Elstead U11s faced a tough challenge in their first ever evening fixture on Weds night, with an away match against a very strong Churt side. Having agreed to let the hosts bat first, Churt got off to a good start, putting on 24 for the first wicket before Gabe broke through and clean-bowled a clearly dangerous opener. For the second match in a row, Danny then pulled off a stunning one-handed diving catch, this time off the bowling of Jake, to send the other opener back to the clubhouse.

What followed was a great spell of bowling and continued pressure from Elstead, reducing Churt to 59-7 (with Harry and Felix both taking 2 wickets, and Oli 1). After that period of Elstead domination, a few slips in the field and some loose deliveries were punished by Churt’s numbers 7 & 9 (showing the strength of their batting line up) who turned the game on it’s head and put on a huge partnership with both batters retiring having gone past 30 runs. With those runs and too many extras conceded in the field, Churt had suddenly arrived at a total of 159 after 20 overs.

It was always going to be a big score to chase, and with word spreading around the team of the prowess of the Churt bowlers, nerves were rising as quickly as the sun was falling (you’d have thought Mark Wood and Jofra Archer were playing for them listening to some of the tales of ferocious pace being told). Coen and Danny went in to open against the Churt quicks and kept a few sharp ones out before sadly both were dismissed for ducks. Danny was particularly unlucky after he blocked a ball, that then hit his own body and somehow then the stumps. Harry came to the crease and showed his usual determination and technique to defend the straight balls and work the gaps to start accumulating a total. Despite some promising starts from other batters, particularly Charlie, the wickets kept falling and the quick and accurate bowling kept coming. Matt came in as Elstead’s last batter and bravely fended the ball off several times, while Harry tried to accelerate. Matt was unlucky to be run out by a direct hit from the outfield, leaving Harry not out on 19 and the innings ending in the 15th over. Elstead’s final score was 80 and ultimately the amount of extras and some loose shots to straight balls cost us. On another day, with a bit more focus and self-belief, I have no doubt we would give this team a real run for their money. Some clear lessons and areas for us to focus on in training, and a perhaps in batting first when daylight is going to be an issue!