It was the opening round of the new Surrey Cricket Championship – a merger of three leagues – which gained a most un-English style welcome of a warm and sunny Saturday rather than the traditional downpour. Richard Spiller underlines who had most fun in the sun in the Premier Division
East Molesey v Ashtead
Final winners of the old Surrey Championship, East Molesey’s bid to claim the new one hit an early obstacle when they were outplayed by Ashtead.
In trouble midway through last season, a flying finish earned The Stags fourth place and they showed just why in forcing a victory by 47 runs.
Pranav Khera (41) and Daniel Geddes (54) lald the base for their total of 255-7 from 50 overs, Conor Young (48) and Sam Homes ‘s 31 from 17 balls mainly responsible for extracting 88 from the final 10 overs. Left-arm seamer Toby Crowther’s 3-44 shone among the home attack on his first team league debut.
Moles suffered a bad blow in losing the dangerous Sam Burge (5) early on, Marcus Campopiano (38) and Oli Soames adding 74 for the second wicket in 17 overs. Ashtead’s disciplined attack was backed up by superb fielding, two wickets apiece for Simon Keene and left-arm spinner Tom Homes augmenting 3-46 from Sam Hunt.
Soames gained little support down the order, the former Hampshire bat hitting nine fours and three sixes in a fine innings before being run out near the end by Adam Thomas, his colleague at Guildford last year.
Reigate Priory v Sutton
An opening stand of 138 between Cameron Tanner and Ryan Hackney sent Sutton on their way to victory by seven wickets at Reigate Priory.
The hosts, a makeshift combination under new captain George Ealham thanks to injuries and departures, could only muster 209 as they were bowled out with three balls unused.
They were indebted to youngster Tommy Bates, highly rated by director of cricket Gary Butcher, for making an unbeaten 54 after being in trouble at 98-5, George Compton claiming 3-43 after switching from Weybridge. Spinners Aneesh Jhalla (2-21) and Harry Gardner (1-20) delivered miserly 10-over spells.
Sutton were on the road to victory in this battle of the A217 when Tanner – whose attacking zeal at the top of the order shone in the first half of last year – cracked 73 from 75 balls. Australian left-hander Hackney made a more measured 54 while Surrey’s Josh Blake took his side to the verge of victory in making 34, Sutton wrapping up their 20 points with 4.4 overs in hand.
Esher v Dulwich
A century from Indian Test player KS Bharat was at the heart of Dulwich’s successful return to top division cricket.
Missing since relegation in 2008, they beat Esher by six runs in an exciting tussle.
Bharat has played seven Tests for his country, the most recent against England at Visakhapatnam in February last year, his arrival underlining Dulwich’s determination to shine. He made 134 from 108 balls – which included 17 fours and five sixes – to dominate their 318-8 from 50 overs, Dale Shaw (45), Will Jenkins (36) and Kiaf Ramzan’s 33no adding weight to the total. Ben Townsend’s 3-37 restrained progress.
David Brent’s 87 from 58 led the reply, adding 78 for the fourth wicket with Don Bouchart (45), but even Freddie Harrison’s late assault of 54 in 31 could not save them, Joseph Payne and Jenkins finishing with three wickets apiece.
Spencer v Sunbury
Winners of Division One last year, Spencer had Jack Scriven’s unbeaten century to thank for opening with victory by three wickets against Sunbury.
They looked unlikely to be chasing too many when Harshil Patel – who finished last year captaining Weybridge – removed the top three as the visitors skidded to 21-4 and then 78-6. Ollie Pascall, having spent much of the week playing for Surrey’s second team, began the revival by making 46 and that was built upon by Alex Hughes (65) and Kevin Smith (39), Sunbury’s 50 overs yielding 237-9. Patel finished with 4-42.
Spencer were sailing along nicely while opener Hugo Darby (54) was helping former Cranleigh captain Scriven add 75 for the second wicket. Smith returned mid-innings to claim two of his three wickets but Scriven, who hit nine fours and a six in his 110-ball stay, would not be thwarted and saw the Wandsworth side to victory with 13 balls in hand.
Wimbledon v Banstead
First to bank a victory were Wimbledon, rolling Banstead for 140 before sprinting home by nine wickets.
Sixth on their return to the elite last year was a satisfying finish for Banstead but they took no points from their trip to Church Road. Gareth Macaskill’s 32 was the modest best of a pained effort over 42.5 overs against a highly disciplined attack in which Oliver Pike, Ben Twine and Richie Lamb all claimed two wickets and enabled new skipper Stephen Reeves to maintain the pressure throughout.
Tim Lloyd made 68 from 50 balls out of an opening stand worth 108 in reply, newcomer James Crosthwaite finishing unbeaten on 47 and Jack Boyle’s 27no ensuring victory in 18.1 overs.
Best of the rest
There were encouraging wins for the two teams relegated from the Premier Division last year.
Weybridge, who finished rock bottom and suffered an exodus of players, made short work of neighbours Walton, dismissing them for 154 before Haydir Ali (79no) and Joey Field (49no) took them to victory by nine wickets.
Guildford, having plunged from runners-up in 2023, won by 99 runs at promoted Camberley after making 205 all out – Tom Geffen cracking 54 and Jason Soames 60 – before bowling out the hosts for 106 as Olly Birts (4-31) and Josh Bartlett (3-23) did most of the damage.
Having finished third in Division One, Malden Wanderers were among the favourites but suffered a disastrous opening day against Valley End. They plunged to 42-9, Pete Young (10no) and last man Xavier Bochereau (16) effecting a revival of sorts to 71 all out. Josh Dodd (5-19) and James Gilmore (3-18) cleaned up. Dodd then finished 44no in a 10-wicket whitewash.
The other new boys, Oxted & Limpsfield, looked well on course to overcome Normandy’s 261-7 when they were 194-2 in the 35th over, opener Jack Lloyd having earlier made 76. But the wiles of Chris Jones (5-53) proved too much, O&L sliding to 233 all out to lose by 28 runs. It capped a fine day for skipper Jones, who made an unbeaten 82. Cranleigh beat Beddington by 28 runs in the final match.
An unfortunate start to the season in Division Two saw the match at Addiscombe only lasting 19.3 overs, the umpires having to end the contest against Maori Oxshott because of concerns over player safety. The visitors had struggled to 80-6 on an uneven Sandilands pitch which was becoming increasingly untrustworthy and the match has now been recorded as a concession.
Sunday extra
It proved a thin day for Surrey Championship clubs competing in the ECB’s National Club Championship.
East Molesey suffered one of their most disappointing weekends of recent times by following Saturday’s defeat against Ashtead with a six-wicket reverse to Sussex club Middleton.
A defeat by one run against Richmond terminated Normandy’s interest, former Middlesex left-hander Adam London’s 73 guiding the hosts to 252-7 in their 40 overs and 61 from Michael Walter along with Jake Wilson’s 37no from 13 balls coming up just short.
Sunbury emerged as the winners from an all-Championship tie against Walton, their 367-6 sufficient to win by 48 runs.
Runs were in shorter supply at Teddington, where Weybridge were dismissed for 93 before going down by five wickets.
Sutton had high hopes of passing Sandwich Town’s 175 all out while Rehan Ratnasabapathy (53) and Harry Gardner (52) were adding 78 for the fifth wicket. But when Gardner was run out attempting a questionable second, they fell away badly to be all out for 158, losing by 17 runs.
Reigate Priory fell victim to Tunbridge Wells by three wickets, Luke Haughton (78) and Fraser Sheat (64no) steering the visitors to 210-4, the Kent side winning with an over in hand.
Ben Butterfield (4-20) and Ayush Patel (3-20) saw their work rewarded for Banstead, dismissing St Lawrence & Highland Court for 179. Patel completed a fine all-round day by launching the reply with 77, Patrick Rowe’s 61 assuring them of victory by three wickets.
Wimbledon suffered a 38-run reverse against Bromley but Ashtead’s weekend got even better as they inched past the 226-7 posted by Three Bridges thanks to Pranav Khera’s 105no as he batted through their innings.
Next round (Sunday May 25): Guildford v Middleton; Richmond v Sunbury; Banstead v Bromley; Whitstable v Ashtead.
