U15s lose opening game of the season

Ashtead hosted Wimbledon U15 at the new venue of Box Hill School, and what a glorious venue for cricket. The wicket and outfield looked immaculate and we were treated to some very strong batting from both sides with Ashtead losing out in the last over by just 3 runs.

Having lost the toss the Stags found themselves in the field, with the 5th ball of the first over Rose sent the opener back as he knocked his middle stump flat. The second wicket came in the 10th over as skipper Williams had the other opener caught at Mid On. But then Wimbledon amassed 186 in their 24 overs with some powerful stroke play on a very flat wicket.

The Ashtead openers set about their job with real aplomb, and Wimbledon soon realised that bowling was no easy task as Williams and Culff scored freely, going at 8 an over nearly all the way through. Williams was first to retire on 60 off just 33 balls.

Culff and Bedell soon continued the onslaught and the score was 155-1 when Bedell (28) was the first wicket out, but Culff then retired and the Ashtead innings, with just 3 or 4 overs left faltered needing a run a ball and found scoring more difficult. Sidwell (17) was the final wicket runout on the last ball but an agonising 3 runs short.

Some sloppy fielding cost Ashtead dearly with half a dozen catches being put down.