Stags draw thriller as Tyson tons up

Ashtead won the toss and, on a day of anticipated showers, elected to bowl first on what looked a firm, green-tinged wicket. Tom Dunn and Alex Culff opened the bowling with a combination of control and aggression, but it was the bowling of George Tyson who trapped the hard-hitting Stainer in front, for a powerful 32. After struggling for rhythm from the Field End, Sam Homes switched to the Park End and immediately the pressure that had built up on an established pair told, as opener Chesser couldn’t resist any longer and holed out to Nick Gavin-Brown at mid-on for 61.

This left Banstead well positioned at 123-2 of 30 overs, at which point the tempo of the innings changed. Aggressive running put the fielders under pressure, before Alex Culff capitalised at short mid-wicket, swooping down and ‘firing’ the ball to the bowler for the run-out. Ashtead fought back well with Sam Homes gaining an LBW, Yeats missing a straight delivery, and Culff getting reward for his efforts sending Wood’s stumps out of the ground. However, fifties for Seaton and Joyce, and some powerful late-order hitting by Condie, meant Banstead declared on 256-5, leaving Ashtead exactly 50 overs to chase down the target.

A short, sharp shower during the interval delayed proceedings for ten minutes, but surprisingly, that was the last interruption on a pleasant afternoon. When play did get underway, the intimidating Nick Gavin-Brown continued his form from the previous week with some crisp shots, whilst his partner, George Tyson, batted sensibly and intelligently in sharing an opening stand of 64. Gavin-Brown was somewhat unfortunate to be dismissed for 32, as he managed to edge yet another short delivery from Yeats that nobody else on the field would have been able to reach.

Steve Tyson joined his son and together they started accumulating and putting the fielders under pressure. Tyson Jr went to his third half-century of the season, before accelerating with the required run-rate beginning to jump above 6. Captain Tyson Sr was then caught behind off opening bowler Mann for a well made 32, leaving Ashtead needing exactly 100 off 13 overs. Tom Dunn then came in to provide some impetus, and he was with Tyson Jr when the opener moved to his serene hundred. It came off 120 deliveries and was a fluent, chanceless knock, full of devilish strokes on both sides of the wicket – one can only wonder how much the pre-game lemon drizzle cake had to do with the performance! In the pursuit of victory, wickets then began to fall, with Dunn, Tyson, Gujela, Homes and Feeney losing their wickets selflessly, which resulted in 37 required for victory off the final over – or 3 Banstead wickets. Despite Yeats’ best efforts, Poutney, Culff and Culhane combined to see out the final six deliveries, with the Stags finishing on 223-8, and 1 point for a losing draw.

Although the much-needed victory eluded Ashtead, many positives could be taken from the hard-fought encounter which hopefully will help on Saturday when the 2s host local rivals Epsom.

Tom Culhane 18/06/2013