Sunbury steal the show as Ashtead come up short

The final long-format game of the 2023 campaign, and the last chance for points with the red ball, ended in defeat. This was the story for the Ashtead Stags as they succumbed to a 6-wicket defeat at the hands of top of the table Sunbury on the banks of the Thames.

Sunbury won the toss, and with the potential for rain around, elected to field first. And that looked like a master stroke when Kieron Powell departed the crease off the second ball of the game, George O’Connor making an immediate breakthrough. With Middlesex pro Martin Andersson steaming in from the River End, the pressure was on the visitors immediately and the second wicket would fall in his first over as well. 2-2.

Amidst the wickets, the runs were flowing too, courtesy of erstwhile Stags Conor Young. He alone of the batters seemed to be enjoying himself, finding the boundary with regularity and trying to shift the dynamic. A quick 44 partnership with remaining opener Ragu Aravinthan appeared to settle the ship, but O’Connor continued to probe and Young began to find partners in increasingly short supply.

Ashtead were 4 down at drinks but were beginning to find their purpose. The Homes brothers, first Tom and then captain Sam, stuck with him and the total began to climb towards something that the Stags might just be able to defend. Ashtead got to lunch at 110-5 and hopes were high for at least a couple of batting points.

That was not to be. The big wicket was Young, and he departed for 72 – caught behind off, you guessed it, O’Connor. The fast bowler then demolished the tail to finish with figures of 7-30 as Ashtead were bundled out for 129.

The focus was always going to be on quick wickets, but the Sunbury opening batters had other ideas. Sam Burgess, ever the attacking ball-striker, was swinging away right from the off, while home skip Rajan Soni played a more conversative but no less effective game. Burgess departed for 29 but the onslaught continued, and, at drinks, Sunbury were 84-1 and cruising serenely towards a nearly finish.

That, however, didn’t factor in the resilience and will of the fielding team, and three more wickets in five overs raised hopes of a few bowling points at the very least. Two of these strikes came from Aaryan Pillai, a former Sunbury player, coming back to his old home and making a difference – aided by a pair of superb catches from Dan Geddes. The other wicket came courtesy of a direct hit for Ragu Aravinthan, who had one stump to aim at.

The target was all too small, however, and Sunbury would not be denied. Former overseas pro Colby Dyer stroked the winning runs to the boundary and completed the chase with 6 wickets to spare. 20 points for the hosts and, sadly, none for the visitors to take home.

This result sees Ashtead remain 8th in the table, on the same points as Weybridge below them, but with the gaps above them in the table beginning to open up. Next week sees Ashtead return to Woodfield Lane for the start of the second set of white ball fixtures, hosting Wimbledon. The limited overs fixture last year was a final hurrah for the visitors, by then champions, who cantered to an 8-wicket victory. However, the long format fixture in early June was a resounding success for the Stags as they found their first victory of 2023.

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.