he is the man

By Kimmy
September 4 2009

Kimmy reports from Wantage Road on Day Two A day for bouncers, ambulances and The Iceman. A cracking days cricket with the game perhaps swinging back Northants way. Despite the cold Kimmy brings us a superb report,, her first and hopefully not her last. We also learn about her new secret weapon to help the lads, a cracking read..

So... having set off late and dashed up the M1 and missed all the Police cars thankfully. Found the ground easy-peasy thanks to some little brown signs pointing the way.... Entered the ground and it was blowing a gale! Bumped into Seaxe man and said hello!I decided to make my way round to the Pavilion end, it looked slightly less exposed, but out of the sun too.... Found a GREAT seat and.... couldn't see the score board of which there was only one (?) and was obscured by the camera platform! Oh well not scores for my report then...? 

Simpson and Udal resume.. 1st over and they are still there.... Then in comes Andrew Hall.. Nothing much happens until Ryan Van Wath bowled a particularly nasty (my thought) ball at Shaggy..

He turned to miss it and ducked, but not enough.... He went straight to the ground and stayed there. I'm very pleased to say that all the players came over to him and the physio was summoned straight away.... He was on the ground for some time and didn't seem to be moving... Some of the players drifted off (they couldn't really do anything) and I heard them mention an ambulance had been called. Blankets were called for, I expect it was cold on the floor (it was freezing where I was) luckily when the ambulance arrived Shaggy was moving about and was able to walk to it.  (Having spoken to some of the players after the game and mentioning I was reporting) they were able to confirm he had been checked by a doctor and was groggy but okay. He had rested for the day and will stay in the hotel tonight. It would be decided tomorrow if he would play or not.....) 

So anyway... back to the game Kartik came in for Shaggy The whole of Northants shout for an lbw....unlucky... the umpire sees sense and ignores it! Ha! And the very next ball Kartik hits for 4 Ha Ha Ha that's what we think of your lbw shout Mr Hall! (Note to self; stop being so aggressive, they are NOT the Aussies after all!) both bowlers are bowling some wild balls, Kartik nearly has his head taken off but it goes for 4 instead! I'm really enjoying myself, except this seems to be the only part of the ground not covered by the sun! (Note to self; remember to take hat, scarf and gloves net time!) EVERYBODY OFF for rain... I'll just have a look at the scoreboard.... 227 for 6 Simpson 67 Kartik 6.....

 Back again...except Monty who is in the loo or trying to get warm (delete as necessary...)Another cry for a wicket and again the umpire ignores them. I like this man; he seems to know what he's doing (which is more than can be said for me!)Kartik is caught on 7 in comes Timmy... Robbie Williams is the drinks man... he's really gone down the pan since leaving Take That... Another 4 for Simpson hip hip hooray! Oh no! I can't remember what the hand signals mean... 2 hands in the air? Oh yes that's a SIX!!! 

What time's lunch, I need a wee but I'm too scared to go in case something happens.... I know I'll text Beefy, he'll know, he's at work, but never mind!! Northants change the field a bit and what happens... Simpson hits it for 4! Ha ha ha...but Timmy is out the next ball...in comes HIfi... I've got my special T shirt on just for him! Oh no Simpson is out!! He did so well.... 87... GOOD BOY... he was clapped off by the Northants plays which I thought was a lovely touch!!! 

LUNCH.... we're all out (Udal retired hurt) for 251... I decide to warm up and go and sit in my car. 

 So we're on the field after lunch and I decide to move to the sunny side and Seaxe man... He's a nice man, but I lose a bit of concentration with the game.... I had a whole morning of not talking to anyone, come on!!!! So.... special mention goes to Steve FINN who picked up his 50th wicket today.... he's bowling well, played right back at Northants and bowled some wild balls to them! 14 for 3!! Ha ha 

 Finn was at the Pavilion end, Murtagh the other..... Time for the Iceman..... White was doing quite well till he was bowled!! 47... shame he didn't get his 50... we were steady, but their total kept creeping up... At tea Northants were 148 or 6......

NOT FOR LONG!! Funny thing about the Iceman... when he's finished bowling he'll take his jumper and cap, put his cap on then put his arms in his jumper, take his cap off put the jumper over his head and put the cap back on.... funny... I point this out to Seaxe man and the next time he DOESN'T DO IT!! now don't I look silly, but watch him..... Timmy in his run up holds his left hand out all funny like... watch the next time you're at a game!! 

Telepathy is called for I tell Seaxe Man... I tell the Iceman to "c'mon" but nothing happens... then I tell him to "get a wicket" and you NEVER guess what happens..... there's a cry for "catch it" and Kartik does!! So.... I can 'speak' to the players then...? I try again but I don't think I can be heard, the middle are pretty vocal themselves! So I shout.... through my head "Gareth" and yep, Panesar goes.... caught by Dexter.... I don't even know who the last man out was for Northants.... (Editors note..Lee Daggett)

Its back to back 5-fers for the Iceman with a double juggle catch from Simpson.... He acted as a fine wicket keeper for us! So there's 11 overs left in the day and we're all a little nervous.... I decide it's time to go to the loo and of course what happens... Compton's out!! Oh no!! It's not a great start for the middle, as I wander round the ground wickets fall like flies; I'm almost too scared to watch! We end the day on 17 for 3.

 Not quite how I would like to end it, but I have to remember an interesting first match report... there was a little bit of everything....