Surrey v Middlesex, day three, Middlesex 395: Gubbins 91, Malan 58, Robson 53; T Curran 4-113, Surrey 242 & 98-0 (f/o): Burns 57* Surrey trail by 55 runs
To The Oval! …mid-morning on Tuesday for some ducking and diving in-between work shifts.
How exciting: a midweek escape from the coal face, and the SEXINESS of watching Surrey swing the big bat as they do the Surrey Strut to shut up that lot from the other side of the river.
Hang on…
It was a school day off for me.
It was also Kid’s Day down at The Oval.
Oh dear.
Actually it was bloody ACE to see 5,000 or so Surrey ankle biters turn up bright and early at The Oval. It’s got to better than double maths back in the classroom.
It led to a slight adjustment of my own Oval routine. I nervously surveyed the colour of the school uniforms, keeping a watchful eye out for Boy Y.
Tuesday was not the best time to go on the piss in the Peter May, and then make an absolute twat of myself in front of the lovely kids from the day job.
I took up my seat in the Nu Peter May with the ‘rrey blocking on 160-7.
The modern interweb meme by mistake of #AnsariWatch looks like it might be replaced by #FoakesWatch for the remainder of the season.
Our man out in the middle was doing his best to bore the thousands of South London school kids sitting over in the OCS.
His run rate was the slowest ever for a number 7 batsman in the entire history of Surrey County Cricket Club. Foakes managed to ‘beat’ the previous record set by… Foakes.
BATTED, fella.
But this was a game that called for blocking. With rain expected on Wednesday, you could see the logic in ditching the SEXY Surrey Strut for the day - especially with the school kids around.
The South London YOOF absolutely loved it.
Each block was greeted with a cheer of approval. What do they teach them during PE sessions these days?
A game of cricket was in danger of breaking out in-between the mass autograph signing session taking place by the OCS boundary.
The highlight of the day had to be a dozen or so school kids patiently queuing up to get the autograph of the incredibly charming Surrey steward who stands by the Member’s entrance to the Pavilion.
Meanwhile a very nervous looking Caesar the Lion was seen weighing up his options from the safety of the Nu Peter May, looking rather reluctant to do the mascot meet ‘n’ greet thing.
Not a lot was happening out there in the middle.
Block.
Block.
Block.
Over.
The ‘rrey finally got the scoreboard ticking over to 200 with the last ball before luncheon.
An ironic cheer went up from the hardcore Nu Peter May pissheads.
The school kids repeated the acclaim.
School kids don’t do irony.
It was noticeable that MC Man Brian didn’t do his usual announcement of inviting spectators to have a gentile wander around the outfield during the break.
I made my way over to the Pavilion to grab the freebie WiFi and to… upload some work school video content from the day before.
I stuck around a little longer for the afternoon session.
The Middlesex appeal for Foakes on 49 was actually louder than the kids sitting in the OCS.
Batty went for 38. Pillans put in a lively 20, whilst Rampaul went for a duck.
Ta for coming, etc.
Which is something that should also be said to the South London school kids. They made a very odd day of cricket appear quite spectacular.
C’mon the ‘rrey!