In truth this was a game that shouldn't have been played given the weather forecast. Haslemere were keen to press ahead and the surface passed an early inspection, so Elstead U9s travelled south to face what promised to be a strong side. It was already drizzling upon arrival, and there was plenty of chat about postponing, but with kids present and keen, and our hosts being insitant that we should give it a go, we threw caution to the wind and consented to play.

Haslemere won the toss and elected to bowl. This suited captain Jake's Elstead, as we had already talked about how it was likely to get harder to score runs as the outfield got wetter. In truth it was hard for both sides, with frequent breaks due to heavy rain in each innings. Harry and Gabe opened for Elstead, against a good Haslemere bowler. Nonethless Harry punished a couple of looser deliveries, including scoring one of the day's few boundaires off the last ball of the first over, which yielded 8 runs. A quicker bowler came next and after starting with 3 wides, bowled very well indeed. Pushing for a run off the last ball, Harry was just short of his ground due to a direct-hit from Haslemere's specialist wicket-keeper. Things didn't get any easier next over, as Haslemere's most economical bowler appeared - conceding just 1 run. The fourth over saw some relief though as Harry (11) hit another boundary, and runs came off almost every ball. As our first pair departed, Elstead had reached 220.

Next in were Charlie and Danny. The next Haslemere bowler was their quickest yet, but this pair batted sensibly, taking runs when on offer - 6 from the over. Haslemere's bowling, which had been mostly very good up till now then tailed off slightly, and runs and extras flowed steadily, with 9, 6, and 13 being scored off the next three overs. Charlie finished on 8 (with one great boundary 4), and Danny on 5. At the halfway point Elstead were on 254.

Jake and Stan were in next and as the rain fell, faced Haslemere's best bowlers. The pair batted sensibly, happy to preserve wickets in the face of tight bowling which provided Haslemere 2 maiden overs in a row. Runs came but slowly off the next two overs, and as the rain became so heavy it forced us to have a break, the pair haid seen Elstead through to 262.

Leo and Tom were last in once the rain subsided a little, but conditions were now becoming tricky for all involved - the Haslemere bowler conceding 8 extras. 9 came off the following over - a mixture of runs and extras. Then it was back to Haslemere's paciest bowler, who probably bowled the ball of the day first up, clean bowling Tom with a very quick delivery. Tom and Leo managed to see the over out against some very good bowling, and as the rain came down in sheets again, Tom hit out in the last over, with one lovely boundary, to finish on 10. Elsetad's score of 98 for 2 was a net 288. As we rushed for cover and refrshments, the Haslemere coaches complemented us on our good defensive batting. They were clearly a team used to taking more wickets, and perhaps realising the game was already getting away from them given the conditions.

Over the break there was more talk of calling proceedings off, but a bright spell encouraged everyone out into the field. Danny opened the bowling for Elstead and bowled very tidly as always. He also snared Elstead's first wicket with a clean-bowl on the 5th ball. Jake came in next, and struggled a little to find his line in the first over - with 7 coming from it thanks to an accomplished Haslemere batter. Leo bowled next and continued his recent economical form. Sensing the need for runs, Haslemere tried to sneak one too many off Leo's fifth ball, and the man himself effected a run out - great work Leo! 4 runs were excellently struck of Leo's last ball, but as the rain started to fall again and the outfield got slower, it was the last boundary we were to see. 7 were scored off the next over from Tom, despite some excellent bowling in dreadful conditions, and as the players ran off for another rain break the first pair had moved Haslemere onto 215.

At this point our hosts starting prompting for an abandonment, but having come so far we were less keen, and pushed on. Stan bowled next, still able to find pace despite the now slippy conditions. Despite a few byes as the slippy ball was now becoming tricky to field even for the wicket keeper, Stan bowled very well for a maiden over, getting a clean bowled wicket off his 5th ball. Charlie bowled next as the rain returned, and this was one of his best overs of the season. Good line and length, conceding just two runs to a very good batter, and taking a clean-bowled wicket. Gabe came in next and struggled a bit with his line first up - as last week. Conditions really weren't helping now, and 9 came off the over to give the scoreboard some relief for Haslemere. But that didn't last long as Harry was up next. Harry bowled brilliantly in these conditions, taking a wicket 3rd ball. Harry finished on 1-1 on the day - not being able to bowl his last over (more on that later).

As the next rain shower hammered the ground, we again dove for the cover of the pavillion. Our hosts agin asked whether we felt we should abandon, but with our opposition on the rack at 218, and having played most of the game now, we decided to give it one more chance with the agreement that the next rain shower would signal the end of proceedings.

Danny came out next to bowl his second over against a new pair, and was clearly in a hurry to beat the rain. This didn't detract from his excellent bowling though, and just 2 runs were conceded off the over, giving him figures of 1-6 for the day. Jake (1-12) bowled next and although a few no-balls hampered him, he got a wicket 3rd ball to keep the pressure firmly on Haslemere. Leo bowled his second over next and was extremely tidy, conceding just 1 run in his first 5 balls. Then came champagne moment of the match. The batter edged Leo's final delivery past the wicket keeper, where Harry raced around to intercept and then launch a throw at the non-striker's end.... a direct hit! The batter clearly wasn't expecting to be targetted from the deep and was well short of his ground. Excellent thinking Harry! Things didn't get any better for the same Haslemere batter who was bowled by Tom very next next ball. Tom finished his over very well and ended up with 1-7. With one pair to go, Haslemere were on 217 and with a lot to do!

As the last pair came in for Haslemere, it was obvious we were in a race against the rain. By now everything was difficult, be it bowling, batting or fielding. Stan bowled his second over though and it was another very tidy affair - although byes were conceded, Stan finished off a second maiden, giving him figures of 1-0. Charlie was in next and bowled another great over, conceding just 4 runs to finish on 1-6. But the rain by now was the heaviest of the day, and there was no chance of further play. Although 2 overs were left, Haslemere knew the game was up and conceded defeat. Their 61 for 8 provided a net score of 221, and it was unlikely 68 would have been scored off the last two overs.

While it was a shame not to complete a match (which should probably not have started), the kids enjoyed their morning and played some great cricket in trying conditions. At least we don't now have another match to try to re-schedule! We batted very sensibly which really took the steam out of the Haslemere attack - and then as always we took wickets frequently thanks to tight bowling and fielding. Despite the conditions which probably did favour Elstead bowling second, we were clearly the better team on the day, once again with everyone contributing with either bat or ball.

This was Elstead U9's 7th consecutive win this season. Hopefully player availability will enable us to complete our final game in the coming weeks, but regardless this has been a stunning season for the U9s.