The Gentle Thwack of Willow on Leather - very exciting!

We did quite a bit of research as to 'what's on' before we headed to London but one thing that slipped completely under the radar was the Cricket World Test Championship Final between South Africa and Australia at Lords - the home of cricket.

Yesterday we called into the Dicken's Tavern in Paddington for an afternoon pint and to see if they had live racing so we could watch Masoun run. When the bar lady flicked through the channels she came across the cricket. We settled in to watch a session or two and were soon joined by a few random Aussies. A beef farming couple from Gippsland in Victoria and a younger couple both catching some overs before they headed out to Heathrow and the long flight home. The farming couple was great, good lighthearted banter, the young guy embodied the reason Kiwi's hate Aussies - in a sporting sense and in the nicest possible way). And obviously doesn't apply to any Aussies reading this :). We didn't need the TV commentators as he gave us a ball-by-ball description of how great every Aussie action was, how every player is the best player in the world and how he was looking forward getting the formalities over and being crowned world champions.

It didn't help that at the time the South African's were batting and being destroyed by the Aussie quicks. South Africa ended up being dismissed for a poultry 138 in their first innings - 74 runs behind the Green and Golds first dig. However just to prove God isn't Australian (much to the shock of the bloke a couple of bar leaners down I'm sure) South Africa ripped through the Australian batting line up and had them 81-7 at one stage and 144-8 by stumps. Australia were 214 runs ahead with 2 second innings wickets standing and everything was set up perfectly for a massive 3rd day.

As it turned out Lords is only around 20 minutes' walk from Paddington and it just all made sense! What better way to spend a sunny summers day than at the home of cricket watching the two top cricket test sides going at it hammer and tong! To be fair I'm not 100% sure Jeanette saw it quite the same way.

Anyhow we checked online and managed to get some really good tickets - at a very straight mid-off (right hand batsman facing the 'modern end'), lower tier. It was a seriously fantastic day, Lords was brilliant, and everything was so well organised. There were really good food and drink options and plenty of staff/volunteers on hand to assist. We've been lucky enough to go to quite a few big sporting events and this was right up with the best.

All we needed for a perfect day was for the Africans to knock of the remaining 2 Aussie wickets and bat through the day to a great and glorious victory.

Things didn't quite go to plan with Aussie tailenders Starc and Hazelwood putting on over 50 for the final wicket leaving South Africa a target of 282 to secure an unlikely victory - particularly given the low scoring nature of the test.

It was just a brilliant day of cricket. Aussies fired the first shot with their last wicket partnership. They then captured SA opened Rickelton early. Marken and Mulder dug in and battled through to 50ish before Mulder went to a lazy shot.

Enter African cult hero Bavuma. The guys tiny he seriously could be the projectile in a dwarf throwing competition. BUT every South African in the ground sang his name as he came to the wicket and the atmosphere definitely went up a notch. After a few scratchy shots he got into stride and along with classy opener Markman they wrestled back the advantage. The ebb and flow was amazing you could feel every twist and turn. South Africa ended the day in the driving seat Markman nudged up a well-deserved 100 on stumps and the pocket rocket Bavuma was on a well compiled 65. South Africa would be heading into that last day two wickets down and 70 odd required for victory - and the status of true world champions.

As things built on the pitch and beers flowed freely off it the South African fans started singing. They were amazing - really powerful and incredible harmonies. It seemed totally appropriate that after one 5-minute amazing performance by the SA fans some straw hatted open shirted yokel shouted Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - his mate next to him shouted Oi, Oi, Oi. there was complete silence from the other patrons.

About as effective as the Australian bowling unit - Read the room bro!

To be fair as the day went on and Markman marched on towards his century some of the lyrics of the chant's became somewhat dodgy (for context think Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs chant- if ya know ya know), but it was all in good humour and added to a fantastic atmosphere.

At the end of the days play we had a very pleasant walk mostly along the canal to Paddington. An awesome and unexpected treat!