A grey and slightly overcast morning greeted us at Crondall, although with the church bells ringing in the background, it’s still one of the most picturesque settings you’ll find for a game of cricket.

Skipper Nathan lost the toss and Farnham U11 Sixers were sent in to bat. A slow start had the nerves jangling, with us sitting at just 213/3 halfway through the innings. Thankfully, the later batting pairs dug deep and kept the scoreboard ticking over, helping us post a competitive 258/5.

After a quick squash, a couple of custard creams, and an encouraging team talk at the break, the boys headed out to defend the total with renewed determination. The bowling was disciplined, the fielding sharp, and every run was fiercely contested.

As the game reached its pinnacle, Haslemere stood at 256/4 with just six balls remaining. Parents, coaches and players were all on the edge of their seats – proper nail-biting cricket at its finest!

Step forward Alfie. With nerves of steel, he delivered a superb final over, picking up two wickets, including a caught-and-bowled, to restrict Haslemere to 247/6 and secure a memorable victory for Farnham U11 Sixers.

I couldn’t be prouder of the boys. They really listened to the halftime message, slowed things down when it mattered, attacked the stumps, and backed it up with outstanding fielding. There were some brilliant boundary saves, excellent catches, and a real determination not to let the game slip away.

This was a fantastic display of grit, resilience and teamwork. At one stage many of us thought the game had gone, but the boys refused to give in and showed exactly what they’re capable of.

Special mentions go to Alfie for an outstanding all-round performance with 19 runs and 4 wickets, and to Otis for a brilliant side-on run out from around 15 yards that proved to be a crucial moment in the match.

What a win. What a finish.