WHAT a resounding victory at Uxbridge!

The t20 win on Sunday saw records smashed and Middlesex mauled.

Gloucestershire’s 254 was the highest score made in any 20-over match in this country.

Kevin O’Brien and Hamish Marshall’s opening stand of 192 was a cricketing blitz. Batsmen of different styles, they took Middlesex apart. Scoring at more than 12 runs an over, they batted Gloucestershire to an unassailable total. O’Brien hit 11 sixes in his 52-ball century. Hamish cut and pulled to his ton in 54 deliveries. Riches indeed.

Coming so quickly after a close defeat at the murky Rose Bowl, this majestic win will boost the confidence of our young side.

The difference between success and failure in t20 is small and too often this season we have been on the losing side. Not Sunday! Now for title favourites Somerset at Bristol on Friday (5.30pm). After that there are five matches left. Twelve points are available so is it too late to squeeze into the quarter-finals?

Perhaps promotion in the championship is a more realistic aim. Second place is certainly achievable and Mrs Light and I have been at Uxbridge for the four-day game.

It will be a good game to win, but it is one that must not be lost - Middlesex are in second place and to displace them is our aim.

We must not allow the gap to widen. Having been to Uxbridge before, we took a gazebo, barbecue kit, sun hats, raincoats, foldaway chairs and a crate of beer.

I make no apology for returning to the championship win over Surrey. Captain Alex Gidman (now sidelined) was outstanding, not just in his batting but the way he marshalled his young side.

This was a fine competitive cricket match - each day giving spectators excellent value. The Surrey committee were generous in their praise - even of the singing emerging from the away team dressing room. I have never heard the battle song of the Glorious Glosters more spiritedly sung. Chairman Rex Body sprinted to welcome Alex back to the pavilion. I have done it before on that ground.

One watches sport for such moments. Thanks to coach John, captain Alex and the team.

Two Surrey ex-presidents were there (John Edrich and Micky Stewart). They summed matters up.

“You have nine homegrown players, we have only four - our purchasing policy is getting us nowhere,” they said. I came home glowing.

That was not my feeling after the ODI at Bristol. The ladies started the day well - sorting out Australia. Every seat was sold and we all anticipated a fine game.

All of us were let down. You have all seen empty seats at international cricket this season. There were none on Saturday. The GCCC marketing team had seen to that. The ground was a picture. Tom Richardson (Chief Exec), groundsman Sean Williams and Peter Hall (ground supremo) had done their jobs splendidly. The West Country public supported the event loyally.

The insipid, ill-selected England team let everyone down in losing by nine wickets to Sri Lanka. Lumb (2) had shown no form this season; Kieswetter (4) is not good enough, either as wicket keeper or opening bat and to leave out Ian Bell, surely in the form of his life, was a crass error, as was the choice of the naive, out of form Broad as captain.

Defeat is never a problem - surrender is.

The Middlesex championship match squeezed in the middle of a batch of t20 games betrays a lack of pattern in our fixtures.

I have a solution. Play all the four-day cricket midweek and all one-day matches at weekends or Bank Holidays. I have checked the available days - it works.

T20 could be spread throughout the season - we would all know where we stand, if it is tried - remember you read it here first.

Do you agree with John? Have your say below.