2s secure league title with nail-biting finish in the dark

Rain delayed the start until 2 o'clock and reduced the 1st innings to 41 overs. Leatherhead had won the toss and put Ashtead in to bat. Gary Martin and Michael Sanderson opened the batting and made 40 before Martin was caught by David Baker for 21 off M Dawes. Luke Mursaleen joined Sanderson and another 45 runs were added before Mursaleen was also caught. Sanderson was then joined by George Tyson and together they moved the score on to 127 before Sanderson was finally out lbw to Jonathan Lewis-Oliver for 52.

With incredibly slow bowling from Leatherhead the score moved to 133-3 in 26 overs, taking 2 hours to do so, before the heavens opened and all rushed in for an "early" tea. Most thought that this was to be the end and the game abandoned, but no, the sun emerged again, the pitch was inspected and it was decreed that the game continue. After tea, father and son combo of Steve and George Tyson carried on the good work with a partnership of 42 before George was caught by Mercer off Gamble for 22. Steve Tyson was then joined by young James Culff, who had been called up at the last minute to make up the team. Culff was undaunted and ably made an undefeated 22 whilst Tyson didn't quite make his 50, ending on 49 at the end of Ashtead's 41 overs giving a total of 217-4.

A short break was had and the calculations done and Leatherhead were set a target of 158 off 25 overs.

Initially the scoring was slow and Leatherhead found themselves on 38-4 after 10 overs with Prasanth Srinivasan and Henry Elburn sharing the wickets. Then batsmen Lewis-Oliver and Mercer began letting fly with a partnership of 72 for the next wicket when Lewis-Oliver was lbw to Sanderson for 35 and Leatherhead's score had moved to 106 with 6 overs to go. Mercer continued to hit out with a couple of sixes and it looked as if Leatherhead would easily make their target, but finally Mercer was caught by Gary Martin off Sanderson for 48.

With the score on 135 Leatherhead needed 23 off 2.4 overs. Excitement mounted and darkness came, wickets fell, could anyone actually see the ball?...With 12 needed off the final over Henry Elburn was up to the task, taking a wicket and giving away just 5 singles. Leatherhead had made 151-9, 7 runs short of their target, Ashtead had won and secured the title with 2 games left to play.