TALK about an anti-climax.

Following all the euphoria surrounding a first ever NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final for the Worcestershire Rapids, to see fans trudging out of New Road into the Friday night gloom was somewhat depressing.

This was supposed to be the County’s big day, their chance to at long last fulfil their dream of reaching finals day.

Instead, it all faded out into a Duckworth-Lewis defeat and left many fans with an understandable lingering sense of injustice.

Ever since, people have been looking for a scapegoat and to point the finger of blame, no doubt driven by once again seeing Worcestershire falter at the crucial moment.

The Rapids are right to feel aggrieved at the weather. It would not have been unreasonable when scheduling the fixture to assume that an evening game in mid-August could expect more in the way of brighter skies.

But it has rained in England before during the summer and with the stakes so high, would not the provision of temporary floodlights have been prudent? Then again, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

The influence of Sky Sports should also not be discounted.

There is a balancing act between the amount of money television generates for the game against the risk of short-changing supporters.

While it would be wrong to say the broadcaster forced the issue, you can’t help but feel that their mere presence ramped up the pressure to get the game on, for which Tim Packwood and his groundstaff deserve immense credit Yet, the most baffling thing given the conditions was the hosts’ decision to field after winning the toss.

Had they batted first, Hampshire would have been the ones chasing in fading light.

As it was, the Rapids were well behind the rate when the teams were taken off.

While Ross Whiteley was beginning to find his range in pursuit of the target, the County could have taken that scenario out of the equation by going first.

At least then it would have been in their own hands.

Instead, it led to a terrible anti-climax and one that will be the abiding memory of a hitherto entertaining T20 campaign for the Worcestershire squad.