The race for the AJ Sports Surrey Championship Premier Division title heated up on a Saturday that also saw Weybridge’s fate confirmed. Richard Spiller surveys the action.
Reigate Priory v Wimbledon
A stand worth 93 between James Croswhaite and George Ealham all but ended Wimbledon’s title hopes.
Leaders for much of the summer, Reigate remain 11 points clear of East Molesey and are now 38 ahead of the men from SW19, who they beat by seven wickets.
Wimbledon’s decision to bat first rebounded on them, being dismissed for 155 in the 46th over with only skipper Jack Boyle (49) making a lasting impression. Seamer Richard Stevens (2-34) made important early incisions, spinners Michael Munday (2-27) and Tommy Ealham – the Surrey contracted off-spinner taking 3-23 on his return from injury – clearing up at the end.
At 49-2, the visitors still had a sniff but George Ealham (54) and Crosthwaite (64no) slammed the door on them as Priory cruised to victory in the 36th over as they close in on a first title for 10 years.
Banstead v Sunbury
A remarkable last wicket stand worth 82 snatched victory for Sunbury, taking them a major step towards safety. Needing 211 for victory, they looked done at 130-9 as Ralphie Albert’s five wickets and three from Arsalan Abbas ripped through the visitors, only South African Kelly Smuts (42) offering much hope.
But final pair Naavya Sharma (49no) and Vishal Manro (20no) had other ideas and almost 20 overs to make the runs, Sharma hitting five fours and three sixes along the way as they completed a notable victory in the 43rd over.
It was a day for fightbacks, Banstead having also been in trouble at 142-8, despite opener Ayush Patel’s 56, needing Patrick Rowe (63no) and Paul Byrne (38no) to shared an unbroken stand which took the hosts to 210-8 from their 50 overs. Sam Burgess claimed 3-42 with two wickets each for Manro and Surrey off-spinner Amar Virdi.
Defeat meant Banstead dropped out of the top half of the table while Sunbury are seventh, 38 points ahead of Guildford who they host on Saturday.
Ashtead v Sutton
Two dropped catches proved expensive for Sutton as they went down by 25 runs at Ashtead.
It left them eighth – still 20 points ahead of Guildford, who they have yet to play – while the hosts can look down at a fight for survival in which they were involved until a run of four out of five wins which leaves them looking increasingly strong bets for a place in the top four.
They were in trouble at 19-3 after choosing to bat, left-arm spinner Aneesh Jhalla taking two wickets, but rescue came from an alliance worth 88 between Jevan Kher (36) and Mark Stoneman before the former was run out.
Former England opener Stoneman, currently playing for Middlesex, was given a life on 47 and went on to make 98 while Simon Keene’s 58no could have been terminated on 20, the net result being that Ashtead prospered to finish their 50 overs at 259-8.
A second wicket stand worth 66 between skipper Sam Seadon (28) and Surrey’s Josh Blake (46) kept Sutton in the match, Chris Swanson making 42 but despite Jay Evemy cracking 33 in 23 balls in putting on 46 for the ninth wicket with Connor Griffin (23), there was too much to do as the visitors were bowled out for 234. Tom Homes took 3-53.
Guildford v Esher
Freddie Harrison’s thunderous century ripped this match out of Guildford’s control and pushed them a step closer to relegation.
In the Esher side for his leg-spinners, Harrison entered with Esher in strife at 83-6 and moments later found them 87-7 as the hosts chased a desperately needed victory, Jono Merlo having bowled Northants all-rounder Justin Broad with the first ball of the game and added Krish Patel inside the opening over.
Harrison was the dominant partner in adding 29 with skipper Robert Honeybul (4) and 59 with Ben Townsend (14). The innings should have ended soon after they were split, Harrison being dropped off a skyer to midwicket by the usually reliable Fred McMillan, and made Guildford pay dearly for it by smashing his way to 114no off 86 balls, which included 10 fours and eight sixes.
The hosts now found themselves chasing 236 for victory, the loss of Surrey U18 skipper Adam Thomas (14) and Merlo in consecutive deliveries to Broad – Australian all-rounder Merlo top-edging a pull straight to fine leg – leaving them in peril at 53-3. David Scott (50) and Jason Soames (20) offered hope in adding 53 but the loss of three wickets for two runs – an increasingly familiar collapse for Guildford – all but ended their chances and they were all out for 182. Broad’s incisive 3-17 added to Joe Lavender’s 4-29.
That left Guildford 20 points adrift of Sutton, with Sunbury another 18 ahead, and with three games to play last year’s runners-up are looking increasingly likely to suffer the drop.
It was Esher’s first win since mid-July, when they were among the title candidates, returning them to the top half of the table.
East Molesey v Weybridge
Determined to push Reigate all the way, East Molesey brushed aside Weybridge – sending them down to Division One in the process.
Moles won by 116 runs to stay 11 points off the pace with three matches left.
Weybridge now face the challenge of emulating their last two relegations – in 2007 and 2009 – when they bounced straight back. But it may not be easy for a team which has been in decline ever since winning the title six years ago.
Marcus Campopiano (47) and Michael Shean (57) led the way to 239-8 from 50 overs, the visitors losing Haydir Ali (2) early in the reply. Their hopes of getting the runs effectively disappeared at 56 when Oli Haley trapped Stuart Van Der Merwe (21) and Toby Porter bowled former England opener Nick Compton (23).
Dougie Harries (20no) was the main obstacle to Moles after that, his side ebbing away to 123 all out as spinners Haley (3-19) and Jonny Fawcett (4-12) kept a tight grip. That defeat, plus Sunbury’s win over Banstead, ended any hopes Weybridge might still possess of survival.
Best of the rest
Hugo Darby’s unbeaten 124 despatched Malden Wanderers and left Spencer needing just one more win to assure themselves of promotion to the Premier Division.
Reducing Wanderers to 17-3 early on, the hosts were held up by Andrew Carson (54) and Alex Butler (81) adding 101 but still bowled them out for 195, Abid Jafri the most successful bowler with 3-42.
It was Darby’s third century so far this season and the main support came from Will Harris (25) and Archie Macpherson (13no) in a five-wicket success which arrived in the 38th over.
Dulwich, just three points behind, increased their own chances of making the jump while denting Cranleigh’s as they won by 126 runs.
James Schofield (69) and Apoorv Wankhede (71) were mainly responsible for a final total of 265 all out, Cranes being bowled out for 129. Felix Watson-Smyth (4-33) and Harvey Booth (3-17) did much of the damage.
With Wimbledonians having already sunk, the battle to avoid joining them is getting more intense, Walton finding themselves 23 points adrift of Valley End after losing to them by three wickets.
Walton’s 153 threatened to be a winning score when the hosts slumped to 107-7 but Ed Young (64no) came to the rescue, skipper Tom Nevin (18no) helping him secure victory by three wickets.
Moles given second chance
East Molesey have been given a second opportunity to reach the Conference Cup final.
Their original last four match against Hornchurch, scheduled for Sunday August 11, had to be postponed after the watering system was wrongly set, flooding the square.
Now organisers have rearranged the match for Sunday September 8, seven days before the competition final, to be held at Bexley.
Should East Molesey get through and beat fellow Surrey Championship side Banstead, they could celebrate by emulating England’s Ashes winners in 2010-11 by performing the sprinkler dance.
