Rain fails to stop Twos

With a forecast of rain from the start turning heavy later all expectations were for an interrupted game, so winning the toss Ashtead skipper Josh Pickering wisely elected to bowl first. An early wicket for Aaron Rose unsettled the batsmen and wickets began to tumble, so after 20 overs Spencer found themselves struggling on 65-5. Three wickets for Rama Vasantham, including a nail-bitingly long juggling effort from Kamram Mirza, and then another man down caught by Gary Martin off the spin of Will Culhane in the 26th over and Ashtead began to think there was a chance to bowl out the opposition well short of their 50 overs. Not so as the Spencer tail dug in. The rain was falling but both teams were eager to stick it out. Useful innings from Spencer numbers 7, 8, 9 and 10 stretched out the game, but the Stags bowlers persevered and were finally rewarded as Spencer were all out for 180. Another 2 wickets for Rose and 2 for James Culff in his first game of the season and tidy bowling from all.

The worst of the rain fell while the teams enjoyed tea, but eased off as the Stags eagerly took to the field anxious to knock off runs as quickly as possible lest the game be curtailed. Target scores for shortened games were calculated and the chase began. Two cheap wickets had fallen and Gary Martin had reached 31 when he was joined at the crease by Conor Young and the boundaries began to flow. Young bludgeoned his way to a quick fire 50 off 35 balls, and was dropped twice, before being bowled for 54 with the score on 130. Martin was given lbw for 53 a few balls later. Two new batsmen, two more cheap wickets taken and suddenly the Ashtead supporters were feeling nervous. Only 35 runs needed and ahead of the target run rate but would they make it? Enter Vasantham (not out 23) to steady the ship and together with Culff they comfortably knocked off the required runs in just 35 overs.

A satisfactory day, a triumph over rain in the spirit of ‘get the game on’ and the Stags had won again, the only unbeaten team in their league. Long may it continue!