It looks like a two-way fight for the Premier Division title, with a 32-point gap between two teams and the rest.
BY RICHARD SPILLER
It was week eight of the Travelbag Surrey Championship and increasingly it looks like a two-way fight for the Premier Division title between Reigate Priory and Weybridge, with a 32-point gap between them and the rest.
BANSTEAD V REIGATE PRIORY
Michael Munday won the battle of the spinners to ensure Reigate Priory came out on top in their derby at Banstead, remaining top by six points.
The former Somerset leggie finished with 6-38 to earn victory by 121 runs, Priory’s sixth success of the season so far.
It had been the promising left-arm Tyler Meyer who was given the responsibility of restricting Priory as best he could, claiming 3-98 from 21 overs as he bowled in tandem with Arsalan Abbas (3-67) for much of the innings. One of Meyer’s victims was Australian Andy Delmont, stumped by Neil Baker seven runs short of a century, while Angus Dahl maintained his form in hitting 51 for a final total of 264-7 from 65 overs.
That proved well beyond Banstead, who slumped to 143 all out against Munday, who bowled two of his victims and had three more leg-before.
WEYBRIDGE V SUTTON
Tom Bruce underlined why Sussex have recruited him for their Vitality Blast campaign by hitting a century which turned Weybridge’s victory march into a stroll.
Sutton were made to work hard for their 250-8 after choosing to bat first, despite of openers Luke Smith (56) and Freddie Boys (49) putting on 74 and skipper Dan Edwards making a brisk 68. Spinners Frankie Vainker (3-102) and Bruce (5-80) bowled 50 of the 66 overs between them and that paid off as Weybridge’s speedy over-rate meant they had 61 overs available.
The hosts required just 52.4 of them in the end, Kiwi Bruce’s 109no from 92 balls building on the early work of Ben Curran (53) and aided by Andrew Curtis (46). Edwards tried eight bowlers in a bid to save the game but it proved in vain.
NORMANDY V SUNBURY
Perhaps it was no surprise that the battle of the champions of the last two seasons ended in a stalemate.
Defending their first title, Normandy had Tim Ward’s 141 to thank for lifting them to 302-5, the Australian’s second-wicket alliance of 149 with Oscar Kolk (58) key to that total. Just back from university, Kolk is one of the players returning to Normandy’s side who skipper Neal Prowse believes should see them recapture their form of last year.
Having batted the maximum 66 overs though, the hosts – who were champions in 2016 – were short on time to press home the advantage when they had Sunbury in trouble at 98-5. Another Australian Chris Green, who was in fine form for Surrey seconds last week, cracked an unbeaten 105 which not only took his side to safety at 254-7 but earned them the winning (higher scoring rate) draw. Ishy Sohi made 52, Prowse finishing with 4-56.
ASHTEAD V WIMBLEDON
Ashtead were pushed back into the relegation zone as Matthew Spriegel showed he remains a canny operator at club level.
The former Surrey and Northants all-rounder, now performance director at the Kia Oval, claimed 4-66 in dismissing the hosts for 275, removing top-scorers Guy Harper (53) and Sam Homes (74).
Wimbledon cantered to an eight-wicket victory when Nick Welch – who scored a century for Surrey seconds against Sussex at LSE Monday – hit 66 out of a first wicket partnership of 102 with James Johnson. His partner went on to finish 106no, Oliver Swann making 51 and Spriegel being there at the end with 21no.
CRANLEIGH V EAST MOLESEY
The battle of the bottom two sides went decisively Cranleigh’s way – but only after a fight.
Cranes were ailing at 112-8, losing their top three early on to Andy Westphal and requiring a rescue mission from wicketkeeper Callum Kent (56no) and Jonathan Gonszor (39) in a ninth wicket stand of 65.
That pushed them up to 195 all out and it was more than enough to see off an East Molesey batting line-up who have shown the strength of a soggy KitKat to leave them marooned in the basement. They folded for 111, opener Ben McDermott’s 26 the modest best, with four wickets from Marcus Atallah two each for Will Rollings, Jack Scriven and Gonszor.
BEST OF THE REST
Esher have been knocked off their perch at the top of Division One, beaten for the first time in more than a month.
It was Guildford, desperate to rebound from two defeats, who revived their own chances in a quickfire victory by seven wickets. Seamers Ben Ungaretti (5-64) and Ben Shaw (3-45) – the latter on his first team debut – did the damage, dismissing Esher for 167 in the 53rd over.
Despite losing Joel Walker to the first ball of the reply, the visitors cantered to success in 27 overs as Alex Sweet followed 133 at Spencer a week earlier by making 61no having enjoyed an electrifying stand of 108 with Fred McMillan, who smashed 75 in 50 balls.
Valley End, who started in second, suffered a 75-run reverse at Beddington and it is Camberley who have taken up the running, inching past Farnham by three wickets, although only four points now separate the top four.