A blazing hot weekend made it the ideal stage for week eight of the M Zaidi & Co Surrey Cricket Championship as well as week 5 of Women’s Premier Division. Richard Spiller and Reet Bhari donned their sunhats to catch up with the Premier Action action…
Fifties for Surrey’s Josh Blake, Nikhil Gorantla and Tommy Ealhan, while Seb Stuart-Reckling shines with the ball to pick up a four-fer.
Wimbledon v Esher
An epic 153 by Travis Norris spearheaded Esher’s remarkable run chase which has put them into second place.
The 23-year-old left-hander ensured that Wimbledon’s 314-9 was overhauled by three wickets with 10 balls to spare, despite the efforts of Stephen Reeves (5-109).
The champions had been indebted to opener Tim Lloyd (75), Billy Sewell (64) and Ben Twine’s 44no for reaching their total, batting the maximum 66 overs after taking first use, Ben Townsend’s 3-79 from 20 keeping them in check.
Esher lost Ollie Hunt early but Norris and Surrey’s Nik Gorantla (63) laid the foundation for their chase by adding 150 for the second wicket in 29 overs.
When Gorantla was followed by county colleague Laurie Evans (6) soon after, they were in danger of foundering but Norris made the most of the short boundaries – Church Road being prepared for the start of the All-England Championships over the way – to hit 18 fours and seven sixes in his 132-ball innings. He departed at 263-5 in the 46th over, caught in the deep off the persevering Norris, but wicketkeeper Andrew Whaits cracked 36 from 23 to keep the visitors on track, leapfrogging Wimbledon into second and leaving their hosts third after collecting seven points.
Reigate Priory v Sutton
“Can we play you every week?” is a popular taunt at football grounds but you could hardly blame Sutton if they were singing it on Saturday evening.
Their victory at Park Lane was the third time they had beaten Reigate in 12 days, starting with a four-wicket success in the Edwards Cup and moving on to a three-wicket win in the ECB National Club Championship group 15 final.
If those matches were close, their third meeting was very much the opposite. Priory were reduced to 32-3 by a triple blast from veteran Sam Seadon before brothers George (50) and Tommy Ealham (51) repaired the damage in a fourth-wicket stand of 82 in 25 overs. Both fell to left-arm spinner Aneesh Jhalla, Reigate declining from 149-4 to 180 all out as off-spinner Harry Gardner (3-48) and seamer George Jackson (2-47) worked through the rest to finish off the hosts for 180 in the 61st over.
Although Cameron Tanner departed to his first delivery, trapped in front by George McLoughin, skipper Ryan Hackney’s return to the top-order saw him make 77no. Surrey’s Josh Blake relished the opportunity to make an unbeaten 91 from 93 balls as the target was achieved in the 31st over, a win so decisive that former Kent all-rounder Fabian Cowdrey’s first appearance for two years saw him gulping plenty of North Downs fresh air, given he neither bowled nor batted.
That took Sutton up into fourth place while Priory – who should be safe from playing them again until the final stretch of the season – down in an unfamiliar seventh position.
Banstead v Normandy
Banstead squeezed past Normandy – and into the top half of the table – in a run-starved clash.
On a pitch which seems certain to be deemed as substandard, the hosts won by two wickets despite needing only 81 for victory.
Opener Oskar Kolk (19) and Ollie Gibson’s 11 down the order were the only scores in double-figures as Normandy – bottom of the table – were bowled out for 80 in 32 overs, Harri Aravinthan (6-30) and Surrey seamer Seb Stuart-Reckling (4-29) doing the damage. It might have been worse for the visitors had Viggy Venkateswaran (5no) and Ramish Ahmed (7) not put on 16 for the 10th wicket.
Banstead knew that, with the ball seaming and spinning in extravagant manner and the bounce erratic, scoring the runs would not easy. They were soon 3-2 and then 16-3 at the loss of key Australian bat Patrick Rowe. Normandy have always been good at defending small totals, removing opener Ayush Patel for 25 to make it 31-4. When the hosts reached 59-7 it remained anyone’s game but Ben Butterfield will rarely score a more valuable 11no, adding 19 with skipper Arsalan Abbas (9) before they were parted just three runs from victory.
Third last year but without a victory until eight days earlier, Banstead jumped into fifth while Normandy remain in the basement, 16 points behind the rest.
Spencer v East Molesey
A gulf of 33 points has opened up between East Molesey and the rest.
That was their reward for a seventh win in eight games – the other was abandoned – in cruising past Spencer by seven wickets.
The Wandsworth side, having started the day in fourth, may have regretted choosing to bat first when they sank to 39-4, Andy Westphal taking three of the wickets, before a 64-run alliance between Roan Kennedy (44) and Freddie Horler (37) steadied the innings.
Westphal’s return proved crucial, though, the hosts sinking from 103-4 to 149 all out as he claimed 6-39 from 15 overs, taking his haul this season to 22 at just 11 apiece.
Anuj Malik’s 3-52 supported well but Moles too had early anxieties as they slid to 37-3 in the eighth over. Their depth is formidable, though, Jack Scriven – a Spencer player last year – making a run-a-ball 83no while skipper Tom Cullen finished with 45no, victory posted in the 35th over.
That sent Spencer sliding two places to sixth while the question, as the Premier Division reaches halfway this coming weekend, is who can stop the Moles?
Guildford v Ashtead
Mark Stoneman’s 108 led Ashtead to a formidable total at Woodbridge Road but they failed to turn it into a victory.
The former England opener made 108 out of his side’s 344-6dec as they batted on to 65 overs, putting on 133 with opening partner Joe Willis (74) in 20.5 overs.
Willis was perhaps unfortunate to tickle a ball down the legside to wicketkeeper Ben Garrett and next ball off-spinner Finn Gordon trapped Adam Thomas LBW, a disappointing return to his old club for the Surrey batter. Dylan Church (65) and Dan Geddes (43) did not miss out, though, against an attack missing former Sussex paceman Jamie Atkins with an ankle injury. Gordon showed impressive stamina, bowling 27 overs in the heat to finish with 4-122, skipper Olly Birts taking 1-82 from 25 when he finally removed Stoneman, whose century had come up in the 55th over.
Guildford suffered a blow when Tom Geffen, who usually keeps wicket, damaged a hamstring in the outfield which prevented him from opening, chairman of cricket Tim Walter fielding for more than 10 overs after finding some whites.
Once a tired Gordon (20) had been followed by Australian Blake Macdonald for four – edging left-arm spinner Tom Homes to second slip – Guildford’s hopes of a chase were effectively over. They saved the game by batting out their 55 overs back to 122-7, Garrett’s 11no from 84 balls the main reason, to collect three points but have slipped into ninth position and need an urgent reversal of recent form.
Homes, who took 3-37 from 22, and Thomas (2-25) were the bastions of Ashtead’s own depleted attack, the 13 points gained lifting them one place to eighth.
Best of the rest
They will need a set of binoculars to spot Sunbury in Division One at this rate.
A five-wicket victory over Beddington put them 34 points clear at the top, Colby Dyer (3-37) and Hugh Weibgen (2-7) finishing off the visitors for 198 before Stuart Van Der Merwe (66) and Caleb Falconer (47) spearheaded the chase.
Valley End ensured they head the chasers after demolishing Old Hamptonians by eight wickets. Former Gloucestershire left-arm spinner Ed Young’s 5-18 and 4-18 from Jamie Stephens despatched the visitors for 77, Arya Khedekar (38no) ensuring the runs were knocked off in 13.4 overs. Wins for Camberley – beating Weybridge by eight wickets – and Walton, who squeaked home by two wickets at Old Rutlishians, meant Malden Wanderers paid for a five-wicket defeat at Dulwich by slipping three places to fifth.
Sunday extra
Banstead claimed their second win of the weekend as they beat Billericay in the third round of the Conference Cup.
Grant Roelofson’s 129 had driven the Essex side to 247 all out, Ayush Patel and Arsalan Abbas taking three wickets apiece,
Patel’s 60 opening up completed a fine all-round match, Patrick Rowe (60no) and Ahmed Khan (61no) seeing the visitors to victory by six wickets with 4.4 of their 45 overs in hand.
Charlie Norton (51no) and skipper Robert Bentley (51no) piloted Old Hamptonians to a five-wicket success at Acton, having bowled out the Middlesex side for 204. Fellow Division One side Walton were in a harder fight, overcoming Ickenham by seven runs after making 243-5 first.
They were led to that by Tom Humphreys – best known for his rugby exploits with Harlequins – making 61 and then taking 5-53 to dismiss the visitors for 236 from the penultimate ball of the match.
Sunbury’s interest was terminated by a nine-wicket defeat to Crouch End, who bowled them out for a paltry 95 and then knocked off the runs in a mere 12.2 overs.
East Molesey’s tie with Loughton has been switched to July 12.
Women’s Premier Division – round by Reet Bhari
Reigate Priory CC v Streatham & Marlborough CC
Reigate Priory made it five wins from five with an impressive six-wicket victory over Streatham & Marlborough, chasing down 172 with more than 12 overs to spare.
Streatham posted 171 all out after Louise Nichols produced an excellent 87 from 85 balls, sharing important partnerships with Lottie Hayward (22) and Lily Morrin (18). Reigate’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Bella Barton, Esmae Vos and Izzy Wall all claiming two wickets each, while three run-outs kept the pressure on throughout the innings.
The chase got off to a shaky start as Reigate slipped to 56-4, but September Pearce completely transformed the game with a magnificent unbeaten 110 from just 77 balls, striking 18 boundaries. Harriet Jones provided calm support with an unbeaten 26 as the pair added an unbroken century partnership to guide Reigate home in only 22.3 overs.
The victory keeps Reigate’s perfect record intact and strengthens their position at the top of the table.
Shepperton CC v Richmond CC
Shepperton produced one of their best performances of the season to defeat Richmond by 95 runs, combining a competitive batting display with a ruthless bowling effort.
After losing the toss and therefore having to bat, Shepperton reached 170-9 thanks to a superb 62 from Ellie Clinton and an important 35 from Lily Cardoso. Although Richmond fought back through three wickets each for Anjali Shah and Devishi Bhalotia, Shepperton had posted a total that always looked challenging.
Richmond never recovered after losing early wickets in reply. Nidhi Shenai top-scored with 37, but disciplined bowling from the home side never allowed the innings to build momentum.
Ciara Durovi and Chloe Myles both claimed three wickets, while Emma Gillespie finished with 2-3 from 3.1 outstanding overs as Richmond were dismissed for just 75.
The convincing victory lifts Shepperton closer to the teams above them and gives them valuable momentum heading into the second half of the season.
Weybridge CC v Sutton CC
Weybridge returned to winning ways with a dominant 70-run victory over Sutton, defending 143 with an excellent all-round bowling display.
After slipping to 38-5, Weybridge recovered impressively through Emily Brown, who anchored the innings with an unbeaten 46, while Lucy Tufts added a valuable 18. Sutton’s bowlers had shared the wickets well, with Gunreet Kaur taking 2-11 and Aarthi Karunakaran again leading from the front with 1-29.
Sutton struggled from the outset in reply and never recovered after regular wickets halted any momentum. Anjali Sahoo top-scored with 15, but Lucy Tufts starred with the ball, taking outstanding figures of 5-17 from six overs. Sophie Amos chipped in with two late wickets as Sutton were bowled out for 73 in 21 overs.
The result moves Weybridge level on points with Sutton, tightening the battle behind unbeaten leaders Reigate Priory.
Best of the Rest
Across the wider Women’s Championship, there were more eye-catching performances as the promotion races continue to take shape across the divisions.
In Division One, Wimbledon produced the standout result of the weekend, piling up 294-5 before dismissing Woodmansterne for 144 to secure a dominant 150-run victory. Spencer remains top after another emphatic win, crushing Ashtead by 146 runs, while Dulwich climbed the table with a convincing 78-run success over Chertsey. With Spencer maintaining their lead and Wimbledon gathering momentum, the battle at the top is beginning to intensify.
In Division Two East, Banstead continued their perfect season, comfortably chasing down 66 to beat Purley by seven wickets and make it five wins from five. Reigate Priory 2nd XI also strengthened their promotion credentials with a commanding 159-run victory over Streatham & Marlborough 2nd XI after posting 239-2. Elsewhere, Horley collected a valuable 20 points following Oxted & Limpsfield’s concession.
In Division Two West, Valley End bounced back with a 46-run victory over Malden Wanderers after successfully defending 128, while Godalming were awarded a win following Sunbury’s concession. The meeting between the division’s top two, Guildford and Esher, was still in progress at the time of writing, with the result set to have a significant impact on the promotion race.
In Division Three Central, Epsom kept the pressure on at the top with a four-wicket victory over Old Rutlishians, while Sanderstead cruised to a seven-wicket win against Dulwich 2nd XI. The results ensure the leading pack remains tightly contested heading into another important round of fixtures.
Over in Division Three North, East Molesey maintained their unbeaten record with a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Walton on Thames, chasing 72 without losing a wicket. Twickenham also enjoyed an impressive afternoon, chasing down 171 to defeat Egham by six wickets and remain firmly in contention near the top.
Finally, in Division Three South, Dorking continued to set the standard with another dominant display, defeating Outwood by 112 runs after posting an imposing 212-1. Leatherhead collected maximum points following Horsley & Send’s concession, while Effingham also claimed a victory to keep themselves in the hunt as the season gathers momentum.
