Stags lose in high scoring game

The first really warm day of the year saw Ashtead visit Weybridge for the 2nd round of the cup. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat, leaving the Stags to bake in the field. Opening bats Curran and Cripps looked comfortable but Ashtead bowlers Aaron Rose and John Vaughan-Davies kept the run rate down although they couldn’t quite break through. Enter the spin of Tom and Sam Homes and finally the first wicket fell to Sam ending a 65 run partnership. Captain Tom Deighton continued the good work with another two wickets and soon Weybridge were at 92-3 after 23.

Unfortunately for Ashtead Olly Mills and Joel Pope were on blistering form, building up steadily to 184 after 30 overs and then brutally attacking Ashtead’s tired bowlers. With an impressive array of fours and sixes dispatched into the neighbouring roads they built up a partnership of 182 before Mills was finally stumped for 85 off the unlikely bowling of Josh Pickering in the 43rd over. However Pope, already on 103, wasn’t finished yet and a further 40 runs were added in the last two overs extending his score to 130 and Weybridge’s total to a massive 316.

Not to be put off the Stags set about making a game of it and after the early loss of Mike Sanderson, Guy Harper and Tom Laudy notched up an 80 run partnership before Harper was out lbw for 52 in the 16th over with the score on 101. Stalwart John Vaughan-Davies joined Laudy and the pair soon set about attacking the bowlers. Vaughan-Davies delighted the crowd with a flurry of sixes and fours, making an impressive 21 off one over. Ashtead were up with the run rate and their supporters could see some hope of a result until Vaughan-Davies was finally caught for a quick fire 61 off 51 balls and sadly Laudy was bowled for 67 a few balls later. With 5 wickets down and needing 119 off the last 10 overs it was going to be a gargantuan task and, despite some resistance from Sam Homes and Josh Pickering, the Ashtead innings finally fizzled out at 242 with 16 balls remaining.

The Stags nay not be progressing further in the cup this year but there were still some promising performances to take forward in the league.