High scoring game as 2nds win at Cheam

Visiting bottom of the table Cheam, the Stags might have been hoping for an early return home, but perhaps strangely captain Steve Tyson won the toss and decided to bat. What followed was an exhibition of batting from Colin Pitt, Connor Young and Sam Homes who peppered the ground with boundaries at the expense of Cheam's unfortunate bowlers.

After 17 overs Young was finally caught and bowled by Ollie Bracher for 78. Pitt was then eagerly joined by Sam Homes and together they pushed the score to 292 before Pitt was finally bowled by Ed Stovell for 116 (16 fours and 1 six). Homes pushed on, hoping to achieve his first century, but despite the best efforts of Steve Tyson to give him the strike, the overs ran out and Homes finished agonisingly close on 99 n/o!

Ashtead had made 346-2, surely a huge target for Cheam, who hadn't managed anywhere near 200 all season. Howveer they weren't to be intimidated that easily and the Stags' bowlers struggled to take wickets. Nikhil Waugh was the first to strike, bowling Matthew Somaru for 15 in the 9th over, but it wasn't until the score reached a Nelson of 111 and 3 wickets fell (one for Sam Homes and two for Paul Cohen) that it looked like the breakthrough had been made with 6 wickets down. Not so for Cheam's Tom Horwood decided to have some fun, making Cheam's highest score of 47 before finally being caught by Seb Stewart-Taylor off the bowling of Josh Pickering in the 42nd over. Even then, with their highest score of the season looming, Cheam were not willing to give in and finally made it to 215-9 off their 50 overs. Well done for them for the fight.