Having watched this utterly dismal game, where neither side seemed at all bothered who won it, I only hope my fellow board member mawallace was as underwhelmed as I was, and left the ground wondering whether I would have spent a more productive three and a half hours washing my hair.
His observations regarding the hapless Beard are sadly all too true. With three overs to go, two to be bowled by Amir, Hampshire had somehow sleepwalked their way through their innings, until they needed 40 odd at 14 an over.
Enter our saviour, Mr Beard, allegedly a promising prospect worth cultivating, according to our illustrious management team.
I watched at first in bemusement, then mounting horror after the third wide in his final over, and finally incandescent rage as our nemesis, Northeast accepted Beard’s offerings with slightly apologetic glee.
He obviously could not believe his luck. How is it possible, that a supposedly professional bowler could send down nine of the worst balls I have had the misfortune to witness in over sixty years of watching.
The kindest thoughts I have for Mr Beard is to look for another occupation and spare not only himself but suffering supporters and team mates abject heartache.
The wide epidemic then spread to Amir, who bowled two wides in his final over, leaving him to defend 12 runs to avoid defeat. I suppose it is to his credit that he managed to restrict Hampshire to two runs off the final two balls, but this certainly felt like a loss.
Once I had calmed down slightly, I asked myself this question.
Why oh why, are neither Sam Cook or Porter not playing in these vital key matches, where the difference between success or failure can be one good over or two successive sixes?
I understand the argument that they are being preserved for red ball cricket and that this is our primary target this season, if this is the reason for their non selection.
I understand it, but do not agree with it.
Porter and Cook are professional fit young bowlers. Is the difference between the white and red ball so much, that we discard our two best pace bowlers in T20 games?
Could not at least one of them have been picked for the remaining games when we still had a slim chance of qualifying.
If Porter or Cook had been playing, we would have won this game, and thus maintained our interest in the competition. Can’t see it now.
Perhaps it is a good thing, that I now live in Hampshire and do not see at first hand the haphazard, unpredictability of our team. It would drive me crazy.
Hampshire are no better, totally inconsistent, and but for the sizeable investment from Rod Bransgrove, enabling acquisition of quality Kolpak and overseas players, they would probably be languishing in Division Two.
I need a lie down.
