Ton for Cameron

The teams were ready, the toss was done (and won by the opposition who unsurprisingly put Ashtead in to bat) band then the rain fell...steadily and 22+ faces watched gloomily. Mutterings of "this wasn't forecast" and "it's not raining in Leatherhead" were to be heard. At last the sky began to clear, mopping was done and the game started an hour late and reduced to 83 overs.

Whether the damp under the covers was to blame for strange movements of the ball, or too much time spent watching the rain had addled the batsmen's brains or were Chipstead's bowlers really that good...? In any event it could not have been a much worse start for the Stags: 2 wickets fell to Leigh Padfield for ducks in the first over followed by another two for Elliott Noble in the 4th over, leaving the opposition cheering gleefully with Ashtead on 11-4. A little respite was had while Dom Sibley and Stew Cameron patiently stood their ground and the score crept slowly to 39 off 14 overs before Sibley was caught by Will Timms for 17.

Josh Pickering came to the crease and, whilst never looking particularly comfortable, he stubbornly refused to be beaten and played his part whilst Cameron began to get into his stride patiently picking the strokes. They put on a partnership of 59 before Pickering was caught by Malinda Thotiwilage for 17 off the bowling of Salil Oberoi. The score had crept up to 98 off 37 overs and it seemed unlikely that Ashtead would manage more than 150 in their 46 overs.

However Stew Cameron and Rob Lammiman thought otherwise and began piling the pressure on the bowlers with a crowd pleasing spattering of fours and sixes around the ground and into neighbouring gardens. Cameron proceeded to make an unbeaten 105 off 121 balls (with 10 fours and 4 sixes) and Lammiman made 38 off 34 balls (3 fours and 3 sixes) before being caught with two balls of the innings left. They had enjoyed a partnership of 88 and advanced the score to a more than respectable 192-7.

Tea was had and there were 37 overs for the visitors to make the runs for a win or for the Stags to take 10 wickets. The whole Ashtead team worked together and put all their efforts into the task at hand. The bowling from all six bowlers was right on the mark with the only extras in the whole innings being 2 leg byes. However it seemed to not be a day for the seamers with only Will Pereira managing to take a wicket.

Captain Tom Deighton made the decision in the 15th over to turn to the spinners with Tom Homes and himself bowling out the remaining 22 overs, both ending with the excellent figures of 4-36. Unfortunately, despite the fielders surrounding the tail end batsman looking eagerly for the catch and the 9th wicket falling in the final over, the 10th wicket was not to be had. Chipstead, C&W finished on 141-9 off their 37 overs and Ashtead had to settle for the 4 points for a winning draw. A disappointment maybe when so nearly there, but after being at 11-4 and 40-5 a near miraculous turnaround. Well done boys.