The 1^st XI finally got their season underway at Milton Keynes. One ball and fifty extras the difference between the sides; Couling’s Kids gave a great account of themselves but couldn’t quite hold on to what would have been a remarkable start to the season. Milton Keynes chased down a formidable looking 196 on a sticky early season track to beat Elstow 1^st XI by one wicket. Elstow made the very best of a tough situation, asked to bat first on a drying wicket and in a team featuring some unfamiliar faces, their middle order batsmen got to grips with the severity of the task and acquitted themselves well. Pete Burraway opened his account for 2012 with a typically powerful 47, Rob Leddy, the buccaneering Brisbane boy, made 53 on debut. His departure threatened to destabilise Elstow’s effort, but captain for the day Geoff Couling shepherded the in-experienced tail to 196 all out. His innings mixed Lance Cairns and Mark Richardson and when he was eventually bowled from the penultimate ball of the innings for 39, Elstow looked in a terrific position. Buoyed by their superb situation in the match, Rob Tebbutt ripped into the MK top order. The new ball specialist took three for 15 in his first spell and Elstow dared to dream. However, as the wickets total ascended, so did the extras and gimme balls. The pressure began to mount on Elstow’s inexperienced attack. They needed maidens. With the score 106-6 at drinks they needed snookers. This was turning into a blockbuster. The quicksilver Ajay Paul (3-25) kept steaming in. His Under 16s teammate Cain Hamilton-Boyle, the coolest customer amid the chaos, held on to two crucial catches to set up an epic finish. Then, nine wickets down and with the most contentious of run out decisions in his side’s favour, MK’s talisman Grant Ebrahim (36*) kept his composure to see his team to victory with seven overs to spare and break Elstow hearts with it.

The flip side to the trying weather is that the 2^nd XI, at the time of writing, are unbeaten! Outdoor net sessions for senior players is on Wednesdays from 18.00 at The Warren. Our junior teams train on Fridays from 17.30 and it has been pleasing to see so many new faces at training among all age groups, despite the unseasonal weather.

Elstow U12s match vs Queens Park, originally 13th May, has been moved to The Warren and will be on Saturday 19th May, 10.00 start.

 Elstow made the very best of a tough situation, asked to bat first on a drying wicket and in a team featuring some unfamiliar faces, their middle order batsmen got to grips with the severity of the task and acquitted themselves well. Rob Leddy, the buccaneering Brisbane boy, allied sound technique with crowd pleasing swish. His maiden fifty, on debut, was brought up with a wristy reverse hit. The amiable Aussie has jovially hinted he’ll be the first Elstow double centurion, and his partnership with fellow fans favourite Pete Burraway, gave Milton Keynes a few headaches and provided the pocket of travelling support the buffet to go with their picnic hamper. Leddy’s dismissal, the next ball after his half-century, threatened to destabilise Elstow’s effort, but captain for the day Geoff Couling shepherded the in-experienced tail to 196 all out. His innings mixed Lance Cairns and Mark Richardson, a ginormous straight six the highlight, and when he was eventually bowled from the penultimate ball of the innings for 39, Elstow looked in a terrific position.

Buoyed by their superb situation in the match, 2011 1^st XI Player of the Season Rob Tebbutt ripped into the MK top order. The new ball specialist took three for 15 in his first spell and Elstow dared to dream. Regular readers of these feeble journalistic outpourings will know how much irritation is derived from Elstow’s bowlers’ inability to limit their benevolence to the opposition by way of gifting extras. Fresh from his heroics with the bat, 47 valuable runs, big hits and lots and lots of running, glutton for punishment gloveman Pete Burraway was left looking as forlorn as his namesake Shilton in the Italia 90 semi-final penalty shoot out as Elstow’s bowlers’ radar began to destabilise proceedings. As the wickets total ascended, so did the extras and gimme balls. Elstow needed maidens. With the score 106-6 at drinks they needed snookers. This was turning into a blockbuster. The quicksilver Ajay Paul (3-25) kept steaming in. His Under 16s teammate Kyle- sorry, Cain- Hamilton-Boyle, the coolest customer amid the chaos, held on to two crucial catches to set up an epic finish. Then, nine wickets down and with the most contentious of run out decisions in his side’s favour, MK’s talisman Grant Ebrahim (36*) kept his composure to see his team to victory with seven overs to spare and break Elstow hearts with it.

Horner Shearing Sure Grip Man of Substance of the Day: Rob Leddy. The young Queenslander has proved an instant hit at The Warren and his runs, wickets and fielding on debut hint at an impressive summer to come. No pressure then.

Clag nut of the Day: The MK Pavilion manager. This jumped-up, unpleasant jobsworth of a man gives the Sri Lankan cricket board and Edgbaston a run for their money as the least hospitable, unhelpful entity in cricket. And the tea was weaker than Monty Burns.

Match Scorecard: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11434158

The post-match Curry Night has also been postponed for another evening as a result.

There’s always the cup final I s’pose….

Bloomin’ drought.

For details on the new venue, check out www.rubymurrayrestaurant.co.uk

All being well, the season will start for real next weekend when Elstow 1st XI entertain North Crawley and Elstow 2nd XI are away at Drayton Parslow.

As always, your support is hugely appreciated, so please come along and support your local team.

It’s simple. Pick your team, pay your money and sit back and watch as your side racks up points aplenty and secures you the Fantasy Cricket title and a smile as wide as the Ouse come September.

Entry details are as per the link below, or see Lee at training on Wednesday for a hard copy of the entry form.

http://www.elstowcc.co.uk/fantasy-cricket/