Cambourne'e over 30s proved conclusively on Saturday that youth is no match for the experience, skill and guile of the older cricketer as they easily beat the yoofs by around 60 runs. The kids let their emotions get the better of them with a poor fielding display as Darrington led from the front with a fabulous 70, supported well by Crawford and Cooke, taking the seniors onto a commanding total of 230 from a reduced 32 over game. Despite the best efforts of Tom Elliott who scored a splendid 60, the youngsters were found lacking in almost all departments finishing up 170 all out as the light began to fade.

Unseasonably warm and sunny mid September weather meant for perfect playing conditions in what was the last game of cricket to be played this summer. Despite originally being selected as an junior, Darrington was controversially "promoted" to the seniors after the oldies were one short, but yet another sleep in from Cundell meant that the kids would have to start with 10 in the field. Hanks and Crawford got the geriatrics off to a great start and were helped somewhat by a glut of missfields - the kids weren't used to being out of bed so early, or perhaps they were less able to handle their beer on a Saturday night? Crawford finally departed after a skied drive to point finally woke up Josh White who was waiting underneath, and Hanks went next ball as Ameya used his youthful agility to hang on to a catch at short cover. Facing a hattrick ball in front of 10 over excited children, Paul Cooke showed them who's boss with a drive over cover for four. Cooke and Darrington then built an excellent partnership in double quick time with some lusty blows that had the upstarts in tears before Cooke was finally sent back to the pavilion after middling a drive straight into the hands of Poyarekar at cover. Kumanduri looked well set with some signature straight drives before one shot too many made a mess of his stumps whilst Jonny Allen's late 2009 début was cut short after a smart run out. Tandy played onto his stumps chasing a wide shortly before Darrington was finally caught in the last over, having latched onto half a dozen pies served up in the previous over by Harry McMills. Charles then completed the rout with his first ever six in any form of cricket as the seniors polished off a fine batting performance with upstarts left licking their lollipops and contemplating how many Yorkshire puddings mum was going to cook them tonight.

Having arrived late from an extended sleep, Cundell took to the field with Shahadat meaning business, attacking White Snr and blocking out Darrington at the other end. The run rate was steadily increasing but having just knocked White over the cover boundary, Shahadat departed next ball as White bowled the Chutney Joe ace with a fine delivery. This opened the floodgates as the the seniors got into the heads of each new batsman as they arrived at the crease testing their mental strength, for which there was only going to be one winner. Cundell was caught behind by Crawford off a huge edge from Darrington's bowling and for a split second contemplated not walking before realising it would have been a futile act of defiance. Ameya then had his off stump removed after an absolte jaffa from Darrington and when White Snr had White Jnr stumped for a duck, some of the Old Farts were contemplating whether investing in youth was really worth the effort. Joseph had other ideas however, hitting Charles's first three deliveries for 4, 6 and 6 but on the 6th ball he got a leading edge straight down the bowlers throat. This brought Honey glazed duck to the crease, facing the prospect of a 3rd consecutive zero score, but he withheld the pressure and got off the mark and went on to build a potentially match winning partnership with Tom Elliott who was in great form at the other end with one huge shot in particular bouncing off the brickwork of a nearby house onto Woodfield Lane. Great promise from Honey was all undone in a moment however, with an ugly missed hoick across sent his bails flying. At that point the upstarts' only faint hope was solely with Elliott who had spent little time racing to a 50 but when Wood had Healy tamely caught and bowled and Harry Mills was caught at mid off from Cooke, he was running out of batting partners. Elliott finally went in bizarre fashion falling LBW to a rank, slow full toss served up by Cooke that really deserved to be spanked for 6 and when skipper Callum left a ball hitting his middle stump the game was over and kids were sent home crying.

A full set of pictures can be found here.