Weekend of 09/06/2007 to 10/06/2007

Ashford Firsts remain top of Division 3 despite suffering their first defeat of the season at Walmer on Saturday.

The Ants arrived at Walmer to find a badly under prepared pitch. Walmer skipper Andy Birkett apologised for the state of the wicket and lack of groundsman but Ashford unfortunately had no option but to play and further compounded their worst fears when they had to forfeit the toss due to having no umpire.

Unsurprisingly, Ashford were asked to bat but Liam Tegg and Julian Day gave their team the best possible start in the conditions, putting on 68 in the first 14 overs. Both batsmen played well, playing each ball on its merits despite the unpredictable behaviour off the pitch, and putting away the bad ball. Tegg went for 27, well caught at cover and Day soon followed for 38 to leave The Ants still well placed at 72 for 2.

One of Ashford's strengths this year is their depth of batting, but the middle order didn't produce the required runs as wickets fell at regular intervals to leave Walmer chasing only 155 from their 50 overs. Gary Sutton (26) was the only other recognised batsman to reach double figures in a below par batting performance on a drying pitch, but Alex Watson (16 not out) showed some fighting spirit at the end, batting for 12 overs to ensure the full quota of overs was utilized. Cookson (3 for 45) and Parnell (5 for 40) were the stars for the bowling side.

Despite the low total, Ashford started brightly with Nad Campbell removing Pearce, well caught at mid off by debutant James Rodway, in the 4th over with only 2 runs on the board. Alex Watson bowled well, but his height meant that any misbehaving balls were clearing both bat and sometimes batsmen by some margin!

Simon Taylor and off spinner Alistair Neale were brought into the attack, but after a short spell the bowlers changed ends to try and get the best of the conditions. Walmer's Birkett (27) and Furness rode their luck, left everything they could and accumulated runs steadily to move to 86 for 2. It was all credit to Walmer's batsmen who kept their heads when the ball misbehaved and hit through the line of anything remotely inviting. Shannon Fattore made the breakthrough, having Furness caught at cover for 43 but wicket keeper Shaw then took up the mantle. Despite Ashford pushing hard and taking a further 3 wickets, Shaw (48 not out) saw his side home in the 38th over to take the 16 points. Taylor took 3 for 49 whilst all the other bowlers were unlucky, especially Tegg, Neale and Watson who beat the bat consistently with no reward.

The Ants will be keen to get back on the winning trail this weekend at BOCA, and with Stuart Paine and Craig Buckham returning, and with the impending return of the Spencer twins from university, Ashford will be looking to minimise the long term effects of this defeat.

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Ashford 154-9 (50 overs) (J.Day 38, L.Tegg 27, G.Sutton 26)

Walmer 157-5 (38.5 overs) (S.Taylor 3-49, N.Campbell 1-23, S.Fattore 1-8)

Lost by 5 wkts

Ashford were looking to extend their winning ways with the visit of Bexley 4th's and chose to bowl first on a damper than usual Ball Lane wicket due to heavy rain during the previous two days. Opening bowlers Colin Paine and Mohsin Raza soon grabbed a wicket each and Ashford looked to be in the driving seat with Bexley 16-2 after 11 overs. However this was to be their last breakthrough for the next 34 overs as Steve Ruddock and Dave Pask put together a superb third wicket partnership of 187. The dropping of Ruddock early on proved to be costly as he went on to make a patient 72, but the real star of the show was Pask who, whilst only playing his fourth game in three years, scored as good a hundred as you will see at Ashford all year. Skipper Darran Wood rotated his bowlers to try and get the elusive breakthrough but was hindered by an injury to Chris Senior who severely twisted his knee in only his second over. Ben Ealham managed to nick a wicket at the end as did Wood himself as Bexley finished on 230-4 with Pask unbeaten on a tremendous 117.

Ashford suffered an early setback in their chase with Assan Raza being bowled for 5 but Darran Wood and "Aussie" James Anthony then put together a superb second wicket partnership of 101. Wood with a mixture of solid defence as well as some great clean hitting made an excellent 56 before being bowled. Tony Rolfe then hit a very quick-fire 22 to raise the run rate and with Anthony still accumulating well Ashford were well placed to push on for victory. However after Rolfe departed Anthony was out soon after for a superb career best 70 but Chris Senior and Ben Ealham continued the run charge with Senior launching three great boundaries on effectively "One leg" in his 21. With Ealham falling for 22 Ashford still needed eight from the last over but despite a valiant effort from youngsters Simon Berry and Dean Clark Ashford finished on 229-9. Whilst disappointed not to have sneaked victory skipper Darran Wood was delighted by both the performance and attitude of his team and they are still well placed in fourth position going into this weeks game with BOCA.

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Bexley IV 230-4 (50 overs) (M.Raza 1-33, C.Paine 1-44, B.Ealham 1-64)

Ashford 229-9 (50 overs) (J.Anthony 70, D.Wood 56, A.Rolfe 22)

Losing Draw

Match report not available.

In a forty over friendly, Ashford batted first with Liam Tegg soon into his stride hitting a quick 49 before being run out by James Anthony, who then in turn also contrived to get out on 49. Robert Dagger hit a useful 43 and Simon Taylor (24) kept up the momentum and with 25 from Dean Clark Ashford closed on 236 from their allocated overs. Nigel Crannis and Simon Taylor soon grabbed early wickets to leave Willesborough in trouble but a very solid 78 from Bob Ades restored respectability. Philip May and Thomas Britland also were amongst the wickets and with Andy Smith taking two good catches and assisting in a run out, Willesborough closed on 193 giving victory to Ashford.

Ashford 236 (40 overs) (L.Tegg 49, J.Anthony 49, R.Dagger 43)

Willesborough 193 (40 overs) (No bowling stats available)

Won by 43 runs

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