen Holland In Nagpur during World Cup and his well educated factual answer did not seem to provoke enthusiasm. So more random nonsense from us. We were asked to sing a song so we did the Middlesex repertoire, which was followed by Hobbo chanting “Yorkshire, Yorkshire”. As we again tried to return to our position , another reporter came our way. Similar questions, although this one was even more obsessed about us being “football hooligans“.

Football hooligan with pink wig?

A lot of this was done with my back to game. However, I was able to see Swart hit a big straight 6 off Ollie for his 50. At 87-3 with run rate increasing a decent score looked on. Hi Fi then shattered Swart’s stumps. This was start of collapse of Middlesex proportions. Poor Beefy was texting updates to Fletch for Facebook and as he was texting one wicket , the next wicket missed. When discussing these wickets and what Beefy missed, his reply was “ I’m on Official Club Business you don’t expect me to watch cricket too”. From what I saw of wickets Sterling hit stumps for an excellent executed run out and he took a brilliant catch. Before we knew it  Hi Fi and Ollie finished off tail very swiftly and the Dutch were 102 all out.

Hi Fi eventually finds radar

But there was still a mystery of the clean bowled that wasn’t. Leprechaun explained, Tommy Cooper thought there were not enough fielders in the inner circle so assumed a no ball and played a shot accordingly. When conferring the umpires noticed this was the case, so gave it a dead ball, not no ball as not called at time. At end of innings this was changed to no ball for score of 104. Are you keeping up everybody? With Colly he was taken off as a precaution with tight hamstring and couldn’t ball 1 ball to complete his spell. I sugegested he could have bowled it underarm.

We moved to pavillion for lunch time drink feeling very satisfied . Then it started to rain, covers were on and surely can’t be rained off. Dawid Malan was trying to steal my glory and was being interviewed. This gave us a chance sing our Dawid Malan Song thought up by Kimmy in the shower (don’t ask! ) . Anyway, it goes like this;

“He’s Dawid Malan

He’s Dawid Malan

His nickname is AC

He’s Dawid Malan”

Straight after this we were next being interviewed by this crew for Deventer TV news tonight. I really hope this made the cutting room floor.

So the rain stopped , hooray, the players are out. We start cautiously but steadily with 30 off first 9 overs. No rush to catch plane or have more drinking time with the fans. Then Newman scooped a mistimed drive for catch and AC out plum LBW soon after,  I still wasn’t panicking. Stirling was able to let rip with some powerful hitting when he felt like it and then plodded along with ease. With Rogers in solid support there was never a contest. It was a case of how soon and there was a loss of a further wicket as we were closing in on target. In 24^th over a scampered single gave us a very very easy victory.

Handshakes all round

So time to celebrate in pavillion with some of players. Ollie was very accommodating and gave us the impression he really wanted to stay with us. We really tried hard to persuade him. As he walked out last, to catch the coach to airport there was a chant “ you’re Middlesex till you die“. Which was acknowleged.

Kimmy being really persuasive to Ollie

A satisfying win and loads of positives cricket wise. The hospitality at ground was second to none. And finally all I can say is “Can we Play You every Year” Given 2 successive nightmare journeys I feel the players would not agree with these sentiments.

And finally the last night was a quieter one, although I did befriend a local wrestler and celebrated in fountain. Final drink at hotel bar we were trying to explain to this large group why we were there and mentioned cricket which was lost on them. I showed my Panthers Top that suggested I was a Middx player, don’t know how but Kenpr was making references to being Middx coach and Hobbo convinced them he is Middx “drinking coach“.

Celebrate good wins. Come on.

I hope you enjoyed reading this report, if you do my name is Barmy Kev, if not I’m Beefy Roberts c/o Middlesex CCC Official Site.