Ashtead battle to a draw vs Reigate Priory

Put into bat on a very green and damp wicket scoring runs was never going to be easy, and we were all proved right. Ashtead started very slowly, scoring at only 2 an over for the 10 or 15 overs, but had lost two wickets, Gavin-Brown and Stewart-Taylor within this time. It was a partnership between Poutney and Wint that started speed the scoring up and with Wint riding his luck and Poutney playing the anchor role up to drinks the score looked much healthier. Poutney (23) fell in the first over after drinks and then a flurry of wickets brought Donelan to join Wint for the next partnership where a more competitive score was likley.

Wint fell for 65 with 6 overs to go which meant the two younger Culhane brothers could attack and run freely to lift the score up past 150 and onto the final total of 166 in 54.1 overs.

In reply Reigate found scoring runs difficult too against some tight Ashtead seam bowling, with T Culhane, Donelan and A Culhane all making scoring really hard. Going at just about 2 an over too the run chase would have to be good to get the win. Ashtead struggled to take wickets, but Donelan got the opener caught behind sharply by Stewart-Taylor standing up, the 2nd wicket was a run out which was forced by some very tight bowling and fielding. As the spin of W Culhane was introduced the run rate was up near 8 an over and a few lusty blows off Culhane and Williams kept Reigate in the hunt. But some good boundary catches by Winty and then Poutney meant some of the bigger hitters were back in the pavilion.

Reigate managed to secure an extra over as the time limit had not been met and needed more thsan 10 off the last A Culhane over which ended with a stumping on the last ball to secure the losing draw.

A battling batting display and some excellent fielding and bowling made it really difficult for Reigate.