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HARMER WINS IT FOR EAGLES
As Donald Trump chased a posse of Mexicans and a conclave of Cardinals looked on without intervention (devine or otherwise), the crowd settled down after some more forced jollity from a blast from the past, Mr Motivator.
The Umpa Lumpas weren't wondering how Notts hadn't reached the final, they hadn't been on the big screen yet, but I was. What would have happened if we had had Imad? A lady sat in front of us asked, "who do want to win this one?", I replied that I never really liked Essex so....
The Worcestershire contingent were by this stage well passed mellow, they had forgotten the vile jibes about Joe Clarke's back-story and were "rather being a Pear than a Bear" which was worth a smile for the first dozen renditions but the air horn remained a constant annoyance.
Essex won the toss and going against the logic learnt from the semi finals decided to have a bowl. Perhaps the wet dewy ball later on coming into that calculation.
Rapids again started with the early loss of Kiwi Rutherford but then Riki Wessels and more extravagant Moeen Ali constructed a fifty partnership. Moeen, Moeen, Mo-eeeen ringing out. At the back of the Raglan stand there is a wooden fascia affair, and it was only a matter of time, or alcohol consumption, before the vocal "Pears" discovered its "virtues" as a drum, which was fine at this point, Worcestershire were in the hunt and Eagles looked to be struggling to get off the ground. My favour was torn between the two sides at this stage.
In the ninth over Simon Harmer removed Moeen and Ben Cox in consecutive deliveries, 61-3. Some brute force from Wayne Parnell took the score on another 29 runs before Harmer struck again in the 13th. A more expansive than in the semi-final Daryl Mitchell chipped in another 19 runs but the early platform built by Wessels and Ali was allowed to be taken advantage off by the guille of Harmer and Bopara and Rapids closed on 145-9, again Harmer the pick of the bowlers 3/16.
When the going gets tough, the banter turns to abuse and so it did. "The Pears" Moeen songs turned to crudity and childish chants along with the frenzied board banging, words were had with the "corporates" above in the boxes. I was now thinking that if Rapids lost that it wouldn't be a bad thing.
The Eagles' chase was guided to half way by Tom Westley (36) 65-3 10.3 overs. Ravi Bopara took the lead from there.
Oh Rav-i Bo-par-a, oh Rav-i Bo-par-a!
As Bopara steered the chase, "The Pears" thought banging harder on the boards or slating TOWIE would help Rapids cause; beer was thrown by the aloof "corporates"and the stewards arrived, fortified by a couple of coppers. Little resulted but at least the banging ceased as token stewarding remained at the back but my sentiments were now firmly with the Eagles. The Sky DJ cranked up Neil Diamond for the umpteenth time and everyone was happy again.
As Simon Harmer hit the winning boundary, Neil and his raucous chorus bellowed out again as most of the crowd exited the stadium, uninterested in the presentations, with buses to catch.... Oh Sweet Caroline, what if we had had Imad?
I was disgusted by the Worcs fans against Notts and the references to the court case and the allegations held against JC which he was not guilty of. But they didn't care about the truth and continued - they were more like a football crowd. I was happy when they lost and gutted when BD failed to close out the semi for us. It was a pretty awful day really, looking back.
ReplyDeleteWhy did they put those louts in the same stand as cricket supporters. I was also so pleased when they were defeated. Come on the Outlaws for 2020.
ReplyDeletePersonally I avoid T20 because of the noise and the unsavoury drunken element it attracts to watch it.
ReplyDelete