It was week five of the Surrey Cricket Championship’s Premier Division campaign but the first of the nine rounds of time matches were wrecked by the weather. All five were abandoned with each side taking 12 points. Richard Spiller surveys what action took place
Sutton v Dulwich
Jayden Broodryk blasted an unbeaten150 to put Sutton in charge against Dulwich, only to have their hopes of extending a three-point lead at the top washed out.
The 29-year-old from Randburg in South Africa, who has settled in this country, slammed 12 fours and five sixes as he led the way to 321-7dec in 59 overs. Having lost Cameron Tanner for 18 and then Surrey’s Josh Blake first ball – caught behind as he suffered a rare failure for his club side – Sutton needed a major stand.
They got just that as opener Ryan Hackney followed his match-winning knock against Wimbledon seven days earlier by making a solid 53 in a 91-run stand with Broodryk.
The aggressive Dan Peall proved another ideal partner, cracking nine fours and two sixes in his 65 from an alliance worth 125 in 17 overs.
Showers intervened briefly twice, seeing four overs removed from the match, but there was no stopping Broodryk, who was recruited from Radlett in his superb innings. Harvey Booth claimed 4-70 in 14 overs.
Sam Seadon’s declaration left plenty of time but Dulwich had only reached 24-0 from seven overs when the rain closed in for a final time at 4.15pm, the match being abandoned 75 minutes later.
Esher v Wimbledon
Battling to climb off the bottom of the table, Esher had given themselves a good chance by reaching 250-9.
Sent in at New Road, they were given a good start of 58 by openers Teague Wyllie (53) and Will Tavare (24), Nicolas Smit weighing in with 45 and Don Bouchart making 55. Wimbledon’s seamers continued to chip away, Matthew Benning’s 4-60 from 18 augmented by Surrey’s Ryan Patel claiming 3-45 in 15.
But rain ended proceedings before Wimbledon could reply, the match called off at 4.47pm.
Reigate Priory v East Molesey
The clash of last season’s top two looked to be heading East Molesey’s way before the downpour arrived.
They bowled out Reigate Priory for 150, Priory struggling to 46-4 and then 92-6 when they lost key all-rounder Fraser Sheat for 32. A scout shower held up play for 21 minutes when the home side were 105-6, wicketkeeper Rory Haughton’s 31 keeping the champions waiting when they were aiming for a quick kill. Left-arm seamer Toby Crowther’s 3-27 was supported by two wickets each from Toby Porter, Matt Tigg and Michael Shean to finish the innings in the 63rd over.
The Moles had only reached 7-0 from two overs when the weather closed in.
Spencer v Banstead
Banstead’s attempt to beat both Spencer and the weather failed – but not by much.
Having sent in the hosts, who were promoted last year, they were kept waiting by an opening stand worth 52 between Hugo Darby (33) and Will Harris (20).
Once that was split it was a very different matter, only Ruairidh Barker (29) making an impression as Paul Byrne (5-25) and Krish Anand (4-21) despatched Spencer for 125.
Knowing the rain was coming, Ayush Patel set off at a fierce rate, cracking five fours and two sixes in his 52 off just 27 balls. Harri Aravinthan’s 37no maintained momentum but Spencer held up their guests by taking four wickets. Victory was within sight for Banstead at 93-4 from just 12.4 overs but the rain got there first.
Sunbury v Ashtead
Adam Thomas’s 64 saved Ashtead from being embarrassed at Sunbury.
They were reeling at 16-4 after being sent in, Middlesex and England U19 speedster Naavya Sharma claiming three of them which included bowling Mark Stoneman for a single.
Thomas, who signed his first professional contract with Surrey last month, underlined his calm temperament by shoring up the innings, Jake Martin (41) joining in a sixth wicket partnership worth 85. Ashtead still weren’t safe when Thomas’s innings over 112 balls was ended at 152-8 but Tom Homes (41no) and Ben Sidwell (29no) ensured they had reached 225 in the 60th over when the rain intervened at 3.48pm, the match being called off an hour later. Sharma finished with 4-55 from 16 overs.
Best of the rest
They took four out of four from the early white ball matches but both Guildford and Weybridge struggled with a red one.
A marathon spell of 7-84 from 26.1 overs from left-arm spinner Olly Birts saw Guildford dismiss Beddington for 211 in the 62nd over, held up principally by Akshay Pillalamarri (38), Alfie Gardner (35) and Hamid Gondal (27no).
But the visitors’ depleted batting line-up were soon in trouble against Tom Bevan’s mastery of swing, plunging to 55-5 from 17.4 overs when drizzle turned to heavy rain, left-hander Aqeel Iqbal (38) alone suggesting any permanence. Only another 14 balls were required to avoid an abandonment but the Beddington Park ground was soon awash, leaving Bevan with 5-16 from nine overs.
Weybridge were no more impressive on their trip to Camberley, sliding to 110-9 in the 51st over – James Field (35) and Henry Francis (29) resisting longest – before the match was abandoned. Daniel Walker claimed 4-17 from 10.
Malden Wanderers pulled out all the stops to beat Cranleigh, Alex Falao (5-47) leading the way in dismissing the home side for 102.
Wanderers had rushed to 78-1 in the seventh over thanks to Andrew Carson’s 51no off 23 balls but rain was the winner again.
The only finish in the top three divisions came at Addiscombe, who bowled Stoke d’Abernon for 91 in the Division Two clash. They had Shakab Sheikh (3-17) and Ollie Armstrong (4-22) to thank, Sheikh opening the reply with 28 before Ahsan Salim (41no) secure victory by eight wickets in the 15th over.
Sunday extra
Thankfully it cheered up on Sunday, which enabled the second round of the Conference Cup to take place.
Surrey Championship clubs who made it through to the third stage were Maori Oxshott, Sunbury, Banstead, Spencer, Walton, Horsley & Send and holders East Molesey.
There’s more cricket this coming Sunday with the group finals in the ECB National Club Championship. In group 11, Sunbury head to Sussex to play Middleton – victors over Guildford last month – while group 16 sees an all-Surrey clash when Ashtead host Banstead.
You can keep up to date with the Surrey Cricket Championship’s live scores, fixtures, results and tables at surreycricketchampionship.play-cricket.com.
