The ups and downs of a league where every team can be competitive. This was the story as Ashtead travelled to Banstead for Round 10 of the 2024 Surrey Championship Premier League, with the hosts securing a 7 wicket win.

The hosts won the toss and, with a used pitch that looked set to become harder to bat on as the game progressed, surprisingly chose to bowl first. That decision was very quickly made to look good, as Surrey seamer Nathan Barnwell, and rising star Seb Stuart-Reckling, both struck in the opening overs. Ashtead, however, were also scoring quickly, with boundaries crashing to all parts of the field.

It would be the loss of Ragu Aravinthan for 26, and then a double strike from Barnwell to dispatch both Pranav Khera and Simon Keene, that would really cause the visitors to stumble. 54-4 was a precarious position. All was not yet lost, however, as skipper Mark Stoneman and erstwhile club favourite Conor Young began to rebuild. The change-up bowlers, including former Stag Harri Aravinthan, did very little to dent the assault and as the Ashtead total passed 100, hopes began to return.

These were quickly dashed either side of lunch. Shortly before the interval, the Stags would lose Stoneman, finding a bottom edge of a pull onto his stumps for a solid 28. Shortly after it, the return of Barnwell would shoot through Jevan Kher, and then, crucially, Young for a well-made 37. 104-4 became 119-7. With the lower order each making a few extra runs, the Ashtead total reached 130 when the 9th wicket fell. At this point, the Stags pulled out, wanting to waste no time in attacking the opposition top order.

Early wickets would be vital and one appeared almost immediately, with Keene (in the wickets yet again for the Stags, now with 27 league wickets in the campaign) removing destructive opening batter Ayush Patel without scoring.

That would be as good as it got, however, as Surrey 2nd XI stalwart Arjun Gill and the aforementioned Harri Aravinthan quickly got on the pace. The opening bowlers, and indeed the changes of pace, could not dislodge the partnership and what little hope remained for the visitors appeared to be fading.

As per usual, a break in play often brings a wicket, and it would be Tom Homes who prised open the pairing, Gill chipping to mid on for 44. That brought overseas pro Patrick Rowe to the crease, but any hope of a Banstead collapse was soon dashed. It would take the introduction of Stoneman to find another wicket, as Keene took an excellent boundary catch to remove Harri for 39, but it was all too little, too late. The hosts sauntered home with 7 wickets, and a whole heap of overs, to spare.

This result leaves Ashtead 7th in the league table, deep in the midfield battle (with 5th place through to 9th separated by just 13 points). Next week sees the Stags return to Woodfield Lane for the next of the red-ball matches, playing host to Guildford. Last year’s league runners-up have had a mixed season so far, sitting just one place and one point above the Stags. The 50-over game from earlier this year saw a spectacular chase of 279 by Ashtead, and the red ball game in 2023 saw a rain-affected winning draw for the Stags as well. A tantalising match in prospect!

You can follow Ashtead CC’s 1st XI matches live on our website (www.ashtead.play-cricket.com) or at our YouTube channel (Ashtead Cricket Club Live). We look forward to next week! Join us then.