Surrey Championship

Division One

Pyrford 224

Ashtead 133-2

ASHTEAD could only manage a winning draw, as a heavily rain-affected game saw them fall agonisingly short of beating league leaders Pyrford.

With the heavy clouds already a threat, Ashtead inserted their guests and the fast and aggressive bowling of Marlon Cornelius (1-32) unsettled both Jonathan Hedges and captain Rob Pole.

But it was James Cameron (2-27) that struck first, trapping Hedges lbw for two.

John Vaughan-Davies (2-65) and Tom Deighton were soon brought on and the latter produced some big spin which Pole was unable to read edging to Jamie Powell at first slip to leave Pyrford on 49-2.

However, Stephen Moreton and new bat Ben Hunt were more adept to the turning ball and hit Deighton out of the attack. He was replaced by Josh Pickering (2-24), the other young Ashtead twirler.

Vaughan-Davies picked up his first wicket of the day when Moreton flicked the ball into the waiting hands of Andy Roberts for 24. This brought Craig Woods in and he proceeded to score quickly off both bowlers. However, soon Vaughan-Davies had two wickets to his name - this time trapping Hunt lbw for a quick-fire 35.

Brendan O'Connell (2-24) struck next, forcing Snow to play at a looping ball, which he could only edge to the reliable Powell in the slips.

The new bat, the first of three members of the same family, was Peter Sellick. He only faced one solitary ball as O'Connell bowled him for a golden duck. After one over, O'Connell was 2-4 and on a hat-trick.

And in the very next over, Peter's relation Chris Sellick also went for a golden duck, this time lbw as Pickering joined the wicket-takers. Ashtead were on fire and at lunch the Pyrford score was 117-7 after 35 overs.

The momentum continued after the break when the last of the Sellick clan, David, was caught by O'Connell for a duck off Pickering to leave Pyrford at 117-8.

However, this is where the Stags let their hard work slide, and as long-standing Woods and new bat Chris Millhouse produced some impressive shots, none of the Ashtead bowlers could thwart them. Chances were missed, and the frustration was clear as Pyrford reached 200-8 in the 55th over.

It was the return of Cameron and Cornelius that eventually finished off the visitors - first Cameron saw off Woods, as Andy Roberts produced an awesome catch to depose him on 78, and then Cornelius forced Millhouse into a rash shot that popped up for Gary Martin as Pyrford were all out for 224.

After the interval, the Stags' opening pair of Gary Martin and Brendan O'Connell went out to bat on a deteriorating wicket and threatening weather.

The opening bowlers, Peter Sellick (1-26) and Chris Millhouse (0-18), gave away runs early as the extras mounted up.

While Martin looked assured and in control, O'Connell produced some wild shots before he missed one that clattered the stumps for eight.

Cameron was the next to enter the fray, and in his usual style, he carved up the opening bowlers with some masterful strokeplay.

Then the rain came, and the first interruption saw an early tea called at 58-1 after 11 overs.

When play resumed, both Pyrford fast bowlers were taken off on the slippery surface and were replaced by Chris Woods (0-21) and Ben Hunt (1-32).

Ashtead made hay while the rain clouds stayed dry and Cameron made his half century in the 21st over. The partnership came to an end as a good catch from Woods saw off Martin for 29 with the score at 119-2.

Andy Roberts and Cameron continued to attack, but the second interruption for rain caused tremendous damage to the pitch. For an hour, the players and even the scorer battled in vain to make the surface playable, but the umpires decided otherwise and the match ended early in a draw.

A frustrating end to a positive display for the Stags.

Saturday sees East Molesey travel to Woodfield Lane for the first of the 50 over games at the back end of the season.