After three rounds hampered by rain, clubs were able to forget about having to haul on the covers and could focus on the action this weekend, in the AJ Fordham Surrey Championship.
Richard Spiller takes a look at what happened in the Premier Division, the best of the rest and the all Bank Holiday white ball action.
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Cranleigh v Sunbury
It’s proving a wretched return to the elite for Cranleigh, defeats by Wimbledon and Ashtead and a washout at Banstead being followed by Saturday’s 158-run hammering at the hands of Sunbury.
Rajan Soni’s 113 – putting on 96 for the first wicket with Sam Burgess (53) and 127 for the third with Colby Dyer (52) – ensured the visitors rustled up 248-6 in their 50 overs, which might have been more but for Tom Lawes taking 3-43.
The chase was effectively sunk before the waterline by the time Cranes lurched to 6-3, Bruno Broughton’s 53 the only bright spot as they were dismissed for 90 in the 32nd over, Matt Harpur (3-19) and Dyer (4-14) doing much of the damage. It leaves Cranes, promoted in 2019, bottom of the table with five of their seven points coming from the abandonment. Sunbury now boast two wins and lie fourth.
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East Molesey v Banstead
Encouraging news for Banstead was that they finally completed a game after three washouts – but that’s about as good as it got in a 159-run trouncing.
Champions East Molesey were in uncharitable mood, spearheaded by a devastating 150 from opener Marcus Campopiano out off 298-5. A regular for Sussex second team this year – he made 66 against Surrey at Hove recently – Kingston Grammar School’s head of strength and conditioning batted through the innings to finish unbeaten on 150 from 149 deliveries, which included 17 fours and five sixes.
Opening partner Dominic Reed (36) and Indian batsman Himmat Singh’s rapid 51 helped along the way, Tyler Meyer and Nathan Barnwell collecting two wickets apiece.
At 20-3 and then 40-4 – seamer Andy Westphal monopolising the early wickets – Banstead were in trouble, limping to 139 all out with Jason Moore (4-39) profiting later on. Moles maintained their 100% record to remain 18 points clear.
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Esher v Ashtead
Surrey’s Ben Geddes (pictured) led Ashtead to their second success of the season, cracking a half-century in his side’s seven-wicket victory at Esher.
First they dismissed the hosts for 123 – Tom Homes, Tom Deighton and Sam Homes all taking two wickets, skipper Will Edwards making the top score of 37 – and captain Geddes hit 50 off 74 balls to launch the response. Manoj Sarathchandra’s 42 completed proceedings in the 26th over for an early return home.
Ashtead lie third, four places above Esher.
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Normandy v Wimbledon
A batting collapse could not prevent Wimbledon making it three out of four wins to maintain second place, overcoming Normandy by 58 runs.
They were sailing along at 113-0 thanks to Adam Dewes (62) and Oliver Swann (55) but had to settle for 227-9 in the end, David Scott’s unbeaten 58 the only other score in double-figures because of the inroads made by spinners Viggy Venkateswaran (3-45) and Nathan Sowter (3-27).
That fightback was wasted, though, the hosts only able to muster 169 all out, Scott’s 3-41 completing a fine all-round match and aided by two wickets each for Richie Lamb, Oliver Pike and Jonathan Dewes.
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Reigate Priory v Weybridge
Former England opener Nick Compton marked his Surrey Championship debut with 62 but still ended on the losing side at Reigate.
Priory had got off the mark belatedly a week earlier and had Sam Hall’s 101 to thank for reaching 252-5, the best support coming from Luke Haughton (37), the brake being applied by off-spinner Phil Mann (1-29) and Brent Kay (3-27).
Weybridge looked in danger of sinking fast at 26-2 but Joshua Van Heerden – their newly-arrived import from South Africa – conspired with Compton in a third-wicket stand of 129 on their joint debuts, making 67 and 62 respectively.
Both fell victim to former Somerset leg-spinner Michael Munday and his 6-52 from 10 overs proved the key in Reigate inching home by 10 runs, moving into the top half of the table.
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Best of the rest
Spencer and Sutton share the lead in Division One, the former seeing off Stoke d’Abernon by 64 runs. Hugo Darby and Will Harris jointly top-scored with 46 in Spencer’s 229-7, despatching their guests for 165 as Hugo Trotter and Abid Jafri snapped up three wickets each.
It was much tighter for Sutton, who were grateful to veteran Sam Seadon (76) and youngster Josh Blake (69) for making the bulk of their 216-6 at Malden Wanderers. Zac Elkin’s 48 launched the response and Pete Young made 43 but Wanderers fell five runs short. Stuck at the bottom of the table are Camberley, who could only make 132 all out at home to Guildford after off-spinner Jason Soames claimed 5-24. The visitors lurched to 12-3 and 30-4 but Fred McMillan’s 67* ensured his side won by five wickets.
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Bank holiday bonus
There was plenty of action on Bank Holiday Monday, in two competitions.
The Surrey Championship T20 second round saw two exciting finishes, the first at Woodbridge Road where Guildford beat Walton by three runs. Defending 142-7 – Tom Geffen making 56 – the hosts were rocked by Francis Annandale smashing 42 from 17 balls. But their young side persevered, spinners Shoaib Bashir (2-25) and Tom Greene (3-17) pulling round the situation and Walton failing to make 14 off the final over despite the match still being undecided going into the final ball.
Over at Valley End, Paul Frost’s 54no led Ashford to 127-4 and they looked hot favourites when the hosts crashed to 40-7. But former Gloucestershire all-rounder Ed Young cracked 70 from 35 balls – including five fours and four sixes – and his side inched in by one wicket with four balls in hand.
In the ECB National Club Championship – much delayed by rain – Banstead saw off Wimbledon by just one run, their 199 all out proving just enough to earn them a trip to Esher on Sunday. Weybridge’s victory at Havant was far more clear cut, triumphing by 111 runs after amassing 273-3 which was built around Van Heerden’s 100no and 99 from Nathan Tilley. They head down to Burridge on Sunday while East Molesey host Teddington.
