This game had eerie undertones of our match against LSW St George’s: Saracens lost the toss on a gorgeous Saturday morning at KCC; the opponents chose to bat; they left us to chase just over 170 runs. But this time the outcome was different.

Millennium are a fine side, vying with Saracens for the last play-off berth, and they came to the crease with confidence. However, they had to face Saracens’ premier quicks  - Kunal Parwani and Aditya Kanthan – and soon they found themselves struggling as ball after ball zipped and lifted past their outside edge, each one expertly pouched by stand-in superkeeper Roshan Dadlani (something of the Alec Stewart in his bearing). However, it was not a catch or a bowled that had the first batter back in the hutch, but a lethal pick-up and throw from Louis Chan at mid-on. Superb stuff, reminiscent of Derek Randall in his prime.

We kept the asphyxiation pressure on, and edges and wickets came for Adi and Kunal (one of which was a spellbinding Matt Collins leap and one-handed grab), as well as a first Saracen wicket for debutant Simandeep Singh. Just the second ball of his Saracens career, and the Millennium bat was unable to cope with his pace and verve.

Ravi Sujanani came on at the KCC end of the ground, and gave an exhibition in resilience and skill under pressure. After a couple of uncharacteristically loose balls in his first over, he knocked over two Millennia in successive balls, and Saracens crowded round the bat as we pressed for a Ravi hat-trick. In vain, unfortunately, but Ravi did pick up his third wicket a little later; he, Peter Wooden, and Waqar Dawood kept it tight so that Millennium could post a total of only 174 all out.

We failed to chase such a total a week ago, of course, but this time there were to be no mistakes. Superbat Peter Wooden, his blade firm and linear for those trademark straight drives, was at the crease throughout the innings, and Ravi Sujanani underlined his return to form by compiling a classy knock. Simandeep and Waqar added some quick runs, and we completed the run chase with three overs to spare.

Saracens have two matches to go, on April 2 and 5, and a play-off spot is well within reach. We saw a tremendous team effort out on the KCC paddock on Saturday – lots of supportive encouragement, great fielding (without too many complaints even from Senior Pro Shiroy Vachha, asked to shuttle around from third man to midwicket), tight bowling, and disciplined batting – and we stand well ready for these final challenges.

Saracens were: Peter Wooden, Matt Collins, Ravi Sujanani, Simandeep Singh, Waqar Dawood, Tim Parkinson (c), Roshan Dadlani, Louis Chan, Aditya Kanthan, Kunal Parwani, Shiroy Vachha.

Another Saturday, and another toss lost by the Saracens captain. This time it was to the young LSW St George’s side, and they unsurprisingly chose to bat first on a fabulous looking KCC wicket. There was a green tinge to the surface, however, and Saracens looked to make an early breakthrough. Aditya Kanthan came screaming in from the KGBC end, and beat the bat on numerous occasions, looking dangerous every ball.

St George’s never were able to accelerate and put on big runs, yet they never got completely bogged down either, scoring at around 4-5 runs an over for most of their innings.  Spin twins Sujanani and Wooden restricted them in the middle overs, and Chris McAnulty (cruelly underused, according to him) came on for an explosive three-over three-wicket burst late in the day. St George’s posted 171 all out in 33 overs.

This was an eminently gettable target, and all the more so after Peter Wooden and Matt Collins put on a classy partnership to leave us more than half-way there at drinks, for the loss of just one wicket. The run chase should have been simple - requiring sensible accumulative batting - given that magnificent platform and so it is with regret that I have to report we fell short on this occasion. Although the bowling was tight, there were opportunities aplenty to nudge and nurdle, and suicidal run-outs like the captain’s did not help. As the required run rate climbed, so the shot-making and decision-making became more ragged, and eventually we were all out for 135 in 33 overs. Credit must go to young debutant Hugh Longbottom, batting at eleven, who bravely defended his wicket from the St George’s onslaught.

This was a disappointing loss, but one from which we will bounce back. The Saracens season has been non-linear: great victories (over Tartars, Crusaders for example) have been followed by slumps like this one. The quality of a man is shown when facing disappointment, however, so we will regroup and come back firing for our last three games as we look to qualify for the play-offs.

A few days before this game, Saracens old and new gathered at Sha Tin racecourse for a fantastic afternoon of racing, reminiscing, and relaxation. Shiroy Vachha (who brilliantly coordinated the event) and Superkeeper Robin Gill provided the living link between the old and new Saracens outfits, and here’s hoping that the Saracens flame will continue to burn brightly long into the future.

Saracens were: Peter Wooden, Ravi Sujanani, Matt Collins, Zubair Nizami, Tim Parkinson, Roshan Dadlani, Rob Gill, Aditya Kanthan, Chris McAnulty, Shiroy Vachha, Hugh Longbottom.