The Championship continues
It was week two of the AJ Fordham Sports Surrey Championship, the 10 clubs fighting out another round of 50-over matches. Richard Spiller surveys the Premier Division action.
Reigate Priory v Banstead
Richie Oliver’s typically cavalier century proved the difference in Reigate Priory’s victory by 57 runs.
He entered with the home side struggling at 69-5, three wickets captured by giant Queensland paceman Cameron Gannon, and within moments it was 70-6. But former Worcestershire left-hander Oliver found a reliable partner in Luke Beaven (42) as the pair put on 123 in 27 overs.
Oliver’s unbeaten 109 from 95 balls included 13 fours and two sixes, driving Priory to 228-8 and that proved quite enough, Banstead dismissed for 171 by a side in which 10 out of their side had some experience of first-class cricket including all six members of the attack. They clearly have no intention of being overhauled in the title race, as happened last summer.
That line-up included debutant Reece Topley, the giant left-arm seamer who has played 10 one-day internationals and six T20s and is currently making a comeback in an injury-plagued career when he might have been contemplating a place in England’s World Cup squad had events taken a different turn. Topley claimed one wicket but Will Hodson (3-44) was star man, Greg Dann’s 53 the main resistance.
Sutton v Weybridge
Surprise packages of the season – including to themselves – are Sutton as they followed a win at Wimbledon by beating defending champions Weybridge.
The Cheam Road young shavers fought their way to 230-8 after being inserted, experienced opener Sam Seadon’s 61 supplemented by Josh Blake’s 50no from 53 balls, Tom Bruce finishing with 3-36.
Weybridge were soon in trouble at 38-4 and although left-hander Haydir Ali (66) gave hope, they were rounded up for 196, Seadon finishing them off with 3-27. Aman Shinwari had celebrated his return from playing in Afghanistan by claiming 3-34.
Esher v Wimbledon
Promoted Esher got off the mark, inflicting a second defeat on Wimbledon.
They had former Sussex staff man Fynn Hudson-Prentice’s unbeaten 84 to thank for overhauling the home side’s 209-9 from 50 overs, winning by seven wickets with 6.1 overs to spare.
Nick Welch, fresh from four days playing for Surrey seconds against Glamorgan, made a typically enterprising 56 at the top of the Wimbledon order but he departed at 136-7, runs from the tail ensuring a competitive total. Ben Collins (3-52) built on two wickets apiece earlier for Johnny Wright and Malcolm Lake.
Matthew Clarke (54) got Esher’s chase off to a good start before Hudson-Prentice took the New Road side to their first win at Premier level since 2006.
Guildford v East Molesey
Batsmen have traditionally dominated at Woodbridge Road but it was the bowlers who held sway when East Molesey inched to an exciting one-wicket success.
Just a week after being demolished for 55 at Banstead, Guildford struggled once more in being bowled out for 137, debutant Jaedyn Bartosh-Short (21) and skipper Tom Collins (27) lasting longest while seamers Andy Westphal and Jason Moore claimed three victims apiece.
East Molesey’s chances of a second victory in eight days were in the balance at 14-3 and they might have been completely sunk had Sahan Arachchige not survived a huge appeal for a catch behind off Duncan Selmes (3-46). But the Sri Lankan rode his luck to make 72 and although George Barlow (3-37) kept making breakthroughs, East Molesey had captain Dominic Reed’s swift 24 plus 23 from Nick Stevens to thank for lurching over the line.
Sunbury v Ashtead
Smiles have been in short supply at Sunbury but they returned on the back of beating Ashtead by seven wickets.
Losing the final five matches last summer was followed by being sunk for 80 by neighbours Weybridge in the first outing of the new campaign, having already lost South African all-rounder Matt McGillivray to a serious finger injury in a friendly.
But it all came right on Saturday, bowling out Ashtead for 213, a crucial moment Matt Harpur trapping prolific David White leg-before for a second-ball duck. Conor Young’s 41 proved to be the highest score.
Skipper John Maunders – once of Middlesex, Leicestershire and Essex – guided his men to victory by making 77no at the top of the order, adding 78 with Sam Burgess (46) and 82 with Rajan Soni (54) along the way.
Best of the rest
Charlie Young’s maiden Surrey Championship century ensured Normandy made it two out of two in Division One, beating Beddington by four wickets. Chasing 202, they were in desperate trouble at 12-4 and then 33-5 but Young’s 116no from 137 balls guided them home with three overs to spare.
For a player who had never taken more than four wickets in an innings, Saturday proved a memorable day for Nathan Heal. His 7-15 in 10 overs cut Sanderstead down for 58 in their second division clash against Chipstead, Coulsdon & Walcountians, who went on to win by eight wickets.