Stags start as they mean to go on

And we’re back! Spring has arrived (sort-of), the clouds are disappearing (not really), but the cricket is go for 2016! With the season fast approaching, Ashtead travelled to local rivals Leatherhead to get in some essential match practice before the league games begin on May 7th.

After agreeing a 40 over contest, Leatherhead asked the visitors to have first use of a slow wicket that would assist the bowlers later in the day. Gary Martin and Michael Sanderson seized on the opportunity, and piled on the runs during the early overs. By the end of the first 20 overs, Gary was out, but had reached a rapid half-century to leave Ashtead at 96-1.

Sanderson continued to score, including a tremendous six that wowed the crowds (all 10 of them), before reaching 50 himself and then retiring. The traditional pre-season collapse then ensued, with only Tom Laudy reaching double figures for the rest of the innings. It was steady medium pace that proved to be the undoing of the Stags, with a procession of bails tumbling as batsmen struggled with the changeable surface. Jack Gamble was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 scalps for just 8 runs in his 6 over spell.

Ashtead were eventually bowled out for 165 with 2.1 overs still in the bank. Given that they had been 90-0 and 117-1 earlier in the day, this was perhaps less than the visitors had expected, but it would certainly be a defendable total on a pitch that was proving a greater challenge with every passing moment.

The host’s innings started in much the same vein as Ashtead’s had done, with both openers making early headway. Both decided to press on from the start, with Jordan Thomas and Fazalhaq Jan not finding a breakthrough in the early overs.

Once again, taking pace of the ball proved the winning formula, as Tom Deighton came into the attack and immediately removed the first wicket. This was the chance that the visitors needed, and Leatherhead never recovered. Wickets then fell at regular intervals thereafter, with no partnership making more than 19 for the rest of the innings.

A spirited innings from Dave Mercer, including a pair of sixes, continued to drive the hosts forward, and while he remained, the run rate was good and the chase was on. However, when he was snared by Tom Homes, off Deighton again, for 40, the pace slowed and the going got tough. There were some batsmen towards the lower order who bravely made an attempt to get the runs flowing, but the efforts of the Homes brothers and Deighton brought 8 wickets by the close. Leatherhead were eventually bowled out for 135 with 3.4 overs to spare.

A 30 run win for Ashtead provides the visitors with excellent match practice before a crucial 1st round cup tie against Camberley tomorrow. Join us then.