There’s always excitement when a new talent emerges and Tom Humphreys is a youngster who Surrey are watching closely.
The 15-year-old all-rounder made a dynamic first team debut for Guildford as he claimed 5-28, leading his side to an eight-wicket victory over Valley End in group 11.
His three early victims included former Gloucestershire batsman Ed Young, caught behind by Tom Geffen for two, in reducing the visitors to 43-5.
It took a seventh wicket partnership worth 59 between brothers Oliver and Charlie Dunnett, who made 42 and 38no respectively, for Valley End to reach 144-8 in their 40 overs, Humphreys – a member of Surrey’s U15 side which won the national title last year – returning to break the partnership and complete his haul.
An aggressive 63 from former Derbyshire and Leicestershire all-rounder Wayne White, backed up by opening partner Jack Cunningham (28) and skipper Tom Collins (31no) secured Guildford’s first victory of the season with 7.4 overs to spare.
Stoke d’Abernon had beaten Guildford a week earlier and fancied another big scalp when they headed to Normandy, Ian Hopton’s unbeaten 28 being needed to lift them to 131 all out.
They defended it staunchly too but captain Chris Jones’s 40 and Olly Calcott (24no) secured victory for the hosts by three wickets with just two balls to spare.
Four wickets apiece from Andy Westphal and Jake Kings ensured East Molesey were easy victors over Ashtead in group one
The Premier Division champions had raised 205-9 in their 40 overs thanks to Jamie Southgate making 76 and that proved more than enough, the visitors being despatched for 113.
Even the presence of England seamer Toby Roland-Jones was insufficient to save Sunbury from losing by 35 runs against Reigate Priory.
Roland-Jones, who was missing from Middlesex’s Bob Willis Trophy side against Hampshire at Radlett as he seeks full fitness, claimed 3-36, in-form Angus Dahl (36) the highest scorer for Priory as they made 186-9.
It proved enough, wicketkeeper Conor Fulton’s 39 the best in a losing cause thanks to left-arm spinner Luke Beaven and seamer Richard Stevens taking three wickets apiece in dismissing Sunbury for 151.
Neither side had tasted victory when Weybridge headed to Esher and it was the visitors who enjoyed a comfortable success by 44 runs after taking advantage of winning the toss and making 250-8. Nathan Tilley hit 83 at the top of the order, enjoying a 127-run alliance for the third wicket with Matthew Laidman (69). There were compensations for Esher – Malcolm Lake and Freddie Harrison claimed three victims apiece and they bowled just 14 wides, which might seem a lot until you consider the 58 conceded a week earlier against Reigate.
But despite Matthew Clarke (45) and Will Edwards (53) putting on 64 for the second wicket, the target was beyond the hosts, sliding to 206-8 with old boy Sammy Managei returning to claim 5-50.
Sam Sugarman was Purley’s hero at Old Whitgiftians, a 5-29 haul dismissing the Croham Road side for 80 and Kapilan Balasubramanian cracking 54no to wrap up an eight-wicket stroll in group six.
Lloyd Paternott’s 101 underpinned victory by 46 runs for Spencer at Malden Wanderers in group eight, making 101 out of 244-8. The hosts were all but beaten at 93-7 and although James Rimmer crashed six fours and two sixes in his rapid 43, they limped to 198-9. Off-spinner Gus Grant finished with 4-29.
