Executive Boxes
Woodfield Lane, home to Ashtead Cricket Club. The backdrop from this angle, looking south to the north, is the only part of the ground lacking mature trees. Captured during the early stages of a Surrey Championship fixture with Premier Division rivals East Molesey, who are batting. The visitors won, by 86 runs, to record, at the third attempt, a maiden victory of the season. After two straight wins, leaders Ashtead were beaten for the first time in three.
Ashtead let the opposition off the hook. East Molesey began well enough, with opener Sam Burge hitting 61 off 74 balls. But, when a devastating second spell from professional Simon Keene (4-49 from 10 overs), a New Zealander, garnered three wickets, including two in his first over back, at 164-6, they were in a bit of a pickle. Pakistani professional Hussain Tallat (31 off 32), in at four, threw away his wicket, with a terrible shot. Coming to the rescue, however, No 7 batsman and Moles director of cricket James Southgate (68 not out off 64), a player with lots of experience as an opener, put on 53, for the seventh wicket, with No 8 Matt Tigg (22 off 38), then a further 53 with captain and wicketkeeper Nick Stevens (16 not out off 12), in an unbroken eighth wicket partnership. Some superb catching, mind, from the Ashtead fielders. Just one chance put down.
The surprising about-turn meant Ashtead faced a tougher run chase than had appeared likely. The hosts suffered a major setback when captain and Surrey strokemaker Ben Geddes, who had contributed a century in the previous Saturday's win at Guildford, was trapped leg before, for just 15, by Toby Porter (2-39 from seven). I overheard Geddes later voice disappointment with the decision because he felt he was well down the wicket. Rash shot selection, coupled with fine catching, saw Ashtead lose, in sliding to 124-7, Geddes's fellow opener Ragu Aravinthan for 34 (off 34), Ashley Naidoo for 27 (off 26) and 2023 Penzance professional Keene for 21 (off 31). None of the better home batsmen had built an innings. Really, the game was up. A tedious finale ensued, during which wicketkeeper Jevan Kher (32 off 73) and Tom Homes (22 off 38) added 56 for the eighth wicket. If nothing else, it secured Ashtead a couple of batting bonus points. Once Homes had been removed, however, the other two wickets went down in quick succession. Tigg took 3-23 from eight, Harry Porter (Toby's brother) 3-34 from nine.
Match statistics
Ashtead versus East Molesey
Surrey Championship, Premier Division (50 overs, noon start)
Admission: free. Programme: none. Attendance: 61 (h/c). Ashtead won the toss and elected to bowl. East Molesey 270-7 off 50 overs (James Southgate 68 not out, Sam Burge 61, Hussain Tallat 31, Simon Keene 4-49) 20pts beat by 86 runs Ashtead 184 off 41.5 overs (Ragu Aravinthan 34, Jevan Kher 32, Matt Tigg 3-23, Harry Porter 3-34) 4pts. Umpires: Rob Bartlett, Michael Hunte
Executive Boxes
Woodfield Lane, home to Ashtead Cricket Club. The backdrop from this angle, looking south to the north, is the only part of the ground lacking mature trees. Captured during the early stages of a Surrey Championship fixture with Premier Division rivals East Molesey, who are batting. The visitors won, by 86 runs, to record, at the third attempt, a maiden victory of the season. After two straight wins, leaders Ashtead were beaten for the first time in three.
Ashtead let the opposition off the hook. East Molesey began well enough, with opener Sam Burge hitting 61 off 74 balls. But, when a devastating second spell from professional Simon Keene (4-49 from 10 overs), a New Zealander, garnered three wickets, including two in his first over back, at 164-6, they were in a bit of a pickle. Pakistani professional Hussain Tallat (31 off 32), in at four, threw away his wicket, with a terrible shot. Coming to the rescue, however, No 7 batsman and Moles director of cricket James Southgate (68 not out off 64), a player with lots of experience as an opener, put on 53, for the seventh wicket, with No 8 Matt Tigg (22 off 38), then a further 53 with captain and wicketkeeper Nick Stevens (16 not out off 12), in an unbroken eighth wicket partnership. Some superb catching, mind, from the Ashtead fielders. Just one chance put down.
The surprising about-turn meant Ashtead faced a tougher run chase than had appeared likely. The hosts suffered a major setback when captain and Surrey strokemaker Ben Geddes, who had contributed a century in the previous Saturday's win at Guildford, was trapped leg before, for just 15, by Toby Porter (2-39 from seven). I overheard Geddes later voice disappointment with the decision because he felt he was well down the wicket. Rash shot selection, coupled with fine catching, saw Ashtead lose, in sliding to 124-7, Geddes's fellow opener Ragu Aravinthan for 34 (off 34), Ashley Naidoo for 27 (off 26) and 2023 Penzance professional Keene for 21 (off 31). None of the better home batsmen had built an innings. Really, the game was up. A tedious finale ensued, during which wicketkeeper Jevan Kher (32 off 73) and Tom Homes (22 off 38) added 56 for the eighth wicket. If nothing else, it secured Ashtead a couple of batting bonus points. Once Homes had been removed, however, the other two wickets went down in quick succession. Tigg took 3-23 from eight, Harry Porter (Toby's brother) 3-34 from nine.
Match statistics
Ashtead versus East Molesey
Surrey Championship, Premier Division (50 overs, noon start)
Admission: free. Programme: none. Attendance: 61 (h/c). Ashtead won the toss and elected to bowl. East Molesey 270-7 off 50 overs (James Southgate 68 not out, Sam Burge 61, Hussain Tallat 31, Simon Keene 4-49) 20pts beat by 86 runs Ashtead 184 off 41.5 overs (Ragu Aravinthan 34, Jevan Kher 32, Matt Tigg 3-23, Harry Porter 3-34) 4pts. Umpires: Rob Bartlett, Michael Hunte