This was the key moment when the Otago Volts captain felt the team let themselves go.
There were flashes of sublime play.
Last weekend was the most recent example.
A 58-point opening stand gave the team a great platform.
Then he folded to be eliminated for 130.
Five wickets in nine balls put him back in the game with the ball.
But he couldn’t finish the job, with Auckland chasing the aggregate to condemn the Volts to a seventh loss in nine Super Smash games.
It was symptomatic of how captain Hamish Rutherford thought the season had gone for the Volts.
Turning that tide will be a priority for the team as they host the Canterbury Kings in their last 220 game of the summer, at the University Oval.
“We just couldn’t win the key moments,” Rutherford said.
“Whether it’s a lost strike, a bang-bang snap with the bat, or two set-beaters losing their wickets, we managed to lose those moments.
“If you look at all the games, it’s those moments that cost us in all of them. We’ve been on the hunt there or thereabouts, whether it’s a lost catch, or something, and it didn’t go our way, we fell on the wrong side.
“The other thing is that winning is a habit and unfortunately losing can also be a habit. We’re probably in this race by the minute.
“While there were some enjoyable performances, we weren’t able to really nail it.
“If we can finish the weekend strong and strong and continue that into February, that will leave us in good stead for this 50+ year competition.”
Matt Bacon returns for the Volts, having passed a fitness test yesterday, in place of Jake Gibson.
This is the only change to the line-up.
The game is of little consequence for the Volts, who are unable to come down from the bottom of the table.
A win, however, would be a boost for the rest of the summer.
The Kings are a quality team and are guaranteed a spot in next week’s playoffs.
They have a bowling attack that includes Matt Henry and Todd Astle, while Black Caps Test fly-half Tom Latham has joined the line-up, and all-around star Daryl Mitchell also features.
Despite that, Rutherford said motivation remains high within the Volts to finish the Super Smash on a high.
“To finish the competition well and play decent cricket in front of our home fans.
“Hopefully we’ll have a nice crowd. We haven’t had many home games so it will be good to go out at Uni Oval.
“And just to build momentum with a good showing in the rest of the white ball season.
“We are well placed in the 50+ competition so it will be good to put in a good performance. If the guys have good form with the bat and the ball on the pitch, get some good energy in February.”
The match is scheduled to start at 1:40 p.m. and follows the Otago Sparks game against the Canterbury Magicians.
Super Smash
University ring, tomorrow, 1:40 p.m.
Otago Volts: Hamish Rutherford, Matt Bacon, Neil Broom, Max Chu, Jacob Duffy, Llew Johnson, Nick Kelly, Anaru Kitchen, Angus McKenzie, Dale Phillips, Michael Rae, Michael Rippon.
Canterbury Kings: (likely) Cole McConchie, Todd Astle, Chad Bowes, Leo Carter, Blake Coburn, Cam Fletcher, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Edward Nuttall, William O’Rourke, Henry Shipley.
