Ashtead hosted Oxted & Limpsfield in the season closing fixture at the picturesque North Holmwood ground and only a win was going to be enough to secure the Div 1 league title.

With just 4 points separated Ashtead, Walton and Valley End the pressure was on. The outfield was long and wet and the forecast was set to get brighter and winning yet another toss skipper Culhane had no hesitation in bowling first.

Rose won the initial game of rock, paper, scissors with Burgess for the downward slope and opened up. But the breakthrough came from a run out as the opener slipped and the combination of the skipper and Feeney claimed the first wicket. The next wicket fell to Burgess with a catch at second slip by Will Culhane. But wickets proved hard to come by as an experienced pair out on 74 with some lusty blows over the short boundaries. But it was a well taken catch by Aaron Rose that broke the partnership as Will Culhane was hit high into the deep.

Another stubborn partnership took place but was broken by another catch this time by Marcus Caprano-Wint off a Tom Dunn delivery. At 170-4 with 8 overs left a tough target was likely. But a great spell of bowling to close the innings out meant that 4 more wickets were captured for just 16 runs with another to Burgess, Elburn and Dunn with a run out direct hit by Caprano-Wint. The target was set at 187 for the win and promotion.

The skipper and Pitt opened up and were soon on the back foot as Culhane was bowled for 2, 8-1. The key partnership was built between Pitt and Dunn who were brutal in anything short, Dunn fell with the score in 141 for a well built 42 with Pitt not out on 72. Wint and Pitt added 26 before Wint fell to a low delivery for 9. Alex Culhane was then run out as the score was 167-3 and Feeney and Pitt saw us home as Pitt reached his hundred with a 6 as the scores were level.

So a win which guaranteed the side would go up as Champions and bounce straight back into the Premier league.

Bowling has been the key this year, with rarely having to chase down large totals and Burgess 21, Rose 20, Will Culhane 18 and Connor Caprano-Wint 16, Tom Dunn 14, Jake Martin 12 and Henry Elburn 10 being the leading wicket takers. Someone always chipped in which was great.

On the batting side then this was dominated by Tom Culhane with 501, Wint 240 and Martin 203 scoring over 200 runs with many other key performances from Pitt, Dunn, Rice-Burnett, Parkinson, Feeney, Geddes and Culhane at times.

A great season with an amazing run in the last 10 games to secure the title. Well played all and thanks to Sarah, Ashley, Rebecca and Di for scoring meaty every game and Len for umpiring the final game.