Stags return to winning ways in last pre-league friendly

Back at the Lane with a win. The Ashtead Stags finished their ‘return to cricket’ friendlies with a 3-wicket win hosting Camberley. This was a good return to form after a disappointing 6 wicket defeat at East Molesey the week before.

Cricket looks vastly different in 2020 with social distancing, ‘sanitisation’ breaks and without tea or the use of the Pavilion. However, having the opportunity to play is a very welcome relief.

Camberley won the toss and elected to make first use of a surface that looked particularly good for batting, and overhead conditions that suited a long innings. Barely a cloud in the sky as Ashtead took the field, and it was the hosts who were immediately causing problems.

New left-armer Sean Hunt and dependable Ben Sidwell took the new ball, and it was Hunt that would make the early inroads – with batsmen bowled, edging to the wicketkeeper and lbw in an opening spell of 3-18. Sidwell was instrumental in maintaining pressure and produced an edge himself. After 10 overs, Camberley were 28-4 and in danger of sinking without trace.

The fightback was on, however. Dom Peter and Kyle Philander dug in and runs started to accumulate steadily. The change of pace bowlers failed to produce any further wickets and so spin entered the attack at the halfway stage. Tom Deighton, the longest serving member of the Stags’ team, took some early shots but drew the shots and Peter departed for 27.

Spin at both ends (with Sam Homes down the hill) continued to offer opportunity and risk for attacking batsmen, and the runs continued to build while the chances came. It soon produced fruit, with catches in the deep off both bowlers. 128-7, 8 overs to go.

Philander, however, was not to be denied and brought up his half-century off 62 balls. It would be the return of Hunt and Harri Aravinthan that would close off the innings, Philander departing for 71. Camberley completed their overs 9 down, finishing on 177. A reasonable target to chase.

The Ashtead response started nervously when Hayden Storey was undone by a ball that sprung from the pitch in the second over. Harri Aravinthan edged behind an over later and the Stags were 13-2. Momentum would seem to build and then a wicket would fall, as another double strike of Ragu Aravinthan and Sam Homes saw the score at 44-4 after 10 overs.

Calm was restored by the captain, Ben Geddes, who had opened for Ashtead and watched the turmoil from the bowler’s end, and returning batsman Michael Sanderson. Runs were slow, but steady, and the change bowlers again were not making inroads.

The loss of Geddes for 29, just after drinks, could have been the first step in a collapse, but it proved distinctly otherwise. It brought Tom Homes to the crease, better known for his destructive spin bowling but vastly improved with the bat over the past two seasons. He stated his intent with a boundary off his first ball and the runs continued to flow.

The visiting captain brought himself into the attack and the Stags targeted him for punishment. When the 50 partnership came up, Ashtead required 48 from the final 10 overs. Victory should be relatively straightforward from there.

With the Stags, however, nothing is straightforward, and a double strike with 7 overs remained threatened to derail the run for home. However, Homes remained steadfast, and some attacking strokes from Jake Martin hastened the end. Homes reached his 50 with 4 runs required and finished the job with an over to spare. A close, but well-deserved victory.

Next week sees the Stags at the Lane again, this time hosting Wimbledon in the first of 7 matches in the 2020 Surrey Championship Challenge Cup. Join us then.