Surrey Championship Challenge Cup Group 5 (Round 6): Sutton CC 1st XI 187-1 off 35.1-overs (20 points) beat Epsom CC 1st XI 185-8 off 40-overs (2 points) by 9-wickets at the Francis Schnadhorst Memorial Ground, Epsom.
Sam Seadon, (102 not out from 101 balls), nailed a superb century as Sutton crushed Epsom by nine wickets on Saturday to help put the visitor’s campaign back on track in the Challenge Cup Group 5 series.
Supported proficiently by opening partner, and skipper, Luke Smith, (34 from 84), and by a back to form Josh Blake, (31 not out from 29), for the second wicket, Seadon gave a flawless batting exhibition, leaving the field with his wicket intact on 102. He also took three Epsom wickets earlier in day; a nailed-on MOTM performance!
Batting first after winning the toss, on a dry yet slow wicket, Epsom made a disastrous start, losing both their openers inside 2-overs; George Beswick 0, bowled Sam Blake; and keeper Jacob Bird 1, bowled Seadon. Their third batsman, captain Phil Edwards, went in the 8th, caught nicely at slip by Steven Dolben, bowled Seadon for 9, before Ben Hudson (71 from 92 ) and Asim Zeb (38 from 73) resurrected the innings to help Epsom reach a passable 105-3 off 26 overs.
The introduction of Chris Morris’ off-spin broke the partnership, securing Zeb, caught at deep mid-wicket for 38 by the returning from injury, Etinder Bopara, with the score now on 107-4. At 138 Morris struck again; this time capturing Hudson, caught behind by Josh Blake, for a well-constructed 71, now leaving the hosts 5-wickets down.
Epsom completed their allotted 40-overs after notching a further 47-runs, whilst losing three more wickets, including the superbly executed run-out of Kieran Page, by Sam Blake, ending on 185 for the loss of 8 wickets. Seadon finished the innings with figures of 8-0-37-3 (4.63).
After 20-overs, Sutton’s reply stood at 101 for no loss, as Smith (25) and notably, Seddon (56) set about the Epsom attack. At a run rate of just over 5 an over, Sutton were well ahead of the rate required. However, with the arrival of Epsom’s spin attack, things slowed down a tad; and when the score reached 134 in the 28th over, Greg Hughes had Smith caught behind for a solid, supporting role of 34-runs, whilst Seadon, 80 not out, was getting down to his work.
Josh Blake joined Seadon at the crease, and both advanced serenely for the next 5-overs, producing 14 runs to take Sutton’s score to 148-1. However, Asim Zeb’s second over, the 33rd of the innings, received some almighty hammer as both Blake and Seadon went berserk, going at Zeb with all guns blazing, as they scored 11 and 8 runs off the over, respectively!
By the first ball of the 36th over the game was over, as Sutton romped home with 4.5 overs to spare.
Executing this fine performance must have been very satisfying for Sutton, especially after the win at Dorking last week; and for the top order to go out and play in such a positive yet disciplined way was very pleasing to see.
Next Saturday, September 5th, Sutton 1st XI are at Cheam Road for their final league fixture of this truncated season. Sanderstead CC are the visitors and the match starts at 1.00pm
Group 5 standings: www.sutton.play-cricket.com/website/division/92473
Sutton CC’s 2nd XI beat Epsom CC at Cheam Road on Saturday by 73-runs and stand joint top of Group 18 with Chipstead C &W, and with Sanderstead CC just one point behind them both. Next Saturday, September 5th, the 2s visit Sanderstead……..interesting!
Group 18 standings: www.sutton.play-cricket.com/website/division/92487
The Third Man 