It was another scorcher at Farncombe on Sunday morning for our penultimate Sunday league match of the season. Knowing how hard it has been to bowl second in these conditions recently, Elstead were keen to bowl first, but once again we lost the toss and were sent in to bat.

The start could not have been any worse. The first Farncombe ball went stright through to the keeper, but Lochie clearly felt there was a run on and scampered down the wicket. The keeper's throw was good and Lochie was run out without facing a ball. At this point Elstead coaches gently pointed out to Farncombe that there was an opportunity to display the spirit of cricket and call the batsman back to simply start again, but the suggestion was declined. So in walked Harry, much sooner than he would have liked, but seemingly untroubled as he deftly cut his first ball away for 4. Trouble wasn't too far away though - although this pair normally do very well at picking up singles, Harry pushed for a very tight run having played the ball striagh tto mid-on, and the throw from the fielder was once again pin-point leaving Stan to trudge off run out. Elsetad on 11 for 2, with both openers dismissed for needless run-outs.

This brought Danny to the crease, and he continued to show his batting form from midweek, hitting lovely boundary 4's off each of the next 3 overs. However a change of bowling from Farncombe was Danny's downfall, and he perished for 14 in a familiar manner - trying to slog the cover off a slow and striaght delivey, missing the ball, and getting bowled. Definitely something for Danny to work on. Charlie came in next fresh from having scored some lovely shots in training on Saturday, but he also found the slower bowling hard to score off. After 3 dots, Charlie did get bat to ball, and set of for a run that was again debatable. Communication here obviously broke down, as Harry remianed rooted to the spot while Charlie continued to run to the other end of the wicket, allowing Farncombe to simply run the ball in to the stumps for a third very wasteful run-out. Elstead slumped to 24 for 5 off 5 overs.

Coen was next into bat, looking to continue his midweek form, and for a while he and Harry batted well, both keping the scoreboard ticking over. Coen had moved up to a decent 10, and was just looking like he was growing into his innings with his feet starting to move nicely when he was out. The shot was neither one thing or another - it could have been a glorious cover drive if played fractionally later, or it could have been a 6 had Coen really committed to the shot, but in the end the ball was popped gently up skywards for a realtviely simple catch. That brought Gabe to the crease, and unfortunately another all-too-familiar way to get out. Gabe stepped across his stumps looking to slog a slow straight one over cow corner a la Kevin Piertersen, but it simply wasn't the shot to play to that delivery. Gabe missed, and although the umpire thought of every possible excuse not to give it out, there was no option - LBW.

Cillian now came out to join Harry, who had quietly been going about his business at the other end, once again building a lovely innings. Harry was ultimately and surprisingly out for what we think was 27 when he received something of a freak ball which nipped in a lot to shave off stump. Another good ininngs for Harry who helped Elstead move to 76 for 7. Oli then came to join Cillian, but both struggled to score consistently, and the scoreboard slowed. Oli was then out in a way that has been coming all season. Oli likes to step back deep in his crease and try to slog balls away on the off side - unfortuantely today he stepped back too far, and was out hit wicket. That left Matt and Cillian as our last pair - both scored lovely boundaries as they continue to build confidence at the crease, but Cillian was eventually bowled with the score on 99.

Although there was a brief pause where it was expected that Farncombe would invite Lochie back in to bat, this didn't happen, and the innings was closed after 17 overs. A tough day at the office. We should really have scored 140-150 on that wicket, but the early needless run-outs (some repeat offences which we have to iron out) really hurt us, as did 4 of our batters getting out in very predictable ways that we have been trying to work with them on to avoid. These days happen, and there is nothing to be concerned about, but our batters all have a lot they can learn from this batting performance, and it is important that they do refelct and try to learn from these repeat mistakes if they are to develop as cricketers at pace.

99 was unlikely to be enough to win this game, but it was still a decent score and we would need to bowl well. We knew from our first game against Farncombe that they have some strong batting talent. Fortunately all the kids had listened to the coaches and had kept themsleves rested and cool in the shade while not batting. Unfortunately it was clearly an already slightly frazzled Elsetad team that took the field after drinks.

As usual, Danny took the first ball for Elstead, and bowled well without reward - a good boundary from his 3rd delivery reminding us how good the Francombe opening bats were. Stan was up next and he too bowled very well - although two boundaries were scored from his first over the credit has to go to the batsmen again. Danny's second over was even tighter, but wicketless as he ended on 0 for 9 from his two overs. Stan too improved again in his second over with the first delivery going right over the stumps and missing by a fine margin. His second ball was even better, and this time middle stump was pegged back. Elstead had a breakthrough. Then the very next ball the same thing happened, middle and leg flattened thanks to a searing swinging full toss. But then a pivotal moment in the game. After a delay the square leg umpire signalled a no ball and the standing umpire ultimately concurred. Not out. Its tough to argue that a pace ball that crashes into the stumps has passed a tall batsman above waist height, but umpires decisions have to be respected.

Try as he might Stan couldn't eke out another wicket despite an excellent over, and from here the tide started to turn. Farncombe's batters started to hit out and the subsequent overs from Gabe and Oli went for a run a ball, with frequent boundaries despite good bowling. At this point the Farncombe opener reached 33* from26 balls and retired. Even with a new batter in, Lochie and Harry fared no better, though again neither bowled badly. Harry at least did manage to get Elstead's second wicket, thanks to a good catch from Charlie behind the stumps. The bat tried to claim he hadn't hit it, but it was an audible and obvious nick from a great piece of bowling. Nonetheless Farncombe had already raced to 85 for 2 off 10 overs, needing just 15 to win.

Unfortunately the end came in a hurry, with the Farncombe #3 who had been reprieved by a contentious no-ball in the 4th over hitting consecutive boundaries off Coen: 4, 4 and 6 before he retired on 30 off just 18 balls. How different this game might have been if he had not been given that life-line on his first ball. By now though the game was effectively done. Scores were level, and even with new batters at the crease the next ball went for a leg bye, and the match was Farncombe's.

Elstead were clearly disppointed at the manner of the loss, but days like today can be priceless in terms of learning and development as cricketers. If we learn - and learn we must if we want to remain competitive in age-group cricket - all our players can take great strides forward as cricketers. The 3 poor run-outs cost us dearly today, and those who called for the runs need to think about what they might do differently next time. Farncombe fielded very close in - and we should have been looking for boundaries through the gaps, and not quick singles. We also had batters getting out in familiar ways. As a batter when you get out the same way multiple times, its time to change your approach. Farncombe also fielded brilliantly, and were very good at protecting the singles, whereas Elstead (despite many many pleas from the coaches) drifted back towards the boundary leaving plentiful singles for the Farncombe batsmen. Today we came up against a better side (which we knew from our earlier game this season), and we came out on the wrong side of the score - but as they say in sport, you either win or you get an opportunity to learn. Today we have a great opportunity to learn - let's just make sure we grab this learning opportunity and get better for our next game!

Players of the match as selected by Farncombe:
Batter = Harry
Bowler = Stan