While rain wiped out much of the men’s programme in week five of the M Zaidi & Co Surrey Cricket Championship, play went ahead in the women’s competition – albeit after a dramatic week. Richard Spiller and Daisy Huntington report.
Open Leagues
Just 15.3 overs were squeezed in before rain drowned out the Premier Division’s first week of time matches, the sun having shone on the early limited overs rounds.
The bulk of that – 10 overs – came in the clash of leaders East Molesey against strugglers Sutton. Sent in, the hosts reached 40-0 with Sam Burge on 40no from 24 balls and Michael Shean on 15no from 32 before the players scurried back to the pavilion, not to return.
But Graburn Way had been scene of great drama four days earlier when head groundsman Peter Day suffered a lightning strike. Fortunately for him it hit the nearby covers rather than him directly.
Day managed to alert staff in the Miss Polly Cafe, which adjoins the pavilion on the riverside ground, who called for medical help around 2.40pm. A critical care paramedic was first on the scene, calling in the London Air Ambulance, which landed on the ground.
He was taken to Kingston Hospital and discharged after checks. Day only joined the club earlier this year, after moving from Birmingham club Moseley, and felt well enough to return to work on Friday to carry on preparations for the weekend.
“We’re just pleased Pete’s okay and it shows his dedication that he was back at work so quickly,” said colleague Trevor Pearce.
The other five overs came at Wimbledon, where Banstead had been reduced to 9-1 – Arjun Gill (2) the wicket to fall – before rain finished that game.
They were unable to even get a start in the other three matches – Ashtead v Reigate Priory, Esher v Normandy and Guildford v Spencer – and all 10 sides ended up with eight points.
There was a bit more action in Division One but nowhere near enough to produce a result. Dulwich were 46-2 from 17.1 against Old Rutlishians, Walton reached 84-4 hosting Hamptonians, Beddington were 7-0 from 2.4 at Weybridge and Camberley were storming along at 0-0 from two balls against Sunbury.
It was unfortunate that Michael Hunte’s 250th league umpiring appointment – for the match between Maori Oxshott and Horsley & Send in Division Two – should consist of no more than abandoning the match without a ball bowled. Hunte joined the old Surrey Championship panel in 2011, having been a nuggety bat for Egham from 1976 to 2011.
Credit to Malden Wanderers’ second team for forcing a victory in Division Three East, dismissing Old Wimbledonians 85 in 21.4 overs, which owed much to Toby Pattemore’s 6-15 from nine. Wanderers lost their first three for ducks in a hurried reply, having been set a revised 59 from 22. Edward Briggs was their key performer in crashing 52no from 34 to finish it in 10.5 overs for a seven-wicket success.
Sunday extra
Fortunately it dried up for the second half of the weekend, a number of Championship sides in action in the Conference Cup, winners lifting the Bertie Joel Trophy.
Sam Gorvin’s 104 from 112 balls inspired Walton to 274-8 from 45 overs, which proved enough to beat Rutlishians by 105 runs. It was a less successful journey for Valley End when they headed to Old Hamptonians, Joe Clifford’s 42 the only score in double-figures in being dismissed for 91 and beaten by nine wickets.
East Molesey’s trip to Minster on the Isle of Sheppey was altogether happier, bowling out the Kent side for 139. Luka Woods (51no) anchored the reply, Clyde Fortuin making 35 in a seven-wicket success.
Normandy came unstuck at Roffey, being bowled out for 158 after the Sussex side had made 226-9.
And the all-Championship Premier Division clash turned out to be very one-sided, Spencer being bowled out for 121 as Ben Butterfield and Ahmed Khan took three wickets each before Ayush Patel (71no) and Rafay Ahmed (35no) knocked off the runs without loss.
You can find live scores, results, fixtures and tables at surreycricketchampionship.play-cricket.com.
Women’s Leagues
A full programme in the Women’s Premier Division went ahead in contrast to the weather-hit open schedule, with Reigate Priory continuing their imperious start and Sutton strengthening their position among the frontrunners.
Reigate Priory CC v Weybridge CC
Reigate Priory underlined their title credentials with a crushing victory over Weybridge, piling up an imposing 224-1 from 35 overs after being put in.
Opener Sara Kodilkar led the way superbly with an unbeaten 105 from 93 balls, striking 14 boundaries in a commanding innings that anchored the effort. She was well supported by Hannah Dougherty, who finished 51 not out from 48 deliveries, sharing an unbroken stand to accelerate late on, while Esmae Vos added 35 in a strong opening partnership worth 109. Extras also proved costly for Weybridge, with 33 conceded in total.
That total always looked out of reach, and Reigate’s bowlers ensured there was no way back. Weybridge were dismissed for just 49 in 15.3 overs, with only Sienna Newlove (16) reaching double figures as wickets fell regularly.
The bowling effort was clinical throughout, with Eleanor Clark (2-14) and Izzy Wall (2-4) leading the way, supported by Georgina Fairclough, Esmae Vos and Sophie Dawes as the wickets were shared around. The result secured a comprehensive 175-run victory, keeping Reigate top of the table with a perfect record.
Shepperton CC v Sutton CC
Sutton enjoyed a controlled five-wicket win away at Shepperton, built on a disciplined bowling display before a composed run chase.
After choosing to bat, Shepperton were restricted to 85-9 from their 35 overs, never able to build momentum as Sutton’s attack maintained pressure throughout. Scoring proved difficult, with the hosts only reaching 50 in the 20th over and unable to produce a standout innings of substance.
Sutton’s bowlers shared the workload effectively, keeping things tight to collect a valuable bonus point and ensure the target remained modest.
In reply, Sutton made a strong start through Sneha Mohan (37 from 49 balls) and Daisy Fillingham (25 from 46), whose opening stand of 64 all but settled the contest. Their measured partnership provided the platform for a straightforward chase.
Shepperton did respond with a brief flurry of wickets, Holly Kopicki the standout with 3-11, but the total proved too small to defend. Sutton reached 87-5 in 18.5 overs, with Rebecca Denman adding a quick 9 and the lower order calmly finishing the job.
The victory keeps Sutton firmly among the early-season challengers near the top of the table, while Shepperton will look to regroup after a difficult outing with the bat.
Streatham & Marlborough CC v Richmond CC
Elsewhere, Streatham & Marlborough’s fixture against Richmond was settled without play, Richmond conceding the match and handing their opponents a full 20 points.
The result keeps Streatham & Marlborough level on points with Sutton, both sides sitting just behind leaders Reigate Priory as the table begins to take shape after the opening rounds.
At this early stage, Reigate’s perfect record has given them early control, while the competition behind them already looks tight. Weybridge and Shepperton will be aiming to bounce back next week, and Richmond will be keen simply to get their campaign underway on the field.
Best of the rest
Across the wider Women’s Championship, several sides are setting the early pace in their respective divisions.
In Division One, Woodmansterne CC lead the table with 50 points after an unbeaten start, while Spencer 2nd XI and Wimbledon remain close behind with two wins each in a tightly contested top three.
In Division Two East, both Banstead CC and Reigate Priory 2nd XI have made perfect starts with three wins from three to sit level on 60 points. Horley produced one of the standout results of the week, posting 222-4 before bowling out Streatham & Marlborough 2nd XI for 107 in a comprehensive 115-run win.
Meanwhile, Banstead maintained their form with a comfortable chase against Oxted & Limpsfield, and Reigate Priory’s seconds edged past Purley in a lower-scoring contest.
In Division Two West, Guildford CC hold top spot after chasing down 167 to beat Valley End by seven wickets, with Robyn Bentley and Darcey Whiteley both passing fifty in an impressive batting performance. Esher also picked up points after a concession from Godalming to remain among the early leaders.
In Division Three Central, Southwark Park CC strengthened their position at the top with a 79-run victory over Sanderstead, while Old Rutlishians benefited from a concession to stay firmly in contention near the summit.
Over in Division Three North, a high-scoring encounter saw Walton on Thames edge Twickenham, with Walton posting 200-1 thanks to a strong opening partnership between Toni Gurr (50) and Lesley Lawrence, followed by a quickfire 50 from Melissa Long. Twickenham responded well with half-centuries from Kimberley Abbott and Angela Clark, but fell just short. East Molesey continue to set the pace with a perfect record.
Finally, in Division Three South, Effingham CC remain the standout side, leading the table with four wins from four. Dorking CC recorded an emphatic 126-run victory over Horsley & Send after posting 216-5, while Newdigate edged a tight contest against Outwood.
You can find live scores, results, fixtures and tables at surreycricketchampionship.play-cricket.com.
