Wimbledon too strong

At last some sunshine as Ashtead 2nds travelled to Raynes Park to meet Wimbledon, but the Ashtead smiles did not last long as Wimbledon won the toss and chose to field. Opening bowlers Howells (3 for 20) and Leonard kept the runs pegged back and took the three early wickets of Myles Pittam, Tom Williams and Sam Castle, leaving the Stags struggling on 21-3 after 10 overs. Gary Martin doggedly withstood the onslaught, dodging some ferocious looking bouncers before finally being caught behind for 23 off a mere 73 balls!

Steve Tyson (24)and Joe Hutter (20) then got stuck in and put on a 39 run partnership before Hutter was bowled by McMorran (one of his 3 wickets)and Tyson went soon after. It was then up to Simon Feeney to extend the score and he duly blasted 4 balls to the boundary, but Wimbledon's bowlers had other ideas and Feeney had soon run out of partners. Ashtead had made just 124 off 45 overs.

With 55 overs for Wimbledon to make the target, it was always going to be near impossible for the Stags, but they would at least go down fighting. The early wicket of Morambe, caught Hutter bowled Dunn in the 4th over was a good start and Ashtead's young bowlers did their best to pin back the score. A wicket a piece for Tom Williams and Nick Williams, another for Dunn and a tidy though unrewarded spell for Aaron Rose kept Wimbledon awake.

"Old timer" Gary Martin was also given one over, taking a wicket for 3 runs, but the onlookers were surprised at why he was immediately taken off again - did he have a point to prove? Most surprised was Wimbledon's Mark Coston, who couldn't quite work out what had happened between the ball leaving Gary's hand, meeting his bat and ending up in the hands of Nick Williams!

The Stags hung on for a few more overs but it was only going to be a matter of time and Wimbledon soom reached the target in just 32 overs.