The tension mounts in the AJ Sports Surrey Championship as the battles at both the top and bottom of the Premier Division drew tighter, with just two rounds remaining. Richard Spiller reviews the action there and elsewhere in the league.
Reigate Priory v Sunbury
Defeat by six wickets dented Sunbury’s hopes of a title coronation.
They started the day 27 points in front of the pack but now find themselves just 11 ahead after a damaging clash with Reigate Priory, so often their title rivals in recent times and keen to have a say in the destination of this year’s prize and secure a place in the top half of the table.
Sunbury were dismissed for 146 in the 41st over, Colby Dyer (40) and Alex Hughes (33) sticking around longest against an attack in which Richard Stevens, Jacob McLoughlin, Tom Massey and Angus Dahl all struck twice.
Priory were soon 18-2 in reply and victory was by no means assured at 68-4 but James Crosthwaite had other ideas, hammering 11 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 89. Dahl’s 18no ensured Priory suffered no further losses to knock off the runs in 30.1 overs. Sunbury failed to take a point from the match and may have to win their last two games – against bottom side Cranleigh and second-placed Guildford – to ensure a first title since 2016.
East Molesey v Ashtead
Seven days after one of the best chases of the summer, East Molesey folded for 77 to give Ashtead’s survival chances a boost.
In trouble after losing to Weybridge seven days earlier, the visitors enjoyed a dramatic change of mood despite being bowled out for a relatively modest 191, having been sent in. Openers Kieran Powell (44) and Ragu Aravinthan (45) afforded a strong platform by putting on 97 but after that only Conor Young (25) and Paul Harrison (30) made much impression as Michael Shean (4-18) did most damage.
But a Moles line-up which had skated past Wimbledon’s 325 inside 40 overs now plunged to 31-5 and kept on spiralling Oliver Haley’s 16 their modest best while Tom Homes and Harri Aravinthan claimed four victims apiece.
That all but finished off East Molesey’s prospects of reclaiming the league title, lying fourth and 23 points off leaders Sunbury. Ashtead were lifted a place to eighth but are level on points with Normandy (ninth) and still only 21 ahead of Cranleigh.
Cranleigh v Normandy
Just a week after claiming their first win of the season, Cranleigh repeated the trick – dragging Normandy further into the relegation battle.
Deciding to bat first rebounded on the visitors when they plunged to 27-4, seamer Will Rollings claiming three wickets in a fine opening burst, while the early return to Australia of wicketkeeper Harry Nielsen deprived his adopted team of their outstanding run-scorer, having made 582 at 52.
Chris Booth took responsibility, cracking 103 from in 133 balls, adding 126 for the fifth wicket with skipper Chris Jones (45). Once they were parted the rest made little impression to be bowled out for 211 in the 47th over as Rollings claimed 5-24 from 7.5 overs.
Cranleigh’s batting has hardly been a byword for solidity this year but Lewis Bedford (42) and Jack Scriven (30) launched the reply with 56 before Clyde Fortuin (31), James Hamblin (37) and George Ealham (46no) ensured the job was completed with 12 overs to spare for a six-wicket success.
That still leaves Cranleigh 21 points behind the two sides in front but a rescue act no longer looks impossible. For Normandy, without a win in more than two months, there will be nervy final matches against Guildford and Weybridge.
Weybridge v Guildford
A hard-fought victory for Guildford by 35 runs had implications at both ends of the table.
Weybridge had eased their relegation worries with a win at Ashtead but now find themselves just six points out of danger while their opponents can still sniff what would be a remarkable first title in 22 years should they beat Normandy and Sunbury.
They owed making 298-8, having chosen to bat first, to a sparky opening stand between openers Freddie Geffen (52) and Oli Soames (31), the centrepiece of the innings coming in a fourth wicket partnership of 138 between Don Bouchart (85) and Surrey U18 Adam Thomas 67. Bouchart hit five fours and four sixes, Jason Soames (16no) adding useful late runs. Despite gleaning 105 from the final 10 overs, the visitors were disappointed not to reach 300, which owed much to the persistence of former Surrey seamer Jack Winslade. He took a day off from his City tailoring business for a first appearance of the season, claiming 4-85 from 10 eventful overs.
Having lost Craig Meschede for a duck, Weybridge’s chase gained a fine platform from Surrey U18 Stuart Van Der Merwe (78) and Ben Curran (64), the two left-handers adding 119, Australian Test opener Will Pucovski immediately looking comfortable as he made 51. The crucial breakthrough came when Guildford skipper Olly Birts had opposite number Nathan Tilley – keen to beat his old club – LBW for 19 to make it 208-4, outstanding work in the outfield by James McMillan seeing hard-hitting Steven Reeves run out three runs later. Off-spinner Bouchart (3-32) and slow left-armer Birts (3-40) tightened their hold, the latter having Pucovski caught in the covers for 51 from a delivery which lifted and turned dramatically.
Weybridge were bowled out for 263, taking seven bonus points, now prepare for clashes with East Molesey and Normandy.
Esher v Wimbledon
Scoring runs against Wimbledon has rarely been easy but the defending champions have suddenly developed expensive tastes, which may well have sunk their chances of retaining the title.
Just a week after East Molesey overtook 325 in less then 40 overs, Jon Webb’s men failed to defend the 333-9 they had made at New Road.
It was all the more galling for Webb, who had made 119, sharing an opening partnership worth 145 with Nick Welch (68), Tim Lloyd’s 73 from 61 balls making the target even more formidable. Ben Townsend’s 3-56 from 10 overs, preventing the final overs getting out of control, would prove to be crucial.
Sheridon Gumbs (46) and Krish Patel (73) launched the response with an alliance worth 129, Nicholas Smit’s 91 from 69 balls including seven fours and six sixes to drive Esher closer. When he departed, at 290-7 in the 44th over, it seemed Wimbledon might prevail after all yet Freddie Harrison’s 30no from 13 balls gave his side victory by two wickets with nine balls remaining.
That left Wimbledon – who picked up seven bonus points from a fascinating game – 23 points off the top in third, needing to beat Reigate Priory and Cranleigh while hoping the two sides above slip up.
Best of the rest
Banstead wasted little time in putting what may be a permanent dent in Valley End’s promotion hopes.
The visitors were rushed out by 89 in 31.2 overs, left-arm spinner Tyler Meyer doing most of the damage in a 10-over spell which netted 6-10, his victims including key men Josh Dodd (14) and Ed Young (8). Opener Neil Baker’s 22 led Banstead to towards victory by six wickets and, with two matches left they lead the rest by 20 points, are closing in on a return to the Premier Division from which they dropped two years ago. Valley End now find themselves 49 points off the top and 29 points adrift of Sutton in second.
Hosting bottom side Chipstead, Sutton were in danger of being embarrassed when they stuttered to 199 all out – Cameron Tanner making 63 – and saw the visitors make a strong start. But they fell apart against Sam Seadon’s 5-12 from five overs to be all out for 129.
Malden Wanderers are just eight points behind, though, inching past Spencer by 16 runs. Alastair Curran (64) and Ralph Day (32no) rescued from Wanderers 68-6 to reach 195-9, the home side then collapsing to 29-4. Tom Brammer (45) and Archie Macpherson (60) transformed the match and, at 158-5, Spencer were favourites only to fall apart to 179 all out.
Old Paulines became the first club among the six divisions to be certain of their fate when they were relegated from Division Four, a 31-run defeat at Purley also enabling the hosts to push up from the drop zone to sixth in what remains a congested bottom half of the table.
How they stand at week 16 (bold type confirms promotion/relegation).
Premier Division – Leaders: Sunbury; Drop zone: Normandy & Cranleigh. Division 1 – promotion zone: Banstead & Sutton; Drop zone: Old Wimbledonians & Chipstead CW. Division 2 – promotion zone: Bank of England & Beddington; Drop zone: Farnham & Worcester Pk. Division 3 – promotion zone: Horsley/Send & Addiscombe; Drop zone: Chertsey & Streatham/Marl. Division 4 – promotion zone: SinjunGrammarians & Maori Oxshott; Drop zone: Hampton Hill & Paulines. Division 5 – promotion zone: Trinity MidWhitgiftians & Ashford; Drop zone: Staines/Lale & Churt/Hindhead.
Sunday sundries
An exciting end to the season beckons for Walton.
Having cemented their place in Division One following promotion, they have also reached the final of the Conference Cup, where they will take on Hornchurch for the right to lift the Bertie Joel Trophy.
Having battled past High Wycombe, Ealing, Acton and Brentwood on the way to the last four, Walton disposed of Sandwich in Sunday’s semi-final. The Kent side made 275-7 from 45 overs, Walton squeezing home by two wickets from the final ball of the match. Skipper Dan Roberts followed his 171 the previous day against Old Wimbledonians with 55, Jimmy Greenslade (34) and Rhythm Bedi (48) making further headway before Nick Wilson (25no) and Evan Beck (9no) finished the job.
The final takes place on September 16 at Camberley.
Wimbledon will be representing the Surrey Championship in the Vitality National Club T20 southern regional finals this Sunday at Basingstoke’s May’s Bounty ground. They play Wanstead & Snaresbrook in the first semi – at 10am – with the winners then taking on the victors of the second semi, between Swansea and Harborne (1pm).
(Header image courtesy of Martin Williamson)
