Priory take the points as the Stags toil in the sun

The sun shone and so should the runs have flowed. Yet, for all the day’s promise, it would be second-best for the Ashtead Stags, as Reigate Priory took victory by the sizeable margin of 9 wickets in Round 2 of the 2022 Surrey Championship Premier Division.

Ashtead once again won the toss and elected to make first use of a pitch that looked beautiful for the batters, and an outfield just as fast and stunning. A picturesque venue for the day’s play. And the early overs saw a careful but steady start, as Harry Williams and young star Ben Geddes accumulated early. It would take a stunning piece of play to break the deadlock. And so it proved, with new wicketkeeper James Crosthwaite snaring a stunning catch to remove Geddes for 12.

That brought overseas pro Matthew Breetzke to the crease. And he set out his stall early, with some brutal early strokes and the mentality to go on the attack. Meanwhile, wickets continued to fall around him – the former Surrey junior spinner Angus Dahl claiming a pair of scalps to leave the Stags reeling at 47-3.

The middle of the innings was characterised by partnerships growing, becoming settled, and then a wicket breaking the momentum. The constant, of course, was Breetzke – who continued to pile on the runs whilst his partners toiled and fell. He brought up his 50 in just 49 balls and continued to charge ahead. His wicket would be the sixth to fall, as perennial danger Michael Munday removed him LBW for 87. At 158-6 with 11 overs remaining, the platform had been set for a fast finish.

Yet tight bowling, and the lack of an anchor to bat around, would prove telling as the final charge stuttered. More fine counterattacking from the tail, including another 20 from Aaron Rose, took the hosts past the 200 mark as Ashtead finished on 205-9.

The target should have proved a challenge with some tight and challenging bowling, but the Priory opening partnership was destructive from the outset and all too soon, the match began to gradually slip away. 50 became 100. 100 became 150, and as both batters passed their half-centuries, there seemed to be no let-up in the onslaught.

Through the challenge, there were glimmers of brighter things. Sam Homes, back in the side after a couple of absences, initially kept the scoring to a minimum and erstwhile skipper Tom Deighton also found the brake pedal. The issue was that, even in tandem, their opponents found a way to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

By the time Ben Geddes, not a regular find in the bowling attack, was brought on to bowl, the required runs numbered in the teens. However, he would see that Ashtead had something to shout about in the wickets column, with Conor Young taking a simple catch to remove Sam Hall for 75. The match would end in the very next over, with Priory skipper Richard Oliver finishing on a remarkable unbeaten 118.

With that defeat, Ashtead sit 7th in the league table, heading up the four teams that have yet to register a win in this year’s campaign. The next games for the Stags are the cup match against Bexley in the second of our double-header weekend, and the next league match at Woodfield Lane against newly promoted side Malden Wanderers, who are also yet to win a match. The last time the two sides met in a league match was in 2015, where the Stags finished up as 9 wicket winners.

A reminder that you can follow Ashtead CC’s 1st XI 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 tomorrow and next week! Join us then.