Both teams mustered early to avoid disappointment, the Saddos with fond memories of this fixture, but was that a chill wind blowing across the park and were black clouds gathering overhead. Usually, during every team performance one or two players have an off day but blips occur when numerous 'off days' coincide. They say every great team can have a blip, for the Saddos this was such a day.
None of the Saddos covered themselves in glory with both bat and ball, with the exception of Tim Winfield. The Saddos batted first with a couple of standout performances, Peter Church's 34 (which included a smash for six off the penultimate ball of the innings) and Tim Winfield's 31. The bowling of Verulam was slow and consistently accurate. The ball coming onto the bat so slowly that many of the Saddo batters were through their shots before the ball reached them. This game called for front foot forcing shots, but our experience of the winter nets has conditioned us for back foot play with the ball coming onto the bat. The result was more ducks than a village pond and many failing on single figures. The Verulam fielding was solid with the slightly unfair inclusion of two teenage players with the innate ability to bend at the knees to pick the ball up. The Saddos reached a meagre 91 off their full allocation and were fortunate to get to that score reliant upon both retirees making a last wicket stand.
The frustration of this innings spilled over into adrenalin fuelled anger, only to be expected in such a finely honed group of passionate athletes, with instances of equipment and even Captain abuse!! Bowling on adrenalin can be a mixed blessing, in this case resulting in numerous over pitched balls, the Saddos were trying too hard. Some managed a measure of control with Tim Winfield bowling an opening bat. Colin McKinnon getting a wicket with his 3rd ball. Peter Church bowling an ominous looking batter. 'Raging' Jonathan Hook trapping his man on the crease with a scorcher. Tim Randall's tweeks inducing a spoon which Pip Cowan chased to catch at full stretch. But Verulam's batting was as solid and dependable as their bowling. They deserved their win with 2.3 overs to spare.
Be under no illusions, the Saddos will learn from this and will bounce back. They've got no other blxxdy choice unless they change sport.