Resounding win for Ashtead

Ashtead were happy to welcome previous 2nd XI captain Paul Cohen back to the ground for a rare appearance, particularly as he shared an opening 128 run partnership with Gary Martin, getting the Stags off to a great start. The pair entertained at the expense of the Normandy bowlers with Cohen’s innings including 12 fours and two sixes, including a six over the hedge and onto the neighbouring bowling green. He was eventually caught by James Harris off the bowling of George Mackenzie for 76. Gary continued to make his 50 with Ashtead’s score on 150 before eventually straying out of the crease and being stumped by Hampton for 67 with the score at 190.

The introduction of the Normandy spinners paid dividends and cut through Ashtead’s middle order as 190-3 became 218-6 after 43 overs. Another 20 runs were added and 2 wickets lost in the next 5 overs as the score reached 238-8 with 2 overs to go. At this point the Caprano-Wint brothers were together at the wicket and intent on running whenever possible, or in Marcus’s case giving the ball a good smash. 22 runs were added including 15 off the last over and Ashtead finished their innings on 261-8, by far their highest score of the season to date.

Tea was had and Ashtead took to the field to defend their score. However despite some tidy bowling from Jake Martin and Henry Elburn, they failed to take any wickets as Normandy openers George MacKenzie and Ross Skidmore kept up the pressure. A direct hit on the stumps by Elburn narrowly failed to run out Skidmore, but he didn’t survive much longer, being run out soon after for 35 with Normandy’s score on 84. Then followed a very useful over for Ashtead with Marcus Caprano-Wint claiming two wickets for ducks. George Harris joined MacKenzie at the wicket and together they added a further 37 runs before MacKenzie was caught and bowled by Connor Caprano-Wint for 48 with the score on 121. Connor was joined in the bowling attack by Jon Albert, long-time junior coach for the club and a very welcome addition to the team, both for his impeccable fielding and his varied bowling which certainly unsettled the Normandy batsmen.

Spin seemed to be the order of the day with 2 wickets each for Connor, Marcus and Jon plus one for Paul Cohen off his first ball, which could only be described as a horrible but effective delivery. Jon claimed the best bowling figures: 8 o, 3 m, 2 for 16. Jon and Paul pegged back Normandy’s run rate and they could only make 11 off their last 6 overs taking their score to 182 off 50 overs. Ashtead had convincingly beaten Normandy by 79 runs and taken themselves to third in the table and only 3 points behind the leaders.