It was round two of the AJ Fordham Fuller’s Challenge Cup, rain having wrecked most matches in the opening week. Richard Spiller reviews the action.
A century from Angus Dahl was the backbone of Reigate Priory’s 129-run trouncing of Esher in group one.
Dahl – who played two first-class matches for Leeds-Bradford MCCU last year – cracked 119 in 120 balls, including 15 fours out of 252 all out at Church Road, the next highest score being 17.
But the hosts were gifted a remarkable 78 extras including 59 in wides by a wayward Esher attack, one Malcolm Lake over conceding 16 of them. The 12th ball proved so startlingly straight for tailender Will Hodson that it bowled him. Umpires Nigel Legg and Matt Johnson were the busiest men on the field, being left with aching arms.
The visitors could only muster 123 after being filleted by former Somerset leg-spinner Michael Munday’s 4-14 from 5.2 overs.
Elsewhere in group one, Surrey Championship Premier Division champions East Molesey enjoyed their first success of this summer, overcoming Weybridge by five wickets.
Fionn Hand’s 4-36 caused much of the early damage in restricting Weybridge to 179-9, Marcus Campopiano cracking an unbeaten 82 and Cole Campbell making 55 on the way to victory.
Sunbury had rushed to victory over Esher seven days earlier but this time went down at Wimbledon by 37 runs, Nick Welch hammering 106 for the hosts in compiling 254-2. Kieran Bunting (4-29) spearheaded the dismissal of Sunbury for 217.
The drinks were on Dylan Movel at Woodmansterne in group four, his 6-20 ensuring Morden were swept aside for 48 after seeing their hosts reach 202-7. Even more overwhelming was London Gymkhana’s 185-run success over Ewell, Safeer Ahmed’s 93 opening up proving fundamental to a total of 268-8 and Irfan Ahmed (6-18) claiming the bowling honours as Ewell were despatched for 83.
It was much tighter in group five, Leatherhead cruising to 242-3 at Sutton thanks to an opening partnership worth 183 between Simon Roberts (98) and Joel Walker (90).
The home side were kept in the match by Josh Blake (39), Etinder Bopara (34), Sam Woods (38) and Dan Edwards (30), finally having to give best by five runs when Aneesh Jhalla was run out with two balls remaining. Mark Farrant claimed 4-43.
Leading contender for collapse of the day belonged to Guildford, in group 11. Making a maiden league trip to Stoke d’Abernon, they saw the hosts reach 243-6 through Will Gudgeon (51) and veteran John Vaughan-Davies (50no).
Guildford looked well placed at 170-2 as Freddie Geffen (57) and Fred McMillan (62) added 115 for the third wicket. Both fell to Ian Hopton (4-36) amid a spiral which included having two players run out for a duck and the visitors were bowled out for 210 for a dismal defeat.
George Barlow’s 4-38 ensured Walton were dismissed for 192 as they entertained Normandy, who had opener Freddy Austin’s 71 to thank for a five-wicket success with three overs remaining
