Pakistan 169, Patsies 166, Pasties 27,
Tin of tuna 1
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A
record early start for a Saturday session with Dave and Phil catching the 7:47
from Snow Hill. Simbers joined at Dorridge and was surprised by the interesting
choice of reading material selected for the journey, with not one but two copies
of that scabiest of rags the Daily Mail supported by the latest Viz.
The latter providing another in the long list of Phil lookalikes with Timmy the
“Spoiled B***ard” bearing an uncanny likeness.
An
uneventful journey, was punctuated by the chap’s first ever encounter with filter coffee bags, a crackly
mobile call from Chap and an opportunity to count the number of missing panels
on the new Wemberley stadium as we passed by.
We
had appropriately arranged to meet Dave at the Cornish Pasty stall at Marylebone,
with pasties being a recurring theme throughout the day.
A
short walk to Lords where we were greeted by an announcement that play would be
delayed by rain until 11:15 This gave Dave the opportunity to blag as many
freebies as possible generally done by signing up to whatever credit card /
insurance deals the attractive promotional
girls were pushing, hence the chaps acquired a full set of matching rain
ponchos, a pair of mini binoculars and several wine tasting vouchers.
Whilst
awaiting the 11:00 bar opening a spot of celebrity spotting resulted in a brush
with Glen Hoddle, looking particularly orange skinned and Rameez Raja on his way
to the press box sporting trademark eighties coiffure.
The
First of many pasties were consumed whilst waiting 20 mins for Fishy’s
Capuccino which appeared to require coffee beans to be flown in from Columbia
and a cow to be milked.
Armed
with beers ( hand pulled London Pride was available) we our took seats
in the Mound stand, nicely sheltered form the elements but a bit tight on leg
room. As we watched the hovercraft powered covers move off and on it was clear
play would delayed further, so Dave took the opportunity to cancel his Sky TV
package. Time for more pasties, Dave to squeeze 3lb of sausages into one bread
roll and general abusing of the Wolf Blass wine tasting service.
Play
eventually started as a 40 overs match, taking
a predictable turn of events as wickets fell regularly and the result never
really being in doubt as Shoaib steamed in at some pace, whilst the run rate
hovered at 2.5 /over for too long and a paltry target of 166 eventually being
set.
Veuve
Cliqueot champagne was being downed in great numbers by the people around us and
Dave was keen to join in but at £50 bottle us more impecunious Brummies stuck
to the beers and Sim’s bottle of Tesco Shiraz in paper cups. Phil did however
confirm he had joined the prawn sandwich brigade by producing a tin of economy
tuna flakes and half a sliced loaf for afternoon tea.
By late afternoon all beer
except Fosters had gone and the food stalls emptied of all but veggie pasties
and the odd Samosa (Have they never staged a big game here before?)
As
the game drew to its inevitable conclusion in the gloom the chaps left Inzzie
and Youssof to administer the last rights and headed to a
pub to watch the last half hour of the footy. As we entered the first pub a not
particularly pc local cockerny was incredulous
we had been beaten by the ‘pakis’ yet again.
On to another pub for more beers before catching last train home and a chance for a bit of kip. A good day out despite the weather and cricket