Losing the toss on a green wicket, Ashtead were asked to bat first and Roberts and Tyson G showed great patience in negotiating the first 10 or so overs against a moving ball. The run rate was painfully slow in these early encounters, reflecting the accuracy of the Spencer opening attack and the inevitable movement off the wicket in bowler friendly conditions.

Tyson and Roberts seemed to have got through the worst of it, however, before Tyson lost concentration and was trapped LBW, playing across his front pad. Roberts was joined by Mursaleen and these two built a steady partnership, before an expansive drive from Roberts, ended up with stumps moving in various directions.

This wicket was never going to be an easy wicket to bat on, despite the sterling efforts of the Spencer ground crew, to get the ground match fit at all. In fact given the appalling early season weather, The Spencer Club was in immaculate condition. Sanderson joined Mursaleen for a while before he was bowled by a ball which jagged back from outside his off stump and when Lammiman added his second consecutive first ball duck, the Ashtead innings was at a decisive turning point.

Pickering and Mursaleen then combined well to add 90 odd runs in a very well constructed partnership. Aided by a few dropped catches they took the game to Spencer and with a bit of batting to come, total north of 200 seemed a possibility on a wicket where anything above 185 would be a tough ask. Unfortunately, with 9 overs to go, both Mursaleen (60) and Pickering (41)were to fall in close succession and thereafter the innings lost momentum. 5 wickets were to fall for the addition of only 13 runs and a total hovering around the 160 mark was certainly at least 20 light.

Ashtead's young opening attack though, gave a very good account of itself. Elburn and Dunn bowled with real discipline and did more then enough to worry the Spencer opening batters. An early strike by Dunn in his third over was just what Ashtead needed but unfortunately victory celebrations were cut short when Dunn collapsed clutching his knee. Dunn left the field unable to complete his spell, leaving Ashtead very light on bowling indeed. Despite this, important breakthroughs by Elburn, Tyson G and Pickering kept good pressure on Spencer and kept Ashtead very much in the game. Skipper, Steve Tyson, stepped upto the plate to fill in for Tom Dunn and obliged by picking up two wickets. However, the odd loose ball and some disciplined batting by Saleem (72 n.o) kept Spencer more or less in control.

The fall of the 7th wicket saw Saleem go on the offensive, who with aggressive but controlled hitting, took the game away from Ashtead. Victory by 3 wickets was comfortable enough in the end, but both sides will take some positives out of a competitive match. Saleem finished on a highly commendable 72n.o.