Priory end up on top as weirdest season ends

The shortest season ends, with an all too familiar result. This was the story from Ashtead’s final league match of 2020, finishing as runners-up by 5 wickets as Reigate Priory visited Woodfield Lane.

Ashtead, still captained by Tom Homes with other players absent, won the toss, and elected to make first use of a used surface that would provide plenty for the bowlers throughout the day. And, in a late change to the Stags line-up, the opening pairing would also be different. Regular opener Guy Harper would be joined by middle-order batsmen Sam Homes. And it worked.

Attacking Shots were the order of the day as both batsmen got off to fast starts – the particular highlight being a Homes top edge hook that sailed over the ropes for a rarely seen maximum. The loss of Harper to left arm spin for 17 didn’t seem, at least initially, to have dente the momentum, as Harri Aravinthan came to the crease and Homes upped his tempo.

Spin was always going to be the more difficult of the bowling types to face, and it would be Michael Munday, ever a thorn in the Stags’ side that broke the deadlock. A period of slower scoring built some pressure, and eventually Homes would chip to short midwicket for 39. 94-2 after 19 overs – seemingly a good platform.

Ashtead failed to capitalise on it – the remaining 8 wickets falling for just 44 runs as the perennial top-flight side run rings around the middle and lower order. Aravinthan, and Amith Sarma, both dropped anchor to try and steady the effort, but all came to naught. Sam Hunt was the final wicket to fall, with 10 deliveries remaining in the innings. 138 would be a tough total to try and defend.

The initial signs were good. As with the Wimbledon game last Sunday, the hosts opened their attack with a seam/spin combination – Ben Sidwell and Senura Jayasinghe. And, as last week, Senura struck again in his first over, with a sharp catch by the wicketkeeper. 4-1. A few overs later and he would strike again, Angus Dahl attempting a reverse sweep and ending up bowled. 16-2.

The bowling changes could have stalled the Stags’ momentum at this stage, but in fact they saw more success. Sam Homes, already having top scored in the Ashtead innings, was not content to leave it at that and promptly removed two more Priory batsmen in quick succession. 46-4. Game on.

However, still at the crease was Bradley Scriven, one of the many current and former Surrey juniors gracing the field, and his typical bludgeoning style continued to frustrate the bowlers. Boundaries flew and the luck seemed to turn. With the similarly attacking force of Richard Oliver alongside him, the Priory pair quickly took the game away from the hosts.

Oliver would finally fall to Sam Homes for 36 to leave the visitors at 110-5, but the damage had already been done. The equation was now just 29 needed from 13 overs. The bowlers continued to take the fight to their opposition, but it was not to be. A languid drive from Scriven off Harper sealed the result, the opening batsman finishing on an unbeaten 74.

This result finishes the 7-week Challenge Cup campaign for Ashtead. Blighted by the weather, with two abandonments against similarly struggling opposition and a last-gasp defeat at Sunbury, the Stags finished 7th of the 8 teams in their Group.

It has been a pleasure bringing you all the action over the last 7 weeks. Let’s hope that the current restrictions can be lifted in time for a full season of competitive club cricket in 2021. Join us then.