2 centuries and frustrating draw as Ashtead top table

Ashtead 2nd XI travelled to Weybridge for the first of the timed games and their first away game of the season. The stags won the toss and elected to bat. Josh Pickering and Michael Cowdrey scored slowly and patiently as Weybridge’s seam bowlers failed to make any impact. Within the first half hour the Weybridge wicket keeper Shane White was hit on the hand and left for A&E with what turned out to be a broken thumb. Back to the game and the introduction of spin from Tanvir Asghar claimed the wicket of Pickering caught by Masud Javaid for 30 with the score on 60. Ben Geddes joined Cowdrey for a partnership of 80 before Geddes was caught by Weybridge captain Michael Arnot for 32, again off Asghar, who proceeded to take a further two cheap Ashtead wickets (the only ones of the innings).

By over 40 the score was 164-4 and Jason Vaughan-Davies came in to join Cowdrey, who was then on 82, and the pair then proceeded to entertain the crowd for the next 10 overs. Cowdrey batted patiently, reaching his century in 160 balls. Jason struck the ball with determination dispatching it around the ground, onto the top of the nets and into the road. After 45 overs the score had reached 200 and the Weybridge opening bowlers were brought back, to be punished ruthlessly. Another 101 runs were added in the next 5.5 overs as Jason reached his 100 in just 40 balls, including 9 fours and 8 sixes, and Ashtead declared on 301-4 leaving themselves 50 overs to bowl out the opposition to claim a win.

Ashtead got off to a good start with Weybridge captain going for a duck bowled Jake Martin in the first over and Jake claiming a further two wickets in the 7th over leaving Weybridge on 33-3. Number 3 bat Ollie Slipper was then joined by Steve MacDonald and together the two steadied the ship, putting on 39 before MacDonald was caught by Sam Homes off Marcus Caprano-Wint for 22 with the score on 72. Marcus claimed another two cheap wickets leaving Weybridge looking distinctly wobbly on 79-6 after 19 overs. Surely Ashtead must win from here, but Ollie Slipper together with Sam Crabtree put up a stubborn batting attack dispatching the ball about the ground and adding a further 52 before Crabtree finally went for 42 with the score on 129 in the 28th over. Another hitch for Ashtead as Jake Martin was injured going for a catch in the field, falling awkwardly and having to be helped off the pitch. The Stags were not only down to 10 men, but had also lost a valuable bowler.

Still there was plenty of time to get those final wickets, but Masud Javaid had other ideas and stubbornly blocked, while Slipper remained solid at the other end. Another partnership of over 50 runs before Sam Homes finally made the breakthrough taking the wickets of both Javaid and Asghar in the 45th over. Nine down and the injured White came to the crease, blocking one handed to protect the broken thumb and still the unmovable Slipper remained, eventually finishing on 79 not out. Weybridge had blocked out and held on for the draw. Frustrating for Ashtead, but they still move up to one point clear at the top of the table. Sadly they will miss Jake their opening bowler who will be out for some weeks with a broken leg.