First Five For

By Auntie Janet
September 1 2009

Janet reports from Lord's on the last day of the season at Headquarters. A shortened day but it brought Middlesex their second CC win of the season. Janet gives us the low down of events, whilst she and her knitting friends clicked as Gareth Berg gave Glos the chop.

Having had to work (nasty four letter word that) last week I felt thoroughly drained. I have a ‘rush’ job in knitting so did actually remember to take that instead of my ‘cricket project’. I did not have time to buy supplies to make my lunch, so I went to one of the local kosher bakery’s to buy some food (I went to ‘Sharon’s’ rather than ‘Grodzinski’s’). I was lucky with buses and despite the dodgy looking weather I arrived at Lord’s with 30 minutes to spare. I walked to the Grace Gates and waited until we could go in.

 I settled in my usual seat, and wondered how long would it take for ‘the boys’ to take 7 wickets. Of course technically  the unthinkable was possible with Gloucestershire getting the runs. Finn opened the bowling from the Nursery end and I suppose I got impatient that we did not take a wicket first ball. Berg opened at the pavilion end. Gloucs had advanced to 73 when Scottie took a fantastic tumbling catch to dismiss Taylor off the bowling of Finn.  Good we’re on our way.  

By and large Finn’s bowling from the Nursery end was not as good as his bowling from the pavilion end. Franklin and Kadeer Ali looked like they would take the game away from us, and they quickly advanced to 118 when Ali spooned an easy catch to Compton. Adshead was bowled next ball. One of my knitting buddies was sitting behind me and we chatted away as our needles clicked. I cannot remember the lunchtime score. 

During the lunch hour I stretched my legs and met many contributors to this board. Lp told me we’ll have the match wrapped up by 2.30pm. 

After lunch Dawson and Franklin set about the bowling and again I doubted…….. Berg came back at the Nursery end and again took 2 wickets in 2 balls, Malan took the 1^st catch, and 3 balls later Saxelby was caught by Scott (196/8). Lewis perished in Berg’s next over when Scottie took a good catch (204/9).

 Nearly there! At approximately 2.30pm we did indeed wrap up their innings when Dexter caught Kirby in the slips off Murtagh’s bowling. Kartik did not bowl at all and the fear was that he had a ‘niggle’ as both Malan and London bowled, and Shaggy bowled from the Nursery end.  

A good win, which left me thinking about what might have been in other matches which were lost by small margins or we were beaten by the weather. Well done to the youngsters who stood up to be counted when it mattered.