The match was ultimately a disappointing result for the Saddo's but a number of positives could be taken from the game itself.

The game turned on the toss of the coin as the overcast conditions on the evening virtually guaranteed that whoever batted second was likely to be facing deliveries in the dark. Sure enough the principle of 'tails never fails' turned out to not be true and St John's Fishers elected to bat first.

A fine opening spell by Tim Winfield and Mike Wallis followed by the first bowling change to Phil Spencer quickly saw off the SJF openers but solid batting from Marriott and Williams saw a succession of fours to the short boundary.

Marriott retired having scored 28 runs and Williams played on to a ball just outside off stump from Roger Barton.

The SJF innings slowed as a succession of wickets fell including two stunning runouts. The first was an inspired throw from Phil Spencer fielding at backward point that hit direct with only one stump to aim at.

Not long after Ian Holmes threw down the stumps at the batsman's end from mid-on.

With Jonathan Hook scattering the wicket of Virji and an eventful couple of overs from team captain Ian Holmes that led to a plum LBW decision and a short high catch to Tim Winfield the last pair for SJF were at the crease.

Watson was in the mood to swing the bat though hitting 14 runs from 7 balls meaning that SJF finished on 124 from their 20 overs.

By now it was gone 7.30 and the light was fading badly. The opening partnership of Mike Wallis and Richard Noden were faced by the pacy opening bowling pair from SJF which led to the early dismissal of Noden as an uppish ball went straight to mid-on.

Unfortunately this became the theme for the innings with only Man of the Match for the SFDWP, Mike Wallis, offering any real resistance with a fine innings of 17 runs off 33 balls.

Highlights from the SFDWP innings were few and far between. A splendid four to the long deep mid-wicket boundary by Jonathan Hook was the only time umpire Nick Button had to raise a finger other than to declare dismissals. With short resistance from Spencer, Hook and Barton the runs were never coming fast enough and the ball was becoming increasingly impossible to see in the near darkness of the evening. The innings closed with the SFDWP on 45 all out.

The only consolation at this point was that it was too dark for anyone to see the dejection.

The positives from a tighter bowling and fielding display from the SFDWP team and the fine captaincy of Ian Holmes were temporarily lost due to the poor batting. However, with better conditions the feeling was that the performance will improve for the next game and that the foundations remain good for the future.