Wimbledon take the result but crucial points for the Stags

Lots of runs and milestones aplenty. But, sadly, precious few for the Stags as Wimbledon claimed the 20 points in Round 17 of the 2021 Surrey Championship, the penultimate match of the season.

Ashtead won the toss and elected to give Wimbledon first use of a wicket that looked to be beautiful for batting throughout the day. And the visitors took full advantage, with up-and-coming batsman Tim Lloyd and league regular Jonathan Webb taking the game to the bowlers. The strategy was for Webb to swing hard and free while Lloyd was more circumspect, cultivating an innings with less risk.

50, then 100, then 150, then 200 came and went. Spin appeared to be more effective than the quicker bowlers, but no-one could find the breakthrough. Webb reached his century, off just 99 balls, in the 34th over, and simply continued with his attacking mentality. It would be Webb who would finally fall to end the extraordinary opening stand, Tom Homes taking a sharp catch off the returning Harri Aravinthan, for 138 runs. 241-1.

The final few overs were, as expected, full of drama and runs – and three more wickets for the Stags. Aaron Rose would get his name on the sheet with an excellent 47th over that culminated with stumps bent, and a pair of run outs (including some outstanding work from Ben Sidwell and Conor Young on the legside boundary) ensued as well. However, with a single run off the final ball of the innings, Wimbledon would reach 300 runs. Lloyd, meanwhile, had also reached his century off 139 balls – and was one of the run-out victims to finish on 113.

A tough chase, but not impossible. And the Stags certainly started well. Ashtead utilised the same tactics as the visitors, looking to build an innings around Damian Shirazi while Ragu Aravinthan went hard – and the boundaries flowed in the early overs. 46-0 after 7 overs. Game on.

The momentum, and the hopes, would be stolen in almost the blink of an eye. Ragu was the first to go, chipping to the close fielders for a frenetic 32 off just 22 balls. Two overs later, and a double strike to remove Shirazi for 13 (caught behind off the outside edge) and overseas pro Manoj Sarathchandra (chipped to a close fielder) off his very first ball, dealt critical damage. The loss of Harri Aravinthan, the Stags’ leading run scorer, to a run out left Ashtead at 55-4 and seemingly out of the contest.

At this stage of the season, every point counts – and with bonus points available past 150 runs, it would be critical to reach the relevant milestones and minimise the damage. So, the Stags’ approach became more careful and less risky, with the middle and lower order focusing on building an innings and protecting their wickets.

Conor Young, ever the attacking batsman, adapted well to the needs of the situation. It didn’t stop him playing his shots, but they were more interspersed with nudges, blocks, and leaves than perhaps we usually see. It worked.

Partners came and partners went, but by the time Young reached his half-century (off 73 balls), the total had reached 132-5 with 18 overs remaining. Points were definitely possible. Double strike to remove Young and Harry Williams soon after dented the charge, but Tom Homes shepherded the tail effectively to see Ashtead past 150 and then 175 for 2 hard-earned points. Tom Deighton, the final man, and the Stags’ skipper, was trapped lbw for 2 to end the chase with 2 overs left. 186 all out. Wimbledon win by 114 runs.

That result, coupled with a loss for Banstead, keeps Ashtead in 8th place in the league table, perched precariously above the drop zone. It is now a straight fight between the Stags and Banstead to survive in the Premier League for 2022.

The final match for the 2021 season sees the Stags travel to Sunbury. Sunbury sit second in the table, but Ashtead were the victors in the long format match earlier in the campaign. Join us then.