It was the final round of time matches in the Surrey Cricket Championship Premier Division and brought a change at the top. Richard Spiller sifts through the details
Wimbledon v Sutton
Josh Blake’s defiant 79 could not save Sutton from a 139-run crushing which enabled Wimbledon to take over at the summit.
Having been sent in by Sam Seadon, the hosts cruised to 290-3 before declaring at 60 overs, Jack Boyle’s unbeaten 127 the main feature against an attack which rarely gives away runs freely.
The affable Kiwi – who was dropped twice – passed 2,500 league runs for his adopted club in less than four seasons along the way, averaging 51, chief support coming from Tim Lloyd (53) and James Crosthwaite (54).
Sutton’s consistent top-order, a major reason why Sutton started this Thameslink Derby 14 points in front of the pack, found themselves back in the pavilion at 33-3. That left Blake the only man standing a day after returning from Surrey’s mini tour of the north.
He was accompanied by Rehan Ratnasabapathy (33) in a fourth wicket stand worth 82 which occupied 23 overs but once the latter was bowled by Ollie Pike, the visitors went into a tailspin. The seamer’s 6-53 had been responsible for a narrow success at East Molesey and now he followed it by claiming 6-50 from 19.5 overs.
Crosthwaite finished with five catches, his opposite number Blake unable to prevent Sutton’s last six wickets falling for 28 as they were bowled out for 151 in the 52nd over.
That put Wimbledon back on top by nine points, although second-placed Sutton will relish Saturday’s return to the 50-over format after coming within one controversial decision of a clean sweep in the opening four rounds.
Sunbury v Dulwich
Hugh Weibgen’s century lifted Sunbury out of the relegation zone and pushed Dulwich further towards the drop as they went down by one wicket.
It was a high-scoring encounter between the two sides who started the day propping up the Premier Division but victory lifted the hosts above Esher – 12 points behind – and a more considerable 24 ahead of the basement side.
Cheered by beating Spencer seven days earlier, their first win in more than two months, Dulwich ran up 285 all out in 64.3 overs after being sent in. That was despite having lost the services of Indian Test wicketkeeper KS Bharat, who has returned home.
Ahmed Khan’s 90 led the way, skipper Ollie Steele cracking 55, and an even more formidable total might have been achieved but for left-arm spinner Vishal Manro’s 6-87 from 21.3 overs.
Weibgen, 20, gained assistance from Stuart Van Der Merwe (42) in a second wicket alliance worth 106 but departed at 202-4 after cracking 105 from 88 balls, including 15 fours. It was left to Aditya Prakasan (33) to supervise the rest of the chase, putting on 51 for the eighth wicket with Kevin Smith (25) but then departing four runs short of victory. Last man Tony Gilbey hit a boundary for the winning runs, to considerable relief from Sunbury who were champions two years ago.
Reigate Priory v Banstead
A phalanx of spinners sabotaged Reigate Priory’s title ambitions, earning Banstead a thrilling 17-run win.
The visitors had struggled to 175 all out in the 61st over after being sent in, opener Neil Baker’s 51 their best but 25no down the order from wicketkeeper Alex Dodson proving crucial. Kiwi Fraser Sheat and former Somerset leg-spinner Michael Munday claimed three wickets each.
Priory found batting little easier, though, relying on skipper George Ealham (48) to lead their reply. Victory appeared to be within sight at 156-7, despite Paul Byrne’s 4-68 from 22 overs.
But Richard Stevens became Tyler Meyer’s third victim and captain Arsalan Abbas’s late impact proved enormous. His four overs – three of them maidens – saw him Ealham and then castle Munday for a duck to finish the game. That left Reigate with just four points – now 34 points behind Wimbledon, in fourth – while Banstead returned to the top half of the table.
Esher v East Molesey
Both sides lost ground in their respective battles at each end of the table when the Scilly Isles Derby ended in stalemate.
East Molesey, having lost to Wimbledon a week earlier, needed victory to revive their hopes of retaining the title but had to settle for 12 points. Their 305-7dec from 59 overs, after being inserted, was founded on 85 from Jake Kings, putting on 94 with opening partner Michael Sheen (49), Tom Cullen’s 54 strengthening the good impression he made on his debut. There were three wickets for Joe Lavender and two for Don Bouchart.
With Teague Wyllie having returned to Australia, Esher were immediately plunged into crisis at 14-3 but were indebted to Bill Meacock (76) and Bouchart’s unbeaten 54 for saving them from defeat, claiming a losing draw at 210-6 from their 61 overs back to collect seven points. It was not enough to stop them sliding into the drop zone, Moles staying in third place but 26 points off the pace.
Spencer v Ashtead
Left arm spinner Tom Homes was Ashtead’s ace as they won a low-scoring encounter at Spencer by 43 runs.
Batting proved testing all day, the visitors slipping to 7-2 after taking first use and being grateful to all-rounder Simon Keene for his 53 – the next highest score was 24 from Surrey’s Adam Thomas – on the way to being bowled out for 143 in 48.4 overs. Troy Johnson was the biggest menace with 5-46 from 21 overs.
Spencer have enjoyed an encouraging season on their return to the elite, defeat by bottom side Dulwich a week earlier their low point.
But they were soon in trouble at 21-5 and Ben Kempley’s 56 was one of only two scores in double-figures. At 57-9 the match was all but over, Kempley and last man Max Hunt – with a heroic 0no from 25 balls – pulling them up to 100 all out. Homes finished with 6-30 from 15 miserly overs, Ashtead up to sixth while Spencer slipped to seventh.
Best of the rest
Just a week after recapturing the leadin Division One, Weybridge have lost it – and find themselves outside the promotion zone for the first time this season.
They suffered a 10-wicket meltdown at home to Beddington, being bowled out for 132 – Tom Bevan’s fine season continuing with a haul of 5-51 – before seeing Essan Warner (77no) and Ashkay Pillalamarri (57no) knock off the runs in a hectic 14.4 overs.
With both Normandy and Guildford winning, Weybridge are now a point behind the latter while fourth-placed Beddington cannot be dismissed given they are within 19 of the summit.
Normandy collected 24 points when Valley End chose to bat first and could only make 97 all out, owing a large chunk of that to Adam Forbes (34). Jake Wilson (4-31) and skipper Chris Jones (3-21) did most of the damage.
Oskar Kolk’s typically aggressive 73no from 85 balls – including eight fours and three sixes – utterly dominated a reply which was in serious strife at 19-4 and not out of the woods either at 37-5, Neal Prowse (14no) proving the ideal foil as Normandy won by five wickets in the 26th over.
Guildford took the opportunity to impose more misery on bottom side Oxted & Limpsfield, whistled out for 90 in the 38th over as Olly Birts collected 5-25. Sathya Chandrasekharan (35no) completed an eight-wicket win for the visitors in 17.3, putting them nine points behind the leaders, O&L now 84 points from safety and in danger of dropping this week.
League placings at week 13/18
Premier Division:
1) Wimbledon 206
2) Sutton 197
3) East Molesey 180
4) Reigate Priory 172
5) Banstead 169
6) Ashtead 164
7) Spencer 152
8) Sunbury 134
9) Esher 122
10) Dulwich 110
Division 1
Promotion zone:
1) Normandy
2) Guildford
Relegation zone:
9) Cranleigh
10) Oxted & Limpsfield
Division 2
Promotion zone:
1) Rutlishians
2) Horsley & Send
Relegation zone:
8) Cheam
9) Stoke d’Abernon
10) Wimbledonians
Sunday supplement
East Molesey’s bid for national T20 glory fell at the first fence on Sunday.
Just a week after winning the Championship’s premier short form trophy by beating Wimbledon, they went down to Crouch End by six wickets in the Vitality Club Cup area semi-final.
Moles could barely have made a worse start, Sam Burge being bowled from the first ball of the match and Oli Soames run out from the third to leave them 2-1. Michael Sheen (22) and Jamie Southgate (39) repaired the damage as best they could but an unconvincing 132-9 was passed in the 17th over.
They will be aiming to do rather better this coming Sunday when – as holders – they entertain Bromley in the Conference Cup quarter-final for the right to take on Sunbury in the semi-final on August 17. In the other half of the draw, Acton are home to Harefield as they compete to find out hosts Hornchurch or Crouch End.
