It was back to limited overs matches for final stretch of the fight for the AJ Sports Surrey Championship Premier Division title. Richard Spiller checks out week 14’s ups and downs.
Sutton v Reigate Priory
Fabian Cowdrey’s fourth unbeaten century of the season could not prevent Reigate Priory maintaining the pace at the summit, staying 11 points clear.
The former Kent all-rounder made 103no, leading a second wicket partnership worth 93 with Rehan Ratnasapabathy (46), giving Sutton hope of a challenging total when they reached 118-2 with 17 overs still to bat.
Surrey U18 spinner Tommy Bates broke through, taking a return catch to remove the opener which started a slide of five wickets for 51, only Connor Griffin (18no) providing Cowdrey with much back-up in steering Sutton to 213-7. Bates (2-39) and leg-spinner Michael Munday (2-33) were key factors in delivering their 10-over spells.
Reigate’s strength in depth has been a key factor this season, the loss of Richie Oliver for a speedy 25 was compensated by Luke Haughton (43) and Seth McDowell (42) adding 56 and victory by six wickets secured by Fraser Sheat (30no) and Tom Massey (42no) seeing them home with 6.2 overs in hand.
East Molesey v Guildford
East Molesey kept their cool in the heat to stay on Reigate’s tail, winning by seven runs and pushing Guildford further into trouble at the other end of the table.
A fourth wicket stand worth 96 between Jono Merlo and Jason Soames had given the visitors genuine hope of a first victory since the end of June, needing 79 for victory off the final 12.2 overs.
But Moles succeeded in starving the visitors of boundaries, Merlo attemping a reverse-sweep to off-spinner Jamie Southgate (46) and being adjudged LBW for 52. Soames – missing in recent weeks through a side strain – kept going until he was caught on the boundary for 74 off Pakistani all-rounder Hussain Tallat, whose 3-37 was a vital contribution in his final match before returning home.
Sam Burge’s typically enterprising 70 from 57 balls had given the hosts a flying start, putting on 103 with opening partner Marcus Campopiano (34), while Tallat (34) and Southgate (44) made contributions with the bat as well, despite a slide from 184-3 to 241 all out.
Guildford, led by Merlo for the first time after Olly Birts stepped down in midweek, could take heart from their fightback in the field to produce their best performance for some time, Birts’s 4-48 suggesting his freedom from the burden of leadership suited him.
But they remain 19 points away from safety, the next three matches being against the sides directly above them – Esher (sixth), Sunbury (seventh) and Sutton (eighth) before finishing at Wimbledon.
East Molesey, despite injuries and absences, remain heavily involved in the title fight and will aim to take advantage of Weybridge’s woes on Saturday.
Weybridge v Wimbledon
Frustrated by draws for the previous two weeks, Wimbledon took it out on the bottom-most Weybridge, pushing them closer to the drop.
Two wins in three weeks had fuelled hopes of a miracle escape and reducing the visitors to 15-2 was the ideal start. But Tim Lloyd’s commanding 154, featuring 15 fours and two sixes, dominated the match, batting into the final over having enjoyed a 96-run alliance with Billy Sewell (47) for the fifth wicket.
That ensured Wimbledon reached 296-6, the change of format saving them from another decision about whether to declare or not.
They weren’t held up by Weybridge’s batting for long, dismissing them for 119 in the 37th over. Nathan Tilley’s 36 formed the greatest resistance, Kit Winder claiming 4-21 from 10.
Wimbledon remain third, 19 points off the pace and knowing this weekend’s clash with Reigate probably holds the key to their ambitions of a second title in three years. Weybridge are 57 points from safety, with 80 still available, so know there is almost no margin left for error.
Esher v Banstead
Patrick Rowe’s 114no ensured Banstead hunted down a target of 290, pushing them into the top half of the table.
The 23-year-old Australian, who spent most of last winter playing in Zimbabwe, supervised a chase which was completed by four wickets with one ball to spare.
Esher’s 289-9 had been led off by an opening stand of 101 between Northants all-rounder Justin Broad (54) and Sheridon Gumbs (70), Nicholas Smit making 44 but the hosts faltering against spinners Paul Byrne (3-42) and Arsalan Abbas (4-65).
Ayush Patel (66) and Arjun Gill (36) laid a foundation worth 82 in the reply but it needed Rowe – who hit 13 fours and two sixes – to take charge. He was aided by 28 from Gareth Macaskill (28) but Rowe prevented Esher fighting back.
The hosts took six points from the match but are only 32 points ahead of ninth-placed Guildford, who they visit on Saturday, Banstead 10 points and one place better off.
Sunbury v Ashtead
Ashtead’s third win in a row – propelling them into fourth – came despite Amar Virdi cracking 77 for Sunbury.
The Surrey off-spinner smashed 77 to rescue his side from 87-7, putting on 110 for the eighth wicket with wicketkeeper Conor Fulton (39), enabling the hosts to finally reach 201-9. Seamers Simon Keene (5-48) and Jake Martin (3-40) did much of the damage.
Daniel Geddes – younger brother of Surrey’s Ben – made 75 before he was stumped off Virdi (3-27) to start a mini-collapse of three wickets for five runs. Aaron Rose’s 21no proved decisive, though, ensuring the visitors won by three wickets with two overs to spare in a late summer revival which has surely ended any concerns about relegation.
Champions Sunbury, though, remain in danger, only 22 points and two places from the drop zone.
Best of the rest
Spencer got their noses just ahead in the battle for the Division One title, beating morning leaders Dulwich by two wickets for a lead of three points.
That was despite the hosts making 286 all out – built around James Schofield (59) and Apoorv Wankhede (82) – Ruairdh Barker claiming 4-58 with three wickets each for Freddie Horler and Max Hunt.
Hugo Darby’s aggressive 129 from 97 balls, which featured 13 fours and five sixes, was responsible for leading Spencer’s chase but it became a scramble near the end, Abid Jafri (29no) and skipper Gus Grant (13no) adding the final 26 to win by two wickets in the final over as Grant found the boundary.
Cranleigh kept alive their chances of an immediate return to the Premier, recovering from 133-8 to 259 thanks to a remarkable innings by South African Test bat Clyde Fortuin, earning victory over Walton by 176 runs. His 181 was punctuated by 15 fours and 11 sixes, Mark Bainbridge (3-28) and Matt Nichols (2-20) avoiding the carnage elsewhere. Walton then crumbled to 83 all out, slipping into the drop zone.
A four-wicket success for Malden Wanderers resuscitated their chances and may have terminated Normandy’s.
Ed Young’s unbeaten 61 ensured Valley End moved in the opposite direction and condemned Old Wimbledonians to the drop in a campaign where they have propped up the table for much of the time.
Skipper Ewan Parker’s 55no had extended OWs to 224 all out in the final over, Josh Dodd’s 62 speeding the hosts towards their target before former Gloucestershire all-rounder Young finished the job in the 43rd over, by a margin of six wickets.
Sunday extra
Victory by 12 runs over Camberley has earned Banstead a place in the Conference Cup final.
Their opponents in the final remain unknown.
Patrick Rowe’s 50no continued a prolific weekend, leading the way alongside Ben Butterfield (48) and Arsalan Abbas (39no) to 215-7 from 45 overs, Dan Walker claiming 3-35.
Riding high at the top of Division Two, Camberley began their reply with Aiden Bariol (54) and Will Hale (27) putting on 75, Keddy Lesporis following that up with 56. But they slumped from 97-1 to 127-7 against Byrne (5-22), Walker (27) and James Harvey (17no) unable to pull round the situation as they were bowled out for 203.
An unfortunate incident at East Molesey meant the other semi-final, against Hornchurch, had to be postponed. The sprinkler system was inadvertently left on following Saturday’s match against Guildford, flooding the square on Sunday morning with Moles offering fervent apologies and the competition organisers left to make a decision on how to proceed.
Brian Ruby
There will be many players who took the field on Saturday who owed Brian Ruby’s coaching thanks for their advancement. His main club involvements were at Guildford – bringing through the likes of the Bicknell brothers and Ashley Giles – and Weybridge but his wider role in Surrey youth cricket saw many thousands of youngsters gain knowledge about the game. Ruby, who died last week aged 88, relished a battle on the field – and a few off it, if he felt that was required – so a sunny August day at the business end of the season was the perfect stage for those who benefited from his work to make it count.
