Gloriously sunny skies greeted Elstead CC U9s and Farnham CC U9 Sixers up at Thursley. With no dew the toss wouldn't be much of an issue, but Captain Charlie called correctly for Elstead and elected to Bowl - a decision the team seemed very happy about!

Stan started with the ball and was at his miserly best, only conceding an edged four off his final delivery of the first over. Gabe followed, and also kept things tight, but it was Harry bowling next who struck first, a cracking delivery beating the defence of the Farnham batsman. Corey was up next and bowled well on his first appearance for the Tier 2 side. At the end of the first pairing, Farnham were on 213.

Charlie bowled next to the new batsmen, who both looked in the mood to hit out. But Charlie kept things tight, conceding just 3. Leo started well but as the new bastmen got 'in', the runs started to flow - with two good boundaries scored. Cillian came in next and continued Elstead's fine bowling perfomance, picking up a lovely wicket with the ball clipping the top of off. Our last bowler was Jake, and although his first ball was a good one, it was dispatched for 4. Undeterred, Jake came in with a little more pace and got his revenge very next ball with an even better delivery! At the half-way stage, Farnham had been pegged back to 228.

Time for the second overs to be bowled, and Stan's first delivery drew gasps from the watching crowd. Pace and accuracy, smashing into middle stump with enough ferocity to leave the stumps rocking. Seeing out the rest of the over Stan finished on 1-8. Gabe (0-8) was up next and bowled well, with just a couple of wides given away. Then came Harry, bowling once again at a sensible pace and with excellent accruacy. Another wonderful wicket off his last ball leaving him with outstanding figures of 2-2. Corey finished bowling to the current Fanham pair and did himself proud on his first appearance. Farnham were now on 237.

As the final Farnham pair came out to bat, it was Charlie with the ball. After a boundary first ball, Charlie kept things tighter, as did Leo and Cillian (1-12) with their second overs. Last to bowl was Jake, who kept things very tidy and also managed to get a wicket with his second ball, to end on great figures of 2-10. In total Farnham had scored 287, but the 6 wickets extracted by Elstead's bowlers left a net score of 257 to chase down for victory.

After some much-needed refreshment, it was Stan and Charlie who came out to bat against an accurate Farnham attack. Runs proved hard to come by, and in the second over Elstead lost their first wicket as they tried to push the score along, with Charlie run out following some outstanding fielding. It took until over 4 before Charlie (8) was able to find the boundary, and by the close of the first pair Elstead were on 217 - slightly ahead of Farnham at the same stage.

Gabe and Corey came out to bat next, and both elected to bat watchfully and patiently, content to allow the odd wide or no-ball push the score along. Although only 3 runs were scored off the bat (Gabe) by this partnership, they kept their wickets intact, and the score progressed to 230. The game was finely balanced.

Next in, a crucial partnership with Harry and Jake taking the crease. Harry got off the mark with a single, but as Jake tried to hit out next ball he was bowled. It was a nervy over, but Harry scored a lovely boundary from the last ball to ease some pressure. Runs continued to accumulate steadliy in the next over with 7 more added. Then came the over that made the difference. After a first ball sighter, Jake launched a hook shot over the boundary for 6, and followed this up with another power 4. After 3 wides from the next ball, Harry was on strike, and batted beautifully with two wonderfully driven 4's. 21 off the over and things had swung decisively in Elstead's favour. Although the run-fest didn't continue into the final over, Harry (18) and Jake (12) has pushed Elsetad on to 263, and into the lead. Only wickets could spoil the party now....

Leo and Cillian walked out knowing that the Farnham bowlers were good and pacey, but both batted with remarkable composure. Cillian scored a lovely boundary off his first ball faced, and although the following over was a tight one, wickets remained intact. Then Leo showed how well he has developed as a batsman this year with two lovely 4's in the next over. As the final over approached, Farnham still had a sniff of victory, but needed wickets. And the wickets never came, as Cillian (7) and Leo (10) saw out the win for Elsetad in assured fashion. Elstead had scored 298 for teh loss of 2 wickets, giving a net score of 288 and a 31-run victory.

This was another great performance from Elstead U9s with contributions from the entire team. Special mention to Corey, who played well in his first ever Tier 2 game, but man of the match today was Harry, who scored 18 with the bat and took 2-2 with the ball.