Elstead's Sunday team began the season with an away trip to the beautiful Binsted CC to play Rowledge. Always a friendly opposition, Rowledge won the toss and chose to bat first. The opening pair began strongly and at drinks were 100 for 1. Wickets started to fall towards the end of the innings - top bowling performance from Josh W taking 3 for 17 off his 5 overs. Rowledge finished on 198 for 5 off their 35 overs.
It would be a tough target for Elstead to chase at nearly a run a ball, but Bruce and Chopper took to the Rowledge bowling with some aggression. Scoring at nearly 9 runs an over for the first 10 overs, Elstead looked to be cruising. But with Bruce retiring on 50 and Chopper getting a very unlucky run out from a ball that the bowler deflected on to the stumps, things started to get tight. Shaun and Grant both reached double figures, but more wickets began to fall and Elstead needed 35 runs from the final 4 overs. Joe L got to 13 before holing out on the boundary. That left Pete and Ian to see it home, Pete hitting a four from the penultimate ball to finish on 29 not out.
A great start to the season, rounded off with drinks in the pub!