Pistonheads goes to Lords......
Discussion
Hammer67 said:
gadgetmac said:
If you get bored with all the cricket talk after the match pop down to The Warrington pub 1/3rd of a mile away in Maida Vale (it's very walkable, 10 minutes at most) for a drink and a piss take about the footy.
Righto bud, if we get the chance might well pop in. I imagine you will be tempted to just crash in the hotel bar - but sole less IMO - or even the tavern right beside the ground but the Warrington would be worth the walk! I would also encourage you to avoid SJW high St as you will have too many locals frowning at you guys and dampening your mood....
Have a great day and if you have any questions or need any pointers re the local area, just shout as there are clearly two of us 'locals' rooting for you..... (Typed from gloomy Glos)
Enjoy and loads of piccys for the album
Slaav said:
Bu66er the result, did you get to walk through the long room to go out and bat?
And how pished now?? (Answer tomorrow I guess)
Yes, opened the batting. Walking out of the long room was one of the most special moments of my life. Hit 2 fours and a 3 and got triggered LBdoosh bottom edging on to my foot. Am sat in a pub near St Pancras on the raz. And how pished now?? (Answer tomorrow I guess)
Where to start with this post?
Might as well go with what happened on the pitch. We lost the toss, Sessay chose to bat. No great surprise, we'd have done the same. Not surprisingly the track was of a reasonable standard and the outfield like a carpet.
We got a couple of early wickets but after 20 overs they were 100 for 2 and cruising, their number 3, Simon Mason playing the innings of his life. We thought our skip Rowey had him plumb LB on around 20 but apart from that his innings was chanceless and breathtaking to watch, a very short boundary didn't help trying to contain him and the other bats who supported him. Nothing we tried stop the runs coming and the second 20 went for 200 leaving them 307 for 5 and the game was pretty much done right there.
I opened our innings and what a feeling that was, walking out at Lords. Surprisingly I didn't feel that nervous and after a couple of air shots slashed a couple of 4s up and over gulley. A strong push through point for 3 and I was into double figures. Disappointingly I then got a straight low full toss which I bottom edged onto my back foot and was given LBW so off I trudged at 23 for 1. Still I didn't get a golden or any other kind of duck so could have been worse. We then collapsed to 55 for 5 when our best bat Ben Allon started whacking it around, the highlight of which was 4 consecutive 6s over the short boundary. He went for 70 and we were all out for 188 with a couple of overs left.
Sessay thoroughly deserved to win and in all honesty we were never in it once the score went over 250. They were a great bunch of lads and the game was played in a fantastic spirit. The crowd were great as well and with all our friends and family there it was a fantastic experience.
The off field experience was brilliant as well. A true glimpse into the life of a pro cricketer. The pavilion, the changing room (we had the home one), the Long Room, the portraits on the stairs, the balcony, the Lords staff, the lunch, the members, the hospitality, the Gala Dinner in the Long Room after the game. All of it truly memorable and a real privilege to be a part of. Absolutely wonderful.
The speakers at the dinner were Graham Gooch and Dean Headley, who were quite entertaining. Obviously I consumed a reasonable amount of free wine and on one visit to the loo I bumped into Gooch and knowing he's a fellow Hammer, engaged him in conversation about West Hams current lack of fit strikers.
All in all a day that tops just about anything I've ever experienced and I'll never forget it. Once I've sorted stuff out I'll upload some pics.
H67.
Might as well go with what happened on the pitch. We lost the toss, Sessay chose to bat. No great surprise, we'd have done the same. Not surprisingly the track was of a reasonable standard and the outfield like a carpet.
We got a couple of early wickets but after 20 overs they were 100 for 2 and cruising, their number 3, Simon Mason playing the innings of his life. We thought our skip Rowey had him plumb LB on around 20 but apart from that his innings was chanceless and breathtaking to watch, a very short boundary didn't help trying to contain him and the other bats who supported him. Nothing we tried stop the runs coming and the second 20 went for 200 leaving them 307 for 5 and the game was pretty much done right there.
I opened our innings and what a feeling that was, walking out at Lords. Surprisingly I didn't feel that nervous and after a couple of air shots slashed a couple of 4s up and over gulley. A strong push through point for 3 and I was into double figures. Disappointingly I then got a straight low full toss which I bottom edged onto my back foot and was given LBW so off I trudged at 23 for 1. Still I didn't get a golden or any other kind of duck so could have been worse. We then collapsed to 55 for 5 when our best bat Ben Allon started whacking it around, the highlight of which was 4 consecutive 6s over the short boundary. He went for 70 and we were all out for 188 with a couple of overs left.
Sessay thoroughly deserved to win and in all honesty we were never in it once the score went over 250. They were a great bunch of lads and the game was played in a fantastic spirit. The crowd were great as well and with all our friends and family there it was a fantastic experience.
The off field experience was brilliant as well. A true glimpse into the life of a pro cricketer. The pavilion, the changing room (we had the home one), the Long Room, the portraits on the stairs, the balcony, the Lords staff, the lunch, the members, the hospitality, the Gala Dinner in the Long Room after the game. All of it truly memorable and a real privilege to be a part of. Absolutely wonderful.
The speakers at the dinner were Graham Gooch and Dean Headley, who were quite entertaining. Obviously I consumed a reasonable amount of free wine and on one visit to the loo I bumped into Gooch and knowing he's a fellow Hammer, engaged him in conversation about West Hams current lack of fit strikers.
All in all a day that tops just about anything I've ever experienced and I'll never forget it. Once I've sorted stuff out I'll upload some pics.
H67.
Great pics Hammer ... looks like you all had a great weekend anyway - sod the result - nice to win but you'll just have to go back and win next year!
I see you were down there trying to defend the slope then - did many get away from you because of it? Barry Wood played a forward defensive in a Gillette final once off the first ball I think and it went for four having at one time not looked like it would leave the square - running off down to The Tavern.
You lucky guy - standing on the very outfield where many great matches have been played, walking on THAT square (never mind how far over they put you ... )
Clive Lloyd's 100 in the '75 World Cup Final was played on THAT ground.
Richards' 100 in a Gillette Final for Somerset was played where you walked.
Bob Massey took 16 wickets in '72 was it swinging it like crazy running where you fielded and walked.
Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram bowling England out to win a Test match. Where you were.
And they're just ones I saw. Plus 100s of matches before that.
Superb!
I see you were down there trying to defend the slope then - did many get away from you because of it? Barry Wood played a forward defensive in a Gillette final once off the first ball I think and it went for four having at one time not looked like it would leave the square - running off down to The Tavern.
You lucky guy - standing on the very outfield where many great matches have been played, walking on THAT square (never mind how far over they put you ... )
Clive Lloyd's 100 in the '75 World Cup Final was played on THAT ground.
Richards' 100 in a Gillette Final for Somerset was played where you walked.
Bob Massey took 16 wickets in '72 was it swinging it like crazy running where you fielded and walked.
Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram bowling England out to win a Test match. Where you were.
And they're just ones I saw. Plus 100s of matches before that.
Superb!
RichB said:
Well done, looks like a dream for you as a cricketer!
Thought this was Sir Ian Botham with a short hair cut!
I wish, ITB was my hero as a teenager in the 80s. Thought this was Sir Ian Botham with a short hair cut!
I tried to play the game the way he did. Still do really.
Slash and burn with the bat, medium pace outswingers with the ball.
All sorts of nonsense off the field.
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