Under strength Knebworth still too strong

On a lovely sunny evening that turned characteristically cold during the second innings, Knebworth's stronger-than-I-had-been-led-to-believe side batted first on another good pitch from Andy Gilder.

Sam Gardner continued his recent excellent form with the ball and produced a testing spell that brought him the deserved wicket of Inman, bowled for 11. At the other end, Chris Millns also bowled a very good line, and maybe with a close catcher in attendance we may have made more than the one breakthrough. However, Knebworth's boys played with caution and reached 39 for the loss of one wicket when our openers finished their four over spells.

Our second string bowlers were unable to maintain such control, with only Charlie Finch (1-11) escaping punishment. Stephens and Holman both reached their 30s and some lusty blows at the end saw our visitors accelerate to a testing 155 for 3.

Regardless of those numbers, I was very pleased with the boys' bowling and fielding, especially in the first half of the innings.

The run chase was always likely to prove a stiff one, and our chances were not improved when in-form Joe Stanborough was brilliantly run out for 3 in the second over. Joel Ellis followed for a duck, and it took our two left-handers, Joe Burslem and Coby Miles to settle us down. Joe is in a rich vein of form and playing quality strokes all around the wicket. It was a shock when he missed a straight ball to be bowled for 15, and unfortunately our middle order capitulated against good Knebworth bowling. Will Bowman's Chris Gayle impression lasted one ball, and Stephen Walsh followed without troubling the scorers. Sam Gardner found the quick bowling to his liking and struck a rapid 14, but of the other batsmen only Charlie Peace threatened to stick around.

Amid the carnage, skipper Coby Miles continued to time the ball sweetly and played a number of lovely straight drives, easily clearing the infield on a number of occasions. He retired but returned to finish on an unbeaten 42, his best score and innings for the club.

We ended up 95 all out, which wasn't a bad effort but could have been better had some of our batsmen remembered that the forward defensive is the stroke on which an innings is built, rather than an optional extra to be brought out in an emergency.

From my point of view, I got selection for the match wrong, knowing as I did in advance that Knebworth are a very strong and competitive club (in junior cricket). In my defence, I had been informed they would be turning up with a side comprising two girls, an U4 player and a wicket keeper still in nappies, so it was something of a surprise to see them arrive with a smattering of county cricketers. Still, you live and learn.