A day full of drama in the Surrey Cricket Championship Premier Division saw the lead change again. Richard Spiller reports
Dulwich v Wimbledon
Ollie Pike’s four wickets in successive balls tore through Dulwich and lifted Wimbledon back to the top of the Premier Division.
The seamer has been in devastating form over the past month, following 6-53 at East Molesey and 6-50 against Sutton with 5-48 on Saturday to wreck the basement side, pushing them to the precipice of relegation.
Wimbledon’s victory was founded upon a second wicket partnership of 158 between Jack Boyle (105) and James Crosthwaite (67), James Weir’s 52 building on that as they ran up 327-9 from 50 overs after being sent in. Jacob Emler took 3-60.
That was always likely to be well beyond Dulwich’s reach but they made a spirited start, Ahmed Khan (45) instrumental in them reaching 92-1 in the 18th over. But he and James Schofield went in successive overs and were soon followed by Tommy Wright.
But their real problems arose in the 23rd over, at 109. Pike bowled skipper Ollie Steele (13) with the third ball, castling Chris Pursehouse with the next delivery and completing his hat-trick when Tim Lloyd at first slip snaffled wicketkeeper Michael Harms. And just to finish off, he bowled Rory Sale from the final ball of a long and eventful over.
Kaif Ramzan (31), who on balance may have regretted taking a single off the second ball, was joined by Emler (24no) in a ninth wicket stand of 48 but appropriately the match was completed by Pike who once again advertised the virtues of bowling straight by hitting last man Joe Payne’s stumps, dismissing the hosts for 164.
That win and Sutton’s defeat by Ashtead meant Wimbledon take a six-point lead into a home clash with third-placed Reigate Priory.
Sutton v Ashtead
A magnificent 201 by Simon Keene shot down morning leaders Sutton, earning Ashtead victory by 91 runs and pushing them up to fourth place.
The 24-year-old Kiwi made 201 from 151 balls, hitting 19 fours and nine sixes, which powered the visitors to 341-7 from 50. An attack which has given up runs grudgingly this season was helpless in stopping him put on 145 in 25.1 overs for the first wicket with former England opener Mark Stoneman (58). Keene’s chanceless innings was finally terminated in the final over of the innings when he became one of four victims for Jayden Broodryk.
Keene was only deprived of being the new league’s first double-centurion by Dylan Slater getting there a few minutes earlier in his 205no for Leatherhead in Division Three West.
Back at Cheam Road, Sutton needed Cameron Tanner to give them speedy launch to the reply but he was stumped off Tom Homes for 15. Ryan Hackney (52) and skipper Sam Seadon (53) added 100 for the second wicket but the hosts badly missed Surrey’s Josh Blake. Despite Harry Gardner’s 46no, they could only manage 250-8 against a disciplined attack – Keene not bowling – to suffer a damaging defeat and hoping to bounce back at Banstead in the Mad Mile Derby next weekend.
Reigate Priory v Esher
Richie Oliver’s second century in eight days inspired Reigate to victory, ensuring they stay in the title hunt.
His first had come on the way to victory at East Molesey and this one, batting through the home side’s innings of 253-5, saw him finish on 120no. It was enough to ensure Priory won by 55 runs, Esher’s defeat leaving them 21 points short of safety in ninth place.
It was just as well for Reigate that former Worcestershire left-hander Oliver was in touch given they lost Luke Haughton (0) and George Ealham (3) to be 18-2. Tommy Bates contributed 25 to a third wicket partnership worth 80 and then Fraser Sheat’s 67 contributed to a stand of 116 before he was run out.
Alex Chambers (3-34) was the most effective bowler.
Missing Surrey’s Tommy Ealham – limping round the boundary on crutches following an ankle injury – Priory’s varied attack still stayed on top, making regular breakthroughs. Don Bouchart (50) and Freddie Harrison (45) led the Esher attempt but fell well short at 198 allout. Former Somerset leg-spinner Michael Munday claimed 3-29 from seven overs.
Priory are 18 points off the top, lying third, but head to leaders Wimbledon on Saturday.
Spencer v East Molesey
Spencer snatched two wickets in the final over to win by seven runs, terminating a run of four defeats out of five.
It hasn’t quite ended East Molesey’s hopes of making it two Premier Division titles in a row – the old and the new – but they are now 34 points off the pace and have slipped to sixth place.
Another reverse would have put the hosts in a very difficult situation but after being sent in they produced a solid batting display, opener Hugo Darby’s 56 leading the way with wicketkeeper Archie MacPherson making a vital 48. A last wicket partnership of 31 between Gus Grant (26) and Max Hunt (10no) would prove crucial.
Left-arm spinner Michael Shean finished with 4-44 from 10 and then made 92 at the top of the reply, lifting the visitors from 80-3 in a 107-run alliance with Tom Cullen.
When that ended, Moles needed 86 from 13.2 overs, Cullen’s 92no carrying his side’s hopes. But support was intermittent. Despite taking 12 from the penultimate over another 17 were needed from the last and with Cullen stuck at the wrong end for all but two deliveries, off-spinner Gus Grant – joint top-wicket taker in the Premier with 30 – removed both Matt Tigg and Andy Westphal, Toby Porter’s six off the last ball proving immaterial.
Sunbury v Banstead
Hugh Weibgen blitzed 86 from 43 balls to earn Sunbury a vital victory in their fight to avoid relegation.
Kept out of the drop zone by a tie at Ashtead seven days eariier, they ruthlessly despatched a side who started the day fourth by nine wickets
Ayush Patel (34) and Harri Aravinthan (37) were the only ones to get going as Banstead were bowled out for 151 after being inserted, Naavya Sharma setting the tone by taking 3-16 from 10 overs.
Weibgen, the 20-year-old Australian, finished with two wickets and now utterly dominated with the bat, striking 11 fours and four sixes to ensure the hosts sped to victory in 16.2 overs, accompanied by Rajan Soni (35) and then Ollie Pascal (27no).
That opened up a 21-point lead for Sunbury over Esher, although the pair will meet on August 30 in a match which may well decide who takes the drop. Banstead dropped one place.
Best of the rest
Centuries by Fred McMillan and Jason Soames inpired Guildford to a 73-run victory over Weybridge which has given them an eight-point lead at the top of Division One.
Morning leaders Normandy’s defeat at Malden Wanderers allowed the Woodbridge Road club to take up the pace but a three-pronged fight for promotion is unlikely to be settled until the final week of the campaign.
McMillan and Soames came together at 98-3 after 22 overs, Tom Geffen having made 48, both mixing natural flair with good sense to flesh out the innings. Weybridge, having started a point behind them, were badly missing the bowling of Kiwi all-rounder Joey Field, playing on despite a side strain, Guildford’s duo stepping up the pace in the final 10 overs to add 101.
McMillan’s century came from the second ball of the final over but his team-mate had more to do, still needing 14 with three deliveries left. But lining up Luke Griffiths perfectly, he followed four with a six before hitting another four from the final one to reach his maiden league century, both marching off 100no.
Guildford’s 300-3 looked rather less formidable, though, when Shafqat Ullah made a ferocious start to the reply. He ensured 71 came off the first 10 overs and while he was in tandem with Field (59), Weybridge looked likely winners as they added 97 for the third wicket in 20 overs. Shafqat had hit eight sixes in the early part of his innings but became tied down as he neared a century, falling seven short when he skied off-spinner Will Arney to backward point to make it 168-3. From there on it was down to Field but his side crumbled to 227 all out, Sathya Chandrasekharan’s 3-53 the best return.
Normandy started well against Malden Wanderers, removing kingpin Zac Elkin for a duck and bowling them out for 187 in 45.4 overs, Chris Jones finishing with 4-35.
But the hosts found chasing difficult, Jack Nightingale’s 39 their best as they slid to 123 all out, Jack Martin taking 3-28.
Normandy’s clash with Weybridge in the final round may yet decide the promotion race.
It’s clearer cut at the other end of the table, Oxted & Limpsfield’s relegation already confirmed. And Cranleigh – in the Premier Division two years ago – are now in prime danger of sliding again after a 61-run reverse against Camberley left them 40 points adrift of Valley End.
League placings at week 15/18
Premier Division:
1) Wimbledon 230
2) Sutton 224
3) Reigate Priory 212
4) Ashtead 194
5) Banstead 190
6) East Molesey 190
7) Spencer 179
8) Sunbury 164
9) Esher 145
10) Dulwich 118
Division 1
Promotion zone:
1) Guildford
2) Normandy
Relegation zone:
9) Cranleigh
10) Oxted & Limpsfield (R)
Division 2
Promotion zone:
1) Rutlishians
2) Horsley & Send
Relegation zone:
8) Cheam
9) Stoke d’Abernon
10) Wimbledonians
Sunday extra
Sunbury’s Conference Cup semi-final match against East Molesey has been postponed until August 31, the winners moving into the final at Bishop’s Stortford 14 days later, where they will take on Hornchurch. The Essex side beat Harefield by seven wickets.
