Guildford CC U15s vs Ashtead CC U15s (Tier 1 league)

On a swelteringly hot day at Woodbridge Road, the U15s hosted Ashtead in a rearranged game from earlier in the season.

Both sides had some unavailability - with Guildford missing three players to a Surrey game, two players to self isolation and many more on holiday. This presented an opportunity for other players to step up.

Guildford won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to get their 25 overs in before the heat reached 30 degrees.

Cameron Sim and Kieran Finnegan opened the bowling, with the first breakthrough falling to Cameron Sim, who got their opener caught at point by Tristan West. Not long after, a slower ball from Kieran Finnegan clean bowled Ashtead's number 3.

Matt Bisset and Tristan West came on at first change - however after just 3 or 4 balls, Matt Bisset's back pain meant he could only complete 1 over.

James Mundy came on and added to the wickets with one of Ashtead's key batsman caught at cow corner by Luke Smith. James Mundy would finish with the best bowling economy on the day for Guildford.

Tristan West then seamed in a nice delivery to take the next clean bowled wicket. The first four wickets fell with none of these batsmen reaching double figures, however Ashtead's opener still remained and he was starting to build a valuable innings. Luke Smith and Ollie Waugh came on to bowl late on, with Ollie Waugh clean bowling the opener for 42 runs.

Dulain Jayakody chipped in with a nice run out, but it was Ashtead's vociferous captain who changed the game, battering 41 runs not out off just 17 balls (3x fours, 3x sixes, SR: 241).

This late charge took Ashtead from just over 5 runs per over, to a healthy 153 for 6 wickets off their 25 overs.

In reply, Guildford opened the batting with Luke Smith and Ollie Waugh who both batted themselves in before starting to up the pace against a good bowling attack. Ashtead were generally bowling good line and length medium pace, or spin, rather than offering any real pace.

All of the top 3 batsmen got good starts:
Luke Smith - 39 runs (off 45 balls, 5x fours, SR: 87)
Ollie Waugh - 29 runs (off 44 balls, 2x fours, SR: 66)
James Mundy - 20 runs (off 23 balls, SR: 87)

On the final ball of one over, Luke Smith was unlucky to be given out stumped, when the keeper rolled the ball direct at the stumps from some distance.

The run rate required had been creeping up to 7/8 over, around the middle of the innings, before hitting double figures required per over late on. The middle order tried to hit out, and two run outs ensued.

Matt Bisset hit a well run, 21 not out (off 18 balls, SR: 117).

Guildford ultimately reached 135 for 6 wickets, off their 25 overs.

Ashtead had won by 18 runs.

Whilst there were several good performances, Guildford's man of the match was an all round performance from James Mundy.