Surrey Championship round up (From Epsom Guardian)

Premier Division

Ashtead are in danger of being dragged into a relegation fight in the Premier Division of the Surrey Championship after a third consecutive defeat.

Tom Deighton’s side went down by 69 runs at home to Normandy on Saturday, leaving them 31 points above the dropzone with six games remaining – the next being on Saturday at East Molesey.

Kyle Moolman hit 99 before being caught and bowled, but it was not enough to give Beddington any hope of beating the drop to Division One.

Getting anything out of Saturday’s trip to title contenders Reigate Priory was always going to be difficult, and so it proved with a seven-wicket defeat.

Beddington, who go to Wimbledon this weekend, are now 39 points adrift at the bottom the table with six games remaining.

Sutton have been pulled closer to the Premier Division drop zone after a two-wicket defeat at home to leaders Sunbury.

Having elected to bat, it started well for the hosts with a 58-run opening partnership between Luke Smith (53) and Mike Nicol (32), but they were bogged down by Sunbury’s Vishal Manro (6-60) and ended on 221 in the 66th over.

With the ball, Mathew Cawood took 4-50, but Sunbury were home and hosed in the 54th over.

Sutton, 12 points above the dropzone, go to title-chasing Reigate Priory on Saturday.

Wimbledon’s slim hopes of challenging for the title were dealt a blow on Saturday by a surprise four-wicket defeat at struggling East Molesey.

Oliver Swann (75) hit his third half-century of the season and Ryan Patel was run out on 55 as Wimbledon carded 205 all out.

The hosts’ top order was too good hitting 145 for the loss of two wickets en route to ticking off the runs required.

Wimbledon, now 46 points off top spot, host bottom club Beddington this weekend.

Division One

Banstead made mincemeat of the Division One leaders Cranleigh on Saturday to keep alive their own hopes of promotion.

Getting the win seemed unlikely after Banstead were skittled for 158 – a total reached thanks to the tenacity of Neil Baker’s 71 off 120 balls.

With the ball, Banstead’s Freddie van den Burgh took 3-40 as the leaders crumbled to 95 all out.

Banstead, now 39 points off the top two, host struggling Malden Wanderers this weekend.

Jack Baker (3-35) and Jonathan Tribe (3-16) were in miserly form as Leatherhead won by 77 runs at Old Whitgiftians to open a 34-point gap between themselves and the bottom two.

Leatherhead carded 222 all out - held up by Mo Raza's 5-36 - and the Old Boys could only muster 145 thanks to Baker and Tribe’s tight bowling.

Leatherhead are at Malden Wanderers this weekend, while Old Whitgiftians go to Chipstead Coulsdon & Walcountians.

Old Rutlishians have six games to save their place in Division One, but it is looking like a forlorn effort following a five-wicket defeat at home to fellow strugglers Malden Wanderers.

The Old Boys, who are 40 points adrift at the foot of the table, were put into bat and hit just 116 off 54 overs.

In reply, the visitors were home and dry in the 35th over.

A middle and lower order collapse has left Spencer just one point above the dropzone.

Having been set 180 for victory by visitors Chipstead Coulsdon & Walcountians, Spencer were cruising at 116-3, but then collapsed to 143 all out.

Spencer need to return to winning ways this weekend when they go to bottom club Old Rutlishians - Spencer and Old Rutlishians go head to head in Merton this weekend.

Division Two

Bank of England remain in the bottom two of the Division Two table thanks to a 22-run defeat at home to Esher on Saturday.

Naeman Symonds-Baig took 5-18 off 8.2 overs as Esher struggled to 181 all out off 42 overs.

However, despite reaching 97-3, BoE collapsed to 159 all out to remain in the dropzone, albeit just one point away from safety – they go to Chessington this weekend.

Epsom returned to winning ways on Saturday in their hunt for promotion.

Stuart Knapman was the thorn in Purley’s side taking 4-54 to restrict the visitors to 135, despite opener Shane Patel's 60.

With the bat, Epsom skipper Phil Edwards top scored with a season’s best unbeaten 60 as they ticked off the runs in the 38th over.

Epsom, 14 points off the top two, go to Worcester Park this weekend, while bottom of the table Purley go to Esher.

Skipper Rob Hill led by example as Worcester Park secured a seven-wicket win at Dulwich to keep the pressure on the Division Two pace-setters.

Park, in fourth and 26 points off the top two, made short work of the 181 target to win set by Dulwich, with Hill contributing an unbeaten 69.

Source link