Waters stills rivals to boost weybridge

Aug 27 2008 By John Whitbread, Surrey Herald

SURREY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE Ashtead 205 all out Weybridge 144-9 Losing draw for Weybridge

Proud skipper Abeed Janmohamed hailed teenage batsman Seren Waters for a crucial match-saving innings against arch promotion rivals Ashtead on Saturday.

His defiant knock meant Ashtead claimed just four points for a winning draw, rather than 13 for a win. They are still third, 14 points behind Weybridge, who are themselves five points behind leaders Banstead

Waters opened the innings and was still there at the finish, batting 53 overs for 52 runs.

"It sounds from the stats like he went at a snail's pace from the beginning," said Janmohamed. "But it was only when the tail end collapsed around him that he slowed down and just kept rock-steady. He showed maturity well beyond his years.

Weybridge now have two final games in which to regain a coveted place in the Premier ranks. They play hosts to third-from-bottom Purley on Saturday and visit basement side Farnham on the last day of the season.

"We have wobbled a bit since Grant Elliott went back to New Zealand," added Janmohamed.

"But we can't worry about missing him now. It's time for other players to step up to the plate and make sure we get the points we need to go up"

The good news for Weybridge is that leading al-rounder David Court returns from Surrey duties for the last two games.

In a see-saw game at Ashtead, Chris Notton, Waters and Adam Bennett bowled well to reduce the home side to 120-6, only for a fine century from Gary Martin (111) to leave Weybridge needing to score 206 in 51 overs.

They were in a good position at 138-3, with Waters not out 48 and Akbar Ansari completing his half century.

But after Ansari was out the wickets started to tumble only for Waters to prove the crucial anchor-man.