Nudged by an Angel

Hi everyone!

Wonderful weather over the last week or two.

And plenty of time for cricket.

A tremendous Friday evening with Neil Ayton & Edward Cox at the Ageas Bowl near Southampton for Hampshire v Sussex in the T20.

Though Luke Wright scored 116 not out, Sussex’s 171 for 8 for  fell 6 runs short of Hampshire’s 177 (Michael Carberry 87).

Hampshire progress to the T20 Quarter Finals; Sussex don’t !!

Luke Wright is in just fantastic form. Though I didn’t see the game, Sussex pulled off a world-record run chase with nine balls to spare against T20 Blast South Group winners Essex.

Luke Wright smashed an unbeaten 153 in only 66 balls - the fourth-highest ever T20 score - which included 12 fours and 11 sixes to see Sussex to 226-3.

 

From the rock music, flames & dancing girls of the T20, it was off to Horsham for all the the tradition of a Monday Day 1 in the County championship Sussex v Warwickshire.

Another sunny day, this time in the Sussex countryside, watching with Graham Bishopp & Paul Hardwick, friends from School & the Tunbridge Wells Borderers. My cricket with Graham goes back to the never-to-be-forgotten Upper Banner Farm Cricket Club.

A good day for Sussex, who by the end of the game on Day 4 had comfortably beaten Warwickshire by 226 runs.

And so to the two games at Lords.

A Thursday evening for Middlesex v Surrey in front of a capacity crowd of over 28,000, the biggest ever for a T20 match.

Eoin Morgan hit 43 to leave the hosts handily placed at 108 for 2 who stuttered to 137 for 8.

Surrey looked well placed at 113 for 4 in reply before slumping to 133 for 8.

Then with one required off the last ball, Ansari dived to make his ground and seal a two-wicket win.

It was good  - as always  - to see Nigel Taunt for our annual evening game and to welcome Stuart Feest & his elder son, Lewis; the latter for his first ever visit to the Home of Cricket.

I hope that in the years ahead Lewis will go to Lords many, many times, always remembering his first ever game there.

And the second game at Lords? Day one of England v India.

The seeds of England’s defeat by 95 runs were sown on that first day, when England put India in and got them to 145 for 7 at tea, only to allow the final 3 wickets to put on 150 for 295 all out.

It was a real privilege to watch from the Cazenove box with Niall Kennedy in the Tavern Stand.

A Pimms, a beer & glass of white wine and lunch together “provided the opportunity” to close my eye lids during the afternoon session.

As  my eyes took a rest from the live action, I was remembering a game I saw with Dad 50 years ago on Saturday 5 September 1964 : Sussex v Warwickshire in the Gillette Cup Final.

In truth, it wasn’t much of a match. Ian Thomson reduced Warwickshire to 21 for 3, before AC Smith’s 35 not out helped them to just 127.

But as an already lifelong fan, Sussex winning by 8 wickets made for a good day out, especially as Lord Ted & Young Jim were there at the end with an unbeaten stand of 34.

In those days the Cup was presented to the winning team in front of the Pavilion, with the crowd (including a 12 year old Richard)  on the outfield, perhaps 40 yards from where a 62 year old Ric was gently dozing.

The nudge was gentle, but it was definitely a nudge. 

And I heard:

Richard, I’m your Guardian Angel Gigi.

I’ve walked by your side every day of your Life.

What a Life since you stood on the outfield: 

 Nothing like you ever expected. 
And not what I was expecting either.

But, Richard, trust me: You ain’t seen nothing yet !!

As for just what the Angel Gigi told me about what was still to come in my Life; well, that’s for another Blog on another day!!

Still time for plenty of time for Cricket watching this season.

See you at a game soon!!

Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace.

PS

One more Golden anniversary to celebrate this season: Saturday 15 August 1964 for day 3 of England v Australia the 5^th Test at the Oval.

Some legendary players:

   Australia captained by Bobby Simpson, with Bill Lawry, Norman O’Neill & Wally Grout

   England captained by Lord Ted, with Geoff Boycott, Colin Cowdrey & Young Jim

But the day was all about another England player.

What can I tell you about him? 
His second name was Sewards & his daughter Rebecca married Raquel Welch’s son Damon.

What exactly happened on that Saturday 50 Summers ago… read my next Blog !!