Impressive win for Stags

After last week’s blip getting a losing draw at Old Whitgiftians the Stags were looking for a positive response and getting back to winning ways. The day started with the skipper once again losing the toss and being put in by the Chipstead captain. Knowing a win was needed the Ashtead openers Sibley and Sanderson started in a very positive manner. There was an early scare when Sibley was dropped on zero, but after that Chipstead didn’t even have a sniff. In overcast conditions the pair played freely, regularly finding the boundary. Both players moved on to 50 in similar time and safely negotiated Ashtead to lunch none down with 129 on the board.

After the break, both players kept things moving, looking to be positive at any opportunity. Even the introduction of spin didn’t halt the proceedings as Sibley nonchalantly danced down the wicket putting him back over the bowlers head and into the flats. Chipstead finally made a breakthrough when Sibley on 85 hit a pull shot straight to midwicket to leave the score 177-1. Ashtead were in a great position and looking for 300. Sanderson on 79* was joined by Conor Young who looked to find the boundary from ball one. The next 6 overs saw the score go to 228, in which Sanderson brought up a magnificent 100, his first for 1st XI. Then the stags lost 2 wickets in 2 overs, Sanderson bowled for a well-deserved 114 and Young for 19. JVD and Miller looked to build momentum again and the latter started to score with freedom. Vaughan-Davies was bowled which gave Stew Cameron a late cameo performance in which he hit a monstrous six. Cameron and Miller took the score from 267 to 300 in the space of 4 overs which allowed Ashtead to declare in the 55th over, giving them plenty of overs back to bowl Chipstead out. Birthday boy Miller played beautifully ending up 50* from just 29 balls.

After last week’s disappointment of not bowling Old Whits out, Ashtead new early wickets would be key. That is exactly what they got, Jordy Thomas nicking off Chipstead’s skipper for 0 caught at slip by Dom Sibley. Debutant Ross McAdam bowled a tight line at the other end which allowed Thomas to bowl with real aggression. The change in the game started when Vaughan-Davies was introduced, he ripped the heart out of the Chipstead middle order picking up 3 quick wickets. Chipstead were really struggling at 55-5 when tea came and only a draw for them would seem their best possible chance. After tea, Deighton brought himself into the attack, picking up a wicket in his second which over killed off any hope that Chipstead had of saving the game by removing opener Martin. Homes was also introduced and also picked up a wicket, a sharp stumping from part-time wicket keeper Stew Cameron proving the downfall for the batsman. Ben Sandhu showed the only resistance for the away side, but wickets from Deighton at the other end, caused Sandhu to eventually run down the wicket and hit the ball straight to Conor Young and the game was finished. Vaughan-Davies the pick of the bowlers with 3-25, supported by Deighton 3-35.

24 points for Ashtead, saw them close the gap on leaders Spencer who lost to Cranleigh. Away at Camberley next week, the stags will look to build on that result and pick up another 24 points to get back in the top 2 in their bid for promotion.

Tom Deighton