Esher win in the gloom as the NCC run ends early

Third time unlucky for the Stags. Game 2 of the three day stretch of continuous cricket would be held at Esher, scene of two previous rainouts, as Ashtead completed in Round 1 of the National Club Championship. It would be the hosts progressing to Round 2, however, with an 11-run victory.

With traffic, and yet again the weather, causing major headaches, it was agreed to move the start time back and reduce the overs to 15 a side. Even more pressure then, as Ashtead won the toss and took the field, but it didn’t show. Tom Homes was immediately into the wickets with the fifth ball of the game, Ragu Aravinthan snaring a sharp catch on the very short boundary. 2-1.

Bowling changes were occurring every over through the early stages, as the visitors sought to vary the attack and prevent the batsmen from settling. Wickets continued to fall, but balls continued to sail over the road and into the nearby houses. At this stage, the match was very delicately balanced.

Some tight bowling in the middle overs pegged back the Esher assault, and as wickets began to tumble again, so the pressure grew. It would take a fine cameo 15 not out each from captain Will Edwards and Andrew McCallum to see the hosts to a representative total of 105-6 off their 15. Very difficult to know but that seemed about par.

An exciting second innings prospect got off to a shaky start as the Stags lost two wickets inside the first 3 overs, both caught behind. As ever, overseas star Manoj Sarathchandra sought to create a fast start and was going well when he holed out to cover for 16.

Momentum swung back and forth throughout the middle overs, as Conor Young and Harri Aravinthan weathered the storm and began to strike back. After 8 overs, the Stags had reached 60-3 and were on course to make the runs.

It was not to be, however. When Harri was enticed by the guile of spinner Trishan Patel, not finding the boundary but instead the captain’s hands, the runs began to dry up. By the time Sam Homes and Young departed in the latter overs, the target was looking more and more out of reach. Ben Sidwell and Senura Jayasinghe were valiant in their attempts to find the boundary, but in vain. The Stags finished on 94-8 off their 15.

So that’s it for another year on the National Cup, as Esher will host either Wimbledon or Banstead next weekend.

More importantly, the league is the next order of business for the Stags – at Esher, once again. Esher currently lie fourth in the table, one place below Ashtead, with a win, a loss, and an abandonment so far. The 2020 Challenge Cup fixture was unfortunately lost to the weather, and the 2019 limited overs fixture was won by the hosts in the final over. Promises to be a tight result! Join us then.