Middlesex v Lancs

T20 Quarter FinalThe Brit Oval

Nervous anticipation. I think that’s what I experienced as I left home. Somewhere between excitement and terror. Was amused to see it was raining in my back garden, but sunny in my front. Made it to the Oval in good time, where the weather decided to spit for about a minute, then burst into sunshine. That was a good start.

My pal Emily doesn’t know very much about other teams colours, and was horrified when she realised she matched Lancs in red. I threatened to disown her. She ended up “borrowing” my Middlesex baseball cap. She loved it so much she nearly walked off home with it.  

Joycey won the toss and elected to bat. Crowd really filled up just before the start, the Pavilion looked full. Didn’t see that many Lancs fans, although there was an old dear to my left who practically started crying with joy every time Flintoff’s name was mentioned.

Billy G and Ace opened up, and I was definitely nervous. So we let off steam by whooping at each player as their name was announced. Billy G got us off the mark with a single. Cue whooping. Ace hit one straight to Cork’s waiting hands to leave us 1-1 after the third ball of the match. No more whooping. Distress. Next over Billy was caught in the slips by Flintoff off Cork to make it 2-2. Horror.

Joycey was given out for 8, unluckily I thought. He didn’t seem happy about it and neither was I. In came Scott. Out went Scott when he fell to a superb catch by du Plessis for 1. It was up to the MnMs, Morgan and Malan, to drag us out of the mire that was 21-4.

And drag us they did, with a partnership of eighty runs. Malan got his 50 off 29 balls, and at one point smacked du Plessis for three sixes. The whooping returned. His fifty coincided with our hundred, which was much appreciated; I had visions of us not getting there. Morgs attempted his favoured unorthodox shot next over, and didn’t work out. Then he tried it next ball and was promptly bowled by Croft, so you could say it really didn’t work out. He made 33 off 31 and God knows we needed that.

Malan continued his amazing innings with Hendo helping at the other end, hitting some huge shots. One Marshall over went for 28, and he reached his richly deserved 100 off Cork’s final over, taking fourteen off it. Fantastic.

The magic had to end as he fell for 103 with two balls to go, caught off the bowling of Flintoff. He got a pat on the back from everyone, and a mightily deserved standing ovation from the crowd. Shaggy popped in, was bowled, and popped out again. Dial M hit a single off his only ball to take us to 176-7. Who’d have thought we’d make that after our start?

Malan deserves every inch of praise that comes his way after that innings. Beautiful shots, modest celebration, and still only 20. He’s got a bright future.  

Lanky Lanky Lanky Lanky Damp Squib

Had everything crossed that Lancs would start badly. They did. Finn trapped Cross lbw for a duck, and next over Dial M did the same to Vincent. They were 3-2 and I was feeling good. Two danger men were at the crease, Law and Flintoff. Luckily, Law didn’t hang around; he was caught by Udal off Dial M, leaving them 14-3.

Flintoff then took charge, taking 14 off one Murts over and hitting Shaggy’s first two balls for six. Flintoff and du Plessis moved the score on to 68 when the latter was excellently caught by Finn, who took a running catch off TSO. Flintoff’s 50 came off 32 balls, and he was lucky to remain after a stumping chance went begging.

Any time he was still there I felt Lancs had a chance. Happily, he then holed out to Malan (who else?) off Finn for 53.

Croft fell for a run a ball 16, but Chapple seemed to have honed his boundary hitting skill, until he was caught by Ace for 22 off 12. Cork hit his first ball for 6, but was bowled by Hendo for 7.

Lancs needed 18 off the last over, but finished on 164-8, giving us a 12 run victory. Malan was the Man of the Match, and rightly so. Then it sunk in. We’d won.

Where's That Going?  Rose Bowl!!! 

We were going to the Rose Bowl. Going to the Rose Bowl! I tried to create a catchy song stating this but failed miserably. Ah well. Can’t have everything. Couldn’t believe the start we’d had, but thanks to Malan we were on our way to Southampton.

And not forgetting the bowlers, they were all excellent, and Hendo in particular at the death, so calm and collected, fantastic. All that remains is to get up at 9 in the morning and book those Finals Day tickets!   

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