Andy would be bowling the first over of the day against Hancock. So far this season Andy has been one of our most consistent bowlers and we were looking to him to get the early breakthrough. He carefully measure his run-up. We were all giving him verbal support. We really wanted to rip through the Gloucestershire tail, and quickly. Eventually the umpire signalled it was time to begin. Andy came running in. He released the ball. From 1st slip I saw it was on middle and off. Hancock went forward to play a defensive shot. The ball seamed towards his leg-stump It flicked the inside edge of his bat and SHATTERED THE STUMPS :happy
"YOUR THE MAN, ANDY. Great stuff!"
"Cheers Tom."
We all came running in and celebrated. It was the perfect start. They were now 51/6. We were jubilant. The first wicket would be crucial as we were now bowling at two tail-enders.
Andy finished of with only two more runs being given away. It was now my turn. The wind was right behind me giving me some extra pace which would be especially useful. I had to make sure I used the conditions well. You don't often get such good bowling conditions like this. I would be bowling at Adshead. I decided to concentrate on a line just outside of off-stump.
It worked.
First ball was quite full but right on his off-stump. He confidently tried to drive me but the ball seamed away and he got the slightest of edges. David immediately went up along with the slip cordon. Adshead did not hang around, he just turned and walked straight off.
My first wicket of the day (animated)
However things did not really progress much from here. The two new batsmen came out and played soooo defensive it was very boring. We had to bowl right on their stumps to play or else they just left it alone. I soon finished my spell without picking up any further wickets. I had bowled 12 overs with 2 maidens and 3 wickets, with only 33 runs conceeded. They were great figures but I knew it would be down to someone else to finish of the Gloucestershire batting line-up. The team however really cheered me on, on my great spell and the morale was extremely good. Gloucestershire were 66/7 and were trailing us by 38 runs.
Myself and Andy had only got two wickets so we needed someone to pick up those final wickets. That person was Jimmy. So many times, Jimmy Tredwell has been the man who has done it for Kent. He did it again today. His off-spin wiped out the Gloucestershire tail. They just had no answer to it. He picked up 3 wickets in just 3 overs and only 5 runs were scored, returning him figures of 5.1 - 0 - 12 - 4. It had been some sensational bowling and he led us of the pitch, with the crowd clapping us off. It had been an excellent performance with the ball, with Gloucestershire all out for 81.
Andy and Jimmy had been the best performers in that innings backed up well by myself. We now had a lead of 25 runs and there were 20 minutes to go till the Lunch Break. That meant David and Matt had a tricky time ahead of them. However at the moment we were still celebrating our bowling performance.
We all slowly headed up to the balcony. Myself, Andy and Jimmy got the most comfortable chairs as a reward for our excellent performance. All of a sudden there was a commotion down stairs. What was going on?
"Sir, you can't got up there. Sir, listen to me. You can't go up there!!!"
"What's going on?"
All of a sudden a man appeared. About 6"2 he was bigger than most of us. He pointed at Cooky.
"There you are. I've got a bone to pick with you."
"Tom!! Do something."
This guy looked like he could do some serious damage to Cooky. I stepped in front of Cooky.
"I think it's best if you go away. I don't want anything to happen. Just go down the stairs and leave."
"No f'ing way. He's dead."
He started running towards Cooky, and I realised he had knife in his hand!!!!!!!!!
"HE'S GOT A KNIFE!!!!!!!!"
Everyone bolted, as he ran towards Cooky and me. Oh my God, what was going to happen. The security guys were running up the stairs but they were too far away. We were in deep trouble!!!!
He was coming straight towards us. Myself and Cooky were backing up pretty quickly but we soon had our backs against the wall. The security guys were too far away. He started to raise the knife. All of a sudden there was a yell and Amjad came charging in. He took the man on the full and sent him flying to the ground. He dropped the knife and it went under a chair. I regained my wits and pinned the guy to the ground. A few seconds later the security guys arrived. They took over and escorted him away. The police were downstairs and they cuffed him and sent him to the local police station. Amjad was a hero. He had in no doubt at all, saved myself and Cooky from at best serious injury and most probably being murdered.
Cooky was being questioned next door by the police about his connections to that man. Everyone was in shock. Ironically the game was still being played, the incident had happened so quickly. Eventually the Lunch Break arrived with both David and Matty coming in. They were shocked to find out what had happened and David went of to find the coach to find out the important details. We milled around with the Gloucestershire boys while we told them what had happened. It was agreed by the players, officals, coaches and the police that we could continue the game on schedule but myself, Amjad and Cooky would have to go to the local police station for questioning this evening. We had to focus back on the cricket now. We were 12/0 which was pretty handy and now we would be looking to build on our lead of 35 runs.
David and Matty only had time for a quick bite to eat, they hadn't even take of their pads before it was time for them to go back out. Time had flown by in all the excitment and everyone felt a bit rushed. As the two batsmen headed out we got hold of some plastic chairs and took them outside to sit on. We couldn't go upstairs due to the police still working up there. It felt very British sitting out there just over the boundary rope.
The session was not a good one for us. Both openers got out quickly and I am sure the incident at lunch time didn't help. David went for 8 when he edged Sillence to Spearman and then Matty, who had looked in good form, soon followed when Mike ran him out That meant Martin was now in and it was time for me to get the pads on. Unfortunately for me, Martin did not last very long. He played a very dangerous sweep shot to Chandana and completely mis-judged it being trapped plum LBW. I was now in with kent looking to be in a spot of bother. Myself and Mike would need to bat well to avoid the collapse.
Martin trapped LBW (Animated)
I started of really well with back to back boundaries which was a great feeling. I hadn't really had much practice against spin bowling so it was nice to get some time out in the middle against Chandana. Unfortunately, Mike it seemed did not seem to be in good form against Chandana. He had, had a few close calls and he rode his luck once too much. A widish delivery by Chandana he attempted to cover drive him. It was however the doosra which he had failed to pick up and he edged it. He was very unlucky. It took a massive deflection and the keeper should never have got it. It however hit Adshead's pad and spun into the air and he safely took it. It had been more reflex than anything else but it was still a good piece of keeping.
We were now 56/4 and in a lot of danger. The top order was collapsing big time and I was now batting with Darren. we had to stabalise the innings and build a very solid partnership. Our target had to be to survive till tea and possibly go further. It would be tricky but we had to do it.
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