This is a short snippet about the 1983 National Westminster Bank Trophy semi-final between Middleex and Somerset at Lord’s. Ian Botham captained the Somerset side throughout the 1983 Nat West Trophy, including the Final at Lord’s, due to a long period of injury to Brian Rose, although Rose was still Club Captain.

Ian Botham played one of the all-time great Somerset ‘captain’s innings’ in the semi-final at Lord’s against Middlesex. Chasing 223 to win (not an unreasonable target to set in those days) Botham came to the wicket with Somerset on 43 for 4 with Viv Richards already out and soon lost Phil Slocombe to make it 52 for 5. With the five wickets having fallen to Norman Cowans and Neil Williams and Middlesex also having Wayne Daniel, John Embury and Phil Edmonds the outlook looked bleak indeed.

Sitting behind the person I was with and I, all dressed as if they were about to have a picnic on the banks of the Isis with a huge hamper to match, were a group of Middlesex supporters. As Slocombe walked off, one of them said in a very loud voice, clearly intended for us to hear, “It looks as if our tea will go to waste.”

With Nigel Popplewell and then Vic Marks as company, Botham got his head down, and played with great care, defending most balls and being very selective about the ones to hit, but kept up with the required run rate for the next 40 overs or so. It felt like the longest innings I had ever watched. At the end of the 59th over (still 60-over matches in the NatWest Trophy in 1983) with Popplewell and Marks both back in the Pavilion and the scores tied – Middlesex 222 for 9 – Somerset 222 for 8 – Botham, on 96, opted to block out the final over with the intention of not risking his wicket and winning on the loss of fewer wickets. It felt like the longest over I had ever watched. There was a huge appeal off the final ball, but the umpire’s finger stayed down and one of the loudest Somerset cheers I have ever heard went up.

When it finally died down, the person I was with could not resist enquiring of the Middlesex supporters behind us if they had enjoyed their tea.

Result. Middlesex 222 for 9 (60 overs) K.P.Tomlins 58, W.N. Slack 57, M.W. Gatting 49, J. Garner 3-23, N.F.M. Popplewell 3-34. Somerset 222 for 8 (60 overs) I.T. Botham 96*, N.F.M. Popplewell 46, N.G. Cowans 3-48.