It was the 18th and final week of the M Zaidi Surrey Cricket Championship, with issues at the top and bottom of the Premier Division to be decided. Richard Spiller sums up the climax of the campaign
Wimbledon v East Molesey
They had faltered with the winning line in view but East Molesey chose just the right time to rediscover their champion form.
Ahead by 55 points at one stage, that had dwindled to eight before Saturday’s trip to last year’s winners Wimbledon.
Victory by 96 runs ensured that Esher’s win at Guildford earlier in the day counted for nothing, Moles occupying the summit for the fourth time since 2019. It is a remarkable feat for a club who sank to Division Three in the 1990s but have powered their way back up through the ranks.
Having been sent in at Church Road, the visitors were given a speedy start of 60 in 10.4 overs by Sam Burge (30) and Michael Shean (28). But at 70-4 they looked in trouble, Kit Derrick producing a fine nip-backer to bowl Clyde Fortuin for four.
Skipper Tom Cullen (45) and Luka Woods (41) stabilised the innings before stalwarts Nick Stevens (52) and Matt Tigg (24no) ensured Moles reached 235-7 from 50.
Wimbledon hit early trouble, Toby Porter bowling Adam Fox for a duck and seeing Tim Lloyd (11) slap a full-toss straight to Shean in the covers. At 74-5 an early finish seemed possible but they still had to remove kingpin Jack Boyle (47), who added 53 with Dougie Beckett (43). With almost 20 overs left and 109 required, the match remained in the balance.
But Porter’s return transformed the match, Boyle hurried by a short delivery which he skied to mid-on and Ben Twine caught behind next ball. Wimbledon crumbled to 127 all out, Porter claiming 5-33 but leaving it to his younger brother to finish the match. The whippy Harry, sidelined for almost two years by back issues, has added an extra element to their attack this year so it was appropriate that he should claim the final wicket as Beckett edged behind to Stevens to launch the celebrations.
If Wimbledon disliked seeing the title depart on their own turf it was understandable but the two clubs have monopolised top spot in recent times, interrupted only by Sunbury in 2023.
They left it too late to mount a realistic challenge this time – the nine wins they achieved last year were insufficient this time – but finished comfortably fourth. If they return to the top next year it may have to be without Boyle, whose 743 runs earned him third place among this year’s scorers but says he is “50-50” about yet another season at Church Road. The genial Kiwi would be a big loss not just to his adopted club but the league generally.
Tom Cullen can relish East Molesey’s success in his first season as captain, fourth in the batting list with 715 while Shean was two places below on 653. Look no further than the wickets column for the reason behind East Molesey’s primacy, Andy Westphal – who went unrewarded on Saturday – top with 39 wickets and Toby Porter just behind him on 34. With Harry’s 21 in 20th spot, it’s not surprising Moles believe there’s plenty more to come.
Guildford v Esher
Esher did all they could to steal the title, rolling over relegated Guildford by nine wickets.
That made them leaders in the clubhouse for several hours until East Molesey finished off Wimbledon.
Runners-up spot, just eight points off the summit, was a fine achievement for a team who only avoided relegation in the closing moments of last season. They recruited enthusiastically and now the test will be whether they can maintain that surge.
Finn Gordon’s 31 – taking the left-hander to 686, fifth highest scorer in the Premier – and James McMillan’s 24 were the main features of a sorry Guildford batting display, bowled out for 104 in 23.5 overs with off-spinner Don Bouchart claiming 6-28 on his return to Woodbridge Road.
Esher wasted little time before getting back up the A3, Surrey’s Nikhil Gorantla (61no) and Ollie Hunt (42no) finishing the match in 19.2 overs.
It was a wretched season for Guildford, who had returned to the Premier after a year away and began with a one-run defeat by East Molesey before winning the next two matches. But there was only one win after that and they trailed the rest by a massive 52 points in the end, an acute injury crisis underlining their lack of depth.
Skipper Olly Birts – who took 29 wickets, sixth in the charts – will take much replacing as he heads to Spencer, new captain Fred McMillan taking charge and chairman of cricket Tim Walter knowing there is much work to be done for Guildford to come again.
Spencer v Sutton
Hugo Darby departed in a blaze of glory as his unbeaten 158 ensured Spencer escaped relegation in dramatic fashion.
Chasing 296 for victory, they won by seven wickets with eight balls to spare and with Banstead having taken just six bonus points while losing to Ashtead, stayed up by virtue of having more wins.
Sutton started the day hoping both East Molesey and Esher would slip up, so that a win would make them champions, although the latter’s early victory at Guildford killed that idea quickly.
But they built a difficult hurdle for Spencer to climb, posting 295-7 thanks to Fabian Cowdrey (84), Jayden Broodryk (64) – the pair put on 111 – and then Dan Peall’s 54 from 20. Jackson Saggers took 4-50.
Darby, who will head for Adelaide shortly, took charge of the reply as he became league top scorer with 851 runs at 56 apiece. He was joined by Harry Stothard at 240-5 in the 43rd over, the latter cracking 41no from 22 while his partner hammered 10 fours and seven sixes to save the club where he started as a colt and has since scored seven tons and 29 half-centuries.
It was the ideal way for Gus Grant’s ninth and final season as captain to finish, victory ensuring Spencer will play in the Premier Division for three consecutive seasons for the first time, new director of cricket Olly Birts arriving from Guildford to take charge and with big boots to fill.
It was a disappointing end for Sutton but they made clear progress from last season, when they slid to sixth. Skipper Ryan Hackney’s 619 runs made him seventh highest run-getter while off-spinner Harry Gardner shook off a stress fracture of the back last winter, costing him early games, to take 33 wickets and put him third on the wickets list.
Banstead v Ashtead
Third last year, Banstead suffered a steep decline as they were relegated.
Seven bonus points would have been enough to save them but they could only manage six in going down to Ashtead by 15 runs.
Dylan Church’s unbeaten 135 led the visitors to 286-5 after choosing to bat first, Daniel Geddes supporting with 61 as the pair put on 113 for the fourth wicket. Seb Stuart-Reckling claimed 3-77.
Banstead were given an ideal start by Alfie Haxton (44) and Ayush Patel (58) as the openers put on 110 but the visitors chipped away and Alex Dodson’s 30 was the next best as they fell agonisingly short.
Ashtead’s win cemented their place in the top five – identical to their position 12 months ago – although they never found the consistency to worry the leading pack.
For Banstead there was obvious dismay but they have a talented young side and will soon have an impressive new pavilion which will transform their ground. Brighter days undoubtedly lie ahead.
Reigate Priory v Normandy
The only match on which nothing hung at top or bottom was the first to finish as Normandy claimed a crushing 10-wicket victory.
In the process they leapfrogged the hosts to claim sixth place, a satisfying achievement for a side promoted last year. Normandy started poorly and had an iffy August but the longer time format was their ally with four victories.
Accustomed to mixing it with the leaders, even though they have not finished top for more than a decade, Reigate never got going and went out on the low of being bowled out for 73 in 23 overs. Only Joe Kelly, finishing 30no, lasted long against an attack led by Surrey U18 Ollie Gibson (3-24), while leg-spinner Nathan Sowter – who will join Surrey on a white ball contract next season – helped to clean up with 2-8.
Normandy stormed to victory in 13 overs as skipper Chris Jones made 55no, his 599 runs seeing him eighth highest scorer in the competition. Reigate’s Richie Oliver was second on 795 which included four centuries, one a double.
Best of the rest
With Sunbury already up and secured in top spot, it was a battle for who would join them.
Malden Wanderers, who began the day eight points ahead of Dulwich, ensured they locked up the remaining place in beating the champions with surprising ease.
Sunbury were bowled out for 208 in the final over, wicketkeeper Srivishnu Datla (40) and tailender Toby Gilbey’s 36 the best as Ben Van Emden and Luke Tulley took three wickets each.
Wanderers hit early trouble at 19-2 but that was the extent of their worries as Zac Elkin (106no) and Alex Butler (85no) cruised to an eight-wicket victory with 10.4 overs in hand. Bolstered by the advice of former captain Neil Stewart, the side will hope to make an impact next year while Sunbury have reacted well to the shock of relegation.
It meant Dulwich’s nine-wicket victory over Weybridge could only secure them third spot, Peter Frettingham (93no) and Tommy Wright (137no) responsible for knocking off the runs, but after sliding out of the Premier in undistinguished manner they have bounced back well.
Weybridge had been hoping to return after two years in Division One but instead are leaving by the back entrance following a deduction of 211 points for registration issues, a punishment handed out last week.
Beddington had been relegated two weeks earlier but will await with interest while the league consider issues with other clubs.
Tables – Premier Division (18/18)
1 East Molesey 300 (C); 2 Esher 292; 3 Sutton 272; 4 Wimbledon 254; 5 Ashtead 205; 6 Normandy 193; 7 Reigate Priory 174; 8 Spencer 169; 9 Banstead 169 (R); 10 Guildford 117 (R).
Division 1
1 Sunbury 292 (C); 2 Malden Wdrs 264 (P); 3 Dulwich 256; 4 Rutlishians 247; 5 Valley End 223; 6 Camberley 194; 7 Hamptonians 193;8 Walton 181; 9 Beddington 129 (R); 10 Weybridge 13 (R).
Still to come
The league programme may be done but there is still the Conference Cup final to come on Sunday (September 13), an all-Championship contest between East Molesey and Banstead for the Bertie Joel Trophy. It is being held at Stanmore CC, the northern tip of the Jubilee Line, with the 45-over match starting at 11am.
And finally….
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to compiling each week, offering essential (and sometimes humorous) insight into matches.
It’s an intensive but fun 18 weeks of the year, after which everyone involved can reacquaint themselves with loved ones, wash the car, mow the lawn (if there’s any left after the hot weather) and – hopefully – remember to leave kit in good order so that it doesn’t rot before next spring. Whether you’ve had a stormer or a shocker, just remember it all starts again in 34 weeks time.
