20 points for the Stags as Wimbledon are no match

Back to the short stuff – and back to winning ways for the Ashtead Stags, as they claimed a dominating 7 wicket victory over Wimbledon in Round 14 of the 2019 Surrey Championship Premier Division.

Wimbledon won the toss and elected to make first use of a pitch that looked good to bat on but would offer something for the bowlers as well. The chief considerations were the overhead conditions and the wind – the storm force wind – that howled across the pitch.

And the opening bowlers made hay. Despite an astonishing start as the ball sailed clean over the rope at the first time of asking, both opening batsmen would be dispatched in the first 5 overs. Sharp catches from Conor Young and Hayden Storey saw to that.

A period of calm followed, as overseas player Cole McConchie began to assert his strokeplay on the bowling attack. It would be the change up bowlers, and the veteran league player John Vaughan-Davies, that would find the breakthrough. 52-3 in the 14th over.

A period of becalming continued and runs began to pile on as McConchie stretched his legs. It would take a partnership breaker to find the next scalp, and the return of opening bowler Aaron Rose did just that. A wicket either side of drinks did the damage. Tom Deighton, twirling as ever, then picked up a further 2 wickets, including the crucial one of McConchie (for 71). 115-7 after 30.

As is so often the case with Ashtead, the opposing lower order and tail wagged again, and all too soon the score had gained another 30 runs. The introduction of Sam Homes into the attack saw the final three wickets fall in very quick succession. 148 would be the target.

The chase started badly with the loss of Storey for 1, but Michael Sanderson and David White pushed the score on hard in the early overs.

All too soon, however, more wickets would fall. First White, LBW for 17, and then Sanderson, bowled by McConchie for 12. At 44-3 in the 14th over, the Stags were well in danger of their typical collapse and another defeat at the hands of their hosts.

At this point, the youngest two members of the Ashtead batting order were at the crease – Ben Geddes and Harri Aravinthan. A half hour delay for rain could not delay their gradual accumulation, and while chances seemed to be forthcoming, they either fell close or were not taken.

Heads began to drop, and the Stags were emboldened. Shots began to fire more rapidly, including a pair of sixes from Geddes. Aravinthan brought up his 50 from 72 balls, and as the partnership reached 100, the final rites were administered. The pair finished the job with more than 10 overs to spare.

This win cements Ashtead’s position in 6th in the league table, and more or less guarantees their place in next year’s Premier Division. Next week sees the Stags travel to Banstead for another 50 over encounter. The June fixture ended in a rain-affected draw, despite Ashtead being ahead all game, and last year’s match ended in a 6 wicket win for the Stags.

Ashtead will be hunting for more success. Join us then.