An epic battle at the top of the Premier Division was the highlight of last weekend’s Surrey Cricket Championship programme. Richard Spiller reports
Wimbledon v Reigate Priory
Fraser McGuinness smashed the final ball for six to earn Reigate Priory a thrilling two-wicket victory and keep the title fight alive.
He went to the wicket with his side needing four for victory, skipper George Ealham having just dragged himself off the ground after being caught near the boundary as he attempted the winning hit off Matthew Benning.
Wicketkeeper McGuinness had no time even for a sighter – the light was beginning to fade anyway – but threw everything at the ball, clearing Jack Boyle at wide long-on and then racing off to embrace his delighted team-mates.
Wimbledon remain top but only by four points from Priory, Sutton another four behind in an exciting climax to the campaign.
A fine match, which did everyone involved great credit, saw Wimbledon – having chosen to bat first – bowled out for 235 in the 47th over. They owed much of their early progress to prolific Kiwi Jack Boyle, whose 67 was only terminated by Ealham athletically diverting a fierce drive from Adam Fox onto the stumps at the bowler’s end. After that, the hosts were indebted to Billy Sewell’s forthright 53 from 39 to reach a defendable total, which looked likely to be rather more until the last three wickets fell for two runs. Richard Stevens (3-44) and leg-spinner Michael Munday (3-49) claimed the bowling honours, Fraser Sheat’s eight overs costing just 18.
Sewell, who had an excellent all-round match, struck a vital blow when Richie Oliver (24) was caught at mid-on but Priory were firmly in control while Sheat .
But when the Kiwi all-rounder departed for 66, the focus fell on Ealham. There were still 57 needed from the last 10 overs, with six wickets left, and that was down to 15 off two with four in hand. Sewell bowled Harry McInley from the fifth ball of the penultimate over, entering the last at 225-7. Ealham, playing the kind of innings his grandfather Alan so often produced for Kent in their glory days, seemed to be the key to the match only to get too far under his attempt to win the match and depart for 77.
But it was McGuinness who took the glory just as Wimbledon were sniffing sewing up the title.
Banstead v Sutton
Sutton’s challenge faded further with a second defeat in eight days, going down by six wickets in the Mad Mile Derby.
They needed a fourth wicket alliance worth 76 between Sam Seadon and Dan Peall – who made 50 of them in just 34 balls, featuring five sixes – to build from 66-3. The captain’s patient 79 from 136 balls was much needed in the absence of Surrey’s Josh Blake, Australian opener Ryan Hackney having returned home and Jayden Broodryk falling ill.
Seadon was then joined by Harry Gardner, who made 50 out of 73 for the sixth wicket but both fell to Seb Stuart-Reckling, whose 4-41 marked a successful comeback for the Surrey left-arm paceman after injury cost him much of the summer.
Banstead benefited from taking the final four wickets for six runs to wrap up the visitors for 239, Arsalan Abbas claiming 3-51. Neil Baker’s 52 spearheaded the response, his departure at 100-3 giving Sutton hope but Patrick Rowe (54no) added 67 with Harri Aravinthan (36) and he was aided by Alfie Haxton’s breezy 57no from 36 to claim victory by six wickets in the penultimate over.
Although dropping to third place, Sutton are still only eight points off the top but need to beat both East Molesey (H) and Esher (A) and hope the top two slip up.
Ashtead v Dulwich
Defeat by three wickets confirmed Dulwich’s relegation, their first season since 2008 at elite level proving to their last for the time being.
They scrapped hard to avoid what had looked inevitable for several weeks, only losing by three wickets despite being in trouble at 46-4 after being sent in.
Kaif Ramzan (55) and Rayaan Hussain (31) ensured the visitors extended their innings to 155 all out in the 45th over, left-arm spinner Tom Homes keeping a tight rein to finish with 5-27 from 10.
Ashtead were indebted to skipper Mark Stoneman’s unbeaten 65, the former England opener picking up his side from 71-4 and engaging the help of Nathaniel Atkins and Conor Young (23 each) to claim victory in the 45th over.
That win kept Ashtead in fourth spot, where they finished last year, and they could yet improve on it.
East Molesey v Sunbury
East Molesey’s first win since mid-July came by the emphatic margin of 141 runs, pushing struggling Sunbury further into trouble.
An opening partnership worth 143 between Sam Burge (81) and Michael Shean (71) set the tone, Clyde Fortuin’s 41 topping it up so that Moles cruised to 284-7, Kevin Smith (3-63) and Vishal Manro (2-50) doing their best to prevent the target being out of reach.
But with the destructive Hugh Weibgen having returned to Australia, Sunbury never looked like chasing it successfully, Rajan Soni and Ollie Pascall their leading scorers with 34 each as they faded away to 143 all out. Louis Simonds-Gooding did most damage with 4-23, the visitors taking just two points from the match to leave them just 13 points from danger.
The pair reconvene on Sunday, this time at Sunbury, in the Conference Cup semi-final.
Esher v Spencer
Victory by 31 runs secured Spencer’s place in the Premier Division next year but left Esher teetering on the edge.
The visitors took advantage of batting first by running up 336-9, led by a second wicket partnership worth 95 between opener Hugo Darby (68) and Jack Scriven, whose run-a-ball 113 anchored a 107-run stand for the third wicket. His partner Troy Johnson was unsparing in crashing 75 from 59 balls, including six sixes, putting the Wandsworth side firmly in control.
Esher slumped speedily to 9-2, David Brent’s swift 43 taking the initiative before Alex Chambers and Don Bouchart constructed an alliance worth 109 in 16 overs. But Chambers missed out on his century by just four runs to make it 222-5, Bouchart departing five runs later for 63 and the hosts could only limp to 305 all out.
They did at least take eight bonus points, putting them 13 behind Sunbury who they play on Saturday in a match which may well decide which of them goes down.
It had been a week of much sadness for Esher following the death of Wiyada Pauline, wife of the club’s general manager and director Duncan, whose hospitality in the pavilion was much appreciated by players and officials across the county.
Best of the rest
Tom Geffen’s century led Guildford to an eight-wicket victory at Valley End which put them within touching distance of an instant return to the Premier Division.
They lead Division One by 17 points from Weybridge, with Normandy a further three behind, after making it four wins on the trot.
Valley End – who still need three points to be certain of avoiding relegation – were bowled out for 226, Josh Dodd’s 68 the outstanding innings with Tom Nevin making 39. Left-arm spinner Olly Birts claimed 4-24 in 10, taking him to 51 wickets, the best in the Championship.
The visitors lost Will Hamilton (6) early but Sathya Chandrasekharan (39) helped Geffen to add 85, the wicketkeeper going on to make 106no and join with in-form Fred McMillan (55no) in closing out the match with 4.5 overs in hand.
Weybridge had a much harder battle to see off Cranleigh, who look all but certain to join Oxted & Limpsfield in going down, which would represent their second drop in three seasons.
Finlay Yates (73) lifted Cranes to 237 all out, Aidan Golding claiming 4-30, which looked as if it might be enough when Shafqat Ullah departed for 70 at 201-6. Henry Francis (31no) was the key for Weybridge, though, seeing them home in the penultimate over.
That gave them the opportunity to overtake Normandy, who slipped up at Camberley. The visitors were in command while Trystan Kennedy, who added 140 with opening partner Oskar Kolk (51), was making 110 on the way to 256-8.
Camberley’s own launch was worth 141, thanks to Will Hale (55) and Michael Bates (81), needing Adam Carter (41) and Mohsin Bashir (26no) to scramble home by one wicket. Normandy know that should they beat Cranleigh on Saturday, victory over Weybridge in the final match would be enough to take them up.
League placings at week 16/18
Premier Division:
1) Wimbledon 236
2) Reigate Priory 232
3) Sutton 228
4) Ashtead 214
5) Banstead 210
6) East Molesey 210
7) Spencer 199
8) Sunbury 166
9) Esher 153
10) Dulwich 122 (R)
Division 1
Promotion zone:
1) Guildford
2) Weybridge
Relegation zone:
9) Cranleigh
10) Oxted & Lmpsfld (R)
Division 2
Promotion zone:
1) Rutlishians
2) Horsley & Send.
Relegation zone:
8) Cheam
9) Stoke d’Abernon (R)
10) Wimbledonians (R)
Subba Row Plate
A trophy cabinet better stocked than most saw East Molesey retain the Subba Row Plate, at Horsley & Send.
They defeated Chobham in the semi-final, by a mighty 102 runs, before taking on Chessington – victors over Horley by two wickets.
This time it was much tighter, Moles owing their 101-9 from 20 overs to Tiam Afshar (35) and Toby Green (27). Hamish Burrill’s 18 was the best of the reply, Oliver Owen (14no) and Tom Daniel (12no) coming together at 72-8 but just failing to make it all the way in the competition for lower division sides.
