Sibley the difference as Ashtead cruise home

Two in two weeks – a hot summer’s day, a long day of cricket – and another 5 wicket win for the Ashtead Stags as they overcame Malden Wanderers to record their fourth straight win and retain the lead at the top of the Division 1 standings.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat, an unsurprising decision given a pitch that looked as if it would break up later in the game, and a weather forecast that looked beautiful all day.

As the openers limbered up, and the batsmen made their way to the middle, Malden were hoping for a better performance than their Week 2 clash – where they survived just 37 overs and were swept away for 78 runs. Jordan Thomas, opening the bowling, was hoping for another 4-wicket performance. The opening spells were causing problems, as Thomas and Will Pereira used pace and swing to trouble Alex Butler and Will Clapp. However, the two batsmen seemed equal to the task.

At the end of the opening spells, however, a double breakthrough was made as Butler was cleaned up by Pereira for 11 and Pete Young was then trapped LBW a few balls later. At 35-2 after 12, some good partnerships would be vital to ensure an embarrassing repeat would not happen again.

Despite the wickets, Pereira’s spell was done and a quick double change saw Matt Friedlander, with pace, and Dom Sibley, with spin, enter the attack. Clapp and Will Sabey saw an opportunity, and attempted to attack Friedlander, but paid the price when a direct hit from Mike Sanderson caught Clapp short of his ground for 24.

The new man, wicket-keeper Cil van der Merwe, did not hang around and boldly attacked with pace on the ball, including a huge six to long on. The experiment with pace was not working as planned, so trial by spin began as Sibley switched ends and Tom Deighton brought himself into the mix. The pair kept the runs to a minimum, but seemed not to be particularly penetrating in their early overs. A smart catch from Paul Cohen at 1st slip saw the end of van der Merwe two overs before lunch, and when the interval was taken, Malden had reached 109-4 in 32.

After lunch, Sabey and James Wackett continued the steady pace they had started. Sabey eventually reached 50, from 84 balls, in the 39th over, and started to push harder from there. The game seemed to be escaping the visitors. But, as so often happens, the game changed again – and this time, Malden had no answer. 4 wickets fell for 4 runs in 3 overs – Sibley claiming both Sabey and Wackett, as well as Neil Mander for a second ball duck. Deighton went one better and dispatched Giles Puckle first up. 150-4 became 154-8.

The tail wagged significantly, with strong performances from overseas player Will Riley and upcoming star Rafeh Jafri, but Malden could not hold off the spin duo and were bowled out for 201 with just over an over to spare. Sibley was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 5-59 in 21 overs.

The Ashtead innings started slowly, with Tom Laudy and a sore Mike Sanderson (who copped a very painful delivery at short leg during the first innings) slowly batting themselves in. Although Laudy fell for 12 off the sizzling bowling of Jafri, Sibley shepherded the innings to 75-1 off 20 overs.

After tea, the fight continued. Malden used everything they had, both in spin and in seam, and while they were very economical, they could not find a way through. The chance came when Sanderson was bowled for 54. The home side sniffed an opportunity, and within 5 overs, both Conor Young and Sam Homes had also fallen.

As the overs ran down, Sibley and Stewart Cameron had to get on with the fight. Although Stew soon fell with the return of Jafri, Friedlander attacked hard and the pair saw the visitors home with 2 balls to spare, Sibley finishing on a mighty unbeaten 76.

Next week sees Ashtead travel to Banstead for the next timed fixture. This is the first meeting this season, but Banstead lie fifth in the table and are unbeaten in 6 matches. Join us then.