The sun shone as Ashtead were welcomed to Trinity Mid Whitgiftians CC, which was seething with activity as members of the rugby club held their Natwest rugby force day: painting, hosing, pruning and all with a bit of cricket to keep them amused.

Tom Deighton won the toss for Ashtead and not surprisingly put TMWs in to bat. The openers Will Page and Mike Brugnoli were no slouches with the bat and managed a partnership of 86 before the first wicket fell in the 17th over. Brugnoli in particular took advantage of the quick outfield, notching up 9 fours and 2 sixes before being stumped by Rob Lammiman for 56 off the bowling of Tom Homes. It was apparent early on that spin was going to be the order of the day and Ashtead's skipper looked to use his wild card spinner Dom Sibley, who cleaned up the wicket of opener Page for 30.

The 21st over saw two more wickets for Tom Homes and suddenly TMWs had moved from 85-0 to 90-4. A little resistance was put up by Stewart Sales before he was caught by Danny Miller for 19, a 4th wicket for Homes. Tom Deighton then replaced Sibley to continue the spin attack taking the wickets of Bond and Amin and then Homes got his 5th in the 35th over with the score on 132-8. However TMWs were not be beaten so easily and batsmen 9 and 10 Raj Chatwal and Matt Winter frustrated the Stags with a partnership of 44 before Chatwal was bowled by Deighton for 24. Winter was left not out on 26 when the final wicket of Ives fell, a 4th for Deighton, and TMWs had made 186 off 46.3 overs, leaving the Stags 53 overs to bat.

Tea was taken, TMWs took to the field and Jonno Sole and Mike Sanderson took the bull by the horns. No messing about or gentle settling in as Sole in particular carted the ball about the ground. The opposition seemed shocked as the pair rapidly knocked up 80 runs off 8 overs before Sole was finally caught by Zahari off Lara for 42 (4 fours and 3 sixes from 26 balls). Sanderson followed a few overs later, bowled by Raj Chatwal for 33(including 7 fours - he clearly decided it was too warm to waste energy running).

TMWs clearly decided to follow Ashtead's choice of spin and Chatwal bowled throughout taking 2 for 67 off 17 overs. With the loss of Sole and Sanderson the run rate slowed right down and, although Dom Sibley played a sensible and measured innings, two partners came and went (both fell to Ben Ives 2-20) as the Stags crawled through the next few overs. Suddenly from 80 off 8 overs, they only added another 39 off the next 13 overs and the Ashtead supporters began to get twitchy.

Stewart Cameron joined Sibley at the crease and the pair patiently waited, taking their opportunities and enjoying a partnership of 44, and taking the score to 166 before Sibley was caught by Crouch off Chatwal for 40. With the target of 187 in sight, Rob Lammiman joined Cameron to finish off the game and with a particularly busy 35th over (13 runs - 12 for Lammi, and 3 byes) the scores were tied. It only took a four from Cameron on the first ball of the next over and Ashtead had won the game and consolidated their lead at the top of the table.