Elstree's win on Saturday afternoon had all the right elements for a summer blockbuster movie.

Against a backdrop of sweltering heat, a small squad of cricketers, reduced even further through a player being injured, fought against the odds to clinch victory, thanks to a fantastic match-winning knock from a 13-year-old girl.

Elstree travelled to Boxmoor with only ten players, including teenager Emma Cane and umpire Leroy Theophile.

Their hosts won the toss and batted on a good pitch, but rapidly found themselves in trouble, facing the excellent new ball bowling of Andy Green (5-66) and skipper Graham Cane (1-40).

As the ball grew soft, runs came freely and this was when Elstree lost wicket keeper Andy Cadogan through a nasty eye injury, after he struggled to intercept a ball and was taken to hospital. Down to nine players, Elstree dug their heels in and heroically restricted their hosts to 232-6 at the declaration.

In the thick of this was Emma Cane who fielded for an impressive three-and-a-quarter hours. She said: "It was okay but it got to be very tiring."

Andy Green bowled 21 consecutive overs in the oppressive heat. Elstree skipper Graham Cane said of his players: "The team spirit was fantastic."

In reply, Elstree opened well through Rowland and Pabade. This partnership made 29 off the first five overs, before the former played on for 18, and Pabade was out next over for 11.

Steve Colclough and Andy Green then proceeded to take the home attack apart during a massive stand of 152.

Green was first to reach 50 with his third six, followed shortly after by Colclough, chalking up his first for the club.

Both batted magnificently, but at 185 their stint came to an end. Green scored 71 and Colclough made 68.

Chris Davis and Suresh Panoose helped Elstree along, and skipper Cane levelled the scores. That was when the game took a dramatic twist which would have made a Hollywood script-writer proud.

Cane, Panoose and the half-blind Cadogan, who had returned from hospital, were removed. This meant Emma Cane was called into action.

The youngster, who also plays for Hertfordshire and Radlett Colts, squared up to Boxmoor's bowler, all six foot three of him.

After playing the first two balls defensively, she magnificently cracked the third through the gully to win the day for Elstree.

As the youngster came off the pitch, she received a hero's welcome from her team mates. After the match, Emma said: "I was over the moon," and her father, Elstree captain Graham Cane, said: "The opposition were gutted!"