Upside-Down cakes in Metroland as Williamson and Chahal bring the IPL to Northwood

Back to the simple life.
Back to nature.
To a shady retreat in the reeds and rushes of the River Colne*.
The lure of Metroland was remoteness and quiet.

This is what a brochure of the 20’s said.
‘It’s the trees, the fairy dingles, and a hundred and one things in which dame nature’s fingers have lingered long in setting out this beautiful array of wooden slope, trout stream, meadow and hill top sites’.
‘Send a postcard, for the homestead of your dreams, to ‘Loudwater Estate’, Chorley Wood.

*When Sir Jon Betjeman wrote ‘From Metroland’ in 1958 he referenced the River Chess rather than the Colne, but it is the Colne that runs alongside the lake behind Merchant Taylors’ School Cricket Ground in Northwood, the heart of his Metroland.

The poem reflects upon the difference between the expectations that people had for elysian life and the reality of living in the suburban development that grew up around the extension of the Metropolitan railway. The lush and expansive grounds of historic Merchant Taylors’ School however, remain a verdant oasis amidst that relentless urbanisation and it is here, for third year running, Northants are the guests.

Northwood counts amongst its famous former residents, Arnold Ridley, a First World War hero, better known as the delightfully doddering Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army. “My sister Dolly’s upside-down cakes are a recurring theme in the show, with Godfrey frequently referencing them when provisions are needed.

Middlesex went into this encounter no doubt wishing that the Championship Division Two table was as upside down as Dolly’s cakes. They currently sit second from bottom despite high expectations and the marquee signing of Kane Williamson.  Too many defeats has been the problem. Their three victories, more than Glamorgan in third and equal to Derbyshire in second, have been accompanied by more defeats.  One of those, at Northants in June, the result of a very generous declaration in pursuit of an unlikely win where a draw may have been the more pragmatic approach with the Kookaburra ball. Starting today in Northwood though, Middlesex really needed to think only of a victory to stay in any touch that second promotion place.

Under dark skies that threatened an interrupted first day, Northants stand in captain Lewis McManus won the toss and was very happy to ask Middlesex to bat. Australian born left armer Liam Guthrie and the ever reliable Ben Sanderson duly gave Sam Robson and Max Holden a searching examination. Survival was their priority and despite near misses and scares prior to a very brief first rain interruption, the Kookaburra ball started to appear more to their liking after it, particularly in the hands of third seamer Dominic Leach. So much so, that after just 14 overs, leg spinning star turn Yuzvendra Chahal was pressed into action from the Benham End and tested the techniques of both right handed Robson and left handed Holden in two probing maiden overs before an even briefer second rain interruption.

All spin attack for Northants before lunch on Day 1

Once again the break seemed to mobilise the Middlesex openers and Chahal’s 15^th delivery finally cost his first runs, pulled smartly to mid-wicket by Holden for four. Nonetheless, around 10 minutes short of lunch, Northants introduced further spin in the shape of Rob Keogh, feeling that tandem off and leg spin represented more of  threat against openers looking increasingly well set, if not, rapidly scoring. Middlesex survived though and at lunch will have been more than happy to be 90 without loss having been put in.

As the players emerged after lunch, so did the sun with hint or two of blue sky visible amidst the clouds. Was it here to stay, or would it flatter to deceive in the manner of Middlesex’s season to date? Middlesex continued much as they had before lunch, Robson bringing up his 50 with a pull to leg off Guthrie in the 33^rd over. However soon after he flicked Sanderson down leg an into the gloves of the diving Lewis McManus. Northants had finally struck, but it brought to the wicket Kane Williamson, third top Test run scorer amongst current players.

Even as seamers Sanderson and Guthrie prodded and probed, the prospect of Williamson facing chess master and leg spinning wizard Chahal was foremost in many minds. In international and domestic white ball cricket since 2015, Chahal has taken Williamson’s wicket 7 times for an average 32 runs. As we waited, Max Holden continued to advance and passed his 50, looking increasingly untroubled. When Chahal returned, switched to the Lake End, it was Holden who launched him straight over his head, not quite far enough to make a splash, but more than enough for the games first six. Williamson was more cautious, but did join the party with a pair of trademark cover drives.

Landmarks not Upside-Down cakes for Williamson and Holden at tea

The afternoon session continued to belong to the home side as Holden removed the morning shackles and Williamson eased himself rapidly yet stylishly into the cut and thrust of his first County Championship game in over 7 years. Approaching tea, Williamson brought up his 50 while Holden, on 99, watched from other end. In the next over, the roles were reversed as Holden cover drove Chahal for four to reach his landmark as Middlesex were cruising in comfort at 245 for 1. They added a further two runs before tea arrived ten minutes late to make up for the brief rain interludes.

The evening session was blessed briefly with the best weather of the day and Holden and Williamson continued their relentless progress. Northants’ misery was compounded when Rob Keogh damaged his hand attempting a return catch from meatily smashed Holden drive. It would be grossly unfair to describe it as a chance, so hard was it hit and the angle of poor Keogh’s finger as he made rapidly for the pavilion caused a few more squeamish heads to turn away.

Respite arrived for Northants with the score on 279/1, not with a wicket but with another fleeting rain delay.  It was the longest of the three at a full 10 minutes, after which Williamson and Holden simply picked up where they had left off, whilst hasten the arrival of the new ball the visitors deployed an all spin attack, with Chahal at the Lake End and Saif Zaib, in Keogh’s enforced absence, at the Benham End.

Williamson smashed another six and moved sweetly to 88 whilst Holden threaded cover drives through the field to finish on 137. As the players left the field for bad light with the score on 319/1, Middlesex will have felt that Day One of their must-win mission could barely have gone better. Northants, for their part, may need to heed the words of Private Godfrey’s Dad’s Army colleague Corporal Jones –  “Don’t Panic”!