The perfect setting for the perfect game of cricket, and it almost was just that.
However, the Rosaneri run rate calculator seemed to lose power for the middle part of the reply innings and a great finish was avoided.
The day started extremely well with Mat Freeman bowling at his supreme best to snaffle two classic fast bowling wickets in a devastating and economical spell.
The Rosaneri fielding was at its best with immaculate ground work and superb catching. Shell, Marcus x 2 and Coxy all held great catches that kept pink spirits high.
Nick continued his return to fitness with a nice brace of well planned wickets.
A few loose and tired looking overs from Jim, Gareth, and Nick just put the total at a higher level than Rosaneri fans would have wanted. However, the chase was most definitely on with a pitch that offered good reward for shots.
Things started badly when Jack lost his leg stump in the second over, but Slaps and Shell did keep the run rate at a solid 5 until the 5th over.
Shell and Slaps departed within a short space of time and Mike and Marcus began the rebuild, but completely lost sight of the run rate issue. In the end, Marcus took charge of the situation and started to bash the runs that the traveling fans knew he was capable of.
Marcus paid the price for going for it, but it was another knock off courage as he starts to look very much a proper batsmen.
Coxy came in and gave it everything from the off with winning the only thing on his mind. He eventually crashed and burned with a brave 22.
Then came the man that nearly got the party started, Gareth Cox. He only faced 12 balls and bludgeoned a crowd rousing 26 which included two brutal 6’s.
Time had run out for the rest of the line up and wild slogs done for the usually reliable Jim, Paul and Mat.
Mike soldiered on throughout all of this to record a noble 70 not out, but unfortunately this wasn’t enough in the context of the game.
A super effort, but the general feeling on the drive home was “What if”.