Cup run begins with a win as the Stags canter home

We managed to make it to May before the first rains came. But, with the inclement weather, so came the first victory of the Ashtead 1st XI season, as the /stags triumphed by 7 wickets over Dartford in the Preliminary round of the National Club Championship.

With rain at the Lane before the start of play, the captains and umpires took a wise decision to delay the beginning of the match by half an hour – and reduce the overs from 40 per side to 35. The visitors won the toss and, unusually for the weather, elected to bat first – thinking runs on the board would be better despite the overhead conditions favouring the bowlers and the regulations favouring a chase if the weather worsened.

And yet the early going saw the visitors lead the way. The left hand/right hand combination proved challenging for the seam bowlers, who struggled to hold them back. By the end of the opening PowerPlay, after 7 overs, the scoreboard read 54-0 and a big total beckoned.

Yet the Stags had yet to play their trump card – their slow bowling attack. Bringing on the spinners immediately paid dividends, as Tom Homes induced a mighty heave that flew straight to Chris Douglas at long on. 67-1. However, the previously reticent left hander, captain John Smyth, started to use his firepower and by the end of over 16, the score line was still in Dartford’s favour at 96-1.

A half-hour rain break saw no loss of overs (as time had been found in the game), but it killed the momentum. And the Stags took full advantage. A regulation stumping from Jevan Kher, off the bowling of skipper Tom Deighton, began the collapse. But its real architect was one of the two ‘men of the match’, Senura Jayasinghe. He started by removing the dangerous Smyth for 56, and then tore through the Dartford middle order. 111-1 became 120-7.

The tail wagged a little, but the damage had been done. Jayasinghe picked up his fifth wicket to stop the comeback, and Harry Williams mopped up the final resistance – aided by a sharp run out from Tom Homes. The visitors were bowled out for 152 with a single ball to spare.

The chase appeared to start well, with 10 runs scored off the first over, but that opening passage ended with a calamitous run out that ended with both batters at the same end. That brought the other ‘man of the match’, new overseas signing Matthew Breetzke to the crease.

It would be his contribution to the innings that proved decisive. Harry Williams and stalwart Conor Young provided some short-lived support, but it would be club veteran Chris Douglas that would stick around. A slow and scratchy start for him gradually gave way to the explosive attacking mentality we all know and love. He would finish on 35 not out from 50 balls.

Breetzke, meanwhile, had been showcasing his wide variety of shots and his cool mentality throughout. He set out his stall immediately, plundering the young Dartford spinner when he bowled a rare bad ball and showing control against the better bowlers. It was clear that the visitors were a bowler short and so their extra spinner was dispatched for 35 off his 3 overs. The chase became a formality and was completed with 57 balls to spare. Breetzke finished on 88 not out from 77 balls.

A great result, and the perfect final preparation for the start of the 18-week league season. That’s the next match for the Stags, who travel to Weybridge to begin their campaign. The hosts came 3rd in the 2021 season and won the limited overs contest last year by 7 wickets. The timed format match between the sides was abandoned before play began.

A reminder that you can follow Ashtead CC’s matches via our Twitter (@ashteadcc), live on our website (www.ashtead.play-cricket.com) or at our YouTube channel (Ashtead Cricket Club Live). We look forward to the start of the league next Saturday! Join us then.