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Middlesex 106 all out
v Yorkshire 238-9
close on day 1

Wednesday 9 September 2015

LV County Championship Division 1
at Lord’s

Twitter @ball_sup

Yorkshire won the Title & I duly celebrated with Fourpure Session IPA from a can at 4.2%. I’m not going to give it all the “tasted sweeter in victory” malarkey. Of course, I enjoyed the day immensely. Stirlo, Compo & Malan - all gone in Ryan’s first over. None for three. Inexorable. In a way, its partly showed up the problems of LV Div 1. It’s alright me giving it the old coming hard at you in every session speech. But, that has been an odd day’s cricket if you’re watching dispassionately.

I’ve no real idea if the ball was doing loads. But, The Middle are Yorkshire’s closest rivals. They did fight back & may even go on to win. But, woeful today. Not at the Races.

Obligatory over of Middlebrook spin immediately before Lunch. Simpson gone caught behind.

Obligatory over of PAUL STIRLING spin immediately before tea. Lees gone leg before.

Brainless.

Andrew Gale can do what he likes for me. I trust the fella. I’ve rushed to the Long Room & cheered him (& Ryan) to the rafters at Lunch (92-7). To. The. Rafters.

In a twist, The correct number of points come up when Graham Onions clean bowls Harry Gurney for nought at Trent Bridge.  My BBC Sport app alert vibrates. I check it. There are murmurs in other parts of the ground. I say - “that’s it, Notts are all out”. Turn around & Chief Executive Mark Arthur looks up from his phone, looks at me & says “yes, they are”. Not “they think it’s all over, it is now”. But, I’ll have it.

So, I’ve rushed to the Long Room at Tea & cheered Gale (54*) to the rafters. He’s beaming. To. The. Rafters. And then the tit has got out on 98 (off 110). I’ve rushed to the Long Room. Essentially, there are no rafters left. He can do what he likes for me. Regent. Appointed by a Higher Power. He’s been there longer than The Queen surely…..

You win the title over the season. Hard Yakka. But, for the moment, I’m just taking in what happened today.

200/414