With the team unchanged from their narrow defeat to Groen & Wit the previous day, the boys descended on Bloemendaal looking to make amends with everyone, quote, “Well up for it”. For many another visited up north after most of us enjoyed a Kings Day in the Amsterdam area. Despite being basked in glorious sunshine, a damp, slow outfield presented itself suggesting bowl first… enter skipper Flo with yet another coin toss loss (3L, 0W this season) meaning VCC were put into bat amid groans from the dressing room. “Will he ever win again”. The question on everyone’s lips.
Nehaan and Cedric trotted out to the middle, bright eyes and bushy tailed, looking to start well and bat long. Sadly it wasn’t to be. One ball in fact, with Cedric swiftly trotting back, run out without facing. The innings could not have got off to a worse start. George then joined Nehaan looking to rebuild, with the latter taking the attack back to the bowlers with some flowing drives. A nice partnership was building before Nehaan was bowled by an absolute Jaffer, angled in nipped away, clipping the top of off. Arguably unplayable. Lau, hoping to rollover his weekend form, was swiftly triggered in what can only be described as an old fashioned howler, leaving him a tad bemused. Bloemendaal continued to bowl a tight line and length, not giving much away. Jakes looked at ease in the middle, treating the bowlers with respect and looking to consolidate, whilst rotating strike nicely. As VCC began to build, George then fell to another loose shot when “in”, nicking a wide half-tracker through to the keeper, prompting questions around the team’s overseas selection committee. Verdict pending.
Wickets continued to fall with Ali, Amrit and Jakes all falling within the space of 10 runs, leaving VVC 92-6 after 29 overs. “Must bat the full 50” were the cries from the dugout. Skipper Flo and Rehaan both dug deep, soaking up a lot of balls, trying to take the sting out of the attack. After both falling for 10, the innings limped to a close, albeit for a flash of brilliance from Ricardo pumping the ball into a nearby house. Arriba Arriba! VCC finished on 125 all out after 41 overs.
Bloemendaal were next up to bat, after scoring 330 the day before at HCC, with both their overseas players scoring big hundreds. A mountain to climb to say the least, especially following such a hearty tea. George and Steff took the new ball, drawing a number of false shots and creating a couple of tough chances. With the batters settling and a wicket yet to fall, Flo took over taking, yet another, wicket first ball of his spell, no doubt thanks to the usual cry of “big leggie lads”. That proved to be a rare positive in what was a tough day for VCC, with a couple of simple chances put down late-on to rub salt into the wounds. Whilst the Bloemendaal overseas batsmen should be credited for playing with controlled aggression throughout, keeping the pressure on the bowlers, we must take learn from this approach and play with more intent in future games.
Overall, we were outplayed in all departments, but in particular in our batting and our fielding. We must play with more intent, build partnerships, and keep the scoreboard ticking. Without something decent to bowl at, it will always be an uphill struggle. We go again next week, playing Rood en Wit at Westvliet.
