The sublime to the ridiculous.
Loss by 11 runs.
As the title may suggest, it was very much a game of two very contrasting innings and it was the batting that cost us a shot at some silverware.
The sublime, a bowling and fielding display in a T20 that is worthy of any first class game. Easy to say but when you break it down, you will not see much better. The bowlers had a clear plan but were adaptable, they read batsmen and situations that meant they could bowl to a set field and see the strengths of each batsmen. Big Joe Peatman picking up 3 wickets with pace and bounce. Cook, opening the bowling in the power play with spin, took 1-14 off 4 but it was T20 contracted specialist Jake Benson who was the pick with 4-11 off his 4 overs. The fielding was impeccable, some brilliant catching and clean ground fielding helps create an energy itself but the most pleasing aspect as a captain is to see fielders on the boundary, race in to back a throw up. The effort of the lads to sprint 40/50 yards in to help prevent a potential overthrow is something you do not see within most club sides. That alone, may seem quite trivial and pointless but its a huge part of the game that goes unnoticed.
The ridiculous, the batting display. I did hear a crowd member say "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory" and how true they were. The disappointment in the changing room after spoke for itself but that shows we care and a togetherness to work hard for what we want to achieve. If we are honest as a side, we panicked and that cost us. Constant wickets and careless shot selection meant we were aways chasing the game against a Bourne bowling line up that looked beat before they'd even bowled a ball. Will Taylor and Ben Rolfs tried to wrestle the game back in our favour but it was in vein. In T20 cricket, you have so much more time that you think. The ability to take a step back and read the situation is one that we need to learn and is crucial in a run chase, a team that can do that, wins more than they lose.
Back Stronger! UTL