Homes brothers share the wickets

Another grey and showery day saw Ashtead win the toss and put East Molesey in to bat. Despite the best endeavours of opening bowlers Prasanth Srinisavan and Nikhil Waugh, who managed to keep the run rate down to little more than two an over, it took until the 15th over before the first wicket fell to Sam Homes with the score on 38. Brother Tom joined the attack, but it was to be a further 17 overs and 44 runs before the second wicket of Brown fell for 38 to a catch by George Tyson.

Batsmen Odedra and Haynes put up some resistance before Odedra (29)was caught by Luke Mursaleen off the bowling of Sam Homes. Haynes (40) was joined by an array of short-lived partners who were gradually picked off by Sam Homes as he increased his tally to 5 by the 51 over. Not to be outdone by his brother, Tom Homes cleaned up the last 4 wickets, including 3 in the last over, for the addition of only a further 11 runs taking East Molesey's total to 152.

Full of enthusiasm Ashtead came out to bat, but with Michael Sanderson out lbw for 9, an unfortunate run out and a stumping the score of 15 for 3 after 8 overs did not look healthy. Things looked more hopeful as Rob Lammiman dispatched some well hit fours and a six before being caught for 33. Colin Pitt (66) then took up the challenge and together with captain Steve Tyson put on a partnership of 79 before Pitt was caught in the 35th over with the score on 130.

The target of 153 looked so near and yet so far as the score was added to painfully slowly as East Molesey brought back their opening bowlers. But Steve kept his nerve and gradually picked off the runs, largely with some well-timed fours (thus avoiding the need to run on what looked like a very painful calf), and ably supported by blocking in turn by Simon Feeney, Sam Homes and Nikhil Waugh. A final four dispatched to the boundary on the first ball of the 47th over took Steve's score to 36 and Ashtead to 154 and another win. Not a bad day's work.