Promotion for 2nds with century for Martin

Spencer travelled to Ashtead for the final game of the season knowing that the winner would secure promotion to the Premier division.

Put into bat the Stags made it clear from the start that they intended setting a high target. Gary Martin wasn't in the mood for hanging about, or running when not necessary, and together with Colin Pitt, took every opportunity to dispatch a carefully placed four. Pitt was first out lbw to Samad Lone for 18 in the 16th over with the score on 62 and in came Sam Homes. To start with Homes seemed happy to leave Martin to make the runs, but soon both were taking their chances and a magnificent 159 run partnership ensued. The 80s and 90s looked hard work for Martin, who seemed to be running out of steam, but he reached his century at last and then appeared to get a second wind, sending three towering sixes out of the ground before at last being bowled by Jim Codling for 127 (14 fours and 3 sixes), with the score on 221. Homes was out for 67 a few balls later with 5 overs remaining. Connor Young, Steve Tyson and Josh Pickering took up the challenge and each made 17 runs taking Ashtead's score to 283 off their 50 overs.

Surely the target would be enough to intimidate Spencer, but not so, and despite the early wicket of A Ali, captain James Smith batted impressively, ably supported by Lone (220 and Khawar Saleem. By drinks Spencer had made 105, exactly the same as Ashtead at the same point. Smith continued to push the score on , until at last he fell for 73 to a diving catch by Ben Sidwell off the bowling of Paul Cohen, with the score on 142. Saleem took up his mantle and with the support of Harry Bardon kept Spencer's hopes alive. Bardon was bowled by Sam Homes in the 46th over with the score on 224, quickly followed by Codling bowled by Nikhil Waugh in the next.

Spencer needed 45 off the last 3 overs and a victory for the Stags looked promising. Saleem was not giving up so easily and, helped by Toby Harrison, put on another 23 run partnership before finally being run out for 79 going for an unlikely 2nd. Having put up a tremendous fight, Spencer finally finished on 256-8 and Ashtead had won by 27 runs. A worthy fight for promotion and the day belonged to Ashtead.