Another win and 2nd Eleven share top spot

The 2nd XI’s first home game of the season and Ashtead welcomed Sunbury to Woodfield Lane and after last year’s close encounter a difficult game was anticipated. Ashtead won the toss and perhaps surprisingly chose to bat.

Although Gary Martin looked solid as usual, his fellow batsmen struggled. Two cheap wickets and enter Conor Young, who looked dangerous with a flurry of boundaries until he rashly gave away his wicket for 24 by straying too far out of his crease. With Gary Martin out for 37 in the 25 over followed by three ducks, the Stags found themselves on 93-8 and it seemed doubtful they would even reach 100. However determined batting from skipper Josh Pickering and stubborn blocking from Will Culhane saw a last wicket partnership of 30 taking Ashtead’s total to 131 after 37 overs.

The pick of Sunbury’s bowlers were Saran Kalsi (4-50) and James Birch (3-18).

After an early tea Ashtead took to the field hoping their bowlers would get the ball to move as much as the opposition had. A quick wicket each for Aaron Rose and Jake Martin looked a promising start and indeed proved to be so. By the time they had each bowled their allowed 7 overs Sunbury were staggering on 59-7, with 4 wickets for Martin and 3 for Rose. Matthew Golding (33) was the only batsman to fire for Sunbury with all but one of the others failing to achieve double figures. It only took Nikhil Waugh (2-4) and Ross McAdam (1-14) another few overs to finish off the tail and Sunbury were bowled out for 77.

A valuable second win for the Stags making them one of only two teams to win both their opening games.