Ashtead bat into the dark

The Ashtead team and supporters battled through the rush hours traffic to Addiscombe CC to play their 3rd round match in the T20 competition. A late start was planned relying on the light of a long summer evening, but on reaching Addiscombe the sun of Ashtead had given way to a grey sky and the threat of rain.

Addiscombe won the toss and elected to bat but their first wicket fell in the 1st over with Dan Lineker bowled by John Vaughan-Davies for 4. Ashtead's bowlers set a cracking pace, determined to get through their overs as fast as possible. The outfield was fast and Addiscombe's batsmen took advantage where possible. Some faired better than others and some tremendous catches were taken in the field. Opener Steve Cox made 26 and survived to the 12th over before being stumped by Hayden Storey off the bowling of Sam Homes, the 5th wicket to fall with the score at 66.

Numbers 6 and 7, Scott Benham and A Saleem started to enjoy the fast outfield scattering fours around and making a partnership of 41 before Saleem (23) was run out in the 18th over. Two balls later Benham (25) was stumped off the bowling of Paul Harrison. By this time the rain was falling and spectators and scorers scurried into the pavilion for the frantic last two overs. New batsmen Charlie Nash and Anthony Starnes carted the ball around the ground, with two fours each and two huge sixes from Starnes (21*), putting on a further 19 runs off the last two overs and taking the core to a very respectable 142-7.

The rain was falling and there were fears that the match would be abandoned and decided by a bowl off or toss of a coin. However the sky appeared to be clearing and after a 15 minute break the players were eagerly back onto the field at 7.50 hoping to still manage the 20 overs without further interruption and before dark.

The start was not good with only 23 runs made off the first 5 overs and both Mike Sanderson and Danny Miller out off the spin of Saleem. John Vaughan-Davies and Paul Harrison then proceeded to punish Addiscombe's bowlers and together out on 57 runs before Harrison was caught by Worrall off Starnes for 28 in the 12th over . The score was 78 with JVD on 29. Sam Homes then came to the crease with intent and immediately showed he meant business, rapidly making 23 (including 4 fours) before being bowled by Nash. The score was 107 and there were just 5 overs to go and 36 runs to make.

However the experienced JVD anchored the Ashtead innings and continued to enjoy himself with an impressive display of shots around the ground, making his 50 off 39 balls. Two towering sixes were hit off the bowling of unfortunate Scott Benham in the 16th over, taking the score to 121 and the target of 143 was creeping closer, but the light was rapidly becoming gloomier.

At this point Addiscombe decided to bring back fast bowler Chris Jones, knowing there was a fair chance that the batsmen couldn't see the ball and Josh Pickering was the one to succumb to the first ball of the over. George Tyson came to the crease, a few singles were had and the rest of the over was survived. Spinner Nash was back on for the 19th over and helped the Stags with 5 wides, which meant that a two from John Vaughan-Davies was all that was needed for the Stags to reach the target with 8 balls to spare. JVD finished unbeaten on a pleasing 56 and Ashtead progressed to a 4th round match versus Reigate Priory. Well done to the whole Ashtead team for a determined performance and commiserations to Addiscombe for putting up a fight.