Ton for Sanderson in one-sided game

Ashtead welcomed Weybridge to Woodfield Lane on day that was unseasonably cold for August, but at least mainly dry, and despite the previous two days of rain the ground was in great shape. Home skipper Tom Laudy won the toss and elected to bat and openers Michael Sanderson and Harry Willliams soon set up the attack. There seemed to be nothing the Weybridge bowlers could do to stem the flow of runs with the batsmen playing some lovely shots and taking every chance for quick runs. It wasn't until the 18th over with the score on 108 that the partnership was finally broken with Williams caught by Alastair Stanley off the bowling of Jordan McKinley for 36 (with Sanderson on 57).

Any hopes of a let up in the batting attack were dashed as Amith Sarma joined Sanderson at the crease. The two continued to batter the visitors about the ground building another impressive partnership. Sanderson reached his century seemingly with little trouble in the 30th over (92 balls). Despite trying six bowlers it wasn't until the 37th over with the score on 252 that Sanderson finally fell, bowled by Weybridge captain Stanley for an impressive 132 (13 fours and one six) and the 144 run partnership was broken.

With only 3 overs to go, the Stags decided to send in some big hitters, enter Marcus Caprano-Wint to launch a huge six towards the pavilion. Sarma was run out in the next over while trying to take a second run. He'd made a very useful 62 off 57 balls and the score was 269. 13 off the penultimate over, with another six for Marcus. The final over bowled by Ed Edge was a frantic affair with 14 runs and 2 wickets as the Ashtead batsmen tried to get the total near 300. Kamran Mirza caught for 9 and Marcus for 15 while Jake Martin finished off the innings with a four and a two. Not quite 300, but 296-5 must be the highest target the 2nd XI has set in recent years.

Faced with a formidable target, sadly Weybridge never really got going. Their first wicket fell to Martin in the first over and the combined attack of seamer Martin and the tricky spin of Marcus Caprano-Wint gave few opportunities for them to score. With two more wickets for Martin and two for Marcus, Weybridge were left floundering on 42-5 after the 14th over. Another two were to fall to Marcus in the 16th and the score was 49-7 with Marcus finishing his spell on 4-15. Some resistance was offered by Harry Knox and Ed Edge before Knox fell for 33 to a flying catch from Marcus off the bowling of Senura Jayasinghe. With only ten players, Weybridge could not hold out much longer and their final wicket, another for Senura, caught by Martin, meant the visitors had capitulated for 79. A rather one-sided affair as Ashtead won by 217 runs.