After some keen pre-season nets it was time for Elstead Sunday XI to don on the whites for the first game of the Season. Elstead took to the field layered up with two Jumpers, hand-warmers and everyone keen to wicket keep just to stay warm. To say the least it was pretty cold! The wicket looked like anything might happen and soon enough it did. Witherby opened the bowling and removed their opener with the third delivery caught behind by Pete Lincoln but without even an appeal the batsman walked. The following delivery was also edged behind to the skipper at 1st slip who unfortunately couldn't hang onto it. Lewis Shepherd followed on from the other end removing the other opener. Grayswood found themselves reeling on 4 for 2. The pressure was kept on the opposition with some fine catches, two run outs and energetic fielding despite blue hands. With regular wickets falling from the bowling of Disney, Youngs Pie's managed once again to find himself taking a tidy three Pie haul including a flamboyant caught and bowled and Shaun Fishburn with two. The score was looking like a low one at 65 for 8 but Grayswood put on a 82 run partnership for the 9th wicket. Just before Tea the Visitors were bowled out for 156.

After a well deserved warming cup of tea Pete Lincoln and Darren Munden opened the batting against an extremely eager and competitive opposition. Unfortunately Munden didn't last long under the tight opening bowling, with wickets falling in quick succession we too were finding the wicket tricky. Fortunately Pete was settling in and playing well, Elstead started to build their total. Pete was out for a well deserved gritty 29 probably put off by the grunting bowling of Sharapova. With overs running out and Elstead needing 27 off the last 5 overs it was heading for an exciting finish even the spectators couldn't drag themselves away. Lewis Shepherd and Rob Witherby who where both going well managed to steal runs wherever they could, helped by a lot of extras from the vistors. Lewis and Rob finished it off and saw us home with 15 balls to spare, with scores of 44 and 37 respectively.