Well, unlike last year, the weather was not fine. And neither was the result for the Ashtead Stags, as they suffered their first league defeat of the 2026 campaign, with a rain-adjusted 49 run loss to perennial challengers East Molesey in Round 2 of the SCC Premier Division.

Ashtead won the toss (that’s 2 from 2 so far), and elected to field first on a day where rain was threatening, and a pitch that would offer plenty for both bat and ball throughout the day. And it would be the Moles who seized the early initiative, with Sam Burge and Michael Shean coming out swinging in the opening PowerPlay. The opening bowlers were not finding a route through, so the visitors turned to young Ollie Gillespie for an answer. 3 boundaries later, and Burge looked good, but got caught out by a sharp riser and was caught for 32. 42-1, honours even.

Ollie Soames (a centurion in last year’s fixture) joined Shean at the crease, and the hosts’ run rate continued to sparkle as the Stags probed for a breakthrough. It would take the re-introduction of spin, through birthday boy Sam Homes, to get the next two wickets, removing first Soames and then new Mole Jack Scriven, At 122-3, the game was on a knife-edge – another wicket or two and Ashtead would be well on top. But a big partnership would rapidly shift the pendulum away.

And, despite a couple of minor worries, it would be the batters that took control. Shean would continue to bat hard, whilst new Moles captain Tom Cullen would show his batting skills by rotating strike effectively and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. By the end of the 37th over, the partnership had surpassed 100 and the potential target was looking more and more challenging.

Sam Hunt, one of the heroes of last week’s Esher win, would finally break up the party, snicking off Shean for 92. The rest of the batting line-up would need to come out swinging, and they did, but the wickets kept coming too (including some excellent run outs from the fielders). The hosts would reach 311-7 off their 50, a sizeable target, but one that could have been much worse.

Knowing the rain was en route, the Ashtead opening batters chose to begin the chase with relevant caution, hitting the bad balls and keeping their wickets in hand. The opening Moles failed to find an answer, so Cullen rang the changes, and this had the desired effect. The runs dried up – and, unfortunately, Will Christophers took a nasty delivery to the ankle, which had the effect of slowing down any running between the wickets as well.

Pressure was building. And all too soon, it had to give way. Dylan Church would be first to go, caught for 29, and then the chaos of having a runner really took over (by this time, Christophers had called for a runner, and Sam Hunt came to the middle to have three Ashtead men in the middle). After slapping a ball into the outfield, Christophers would be given out for leaving his crease and not returning in time. Overseas pro Lachie Stackpole would attack from the off, and it briefly appeared that the Stags would fight their way back into the contest, but he chanced his arm once too often and departed for 22 off just 11 balls.

The rain was already falling by now, and just after drinks, it came down with ever greater intensity. The players and umpires left the field, and would not return. East Molesey were well ahead by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, and so the result proved to be.

This result sees Ashtead drop to 7th in the league table, but part of a cluster of 6 teams with one win and one loss to start the campaign. Next week sees Sutton come to Woodfield Lane for the next 50-over match. Last time the sides met in the league, Ashtead won comfortably (with a double century from overseas star Simon Keene). First up, however, is a T20 against Dorking on Thursday.

You can follow the Stags on X (@ashteadcc), our website (www.ashtead.play-cricket.com) or on our YouTube channel (Ashtead Cricket Club Live). We look forward to next week! Join us then.