Ashtead return to winning ways in crucial match

The final long game was a marathon. 20:24 was the finish time at Graburn Way, as Ashtead successfully bowled out East Molesey in the gloom to win by 32 runs in Round 13 of the Surrey Championship Premier Division.

Ashtead won the toss, for only the fourth time in league matches this year, and elected to bat on a track that looked to favour the bowlers early on. And the going proved to be tough in the early overs, as three early scalps threatened to derail any chance of a decent score.

First to go was Guy Harper, well held at slip for 7 after chasing a wider delivery. Next out was newcomer Hayden Storey, bowled for 4. When Michael Sanderson chased a short and wide ball, firing it straight to a fielder for 18, the score was 48-3 after 11 overs.

Paul Harrison and Sam Homes then steadied the ship, as spin entered the attach with overseas bowler Dane Currency. Harrison was to be dropped on 15 (insert catching cliché here), and survived further shouts on 32 and 37. Further pace bowling continued to apply pressure, but the runs still flowed quickly. The loss of Sam Homes, caught and bowled for 24, was a significant blow just before lunch, but Conor Young shepherded the Stags to 116-4 after 30 overs at lunch.

In the over after lunch, Young fell to an interesting keeper catch for 5, and at 116-5, the Stags were wavering again. Enter Matt Friedlander, who continued his bludgeoning antics from last week. Boundaries were fired from both batsmen, and as the runs piled on, Harrison continued his march. He reached 50 from 86 balls, and then continued to rotate strike well.

It took Currency till his 14th over to finally pick up his first wicket, as Friedlander was caught at short leg by Kieran Burge for 42 off 48. The partnership of 62 was a vital contribution, and at 178-6 with 22 overs left, the platform had been set.

The final overs became the Harrison show. He started the 7th wicket partnership on 61 from 102 balls, and finished as the final wicket on 128 from 154. The shots got bigger, the sixes went further, and the visiting crowd erupted when he reached a well-deserved century from 139 balls. Ably supported by the lower order and the tail, Ashtead finished on 262 all out with one ball to spare.

East Molesey obtained 54 overs to reach the target, and the second innings became a display of pace bowling from Ashtead overseas bowler Jordan Thomas, recently back from knee troubles in recent weeks.

10 overs were squeezed in before the tea interval, and in that time both sides set their stall out. 44 runs were scored – but for the loss of two wickets, both caught by Harrison as he continued to excel. Two more wickets fell straight after tea, both to Thomas, and at 66-4, the hosts looked set for a sorry end.

A vital 115 partnership between Dom Reed and Toby Green provided some life to the game, but when Reed fell for 50 and Green then departed for 67, the writing seemed on the wall. The tail provided much fight, defending well, but the return of Thomas saw the demise of the home team. It was fitting that Thomas claimed the final scalp, as Sam Homes took a fantastic catch at the finest of fine legs to remove Westphal for 30. East Molesey fell for 230 with 9 balls remaining in the game. Thomas ended with figures of 8-88.

This win moves Ashtead ahead of Guildford to 6th place in the Championship table, 48 points clear of East Molesey in the relegation zone with 100 points still on the table. Next week sees Ashtead travel to Weybridge for the resumption of 50 over cricket. It’s 1-1 so far this year, Weybridge edging the 45 over National Knockout game while Ashtead claimed the 120 over victory. Beddington host Sutton in a crucial relegation game, with East Molesey at Sunbury a more forlorn hope. Join us then.