Ware lost the toss and were asked to field on a blisteringly hot day at Widford. Once again, Julian produced an absolute belter of a wicket, but it was the visitors who made the most of it, piling up an imposing 272 for 4 from their 40 overs.

Ware looked to be feeling the effects of the heat in the field as Datchworth's Bayford played a magnificent innings, smashing 147 from just 108 balls with clean hitting all around the ground. Jones provided excellent support, finishing unbeaten on 70. All of Ware's bowlers toiled in difficult conditions, with the wickets claimed by Steve Price and Hugh the only rewards for their efforts.

In reply, Ware's chase got off to the worst possible start as they slumped to 46 for 4. The innings was rebuilt through a determined captain's knock from Griffin, who battled hard for 59. Kev added a useful 32, while Aftab played an excellent hand of 45 to briefly keep Ware in the hunt. Steve Price then entertained with another typically aggressive late cameo, but there was simply too much to do, and Ware were eventually dismissed 78 runs short, suffering a heavy defeat against a very strong Datchworth side.

There are few certainties in village cricket: tea will arrive eventually, someone will ask if it's "doing a bit", and Graeme Unwin will lose the toss. So it proved once again as the Ware skipper called heads, watched it come down otherwise, and was promptly invited to bat on a Baldock surface that looked greener than the outfield itself.

On a hot and humid afternoon, Ware had resisted the considerable lure of a pre-match visit to The Orange Tree and, in a development that surprised several seasoned observers, even completed a warm-up. Spirits were high, optimism cautiously so.

Batting was never going to be straightforward. The pitch offered encouragement to the bowlers throughout, making strokeplay something to be earned rather than assumed. Unwin led by example, compiling a typically enterprising 35, while Joel and Jamie both departed having looked rather more unfortunate than culpable.

The innings was then given substance by the ever-reliable Matt Norman, who drove and cut with authority, forcing Baldock briefly onto the back foot before one ambitious stroke found a fielder instead of the boundary. Alex then illuminated proceedings with a flurry of sparkling boundaries, Darren joined the fun in similar fashion, and despite the small inconvenience of being one player short, Ware battled their way to 162 all out — a total that looked just beyond par according to those who enjoy such conversations around the boundary rope.

Defending it required early breakthroughs. MacMurdie and Smith charged in with customary enthusiasm and no little pace, but fortune proved an elusive companion as Baldock eased to almost fifty without loss. Matt Norman and Risby each claimed two wickets to inject a measure of belief, but by then the tide was flowing firmly in the home side's favour.

Williams played the defining innings, finishing unbeaten on a composed 60 as Baldock reached their target with almost ten overs to spare, leaving Ware to reflect on a game in which they had competed gamely but ultimately found themselves second best.

Defeat, however, has a habit of softening once the post-match refreshments appear, and the Ware players were more than happy to retire to the bar, where excellent hospitality and very pleasant company ensured the afternoon ended in fine spirits, if not with the points.