Having won five games in a row and last week's abandonment against one of our promotion rivals, this top of the table clash against an unbeaten Haslemere away was a vital game.

Seemingly both sides were missing a few players that have played pivotal roles this season and it was clearly going to be down to who had the depth, spirit, talent and resilience in their squad.

Haslemere having not conceded more than 70 runs at home this season the toss was important and our skipper didn't let us down, he won the toss and put them in.

Dazza removed one of their openers with a decent catch from Lewis which had them 11-1 which sent some nerves through the Haslemere dressing room.

After good open spells from Dazza and Jasmine, that, on another day would have cleaned up many a top order, it was clear that this wasn't going to be an easy track to bat on, wickets were vital.

The Empire that is the Elstead Rodger's struck with JACK!

Having largely been waiting in the wing's to show his talent with the ball, this impressive young talent did not shy away when he was tossed the ball.

He ripped through the top order taking the next three wickets with some accurate quick bowling that they just could not handle, reducing them to 37-4.

The tanned Elstead adonis that is Joey Shepperd backed Jack up from the other end with a quick hostile spell that had the Haslemere batsman dancing around the crease taking the 5th wicket without them adding to the scoreboard.

Jack then took the 6th wicket, his fourth so far for the day leaving Lewis to take the next three wickets which had them well and truly on the ropes and given the adonis final figures of 4-15 off his allotted 9 overs.

Their 10th Wicket partnership couldn't be broken even with our skipper coming back for a second spell and our talented young spinner Sam just couldn't find the last wicket we needed.

The batting was stubborn and every run was becoming even more important for our slightly depleted batting line up.

Chuck Jack the ball!

We did!

He cleaned up the innings for us finishing with impressive final figures of 5-14 off 5 overs.

The chase was on but the seemingly low total of 88 was not going to be easy to knock off having only two real recognised top order batsman, a difficult track and two of the top ranked bowlers in league bowling on their home turf.

Two balls in and without a run on the board we lost our first wicket.

Fortunately for us Lewis was still at the crease but some Tilson like stubbornness was needed to see the new ball bowlers off and let one of the most destructive batsman in the league get his eye in.

Our second wicket partnership lasted 40 mins and runs from one end had been accumulated leaving us 33-2, but importantly Lewis was still there and our young talented Jack was walking out.

With 55 runs to get and our two best players on the day out in the middle we were confident they could see us home and they did.

Lewis completed another impressive not out innings with 68 runs off 69 balls, his third of the season and is averaging an astonishing 127.50 this season. The transfer requests have been flooding in but the not for sale is well and truly up.

Our young Jedi apprentice finished on 14 not out and truly impressed coming into a top of the table clash having not really bowled this season, to rip through their top and middle order in just 5 overs and have the pressure of batting out the innings was testament to himself and the club.

This massive win leaves the Rodgers 3 points off top spot with another mighty clash against Haslemere this week at the home of cricket.