After downpours wrecked the fifth round of matches, it was back to business for the M Zaidi & Co Surrey Cricket Championship Premier Division. Richard Spiller reviews the action
Wimbledon v Guildford
Jack Boyle has been Wimbledon’s ace for five years and showed just why on Saturday, his second century of the campaign earning the champions victory over Guildford by six wickets.
The genial Kiwi had watched Blake Macdonald crack a fine 125 for the visitors in their 220 all out. But a pitch which had been under covers for much of the week and outfield speeding up in the sun made Guildford skipper Olly Birts’s decision to bat first rather surprising and Boyle warmed up for his club’s poker night by trumping that in an unbeaten 108.
Losing Ben Garrett and Finn Gordon – the latter started in prolific form but could not get off the mark this time – to Tim McKernan set back Guildford at 5-2, Ben Twine producing a fine delivery to bowl Tom Geffen for 14. When Fred McMillan followed it was 38-4 but Sathya Chandrasekharan (26) helped Macdonald to add 99, almost running him out along the way. There was little other support, though, Macdonald – who plays state cricket for Victoria and Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League – taking advantage of a short boundary on one side for a giant marquee which will soon house hundreds of corporate guests wining and dining in between occasional glances at the tennis over the road.
He brought up his first Championship century with one of eight sixes before being bowled for 125 by Kit Derrick.
Missing player/coach Jamie Atkins and James McMillan, Guildford recalled Duncan Selmes after a five-year gap, striking in his first over when Tim Lloyd (1) edged behind. But Alex Barrett (40) and Boyle were soon scoring runs busily, wicketkeeper Adam Fox (29) keeping pace with Boyle while Billy Sewell (34no) showed his hand instantly as he cracked 34no. Boyle found gaps with ease as he hit 11 fours and four sixes, seeing Wimbledon to victory with 13 of their 56 overs to spare in his 12th century since joining the club. They lie second, 14 points off the summit, while Guildford are sixth.
Normandy v East Molesey
They pride themselves on the quality of the teas at Normandy but leaders East Molesey didn’t need to stay much beyond lunch.
They rattled out the hosts for just 66 in 23.1 overs, skipper Chris Jones the highest scorer with 18, as Andy Westphal’s 6-41 from 12 tore a hole through the batting. Harry Porter’s 3-13 from 6.1 swept up.
Batting was never easy, Dylan Hurst removing Michael Shean and Ollie Soames for one apiece, but Sam Burge’s 30 took Moles much of the way towards victory, Jack Scriven (25no) ensuring the job was completed in a mere 14.1 overs.
That ensured Moles stay 14 points in front of the rest while Normandy sank back to bottom place.
Reigate Priory v Esher
Seb Allison’s 5-31 carved a hole in the Reigate batting but Esher had to work hard before completing a three-wicket win which has pushed them into third position.
The big seamer’s haul was chiefly responsible for Priory being shot out for 109 after choosing to bat first, grateful to Garth Davson’s 29 for getting into three-figures. Ben Townsend’s 2-38 included the prized wicket of Richie Oliver for 19.
Travis Norris (36) set the visitors on their way but Surrey off-spinner Tommy Ealham – whose 4-38 made him leading wicket-taker in the Premier Division with 15 – kept chipping away, his brother George claiming 2-27. It needed Don Bouchart’s 14no to see Esher over the line, pushing Priory down to fifth.
Banstead v Sutton
A late charge from Sutton was not enough to secure victory in the Mad Mile derby.
Having bowled out Banstead for 244 from the final ball of their maximum 66 overs, the visitors still needed 89 from the final eight overs, opener Cameron Tanner making 82, support coming from Sam Seadon (26) and Surrey’s Josh Blake (35). But urgent contributions from Dan Peall (43 from 25) and Max Wallis (43 from 26) increased the tempo dramatically. They took 17 off an over from Seb Stuart-Reckling but the Surrey seamer responded by removing Peall with the last ball of the penultimate over.
His colleague at the Kia Oval, left-arm spinner Ralphie Albert, was charged with bowling the final over, nine still being required. He delivered two dot balls, followed by a wide, having Wallis caught by Patrick Rowe from the next. Harry Gardner took a single from the fifth and although skipper Ryan Hackney – batting down the order rather than his usual opening spot – hit the last for four, Sutton could only finish on 242-5 and thus took 13 points in the winning draw.
Having started the day in bottom place, without a win in the opening five rounds, Banstead were grateful to Ayush Patel (64) and Harri Aravinthan (33) for early progress but lost kingpin batsman Patrick Rowe for a third-ball duck, stumped by Blake off left-arm spinner Aneesh Jhalla. It took Ahmed Khan’s 55 to propel them to a defendable score, Jhalla claiming 4-79 from 22, and the seven points they extracted at least lifted them over Normandy.
Spencer v Ashtead
Title challengers for much of last season, Ashtead find themselves just above the drop zone after going down by 31 runs at Spencer.
The Wandsworth side – who have pushed up to fourth – were expecting to make more than their eventual 197 all out, Hugo Darby’s 33 early on followed by 47 apiece for Rishan Herath and Freddie Horler which took them to 166-5. But Ben Sidwell blasted out the final five wickets to finish with 6-37 from 14.5 overs and Ashtead had 66 overs to make their runs.
They were in trouble immediately, Surrey’s Adam Thomas (3) one of two victims for Dylan Church at 7-2 only for newcomer Will Christophers to take advantage of being dropped before he scored in making 48 out of an 82-run stand with Daniel Geddes.
Harshil Patel returned to trap Geddes LBW and then bowl Conor Young next ball but Ashtead restored their fortunes through Geddes (52) and youngster Nat Atkins (32), favourites again at 146-4. It was not to be, though, Patel taking a fine catch to remove Atkins and returning 4-48 to finish off his old club for 166, Ashtead handicapped by an injury which prevented New Zealander Lachie Stackpole from batting. Jackson Saggers (3-33) and Max Hunt (2-22) provided excellent back-up.
Best of the rest
Leaders Sunbury had their charge back to the Premier Division checked when Old Hamptonians held out for a draw.
Aaryan Pillai (55) had helped the hosts recover from 64-4, Colby Dyer’s 84 and Tyrone Visvakula’s 69 from 55 propelling them to 285 all out in the 62nd over. At 92-7 in reply, OHs looked set for a heavy defeat but Tim Wallace followed his 5-48 earlier by making 50, tailender Raza Mughal’s 24no supervising the rearguard alongside last man Aqib Mehmood as they played out the final six overs at 175-9.
Sunbury are 19 points clear of Walton, who squeaked a 23-run victory at Beddington thanks to four wickets each from Matthew Murray and Rhythm Bedi after setting the hosts 203.
Weybridge lifted themselves out of the drop zone courtesy of a winning draw at Valley End.
Tables (6/18)
Premier Division
1) East Molesey 112
2) Wimbledon 98
3) Esher 85
4) Spencer 78
5) Reigate Priory 74
6) Guildford 62
7) Sutton 57
8) Ashtead 49
9) Banstead 40
10) Normandy 39.
Division 1
1) Sunbury 102
2) Walton 83
3) Camberley 82
4) Malden Wdrs 77
5) Dulwich 70
6) Rutlishians 68
7) Valley End 68;
8) Weybridge 54
9) Hamptonians 52
10) Beddington 45.
Sunday menu
If the Oval Test or a trip to Cardiff are not on the menu, there is a big day in the National Club Championship to enjoy. Sutton entertain Reigate Priory in the group 15 final while group 16 sees Banstead head to Wimbledon and East Molesey make the trip to Shepherds Bush for the group 11 final. Matches are 40 overs per side and start at 1pm.
You can find live scores, results, fixtures and tables at surreycricketchampionship.play-cricket.com.
