LV County Championship Division Two, Kia Oval, Close, day one: Surrey 118-6, Gloucestershire 168 all out.
To The Oval! …on Sunday morning for Day 1 of Surrey’s County Championship tussle with Gloucestershire. It’s not great when both sides are calling it a ‘must win game’ before the football season has even finished.
A rare outpouring of Transpontine precipitation greeted me at the grand old / new Surrey gates. This wasn’t a morning for cricket comfort viewing out on the roof terraces of The Oval.
On the piss in the Pavilion, etc.
Chin chin.
Out in the middle and bobble hats were the must have cricketing fashion accessory. If not for the pristine white players, then for the FOOLS sitting out in the great wide open.
Where’s Wally, etc.
The weather didn’t deter the ‘rrey. Two early wickets suggested that it was a sunshine BOWLING day for the home side. I always forget that the first innings in these four-day matches can’t really be judged until both sides have had a bat.
Whoops.
It was good to see the Viscount Linley back in the Surrey XI. It was also good to hear (I think?) Gary Wilson back behind the wicket.
“BOWLED TREMMS!!!!”
…could be heard across the other side of the river every other over.
Ah yes - Tremmers.
Beefed up and back looking mean for action.
We had an unfortunate Pigeon Down situation shortly before the break. A boundary bound ball was very kindly intercepted by a South London guttersnipe feathery friend.
Fine work, pigeon fella.
The pigeon fanciers of South London had a heart in the mouth moment when the makeshift fielder failed to get up. The rest of the pack flew off eastwards towards the Peter May - never a wise idea in itself.
The wounded soldier hobbled along, slightly dazed and confused and with his plumage ruffled in full public view.
Fast forward to the Member’s Bar in five hours time and I would be repeating the pigeon look.
The Gloucestershire 100 came up on the scoreboard just before luncheon, and then with the final ball of the session, Matthew Dunn took a third wicket for the ‘rrey.
Honours even.
It was a case of GET ‘EM OFF! / GET ‘EM ON! after the break.
The Transpontine precipitation continued.
So did young Dunn, with Yoof Vs Yoof and Tavare putting in a fine batting performance for the visitors.
The Viscount then took control, launching his airplane wicket taking celebration, not once, but twice.
The landing strip of the OCS Stand was within his sights.
Steady the buffers, old boy.
Bitterness and football got the better of me as the tea interval approached. It was CHUFFING COLD out on the top tier. The twaddle of the Premiership down in the bar was marginally the better option.
I thawed out just in time to see a wonderful presentation for the Surrey Members now in their sixtieth consecutive year of watching the ‘rrey.
I’m sure that the old boys and girls have seen it all down in SE11 over the years. A wounded pigeon, a Viscount plane landing and a pair of tights in the Pavilion - all on the same day - made it a half-decent start to the game.
C’mon the ‘rrey!