A game against strong opposition - a 1st XI - gave us a strong test and we have learnt a lot. We started brightly, with some clean hitting and well-worked boundaries. Marlborough's 1st XI bowlers were sadly just a bit too good for us and we lost 9 wickets to 2 bowlers who bowled full, straight, and on the stumps, including a hat-trick. We showed a little resistance, but we were too often caught playing an aggressive stroke to a full ball on the stumps, and were bowled. That's a great learning experience, and it's what we need as a team if we are going to carry on and beat stronger opposition...and be worthy 1st-teamers next year!

In the field it was a different matter, and I was really proud of the way we fought and fought. Tight bowling, excellent, sharp fielding - a run out (Millie) and two cracking catches off Charlotte (Pip into the sun, Annabelle taking a spooned hit at short mid off), as well as some miserly bowling from Annabelle, Martha, Imi, Lottie and Charlotte. Everyone played their part - Liv, Ophelia, Alice, Tabi may not have been part of the wickets, but their excellent ground fielding kept the runs tight and made Marlborough bat through 13 overs to win. A note too about Fran, who kept well, and really did well to stop a number of wide deliveries, and was quickly to the stumps when there was a run-out chance.

Annabelle deserved her player of the game vote from Alice, but everyone can be proud of the way we fielded, and the way we fought, and the way we played the game.