Ripened Under The Same Sun

Middlesex 166 for 7 

beat

Sussex Sharks 103 for 9 

by 63 runs 

Blast T20 South Group 

Thursday 1 July 2021 

Played at Lord's 

If you've come to this episode of the Blog for The Beer. Please accept my unreserved apologies. LIDL were selling bottles of Veuve Delattre, Brut Champagne at £11.79. The classic combo - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier. I'm perfectly happy with these budget supermarket Champagnes. The Big Brands are lovely. But, the budgets are all made from the right grapes, grown in the right soil, under the same Sun. Sure, the riddling might be automatic rather than manual. But, do we really care about that? We're here to pile in, not to savour. Lots of apple on the Delattre. We've spent £23.58.

A pleasant enough experience at a reduced capacity, socially distanced Lord's. Stewards & staff very attentive & cheery. No realistic chance of a seat in the Pavilion. The Committee Room (where the Queen sits) was being used as an impromptu Middlesex dressing/viewing room. Angus Fraser was lolloping on the Members Bar balcony. The Long Room was deffo shut to punters. Not sure about the Long Room Bar. I put the Binos on & I could see Cask Ale being pulled in the Upper Allen bar. (I think Brakspear & Pedigree). We ended up with seats in the Upper Tavern stand.

Tonking for the Sharks. 85 run opening stand between Eskinazi and Holden inside 9 overs set a platform. A platform from which Middlesex maybe should have done better. Just four sixes in the 166. That felt a bit underpowered. Losing wickets at frequent intervals after the opening stand cost them a bit. Sussex used seven bowlers. Tymal Mills 2 for 31 off all four the best of the numbers. Archie Lenham took one for 15 off his two overs bowling leggies. You'll recall Archie was the first player born AFTER T20 started to make his T20 Blast debut. 

Calm, effective bowling got Middlesex what looked on the charts like an easy win. Nathan Sowter (leggies) took three for 13 off his full four. Blake Cullen also three-for. Travis Head (23) & Harrison Ward (22) top scored. Only one six in the whole show. You ain't gonna get very far with that. Moribund towards the end. Didn't look like they could lay a bat on it. Beer 5 off 9. Mills 11 off 19. Young Archie 5 off 12. Too late by then anyhoooo. Captain Steven Finn had the worst economy at just 6.5. Calm, effective.

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