Top of the table Chesterfords visited Ashdon in buoyant mood after topping the table after there win at South Loughton last weekend. Ashdon had recently amassed large scores at their home ground batting first and Chesterfords realised that a strong batting performance was what was needed to set a competitive total to defend. Chesterfords won the all important toss and decided to bat on an absolute belter of a wicket.

Chesterfords got off to a disastrous start losing both the openers in the first 5 overs thanks to the accurate bowling of G.Ford, 2 for 36 and S.Salt, 2for 31 who were in electric form with the ball posing questions that Chesterfords top 2 had no answer to. L.Claydon was also soon walking back to the dressing room after being unluckily caught at the second attempt by the square leg fielder after only adding 7 to the score. James Pullen was the only top order batsmen to really capitilise on the favourable batting conditions and was being put under pressure by the other batsmen who it seemed were throwing away their wickets needlessly. J.Lipscombe who was struggling with a niggling back injury that he picked up from last weeks game against South Loughton came to the crease and between the two batsmen they began to rebuild Chesterfords innings. J. Pullen reached his second League 50 by playing a well timed patient innings while others fell around him. Pullen then fell on 55 and Lipscombe continued in the same vain smashing 14 off of one over as he looked to increase the run rate but was bowled due to a shot that I’m sure he will have nightmares about in the nights ahead. Chesterfords remaining batsmen struggled and finally fell scoring only 186 off of 39 overs.

With a depleted bowling attack due to absence and injury Chesterfords needed to score a large total. This quite simply did not happen. Chesterfords were always going to be on the back foot in this game and Ashdons batsmen soon punished Chesterfords mistakes by making batting look like child’s play. J.Millership batted well and really anchored the innings playing some exquisite late cuts that flew to the boundary. Chesterfords needed an early wicket and they got it thanks to J. Pullen taking the wicket of Pinnington. A pivotal moment in the game then took place with T.Thake dropping a chance that would have sent M.Furze back to the pavilion for 5 which would have meant that Ashdon would have been 20 for 2, as it was the chance fell to the floor and with it so did Chesterfords hopes. M.Furze then began to crash the ball to the boundary not offering any more chances until he was finally dismissed for 70. Millership reached his 50 and steered his team home in the 42^nd over winning by 8 wickets. A lacklustre performance by Chesterfords which was compounded further by injuries to the influential D.Perring and S.Squares that will probably rule them out of next weeks clash against 3^rd placed Illford Catholics, however J. Lipscombe (back) and W. Mughal (eye) both now appear fit.