The 4s travelled to Binsted in good spirits for the first league game of the season, pre-gane prep including 18 holes for Aidy, Parkrun for Merlot, a net for the Downhams and Drew praying to avoid injury. Stenners and Henry Wright returned to beef up the batting, Corbyn Downham made his senior league debut, and St John took the gloves, as we arrived to glorious blue skies and a greenish looking pitch.

The skipper won the toss and chose to bowl with Lenice starting strongly up the hill. Aidy Green had a brain wave, suggesting the batters wouldn't like pace off and Cults should open up. It first appeared to be a brain-fade, as Cults’ first two balls went to the boundary, before he soon settled on his areas.
Lenice found the stumps to get us an early breakthrough, however the other opener was keen to get on with things. We struggled to keep things tight, not helped by a couple of misfields, the ‘highlight’ coming from the skipper. Buzzing for the Shots going to Wembley next week, Merlot slid in to intercept a firmly-hit drive, and diverted it off to deep cover for four. Going in with two feet and studs showing, probably lucky to stay on the pitch. Our openers kept plugging away, and Cults got the aggressive opener thanks to a smart catch from St John, who rather annoyingly kept pretty well.

59-2 from 9, and Merlot and Debutant Corbyn were into the attack and managed to cut off the boundaries, thanks to the help of Charlie and Henry sweeping either side, and Matty Brown mopping up at cover point. Corbyn bowled very well and was unlucky to not pick up a wicket, with the ball falling into gaps on a number of occasions. The skipper had a bit more luck, thanks to catches from Aidy at a longish on, Matt at cover, and a one-handed stunner from Cults in the gully, where it was far easier to go with two. 97-5 at drinks and well in the game.

Unfortunately things started to unravel after drinks, as number 7 turned out to be an absolute gun. He hit the ball so well that our boundary fielders had no change with balls that were only a few steps either side.

Merlot (3-23) and Drew (0-27) finished their spells, and youngsters Corbyn (0-59) and Charlie (0-26) were back-on to find their breakthrough. Both bowled some fantastic deliveries but weren't able to stop the boundaries.

Cults (1-69) and Lenice (1-48) came back on but also received some treatment, Lenice in particular unlucky not find another wicket. Aidy (1-16) came on for a little death bowling cameo, picking up a wicket first legal ball, before also being sent to the boundary, Binsted finishing 273-6 from their 40, no.7 132*(70).

Time for tea, and an excellent effort from our hosts. Strong start to the league season.

Unfortunately it was always going to be a lot to chase. Matt and Aidy started solidly but were given no freebies, while Binsted rather cruelly had three players on the cut shot for Aidy (can someone please teach that man the moo?). Some clever strike rotation and a couple of nice boundaries built a platform, 33-0 from the first 10.

Aidy (9) and Matt (15) then offered catching practice to the fielders, with Stenners (2) getting cleaned up soon after, as we collapsed for 39-3. St John (8 and Charlie (3) dug in, but weren't able to add many before also being sent on their way, and were soon followed by Henry (?), as we collapsed to 56-6 at drinks.

Things were looking bleak, but we need we still had some batting to come. Drew (21) decided to show a bit of fight, taking on both the short boundary and the car park as he took us past a batting bonus point, before he became the latest graduate of the school of missing a straight one.

Corbyn, fed-up with Drew's strike-hogging, was suitably riled-up and got off the mark with the Downham special. Corbyn then proceeded to prove he has more shots than his old man with a glorious sweep though deep backward square, and a lovely shot down the ground. He was particularly keen to go after the gun bat, perhaps a bit of retribution the treatment his bowling received.

Corbyn (34* from 22) unfortunately ran out of partners, as Cults (?), Lenice (3) and Sean (2) all weren't good enough to stick with him, as we were bundled out for 118. There was the heartening partnership between the Downham siblings to drag us past 100 and another bonus point.

A tough one to start the season with, but sometimes you accept when you run into a good team with some seriously good cricketers. We definitely had our moments, including a very special glimpse of the future.

Player of the Match: Corbyn Downham, a superb debut in senior cricket

Muppet of the week: Myself - for playing Total Wipeout with the gun bat while backing up. With the batter built like a fridge and wearing pads, and myself built like one of the shelves, there was only going to be one winner.