One of those matches. Gnomes were disappointed to lose against Crossbatters after getting into a winning position several times, only to
let their advantage slip. But it was a splendid tight-fought game that went down to the wire, played on a beautiful ground with great food and friendly hosts.

Skipper John Dunthorne adventurously inserted Crossbatters, arguing that this was an aggressive move that gave the best chance of victory. Crossbatters made a confident start, reaching 57 before Chris Gill bowled the no 2 with one of his trade-mark late inswingers. The oppo number 1 looked dangerous until Fenton caught him in the deep off Pete Gillman. Then Crossbatters dug in, scoring slowly against attritional Gnome bowling, reaching 92-2 at lunch after almost two hours play. After going for 27 off his first 5 overs, Pete had 8 runs taken off his next 10.

Gnome took two quick wickets after lunch, one a dramatic run-out off a superb return by Anton after the oppo pair thought the ball had gone for a boundary. In a superbly controlled spell, Jezza Kemball worked his way through the Crossbatters middle order, with 3 caught - one a stunner by a leaping Tom Godfrey at slip - and one lbw. At 150-7 Crossbatters seemed on the point of collapse, but aided by a late rally for the 8th wicket they declared at 190-9, scored off no fewer than 63 overs. Jezza topped the
Gnome bowling with 4-32 off 13. Chris, Fenton and Pete had one each, and there were two run-outs.

John Dunthorne and Clare Taylor - after surviving two drops in the slips - made an assured start for Gnomes, notching an opening partnership of 30 which ended when John was bowled for 18. Then Clare and Tom Godfrey, batting confidently, took the score to 79. With 112 needed off about 28 overs, the match seemed to be in the Gnomes' grasp. But Tom (29) was caught on the square-leg boundary but a fielder he had not spotted before making his attempt to hit a six.

With a strong line-up Gnome still seemed set for victory but Mark Feltham was bowled for 1, Chris Lear given out off a front-foot lbw for 7, and Anton bowled for 5, leaving Gnome reeling at 114-5. Clare was still accumulating runs and when she and Jezza took the score to 150 victory still seemed on the cards, with the required run rate hovering around 5 per over.

Then came the second mini-collapse, Jezza bowled for 23 and Andrew Ramroop bowled the next ball. Fenton struck some quick runs and with 12 needed off the last 2 overs the match was once again there to be won. Then Fenton was caught off a full-toss for 8 and Chris Gill was smartly run out for one.

With Clare facing, Gnome needed 8 off the last over. But she and Pete Gillman only managed three, leaving Clare at the wrong end on 86 and Pete at the wicket requiring 6 off the last ball. Clare told him to play it out
but he had insane visions of glory and played on while trying to hit a winning six (a crap decision really, when you consider the odds). Gnome had scored their 185 off 52 overs - 11 fewer than Crossbatters. Clare's 86 not out was a superb knock and the pity was that no Gnome batsman could stay with her long enough to bring home the victory her innings merited.

The overall verdict was that, despite the disappointment of a narrow defeat, this was a enjoyable match in an excellent venue, particularly suitable for families. Next year's fixture has already been provisionally arranged for the equivalent date in May 2004.