Ton for Sanderson but rain spoils 2nds day

A ton for Mike Sanderson and 5 wickets for Tom Homes should have given the 2nds a much needed win and 13 points, but the fickle British weather curtailed the game with only 2 Reigate wickets remaining.

The weather forecasters were gloomy, but brilliant blue sky and sunshine greeted the teams as Ashtead won the toss and elected to bat. After a week away Mike Sanderson looked like he meant business with the bat, taking every opportunity to stroke the ball to the boundary. George Tyson was finding it more difficult to score, but nonetheless valiantly stuck at it for 15 overs and a partnership of 55 before being caught by Jordan Bunyan. His place was taken by dad Steve and he and Sanderson continued to take the Reigate bowling attack apart. By the time Steve Tyson was caught for 28 by Fraser MacDonald the score was up to 132 and Mike Sanderson was on 90. However the weather had turned and the rain was coming down hard enough that an early tea was taken and 10 overs lost.

On returning to the field Sanderson and Sam Homes set out to finish the business and in 45 minutes added a further 82 runs before, in the 44th over, Sanderson was finally caught by MacDonald for 122 (including 17 fours and a six)off 135 balls. By that time Sam Homes had also played some lovely strokes and amassed 45 (including 6 fours). Shortly afterwards Ashtead declared with a score of 232-4 off 45.5 overs with Sam unbeaten just shy of his 50.

A quick break between innings and the Stags were in a hurry to take to the field and set about challenging Reigate. Spin was the order of the day with an opening two pronged attack from the Homes boys. First Kamran Mirza (24) was caught by Tom Dunn off Sam Homes followed by James Halton (21) caught Sanderson off Tom Homes. Henry Elburn then entered the frey, taking 2 quick wickets for the loss of only 2 runs.

With Elburn and Tom Homes continuing to peg back the runs, Reigate's middle order crumbled with another 2 wickets to Tom Homes and some spectacular catches particularly by Mike Sanderson. After 25 overs Reigate were on 76-6 and Ashtead were beginning to hope for that much needed victory. However opener MacDonald was steadfastly determined not to be budged and the entry of Toby Briggs at number 8 began to make the Stags suffer, with Briggs amassing 49 (including 10 fours) off only 30 balls.

Briggs was finally caught by Seb Stewart-Taylor in the 33rd over, but the rain was falling again and the sky becoming progressively darker. Tom Homes took his 5th wicket, finally dismissing MacDonald lbw for 37, but the joy was shortlived. With Reigate down to their last 2 wickets and the score only 141, the weather finally won as darkness and progressively heavier rain put an end to the proceedings. So near and yet so far. Four points to the Stags, but it so nearly could have been 13. Lets continue the good work next week and hope the teams decide the outcome of the game and not the weather.