So we finished this season knowing that relegation was confirmed for both out first and second teams. However, we had our second team final on the sunday to look forward to to try and end a bad season well.
The first team played against the only team below us on Saturday and with people dropping out due to our relegation we arrived with 9 players, quickly increasing to 10 due to a couple of phone calls. After being asked to open the batting (first time all season) I decided just to bat for as long as possible. I got 95 off 130 balls, and although it is my highest score it was certainly not anywhere near my best innings. Still it was nice to get 95, although obviously disapointing to miss out on a maiden ton. We set a relatively competitive 196 to win off 45 overs. They fell pretty short only managing 130.
So on the Sunday we had out second team cup final, and I was one of the first teamers lucky enough to be selected. To get to the cup final we had: a 1st round bye, a second round rain affected win, a quarter final coin toss win, a semi final win against 7 players so to say we had been fortunate is an understatement.
We were however up against one of the best teams in the past few years who have been rising rapidly through the leagues, Godolphin CC (owned and bankrolled by Sheik Mohammed). To put it in perspective they have the Lords groundsmen relay their pitch every year and tend to it 2 or 3 times a season.
However, the game was played at one of the Cambridge college grounds, however the used pitch was a long way short of what we expected of it and the outfield was relatively slow. We batted first and compiled 145 all out in the last over, and we batted horribly slowly, our opener making 46 in 36 overs. I got a quickfire 21 before trying to up the pace and getting bowled. When we came out to bowl they got off to a flying start, with 41 on the board before 3 wickets left them 44-3 off 6. A small partnership followed but another flurry of wickets left them 105-6 off 27. However, their captain batted with fantastic control to see them through. However, at 115-6 their number 8 snicked off but didnt walk and the umpire didnt hear the snick. This left a rather sour taste in our mouths but then again it may not have made a difference.