2nds finish on a high

Last week's high scoring game in the sunshine against Wimbledon saw the Stags make their highest score of the season (293) while narrowly failing to chase down Wimbledon's score of 305. A century for Gary Martin and a flambuoyant 74 from Hayden Storey (with 10 fours and 2 sixes).

This week was a whole different game, grey skies threatened rain and with nothing but pride at stake there seemed a general lack of enthusiasm for playing cricket - particularly from the opposition who seemed to be hoping for a downpour and abandonment of the game, but nothing more ensued than a brief shower and a five minute delay.

From the start Ashtead's batsmen struggled to score, but a 50 partnership from Hayden Storey and Steve Tyson saw the score creep to 71 for 3 when Storey fell for 18. Bad luck or moments of madness followed with 4 wickets falling in 3 overs with the score unmoved on 88 and the Stags were in trouble. Some resistance was put up by Seb Stewart-Taylor (32) and then it fell to "long time no see" Charlie Mortimer, tempted out of retirement, to get into his stride and add a valuable further 36 to Ashtead's score.

All out for 163 in 46.2 overs was hardly a score that the Stags might hope to defend. A quick wicket in the 3rd over after tea gave some hope, but M Jacobs and Joe Lavender had other ideas and rapidly put on 70 before Jacobs fell lbw to Sam Homes in the 15th over. There followed a mid order collapse, reminiscent of that of the Stags earlier, as Homes took a further wicket and young Connor Capriano-Wint took 3 to reduce Malden Wanderers to 77-5 after 18.

Some towering sixes from Jake Lavender and captain Stephens kept the opposition's hopes alive, but continued pressure from Homes and C-Wint rapidly dispatched the rest to leave Malden Wanderers all out for 127 of 27 overs, with excellent figures for Homes of 8 overs, 3 maidens, 5 for 25. The win that had seemed far from likely at tea was gained and a little pride restored for Ashtead.

Sadly too little too late and the 2nds will drop out of the premiership, but we look forward to a better season in 2014 and let's fight for promotion again. See you next year.