Back to winning ways

Ashtead CC vs Dulwich CC, Woodfield Lane, 1 June 2013

Ashtead returned to form at the weekend with a comprehensive victory over Dulwich at Woodfield Lane.
Ashtead's youth was again prominent, with Tom Homes and Fred Davies impressing with ball and bat respectively.

14-year-old Homes has looked at home in Surrey Championship Division 1 this season. His figures of 2 for 26 off 10 overs on Saturday underlined his continuing development.

Those figures were particularly impressive given he entered the bowling attack with Dulwich approaching 100 for 1 at the half-way point in the first innings. In partnership with senior spinner Tom Deighton, Homes turned the match with 2 crucial top-order wickets.

Deighton also took 2 at an identical economy. The pair thus paved the way for Stuart Cope to clean up the lower and tail order with 4 well-deserved wickets in just his second match since his knee reconstruction.
Dulwich ultimately lost their last 9 wickets for 62 runs, crumbling to 163 from 47 overs.

In reply, Ashtead's batsmen looked assured. The young opening pair of Davies and Dominic Sibley saw off an experienced new ball attack at a good scoring rate. Their opening stand of 65 runs laid the perfect platform.
Sibley looked in ominous touch with some sublime strokes before holing out cheaply to the man on the long off boundary for 26.

Davies then anchored the chase and enjoyed steady partnerships with Andrew Roberts (15) and Stewart Cameron (19).

By the time Davies was adjudged LBW for 66 runs, the result was virtually beyond doubt. In-form skipper John Vaughan-Davies then confidently led his team home with 23 not out, knocking off the runs with 5 wickets and 7 overs to spare.

It was a clinical performance from the Stags who will head to Normandy this weekend with growing confidence.