Dominant winning draw for 3s

The day after a days rain was not a good time to lose a toss, Ashtead were inserted on a slow and damp pitch at Box Hill School by Normandy.

The openers of Rice-Burnett (16) and Wint (29) were very watchful as the ball swung and nipped around early on. Having successfully seen off the opening bowlers their wickets fell on consecutive balls to the Normandy captains first over. The score was 63 in 22 overs and Dunn (21) and Murray (15) batted well together to push the score along but they both fell with the score on 99 and 100 respectively. The next partnership was the killer for Normandy as Feeney (73*) and late replacement Parkinson (52) pushed the scoring rate along from 122 in the 40th over to 209 in the 50th, Parkinson finally fell and Burgess (9*) was given 4 balls before the declaration which saw his first two head to the boundary. The innings was finally declared at 241-5 in 53.5 overs leaving Ashtead 47 back at Normandy on a far dryer wicket and quickening outfield.

In reply Normandy got off to a flyer keeping themselves up with the run rate, the first breakthrough came to Elburn (1-35) with a good catch at point by Dunn. Another partnership with Normandy launching at anything remotely full or wide was seen, the next wicket fell as Elburn was asked to retreat 5 yards deeper and the Normandy no3 duly obliged by holing out straight to the recently moved fielder from a Dunn (2-18) delivery.

The addition of Cowie (3-22) into the attack along with some inventive field placings brought regular wickets, with the 4 wickets falling in reasonable quick succession. The skipper turned to spin with Williams (2-11) and Caprano-Wint (0-11) tying the Normandy batters down, the breakthrough came in quick succession again as Williams got the first of his two wickets to a sharp silly point catch by Dunn (moved in there 2 balls before). With a stubborn 9th wicket partnership forming Ashtead were unlucky not to secure the win as Burgess (0-37) and Dunn returned for the final 5 overs.

Ashtead ran out very dominant in the winning draw and now have 5 consecutive away games, next week sees us travel to Old Wimbledonians who Ashtead beat in the first game of the season.