Ashtead U12 v Sheen Park MSL

On another glorious morning at Headley Ashtead U12 took on Sheen Park in a match which if we won would have meant we had won the league with one game to spare.

Sheen won the toss and decided to bat first. The Ashtead opening bowling pair of Graham and Jennings were quick to find their length and line, with Graham taking 2 wickets in his first over and after an immaculate spell finished with figures of 2 wickets for no runs from 3 overs. Sheen's strong batting line up saw them unfazed by the early wickets as they set about impressively rebuilding their innings and despite the efforts of Crossan, Mir and Brockes wickets became hard to come by. Ashtead were restricted to saving runs with some enthusiastic fielding which resulted in Frazer-Ker,who was the standout fielder saving about 30 runs by getting his body behind everything,claim the next wicket with a run out. Whilst it had at one point looked as though Sheen would go on to make at least 130 some very good blowing at the end by Mason (who ended with figures of 2 wicket for 6 runs from 3 overs) and Bunyard restricted the visitors to a total of 119 for 7 in their 20 overs.

The Ashtead opening batting pair of Graham and Goodin found the going challenging from the off due to some very accurate seam bowling from Sheen. With the pitch very dry and the balling slowing slightly the Ashtead batting line up of Hutter, Gwyther, Frazer-Ker, Crossan and Mir were all frustrated by some good Sheen fielding and bowling. With the score on 41 for 6 in the 10th over Jenkins (who went on to top score for Ashtead with 15) arrived at the crease and saw started a fight back by Ashtead. Whilst it remained unlikely with Bunyard hitting a 4 off the penultimate ball of the innings and the final pair at the crease Ashtead found themselves requiring 6 to win off the last ball. Unfortunately the dream ending did not occur, but that was not down to a lack of effort on Ashteads part.

So it will all come down to the final match of the season against Bank of England (who are second in the league) on the 5th July to decide who wins the league.

Ashtead were represented by:-

James Graham, Jack Goodin, Luke Hutter, Matthew Gwyther, Henry Frazer-Ker, Paddy Crossan, Amar Mir, Jed Brockes, Sam Jenkins, Euan Mason, Dom Bunyard.

Many thanks to Brendan Crossan as always for scoring and for Peter Graham for helping to manage the boys and to all for turning up to support,

Fingers crossed for next week.