Rain steals the show from an on-top Ashtead

You really couldn’t write this script. Spectators at Woodfield Lane were left wondering what might have been, as the patchy weather won the day – forcing an abandonment at the last possible moment in Round 17 of the 2023 Surrey Championship Premier Division.

Ashtead won the toss and elected to insert the visitors, a wise decision given the weather forecast, and were immediately made to wait as a late shower forced a delay to the start of half an hour. When play did get going, the opening partnership of Northants player Justin Broad and Surrey junior Sheridon Gumbs made the early going. The crucial breakthrough for the Stags just didn’t materialise, and at 10 overs gone, Esher were 59-0 and cruising.

Harri Aravinthan and Tom Homes, the two leading wicket-takers for the year so far, came into the attack and immediately made an impression, with Broad departing for 31. Another Surrey youngster, Krish Patel, came and went, and then the rain arrived. The visitors were 88-2 off 19.4 overs.

Over two hours, and a tea break later, and the players ventured back to the middle. The match was now 35 overs each way, leaving Esher with 15 overs to bat – and a chance to make an impression. And, initially, they did just that, with Gumbs speeding up his rate and Nick Smit swinging hard. Sam Homes would remove the dangerous Gumbs for 40 but the runs piled on and the slow bowlers were not able to stem the flow.

Bringing back the quicks was a must, and with two quick strikes from Sam Hunt to remove Smit and the powerful David Brent, the stage was set for a Ben Sidwell wonder spell – and he delivered, taking three further wickets as the Esher innings imploded. From 154-3, with 8 overs remaining, the visitors could only muster 196-9 off their 35 overs.

The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method for adjusting targets set Ashtead a chase of 215 in their 35 overs, and the hosts obliged by starting off extremely fast. That strategy was always going to be risky, and both openers would depart in the first Powerplay (now shortened to 7 overs). The critical goal was to stay ahead of the ‘par score’, the total needed at any particular point in time, and the Stags measured their effort well.

As the opening bowlers ended their spells, and the change bowlers came into the attack, the duo of Ben Geddes and Harri Aravinthan pressed home the home side’s advantage, making plenty of runs whilst not taking huge risks. Geddes survived a chance on 20, but as the 50 partnership milestone came and went, the platform was being set for a successful chase. And all the while, the dark clouds gathered.

Esher pegged the chase back when Geddes was given out LBW on 41, and shortly after, Aravinthan was found out on 30. By this time, 19.2 overs had been bowled and, with the rain beginning to fall, drinks were taken. Three balls later, and the rain was now a monsoon, and the players left the field – with lightning seen a few minutes later and play called off. Ashtead needed to face one more ball to get a result – and had already reached the target they would have needed. A gutting end to an extraordinary day.

That result sees Ashtead move outside the relegation zone, with a buffer of just 3 points over Normandy. Next week sees the final match of the 2023 campaign, as the Stags travel to Reigate Priory, knowing that a win will see them safe in the Premier league for 2024. Ashtead won the long-format fixture in early July, but Reigate won the last short-format fixture between the sides in May 2022.

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 next week! Join us then.