It was the second round of the new-look Surrey Cricket Championship, with the pace being set in the Premier Division by new boys Spencer, reports Richard Spiller.
Sutton v Spencer
Promoted Spencer are top of the Premier Division after a dramatic victory off the final delivery.
They followed a three-wicket success against Sunbury in the opening round with an even tighter result this time and are the only team to make it two out of two, earning a lead of 13 points.
There was no shortage of drama at the climax, a run out, a no ball and the resulting free hit, all blended into the nail-biting climax.
At the centre of it was Jayden Broodryk, the South African all-rounder who was recruited from Radlett. His 107 from 104 balls picked up Sutton from 29-2 to finish their 50 overs at 218-6.
Hugo Darby’s 40 led an opening stand of 54, Jack Scriven (41) keeping them in the hunt and with two overs remaining, they were 210-8, needing 14. Five came off the penultimate over, bowled by George Jackson, which through an umpiring error lasted just five balls.
Broodryk bowled the last, Harshil Patel pinching a single off the second ball with Harry Stothard – the key figure in making 58, being missed four times – taking a boundary off the third. A leg bye and bye pushed the visitors closer to victory but Stothard was run out off the sixth, given as a no-ball for a second delivery over shoulder height, and Patel pinched a single with the free hit to win the match.
Dulwich v Reigate Priory
Priory flexed their muscles in a ruthless display to defeat newcomers Dulwich by 10 wickets.
If the hosts thought their 243-8 from 50 overs might be enough, they were savagely disappointed as Richie Oliver and Luke Haughton made 113no apiece to wrap up the 20 points in just 31 overs.
It was the ideal comeback for Reigate, having lost their opening match to Sutton.
Dulwich were in trouble from the start, sliding to 20-2 when Indian Test player KS Bharat (1) made the mistake of taking on George Ealham’s arm as he attempted a single to wide mid-off and finished second in the race.
Skipper Ollie Steele effected a recovery by making 50, Kaif Ramzan ‘s 33no providing further ballast, but veteran Richard Stevens (3-56) and Fraser Sheat’s 2-39 led the way for Priory.
Oliver, having passed on the captaincy to Ealham, is free to concentrate on his batting and the left-hander cracked 19 fours and a six in his 86-ball display.
Ashtead v Esher
A partnership of 171 between Nicholas Smit and David Brent transformed Esher’s trip to Ashtead, paving the way to victory by 54 runs.
The visitors were ailing at 51-3 when they came together but Smit (93) and Brent (83) could not be separated for 30 overs, setting up a total of 258-7. Sam Hunt’s 3-47 included both men.
Ashtead lost both openers cheaply, rebuilding through Dan Geddes (31) and Adam Thomas (37). It took Simon Keene’s fiercely hit 79 from 63 to give the home side a slice of hope but he became one of three victims for Max Wallis, seamer Ben Townsend (4-21) making incisions at both ends of the order as the reply stuttered to 204 all out in the 45th over to get Esher off the mark.
Banstead v East Molesey
Champions East Molesey bounced back from defeat against Ashtead to beat Banstead by 51 runs.
Sam Burge (44), Oli Soames – following his century seven days earlier with 57 – and Clyde Fortuin (58) laid the base for the visitors to reach 277-8 from 50, aided by 29 extras. Surrey pacer Nathan Barnwell finished with 2-54 while Harri Aravinthan’s 3-30 from seven ensured the damage was no greater to the hosts, his brother Ragu’s 52 heading the reply.
But after that only Australian Patrick Rowe’s 51 bothered the Moles for too long, Michael Sheen’s 3-39 the best return as they completed victory by dismissing Banstead – the only side to lose both matches so far – for 226 in the penultimate over.
Sunbury v Wimbledon
Hugh Weibgen cracked 66no to earn Sunbury their first win of the season, beating Wimbledon by six wickets.
The visitors had coasted to victory over Banstead a week earlier but this time went down by six wickets.
Tony Gilbey (4-27) and Kevin Smith (3-53) got to work after Tim Lloyd (39) and James Crosthwaite (32) combined in an opening stand worth 83 but Wimbledon fell apart, the next best Ben Twine’s 19, to be 165 all out in the 42nd over.
Weibgen, aged 20, plays for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League and has been in the Australia U19 squad. His knock at the top of the order was supported by Ollie Pascall making 47 in a fourth wicket partnership of 98, victory achieved shortly after they were split.
Best of the rest
They may have lost a host of players but Weybridge are not letting that put them off an immediate bid to recapture Premier Division status.
A nine-wicket mauling of neighbours Walton was followed with a 92-run thumping of Oxted & Limpsfield as Haydir Ali (70), Ajmal Allahdad (55), Joey Field (83) and Shafat Ullah (55) all relished the Master Park pitch on the way to 336-6. George Lloyd’s 76no was the best of O&L’s 244-8.
Also making it two out of two were Guildford – who dropped alongside Weybridge – after beating Cranleigh by five wickets.
Normandy found that their 257 all out at Beddington, built around Tom Haynes (83) and Jack Nightingale (73), wasn’t quite enough to prevent defeat by three wickets after Essan Warner cracked 79 and Alfie Gardner’s handy 36.
Bragging rights between neighbouring clubs are swapped regularly but there’s no doubt that Egham currently hold them over Chertsey. They amassed 335-3 in the Division Five West clash, mostly through openers Milan Gogev (105) and Nigel Heponstall (98) putting on 203. Michael Ramsbottom’s 75no topped it up nicely.
Chertsey used eight bowlers and it only got worse for them, bowled out for 70 as Ryan Dennis (4-19) and Dave Morris (3-19) created havoc. Egham’s journey home will have been both short and sweet.
Sunday supplement
The bank holiday weekend brings a double bill for some, the ECB National Club Championship on Sunday seeing Guildford host Middleton, Banstead awaiting Bromley while Sunbury make the short trip to Richmond and Ashtead head on their own jolly boys outing of sorts to Whitstable on the Kent coast.
