OK, nearly finished now and both teams seem to be safe from relegation. What a relief after a somewhat mixed season! For both sides there have been too many defeats or dour losing draws. In fact, for the 2nd X1 their last six games have comprised two abandoned / cancelled matches, two defeats and two losing draws - not pretty stuff. The Ones, too, caught the disease in August with doughty two-point performances against Dogmersfield and Grayswood.

At least there have been some individual performances to enjoy. In the Dogmersfield game Fazal Syed bowled his left arm spin unchanged for 22 overs, taking 8 wickets for 84 runs. The lack of a big innings from one or more Elstead batsmen was the reason Faz's efforts were not rewarded with a win.

At Grayswood the star was 14 year old Chris Terry, fast becoming a permanent fixture in the Ones. Coming into bat at 79 for 4, Chris proceeded to show everyone else how it's done with a fine unbeaten 60. With 39 from Josh Berry and 36 from Gihan Yapa the innings closed on 180 for 5. Chris was not finished! He bowled 9 overs of spin and took 5 wickets for 30 as Dogmersfield finished on 165 for 9. Only the loss of 4 overs at the start of the game due to the home side having no match ball (!) prevented Elstead claiming either the win or, at least, a winning draw.

So to the annual local home fixture with Thursley! This was something of a must-win game for Elstead with the clouds of relegation still looming on the horizon. The cause was, perhaps, helped a little by some of the visiting players having their minds on a colleague's stag evening later that day but the game still had to be played, and won. Thursley batted first and once again the team's youngsters came to the fore. Josh Berry, 16, took 5 wickets for 58 with a mixture of quick bowling and then spin, while Chris Terry collected another 4 scalps. When it came to batting Elstead found themselves chasing 173 and duly eased home with time to spare thanks to Sam Egan's 45 (when will he ever reach 50?) and an excellent 71 from Josh.

Finally, a word for the stalwarts of the club who played in the annual President's game! Postponed from the height of Summer due to wet weather (there's a surprise) this festive club occasion was eventually played in late August on a gloomy wet day when most sensible folk would have tucked up in front the TV. The last 10 overs were played in the sort of stygian gloom and heavy rain most often associated with the darker days of November, but played they were and, for the first time in many years, the President's X1 won. Well done, guys, and what a fine party was had that night.