365 Sporting Days

After a rugby league fest it was time for a more leisurely pursuit, during the Easter holidays I’d had a quiet day, that generally has me looking for sports fixtures.  I already had my Essex and Surrey dates pencilled into my diary so looked further afield.

Lords – The Home of Cricket is a place I along with many others love to watch cricket.  It just has a magical quality about it.  It didn’t take me long to decide I’d go and  watch Middlesex take on Kent in the T20 Blast.

I wrote the fixture in my diary yet somehow forgot to actually buy a ticket!  That was remedied the day before the match for a very reasonable £20!

It really is very easy to get into London from Chelmsford – rather thanchoose the expensive taxi route I drove to Shenfield and was able to park in the road near to the station.  I don’t begrudge paying to park, but I do hate walking in the dark round to the car park.

I chose the Baker Street route only to be faced with one of my biggest fears when I had to get off the train – THE GAP – it was huge!!  How I actually got off I do not know!  But, the cricket drew me.

One stop to St John’s Wood and Lords was right there, A quick walk round to collect my ticket and I was in!  I spotted my Quins supporting,  Lords Steward friend – it’s always a delight to say hello!

I had a walk round to the Pavilion and encountered a band playing – only at Lords!  Had a cup of tea and a cookie and watched some very charming waiters lure people into the swish looking Harris Garden for drinks.  Largely with no success at that time.

I’d chosen to it in the Grandstand having never sat there – I made the wrong choice for me – the view from the lower tier wasn’t to my liking, I prefer being behind the bowlers arm and found I couldn’t see the classy boundary from where I was sitting.

Middlesex were first up to bat, and they made a very good job of it.  They’ve had mixed fortunes losing to Gloucestershire and drawing with Sussex.

They came out with a high total on their mind – I never quite know whether it’s best to chase or to set the target.  I can’t see who won the toss and didn’t hear, but I suspect Middlesex won and chose to bat.

Paul Stirling opened with Dawid Malan, Malan had only faced 9 balls before he was caught by Sam Billings from the bowling of Darren Stevens for 11.

Stirling was joined at the crease by Nick Compton – his stay was a short one – 3 balls for 5 runs before he was caught by Daniel Bell-Drummond – bowler Calum Haggett.

Stirling had been making steady runs and was joined by the returning Eoin Morgan the tow piled the runs on – with Stirling hitting a wonderful 90 before he was out caught by Bell-Drummond from the bowling of Stevens – the score had built to 153.

Eoin Morgan had his eye in too and made an impressive 54 before he was caught by Alex Blake from the bowling of Adam Riley – it was good to see England’s ODI captain in the runs.

James Franklin was then Not Out for 23, Joe Burns added 13 before he was bowled by Matt Coles and John Simpson finished Not Out 1.  Middlesex had amassed a good total of 205.

I moved to the Edrich Upper to sit with Paul and Rhys – Originally Twitter friends with Paul we’ve connected on Facebook.  Rhys plays cricket for the Middlesex Disability team and is thriving!  It was great to meet them and a few of the other members of the team as well as one of their coaches.

The teams emerged after a short break – Kent weren’t equal to the task of scoring high – their top scorer was Sam Northeast on 20.  They were all out for a poor 90!

That was mainly due to the bowling of James Franklin – he was on a hat trick twice!  He finished with figures of 5 for 21!  Hugely impressive!

And so a big win for Middlesex – that’ll give the great momentum going forward.  Kent will have gone home with their tales between their legs, a lot to work on!

I thoroughly enjoyed my evening – it was greatly enhanced by meeting the Middlesex DCCC lads!

A few facts

• Cost of Ticket             £20.00
• Cocktails                     £  8.50
• Spirit & Mixer           £   8.50
• Champagne Veuve   £70.00
• Dom Perignon          £240.00!!!
•  Red/White Wine    £  22.00

The prices are all with The Harris Garden – wow – but I imagine people will buy aplenty!