Sunday 10th July 2016
Friendly
Stoke D’Abernon 204 for 4 (40 overs)
Ashford 205 for 7 (33.5 overs)
Ashford won by 3 wickets

Last week Old Ashfordians; this week Ashford who responded to our advert for an away fixture after we kindly moved the Trust League game against Guildford to the Stoke Rec. They were great hosts.

Stoke were again a man light; but for once he wasn’t needed for the batting effort. Doug Gilbertson and Alistair McMillan made full use of the pace on ball, firm pitch and a quick outfield; adding 58 in just 14.3 overs before first change Merchant ran one across Gilbertson and the keeper did the rest.

Malcolm Dickson, (14), played positively and hit a couple of nice wind-assisted fours before trying a repeat into the wind and failing to clear mid-on. 88 for 2.

Despite his recent run of form, (just four runs since the 22nd May); McMillan hit the ball well and scored runs all around the wicket. In partnership with Andy Page a further 112 runs were added in 16.4 overs. Page started the day needing nine runs to complete 6000 for the Club, and easily passed that milestone during his knock of 48.

The run-rate was healthy but it never threatened to spiral out of control as youngsters Joshi and S.Cousens shared 14 overs at a combined cost of just 58.

McMillan profited from some friendly sixth and seventh bowling; removing any doubt that he would run out of overs to get his first century since May 2005; and duly reached that landmark in the closing overs; eventually checking out on 107 with sixteen fours and a six.

Page followed him with two balls of the innings remaining; Geoff Vinall and Zach Gilbertson both finishing on 0 not out as the innings closed on 204 for 4.

After a good tea Stoke’s opening bowlers Adrian Mills and James Mitchell reduced the hosts to 33 for 3. Mustafa, who slogged the first ball of the chase up in the air and the catch fell short of the fielder didn’t learn his lesson, skied a similar chance to Mitchell who made good ground and held on off his own bowling. Home skipper Tippell edged Mills to Vinall at slip; then Mitchell brought one back through P.Cousens’ defences.

From this point things went pear-shaped for Stoke. Malik and Berressem put together a match-winning partnership of 160 for the fourth wicket. We won’t pull any punches here; one and sometimes two or three balls in the over were free hits to the batsmen, the fielding was sloppy allowing singles on the circle and fielders placed on the line were unable to do the basics. In short, Ashford were allowed to cruise it. A good job Jase wasn’t on the ground.

Mitchell and Mills were brought back into the attack with not many needed; twelve were taken by Malik off the first three balls of the comeback over, (the first of which brought him his hundred), before he skied one to slip where Page cleared everyone out of the way to take the catch.

In the next over Berressem, who was under no pressure to score with the runs flowing and had quietly reached 48, hit Mills to Zach Gilbertson in the covers; Tilt las leg-before later in the over for a duck; and when Balmer chipped a ball from Mitchell to McMillan the home players were rushing for their pads having gone from 193 for 3 to 196 for 7.

Mills, (7-1-18-3), had one of his allotted overs remaining, but never got the chance to bowl it as three bits of non-fielding off the next three balls saw two edges that should really have been stopped by slip fielders go through them for fours to tie the scores, and the next ball pushed gently into the covers went through the fielder to allow the batsmen to run through and complete the win.

Mitchell bowled with good pace and a lot of heart to finish with 7.5-1-52-4; his third column taking a hit due to some very generous fielding from Stoke who, granted were one short on a large ground, but needed to do the simple things a lot better.

Thanks to Ashford for hosting us. Hopefully this can be a permanent fixture going forward as the chat in the bar afterwards, (we stayed for a while in contrast, we were advised, to yesterday’s League opposition), revealed both clubs had a like-minded view on how we should play the game.

Next week Stoke have a TBA in the fixture card but we will source a home game as the Stoke Rec will be free and numbers should be decent with the cancellation of the Farncombe Trust League tie.

Scorecard : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/2850177