Old Mid-Whitgiftian 107
Ashtead 108-9

Five wickets from Gary Butcher and a half-century from Jamal Babu proved not quite enough as a spirited Old Mid-Whitgiftian side succumbed to Ashtead by a single wicket in a low-scoring thriller at Lime Meadow.

Yet there was plenty of pride to be taken in defeat for Mids who gave the runaway leaders one of their most uncomfortable afternoons for some considerable time.

Inserted on a slow, damp pitch with variable bounce, Mids struggled to 107 all out.

Mids' normally free-scoring top order batsmen were given little opportunity to play their shots as Tony Rouse and Andrew Ellis bowled impressive opening spells.

Kiwi Ellis (5-34) was almost unplayable at times as Mids managed just 37 runs from the first 23 overs.

However, in conditions where fortune favoured the brave, Babu's attacking approach reaped dividends. The Bangladeshi all-rounder played positively from the start, reaching his first half-century of the season off just 53 balls before finally playing a delivery from Ellis on to his stumps for 56.

His dismissal left Mids with an uphill task to survive their over allocation and they were unable to do so.

Yet batting proved to be no easier for the Ashtead as Butcher and Gardner both claimed early wickets to put pressure on the visitors.

The tension was ratcheted up as Butcher ended Mursaleen's brave innings to leave the last pair requiring seven runs for victory.

Rouse and Ferret held their nerve to level the scores before a wide from Gary Butcher gave Ashtead the win, sparking joyous celebrations from the visitors.