So near yet so far - Verwood relegated

In the end it was all my fault. Verwood have struggled all year in the cricket but just recently have run into some form and we went to Swan Green with some hope. It was a fantastic ground at Emery Down near Lyndhurst in the New Forest with thatched cottages over the road, trees in the outfield and a looking at its best in the heat and light of a late August afternoon.
We lost the toss and had to bowl on what looked to be a good pitch. Dan, the skipper, bowled beautifully and deservedly took 6 wickets but at the other end runs flowed more freely. Having been 73 for 6, the opposition made it to 145 before the next wicket fell to a slower ball which deceived the batsman. They eventually got to 184 all out from just 32 of their 42 overs which looked a big ask but we had a strong line up.
Runs from Charlie with 25 and Chris Mitchell with 39 could not disguise the frailty of the batting once again though. It was our strongest available team and once more, too many batsmen got out cheaply. We found ourselves on 120 for 8 as Dan and I steeled ourselves for what seemed to be the inevitable. However, we both batted patiently and took the total to 166 before Dan was bowled. There were still 19 runs to go and I hit a four to take that to 15. Chris, the last man in, edged a delivery past the keeper for 2 valuable runs.
In the gathering gloom it was very tense. The opening bowlers had come back for a spell but were both out of overs at this stage. The new bowler appeared nervous and I struck a six followed by a swept 4 leaving just 4 to win giving us the extra 12 points which could have saved us. The team above us lost, although we didn't know that at the time, and a four would have saved the season. For the first time in the innings I played a premeditated shot and was bowled with one shot needed!!
I could not believe it having played so well and then messed it up at such a crucial point. I ended up with 39 which had almost got us there.
Now the season's over I can dwell on that for the next 8 months!