Well, can you believe it? Three in a row! What am I talking about? The Stevens Cup, of course. Elstead Cricket Club has won the premier league knock-out trophy for a third time running.

Whilst the recent wet weather has played havoc with Saturday fixtures we've managed to squeeze the Stevens Cup games in. A postponed semi-final at Cranleigh St Andrews led to some repercussions with the league. The powers-that-be deemed the pitch to have been perfectly playable and ordered that the replayed match should be played at Elstead. On a gloomy evening Elstead's fragile batting line-up struggled to 94 all out, a total that looked less than adequate as Cranleigh's strong top order chased the runs. Elstead's strength this year, though, is the fielding and bowling and a couple of vital wickets, including a tremendous run-out, saw the flow of runs dry to a trickle. Mark Wycherley's fine opening spell was followed by four fabulous overs from Fazal Syed and a great spell from David Tye. Nevertheless it was tight as Josh Berry bowled the last over and four were needed off the last ball. A mere single meant that Elstead had scraped into the final by two runs.

Just nine days later the team turned out at Lindford for the final against Tilford, surprise semi-final victors over favourites, Grayshott. Tilford batted first on yet another gloomy evening and once more Elstead's attack, depleted by the loss of David Tye, rose to the occasion. Mark Wycherley, Owais Khan and Fazal Syed all bowled very tight spells and the fielding and catching was well up to the usual mark. One notable catch by Darren Boxall, low to the ground on the run, set the tone and Tilford were restricted to 83 all out of less than 15 of their 16 overs.

Elstead's reply started with a wobble as three wickets fell early. That man Owais Khan steadied the ship and young prodigy Josh Berry, visibly nervous after a bowling performance which fell below his high expectations, came in to strike a couple of magnificent on-drives. Suddenly the total was well within reach and Owais nudged the winning runs with time to spare.

In a poor season this was just the tonic the team needed. Owais won Man-of-the-Match and the team celebrated long into the evening.

Meanwhile the Twos have been consolidating their mid-table position with a couple of wins, the defeat of Wrecclesham notable for a fine 88 from skipper, Richard Jones. The Ones are still at the bottom of the table but we have to hope that the Stevens Cup exploits will galvanise the team.

One more fine achievement needs to be recorded this month. The club is fortunate in having a number of talented youngsters playing in the senior teams, a tribute to the junior coaching team led by Rick Purvis and Dave Cooper. Amongst these is Josh Berry, just 15, who is now playing regularly for the 1st X1 and on Sundays too. It was in one of these friendly matches against Laggers that he scored a fantastic 116. Does that make him the youngest player to score a century for an Elstead senior team?

The dodgy weather has caused Jonah's attempt to cross the English Channel in a two-man kayak to be postponed. It's still on and mid-July looks favourite. At the time of writing he is in Dover awaiting a favourable weather forecast. Remember he's doing it in aid of charity (Cancer UK) so if you feel like supporting him go to the following link - http://www.justgiving.com/channelkayak.