At 71-4 after 26 overs or so no-one was expecting the pyrotechnics that were to follow at Banstead yesterday. Ashwin Bhat went in at 11-1 and was on 26 when Henry Tye joined him and smashed 54 in just 33 balls. His dismissal only heralded the arrival of Will Irving who in 22 balls of utter mayhem fired off 6 sixes and 2 fours (including one ramped)to reach his 50 and enable Priory to achieve a total of 238 in their 40 overs.

Ashwin scored 61 and was there whilst 201 runs were scored and and it was he who provided the glue that generated the winning total. It was however the late onslaught that enabled Priory to win by 55 runs to keep them in their table topping position.

Whilst the team and supporters were celebrating a fine day's cricket the shy and retiring Irving was asking all and sundry if his 50 in 22 balls was a club record. Frankly we have no idea but if Benny Hill's "Ernie" can claim to be the fastest milkman in the west I'm sure we can allow "Ernie" Irving to claim the fastest 50 at the club. Until proven otherwise that is. Anyway "Ernie" Irving has a nice ring to it.

On a cold miserable day, with Park Lane being unplayable for the 1s, the match at Banstead and the successes of the 4s and 5s brightened the day up considerably.