The return of limited-overs cricket for the final five weeks of the season failed to change the dismal weather afflicting the AJ Surrey Championship. Richard Spiller wades through what little action took place in the Premier Division and beyond in the third complete washout of the season, which netted each team five points.
East Molesey v Sunbury
Just 6.5 overs were squeezed in at Graburn Way but that gave them a monopoly on the Premier Division activity on a bleak day.
If there is a more enthusiastic group than those who care for East Molesey’s ground then they would take a lot of finding. The club’s devotion to improving facilities have shown dividends, the latest enhancements: a new store area for machinery and equipment plus the hugely improved entrance road and car park.
Leaders Sunbury arrived from across the Thames with a 15-point lead on the rest – plus an extra dozen over the Moles – and when the ground was made ready for a 1.30 pm start, 90 minutes late, they were inserted.
It was down to 42 overs per side, Sam Burgess launching the innings in customary style by dominating an opening partnership of 66 by crunching seven fours and a six in his unbeaten 39. No sooner had Rajan Soni been bowled for 23 by Andy Westphal that the rain closed in again, preventing Nico Reifer from facing a ball.
Despite attempts to start again later, with overs reduced to 20 per side, umpires Stuart Todd and Paul Witney were forced to abandon the match.
A 1.30 pm start was also attempted at Weybridge, who were due to take on the only side below them – Cranleigh, 40 points adrift – but they failed to make it out of the blocks. Champions Wimbledon had been hoping to avenge a Dominic Sibley-inspired defeat by lowly Ashtead back in June. The other two matches washed out were Esher v Normandy and Reigate Priory v Guildford.
Best of the rest
The biggest disappointment in Division One was the weather preventing Sutton – in third – from entertaining Malden Wanderers, one place and eight points behind them.
Both were relegated last season and have made inconsistent progress in attempting to bounce straight back.
Sutton’s players took the opportunity to observe a minute’s silence, led by president Ian Phillipe, in tribute to veteran member John Fordham, who died last week following a long illness.
Much as leaders Banstead will have regretted missing out on the chance to host relegation-threatened Old Wimbledonians, they stand 13 points clear at the top. Second-placed Valley End had similar pangs given they were at home to basement side Chipstead.
There was some blink-or-you-will-miss-it action in Division Two, Worcester Park reaching 9-0 in the 2.3 overs allowable against Bank of England, Old Whitgiftians getting to the crease for five balls at Chessington in Division Three.
That made the 15 overs possible at Kempton, in which the hosts reached 69-0 against Kingstonian in Division Four, feel like a timeless Test. SinjunGrammarians were 45-1 from 7.4 overs against Hampton Hill and London Gymkhana’s four overs allowed them to reach 9-1 against Maori Oxshott.
How they stand at week 14
Premier Division – Leaders: Sunbury; Drop zone: Weybridge & Cranleigh. Division 1 – promotion zone: Banstead & Valley End; Drop zone: Old Wimbledonians & Chipstead CW. Division 2 – promotion zone: Oxted/Limpsfld & Old Hamptonians; Drop zone: Farnham & Worcester Pk. Division 3 – promotion zone: Addiscombe & Hampton WR; Drop zone: Chertsey & Leatherhead. Division 4 – promotion zone: SinjunGrammarians & Maori Oxshott; Drop zone: Purley & Paulines. Division 5 – promotion zone: Egham & Trinity MidWhitgiftians; Drop zone: Thames Ditton & Churt/Hindhead.
Sunday extra
Wimbledon, the Surrey Championship’s T20 winners, underlined their excellence at the format by moving smoothly through the Vitality Club area finals at Hove on Sunday.
Sussex side Middleton were the first to be despatched as Nick Welch (47), Tim Lloyd (46) and Hamish Merriman’s 33no built a total of 185-5. At 7-3 the reply was in ruins, Fraser Sheat’s 52 the best of 149-9, Richie Lamb’s 3-19 being augmented by two wickets each from Charlie Whipple and Matthew Benning.
That set up a tie against Havant, who withered against an assault by Leicestershire-contracted opener Welch. His 91 from 37 deliveries included seven fours and eight sixes, driving Wimbledon to 230-8. Whipple and Ben Twine’s three-wicket hauls destroyed the Hampshire side for 92.
The next stage for Wimbledon will be the regional finals on Sunday, August 27 at Basingstoke’s May’s Bounty ground, where they will take on Wanstead & Snaresbrook in the first semi-final at 10 am.
