It was the penultimate round of matches in this year’s AJ Sports Surrey Championship and heavy showers made the fights at the top and bottom of the Premier Division even tighter. Richard Spiller reports
Normandy v Guildford
Victory at Normandy sent Guildford top of the table by four points as they head for a winner-takes-all clash with Sunbury on Saturday.
Having slumped to 11-3, the visitors recovered to make 214-8 from 50 overs before a second, lengthier, rain interruption left Normandy chasing an adjusted 194 from 39. But they failed to get close, being bowled out for 138 to leave them in a three-way battle with Weybridge and Ashtead to avoid joining Cranleigh going down.
At 38-4 in the 12th over, Guildford knew that the deep batting order which has got them out of trouble on several occasions this season would need to fire once more. A fifth-wicket partnership of 86 over 24 overs between Surrey U18 Adam Thomas and Jason Soames (35) proved the key, Thomas underlining why he is regarded among the most talented strokemakers in the country in making 63. Spinners Viggy Venkateswaran (2-31) and Chris Jones (3-25) were a constant threat, the visitors owing contributions from Fred McMillan (35) and Alex Sweet (39no) to reach what appeared a substantial total on a pitch in which batting was never straightforward.
Missing some key players, Normandy soon lost Olly Batchelor to an acrobatic catch by Soames in the covers, a break of 49 minutes because of the weather doing them few favours on DLS. They were soon in trouble at 22-3 but Jones – who found form elusive for much of the season but struck the ball handsomely – joining Chris Booth (35) for a stand worth 68.
When paceman Zac Donohue returned for a second spell, he tempted left-hander Booth to pull in the air, Thomas taking a fine running catch at deep backward square. With that breakthrough, Guildford were soon firmly in control, Donohue’s 4-20 aided by two wickets each from Olly Birts and Don Butchart and backed up by some excellent outcricket.
It was Guildford’s first win at Normandy since 2008, leaving their hosts three points from safety going into the final match. They can save themselves if they beat Weybridge – two places and nine points above – or take four more bonus points than Ashtead manage on their trip to Reigate Priory.
Sunbury v Cranleigh
Both sides had good reason to curse the rain, which damaged Sunbury’s title bid and confirmed Cranleigh’s relegation.
The long-time leaders had every reason to believe they would be heading into the final round on top when they motored to 341-7. Sam Burgess made 40 out of the first 56, skipper Rajan Soni (53) maintaining progress. Middlesex all-rounder Martin Andersson occupied centre stage by hammering 101 in 105 balls, which featured five fours and two sixes, enjoying fruitful alliances with Colby Dyer (34) and Matthew Arnold (29) before Kristan Baumgartner (29no) and George O’Connor (22no) took charge of the final overs. Will Rollings and George Ealham collected two wickets apiece.
O’Conner was soon in action with the ball, bowling Lewis Bedford with the fourth ball of the innings to leave Cranes 1-4. Jack Scriven’s 20no took Cranleigh to 25-1 from four overs only for the weather to terminate the match – getting five points each – and send down his team, who have been in the basement throughout the summer.
It is the third time they gained promotion to the Premier only to finish bottom the following season.
Ashtead v Esher
A sudden downpour robbed Ashtead of what may prove vital points in their battle to stay in the Premier Division.
Chasing an adjusted 215 in 35 overs to beat Esher, they were just ahead of the DLS rate at 125-4 with one ball – to complete 20 overs – needed to make a match of it.
But rain swept across the ground, forcing umpires Jeremy Beckwith and David Brown to suspend play, and when thunder and lightning arrived soon after they had no alternative but to abandon the match, both sides taking five points.
Esher, having been inserted, were 88-2 in the 20th over when rain intervened for the first time, finding their innings curtailed to 35 overs when play restarted and reaching 196-9. Opener Sheridon Gumbs (40) and Nicholas Smit (47) were the main contributors, seamer Ben Sidwell taking 3-31.
Kieran Powell’s rapid 29 – before becoming one of two victims for Northamptonshire all-rounder Justin Broad – was augmented by Surrey’s Ben Geddes cracking 41, adding 70 for the third wicket with Harri Aravinithan (30), but it was to no avail.
Ashtead, in eighth will be keeping a keen eye on the match between Weybridge (six points ahead) and Normandy (three behind) as they face in-form Reigate Priory.
For Esher there was the disappointment that they cannot finish in the top half of the table, their early charge losing momentum. But they can take pride in Krish Patel, who made his Surrey List A debut four days earlier against Essex at Chelmsford, making an accomplished 30.
East Molesey v Weybridge
Some people get all the luck, others appear to have none.
Will Pucovski seems to be among the latter group. The 24-year-old is regarded as being among the most talented young Australian players but his career has been held up by 11 concussions plus personal issues, which have restricted him to one Test.
He decided to spend the English summer playing for Weybridge and has made an excellent impression on and off the field. But on Saturday at East Molesey, Pucovski suffered a badly broken thumb while keeping wicket when he attempted to take a delivery from Brent Kay which bounced sharply.
He only started keeping wicket again this season to help out skipper Nathan Tilley, having not done so for several seasons.
East Molesey’s title ambitions had been all but ended by defeat to Ashtead a week earlier but were well positioned, making 232-8 from their 50 overs and having the visitors 14-1. They will be keen to cement a position in the top four when they play Esher on Saturday while Weybridge host Normandy with the losing side in severe danger of dropping out of the elite.
Wimbledon v Reigate Priory
Angus Dahl’s hard-hit 60 ended Wimbledon’s hopes of retaining their Premier title and guaranteed Priory a place in the top half of the table as they won by six wickets.
Having seen the hosts cruise to 278-6 from 48 overs in a match interrupted by a fierce storm which hit south London, Reigate found themselves set 170 from 23.
Richie Oliver (36) and Alex Ross (23) got them going with an opening stand of 63 inside eight overs but it was Dahl’s 40-ball innings, which included five fours and three sixes, which proved key. Surrey left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty found his 3.2 overs costing 44 – he removed Ross – and control proved impossible for Wimbledon. Andy Delmont (18no) and Tom Massey (10no) completed the chase with 10 balls to spare.
Earlier Nick Welch’s 90 from 95 balls led the way, contributions from Tim Lloyd (33), David Scott (44) and Hamish Merriman (49) put the hosts into an apparently strong position.
Best of the rest
There were upsets aplenty in Division One but Banstead and Sutton finished the day celebrating their return to the Premier Division.
Having led for much of the season, Banstead were almost certain of going up and did so despite suffering a 58-run reverse against Dulwich, for whom Apoorv Wankhede’s 81 was the outstanding contribution. They reached 181-9 in an innings which suffered a prolonged interruption and was shortened to 30 overs. An enhanced target of 186 from 30 was soon out of the home side’s reach, slumping to 22-4 and then 58-7.
Paul Byrne’s rapid 42 reduced the margin of defeat but Banstead could only make 127, results elsewhere ensuring they head to the elite after an absence of two years.
With Josh Blake and Conor McKerr free from Surrey duty, Sutton had every reason they would wrap up an immediate return to the Premier against a Valley End side whose challenge was fading.
Former Kent all-rounder Fabian Cowdrey’s left-arm wrist spin was the star turn early on, claiming 4-10 in 10 overs as Valley End were dismissed for 134.
But Sutton were soon in trouble against former Gloucestershire left-arm spinner Ed Young, who sent them sliding to 26-3. Despite Cowdrey occupying one end, that became 86-7 only for George Jackson (16) to help the ex-Kent all-rounder to add 37 for the eighth wicket. Both departed at 123 but final pair Connor Griffin (13no) and Aneesh Jhalla (2no) inched them over the line.
By then, they knew that third-placed Malden Wanderers had slipped up against relegation-threatened Camberley. Dismissed for 238, Wanderers found themselves defending an adjusted 170 Lauchie Johns crashing 62 from 37 at the top of the order and Todd Hutcheson making 40 before Mohsin Bashir (40no) and Tom Holden (16no) completed the task.
Just one title has been decided, Old Hamptonians securing top spot in Division Five in winning by four wickets at Horley.
How they stand at week 17 (bold type confirms promotion/relegation)
Premier Division – Leaders: Guildford; Drop zone: Normandy & Cranleigh. Division 1 – promotion zone: Banstead & Sutton; Drop zone: Old Wimbledonians & Chipstead CW. Division 2 – promotion zone: Hamptonians & Bank of England; Drop zone: Worcester Pk & Dorking. Division 3 – promotion zone: Horsley/Send & Addiscombe; Drop zone: Streatham/Marl & Chertsey. Division 4 – promotion zone: Maori Oxshott & SinjunGrammarians; Drop zone: Kingstonian & Paulines. Division 5 – promotion zone: Trinity MidWhitgiftians & Ashford; Drop zone: Churt/Hindhead & Staines & Laleham.
Sunday extra
Wimbledon will be aiming to become the national club T20 champions for the third time next month.
They will take on Sandiacre Town at Derby on Sunday September 17 after claiming the honours in the Vitality-sponsored competition’s south region finals.
Taking on Essex side Wanstead & Snaresbrook first at Basingstoke’s May’s Bounty, they won by four runs, then watched Swansea beat Harborne (Birmingham League) by 23 runs.
Miserly spells from Jonathan Speller (3-14) and Billy Sewell (2-12) saw the Welsh side bowled out for 122 in the final, Nick Welch’s rapid 58 from 29 balls launching an early charge before Tim Lloyd (44no) completed victory by seven wickets in just the 12th over.
Wimbledon qualified to represent the Surrey Championship by winning the Edwards Cup. They were national champions in 2012 and 2013 and were finalists in 2010 and 2017.
Fixtures, results and tables can be found at www.surreychampionship.play-cricket.com.
