While the race to catch Sunbury at the top of the AJ Sports Surrey Championship Premier Division grew headed to a climax, it got even tighter in the bid to avoid relegation. Richard Spiller picks out the highlights.
Wimbledon v East Molesey
Mac Wright’s devastating 167 may have irrevocably damaged Wimbledon’s hopes of a second successive title, moving East Molesey into second place.
The home side started 15 points behind Sunbury, finding themselves 57-2 after being inserted with paceman Toby Porter striking both blows. But a third wicket alliance of 239 between skipper Jack Boyle (141) and Tim Lloyd (114) put the hosts well on top, both finally being removed by catches to Jamie Southgate off Andy Westphal. Moles reasserted control but Wimbledon still reached a formidable 325-7 from their 50 overs.
That was soon put into context, though, by Wright and Sam Burge (68) launching the reply with an opening stand of 126, Marcus Campopiano’s speedy 40 helping the Tasmanian add a further 98. Wright’s blistering assault included 13 fours and 11 sixes among his 114 deliveries, finally departing following an 80-run partnership with Cole Campbell, whose unbeaten 31 piloted East Molesey to victory by seven wickets with a remarkable 61 balls to spare.
“We thought they were a bit short,” reckoned Moles skipper Nick Stevens. His side take over in second place but are 27 points behind Sunbury, needing the leaders to slip up if they are to recapture the title last won in 2021, with Wimbledon now third.
Ashtead v Weybridge
Will Pucovski calmed Weybridge’s nerves as they won a clash of two relegation-threatened teams.
The Australian Test opener entered at 11-2, having dismissed Ashtead for 160.
Starting level on points, 40 in front of basement boys Cranes, whoever lost this encounter knew they would face a hazardous final three weeks of the campaign.
Ragu Aravinthan (41) and Conor Young (43) had given the home side hope of a defendable total, after choosing to bat first, but a fine spell from George Compton (3-19) ate into the middle-order, which included bowling Paul Harrison second ball. Harshil Patel’s 3-31 was the other leading contribution.
Ben Sidwell removed Craig Meschede (4) and then Ben Curran, who went for a third-ball duck thanks to a fine catch down the legside by Harrison. But Surrey U18 skipper Stuart Van Der Merwe (55) was joined by Pucovski in an alliance worth 101, captain Nathan Tilley’s 29 taking Weybridge close to victory. Pucovski completed the job unbeaten on 53 as victory was achieved by six wickets with 10.5 overs in hand.
It was only Weybridge’s second win of the season but lifted them from ninth to seventh, albeit only 19 points away from the drop zone and still some distance from safety. They host Guildford on Saturday while Ashtead must visit East Molesey.
Sunbury v Esher
Victory by 77 runs – their eighth of the season – stretched Sunbury’s lead at the top to an impressive 27 points with three rounds remaining.
While failing to land the title from there would hardly put them in Devon Loch territory, it would be quite a reversal in fortunes.
Sunbury have already achieved some turnaround this year, having finished one place outside the relegation zone last year, albeit 79 points clear.
They owed South African all-rounder Matthew Arnold for lifting them from the dangerous waters of 105-4, cracking 75 – Kristan Baumgartner’s 31 was the next best – in reaching 254-9 from their 50 overs.
Esher lost Sheridon Gumbs for a duck but could fancy their chances while Krish Patel – having scored twin centuries for Surrey U18s in their victory over Kent at Canterbury last week – was adding 92 with Will Edwards (40). But Patel was run out for 41, his captain fell without a run scored and the visitors slithered to 177 all out. Making up for the absence of leading wicket-taker Amar Virdi, there were two wickets apiece for Sam Burgess, Vishal Manro, Naavya Sharma and Arnold.
The defeat cost Esher their place in the top half of the table.
Guildford v Cranleigh
It’s taken until mid-August but Cranleigh finally tasted victory as they won by 51 runs at Woodbridge Road.
Still 38 points off safety – and with only 60 available – it’s more likely to be a dead cat bounce than the start of a dramatic escape. But beating the side they were promoted alongside last year meant Cranes finally had to remember the words of their victory song.
Choosing to bat first, they had skipper Jack Scriven (62), George Ealham (53) and Luca La Costa’s late 34no to thank for reaching 257-6.
Freddie Geffen finally allied substance to style in an enigmatic campaign by making 64 in the reply but Guildford lost momentum while Oli Soames (42) and Don Butchart (36) were establishing themselves. At 158-2, they still looked decent bets for victory but a magnificent diving catch at midwicket by George Ealham off brother Tommy – whose 3-19 from 8.1 overs proved a key contribution – removed Soames.
Bailed out by their long batting order so often this season, Guildford slid to 206 all out, James Hamblin’s 3-34 another major factor. Guildford slip one place to fourth.
Cranes take on eighth-placed Normandy on Saturday while Guildford could do them a favour if they beat Weybridge and Normandy over the next two weeks.
Normandy v Reigate Priory
An opening partnership worth 251 was the foundation of Reigate Priory’s 183-run trouncing of Normandy.
Skipper Richie Oliver (100) and Sam Hall (131) constructed their alliance over 39.1 overs, although it still fell well short of Darren Dempsey and Tim Hodgson’s unbroken 301 for Weybridge against Limpsfield in 1998, which remains the top division record. They put the match out of Normandy’s reach, both falling to the persevering Prahlad Odedra as his 10-over spell yielded 3-73.
George Allom also recovered from some harsh treatment to claim 3-65 and the home side could be pleased with the way they fought back in containing Reigate to 312-8. But Normandy’s batting has failed to fire for much of the summer, soon losing Olly Batchelor (5) and Oskar Kolk (10) in subsiding to 129 all out. Tom Massey and Andy Delmont took three wickets each.
That lifted Priory into the top half of the table and while it may be too late for a title bid, they can have a substantial say in the say in who wins it, hosting leaders Sunbury on Saturday before travelling to Wimbledon.
For Normandy, without a win for two months, it marked another worrying slide towards trouble and they are just 17 points off the drop zone with a trip to bottom side Cranleigh coming.
Best of the rest
Leaders Banstead added to the woes of the team at the far end of Division One, extending their lead to 20 points.
It was a miserable day for Chipstead, Coulsdon & Walcountians, who failed to land even a single bonus point as they were bowled out for 138 after being sent in, Finlay Milton’s 29 being the highest score. There were two wickets each for Mohammad Shahid, Krish Anand, Arsalan Abbas and Ayush Patel.
Although Neil Baker was trapped LBW to the first ball of the reply, Patel’s 33 and an unbroken third wicket partnership of 103 between Patrick Rowe (33no) and Gareth Macaskill (65no) secured victory by eight wickets in the 25th over.
Valley End slid from second to fourth following a surprise 107-run defeat at home against Dulwich, who had Ollie Sykes (89) to thank for leading them to 263-9. Josh Dodd (52) and Josh Jayasingh (35) put on 74 to launch the reply but after that the hosts dived to 156 all out, three-wicket hauls coming for Ahmed Khan and Kaif Ramzan.
That enabled Sutton to grab second thanks to an eventful trip to Old Wimbledonians, dismissing the hosts for 73. Conor Griffin and Jay Evemy took three wickets apiece but were soon contemplating batting when Sutton careered to 16-4. Nerves were soothed by Rehan Ratnasapabathy (18no) being joined by captain Sam Seadon, whose 41no completed the chase in 17.1 overs, leaving OWs six points from safety.
Malden Wanderers remain just eight points off the promotion zone, a total of 254-8 looking all the more substantial when they dismissed Walton for 148. And Spencer retained a puncher’s chance of going up as they squeezed past Camberley by seven runs, Freddie Horler’s 4-40 seeing them defend 172 and prevent their hosts from opening a gap on the bottom two.
How they stand at week 15
Premier Division – Leaders: Sunbury; Drop zone: Ashtead & Cranleigh. Division 1 – promotion zone: Banstead & Sutton; Drop zone: Old Wimbledonians & Chipstead CW. Division 2 – promotion zone: Oxted/Limpsfld & Bank of England; Drop zone: Farnham & Worcester Pk. Division 3 – promotion zone: Hampton WR & Horsley/Send; Drop zone: Streatham/Marl & Chessington. Division 4 – promotion zone: SinjunGrammarians & Maori Oxshott; Drop zone: Kingstonian CC & Paulines. Division 5 – promotion zone: Trinity MidWhitgiftians & Ashford CC; Drop zone: Thames Ditton & Churt/Hindhead.
Results, tables and live scores are available at www.surreychampionship.play-cricket.com.
