St Bede's - One Round Too Far

Date: Thursday 27 May 2010

Finally, St Bede's made the long journey from near Eastbourne to Canterbury, and travelled home in the knowledge that they had qualified with some ease for a next round tie with the Judd School.

The St Edmund's 1st XI was, on the day, no match for a side which bristled with aggressive, accurate bowling, sharp fielding, outstanding wicket-keeping, and powerful batting. It was no disgrace to lose, but a number of our players need to reflect on what more they could have done with bat and ball.

We made an excellent start with 44 on the board after six overs. Rafi Stone (25) played some sumptuous on drives, but when Ben Pape (21) was bowled, and Harry Callaway (29*) struggled to make contact with the ball, runs dried up, and the early momentum was lost. Pressure built, big shots were interspersed with dismissals, and 111 - 5 after 20 overs was probably eighty runs light.

Ben Kemp bowled an encouraging first over, and broke through in his second as Guest was caught by Anglin at mid-off at the second attempt.But that was it as far as wickets went. A couple of chances were spilt, but bad balls - and there were too many of them - were punished, and the fielding cracked under pressure, allowing singles to be turned into twos as the target grew nearer, and rapidly.

I was disappointed, not with losing, but with the approach of several of the team who were not properly prepared for a task which was always going to be tough; over half-term we may need to rejig the batting order, and focus on the need for a more positive approach to all the major aspects of the game. It would be great to retain the Lemon Cup, and it would be great to win our remaining 'routine' fixtures. And it would be unwise to over-react to a defeat at the hands of a much better team. It's not often we come up against a Barbadian bowling at 85mph!