Elstead U11s arrived at Fernhurst on an overcast Friday evening. With Fernhurst unable to raise a side for the usual Sunday timeslot, we agreed to the switch, and took a team entirely made up of U10s to ensure we could get a game on. Conditions were far from perfect. Due to a grounds-keeping error, Fernhurst's square resembled little more than mud as all the grass had been killed thanks to some undiluted weedkiller. Due to the recent rains, we were also playing on a 'Flicx' wicket, which is a sort of plastic roll-out strip. Although enough to get the game on, the Flicx wicket provided a lot of inconsistent bounce which made it very hard to bat on for both teams.

Fernhurst won the toss and elected to bat, and Danny opened the bowling for Elstead. In a tight over where just two runs were scored, Danny was unfortunate not to get two LBW wickets. They have to be plumb at this age, and the first may have strayed down leg, while the second hit the unfortunate batsman 'amidships' and was perhaps therefor a touch too high. Tom bowled the second over and by now it was apparent batting would be tricky - the batsman edged a lucky 4 off Tom's last ball. Danny's second over was as miserly as his first, but it was the returning Tom who struck first for Elstead, a lovely ball sneaking through the Fernhurst #1's defence. Two balls later it was another - this time the Fernhurst #3 skied the ball, but Tom settled under it to take a comfortable (if tough) catch. 2-10 became 3-10 soon after when Danny clean bowled Fernhurst's #2 bat, who had already survived a few close chances.

Two Freddies were then at the crease for Fernhurst which made life tricky for the umpire. They batted more watchfully than their predecessors, and neither Stan nor Harry could find a breakthrough. Next change up was Jake and Gabe, and by now the two Freddies had established themselves somwhat, and a couple of boundaries were scored, pushing the Fernhurst score up to 46-3. The turning point came in Gabe's second over. Switching to left arm round the wicket, he struck twice in his first three deliveries, and both Freddies were out, leaving the score on 47-5.

The end came quickly then - although we swapped Danny for Charlie at wicket-keeper so that Charlie could have a bowl, we weren't able to use him, as first Cillian took a wicket, and then Felix took 3 in just 5 balls to end the Fernhurst innings on 57. Danny took a great catch behind the stumps for Felix's first wicket - the rest a testament to the fact that line and length is key on many cricket wickets. If you bowl to hit the stumps - you will get your rewards!

We know the chase was never going to be easy, but still 57 seemed like a score we should reach. Felix and Tom opened the batting for Elstead, against some fast and accurate Fernhurst bowling. They batted well though, content to let the scoreboard gently tick over. All looked good as we reached 11-0 from 3 overs, but then things started to unravel for Elstead. Felix was clean bowled in the 4th over, and the unfortuante Harry was out soon after, looking for a run that wasn't there - a direct hit as he tried to regain his ground and his innings was over.

Tom tried to get the scoreboard moving by attaching the next bowler - a 4 off the first ball, but then bowled off the second. Jake was in next but like Harry was out again after 3 deliveries, also bowled looking to hit a straight one. Elsetad were 17-4 and suddenly the chase wasn't looking easy. Charlie breifly made everyone feel a little more relaxed with a firmly struck 4, but then he too was out to a delivery that kept viciously low off the Flicx wicket - almost impossible to defend against. But if there was a turning point, in Elstead's innings it was now as Danny walked in to bat. His attitude was clearly different to those who had gone before, batting watchfully until a loose dleviry came, when it was dutifully dispatched for 4. Although Cilian couldn't survive with Danny, his wicket at 28-6 was ultimately the last to fall, with Gabe coming in to partner Danny - an equally conservative batting mindset on display.

Danny and Gabe knew there were plenty of overs left to bat, and knew that they just had to stay in to get the game won. It was great batting for the situation. Danny scored successive 4's off the next over, punishing any looks deliveries, and although the bowling was good from Fernhurst, the scoreboard kept ticking over thanks to some sharp singles and the odd wide. It was Gabe who hit the winning runs - ultimately with just over 6 overs to spare.

This was a really good win for an exclusively U10 Elsetad side against a Fernhurst side of mostly U11s. Our fielding was excellent. All catching opportunities were taken, and Fernhurst found it very hard to score. Our bowling for the most part was also very good. Felix (3-2), Tom (2-6) and Danny (1-4) all showed the virtues of bowling line and length to pick up wickets. There are learnings there for some of our other bowlers that speed is not the be-all and end-all of bowling. Power is nothing without control! Hopefully that lesson will be learned. Gabe also bowled beautifully in his second over (once switched to round the wicket) and took 2-11, to move his season's wicket tally on to an impressive 11.

The batting also gave us a great opportunity to learn. This was not the wicket to try and hit straight ones, but Danny and Gabe showed that with patience, plenty of opportunities to score will come. You do not need to rush when chasing a low score. Although he played very watchfully, Danny still scored 16 of just 19 deliveries and looked the most accomplished batsman of either side. All in all the boys should be very proud of the win - even playing against kids who are mostly a year older we can certainly hold our own in this league!