Please scroll down for season’s match reports:
Saturday 4th September 2021 at Cheam Road.
Sutton CC 1st XI v Spencer CC 1st XI
Spencer CC won toss and elected to field.
040921_Match Programme Sutton CC v Spencer CCDownload
Sutton CC 249-4 (50 overs) 20 points, beat Spencer CC 193 all out (45.4 overs) 2 batting bonus points.
A day to remember as Cowdrey ton helps Sutton secure promotion.
The 2s, with a memorable win at Banstead, also go up!
Sutton Cricket Club celebrated a weekend to remember as its first and second teams both clinched promotion to their respective Surrey Championship 2022 Premiership competitions.
If you happened to be going past Sutton Cricket Club on Saturday evening you may have heard a tad more noise than usual. That’s because there was some sort of party at the club, which went on into the early hours, as the club celebrated not one team getting promoted but two.
At Cheam Road, the 1st XI made certain of promotion with a convincing 6-wicket win over Spencer CC, Sutton’s main rivals for advancement to the Premiership this season; while the 2nd XI took the spoils by 12 runs in an incredible game at Banstead, Sutton’s primary competitors for promotion to the 2nd XI Premiership.
On an overcast day that was forecast to brighten up, but didn’t until it was all over, the result of the toss, which Spencer’s captain Hugo Darby won, was important given the potential reward on offer for both teams. The wicket, once again, prepared perfectly for cricket.
Sutton required just 2 points from the game to guarantee promotion whilst Spencer needed to win the game but also restrict Sutton’s bonus points ambitions. A tough task for Spencer but one for which they certainly had a plan; and winning the toss was the first part completed. However, despite losing last week’s match-winning hero, Sam Seadon, at the start of the 5th over, caught Darby at slip, off the bowling of Abid Jafri for 4, Sutton’s top order approached their task watchfully, aware of the early movement the Spencer opening bowlers, Jafri and Luka McGuinness-Smith were achieving.
At the fall of Seadon’s wicket, 7/1, Josh Blake joined Sutton’s skipper Luke Smith at the crease. Both played intelligently during a fine 75 run stand that laid a solid foundation to Sutton’s initial bonus point aim of reaching 150 runs. At 81/1, in the 26th over, Smith was caught top edging Freddie Horler to Jafri at short fine leg, for a no-nonsense 33 runs off 85 balls.
Blake, 38no, and Fabian Cowdrey, then produced a magnificent, promotion winning stand of 148 runs, during which, in the 44th over, Sutton realised the 2 bonus points that ensured, at the first attempt, (2020 void), the club’s promotion back to the Surrey Championship Premiership. All of Sutton Cricket Club unashamedly loosened up, including Blake and Cowdrey who realised that, notwithstanding the club’s immediate triumph, there was still a game to be won!
By the end of the 48th over the pair had chalked up 54 runs in just 28 balls, taking the score to 229/2. Blake departed to the first ball of the 49th over, caught in the gully off Tim Young’s bowling for a smart 89 runs, including 4 fours and 3 cracking sixes. Meanwhile Cowdrey was smacking the ball to all parts of the ground, standing on 95no as the 3rd wicket fell.
With only 2 balls of the innings remaining, Cowdrey was trapped LBW by Darby for a magnificent 109 runs off just 77 balls, which included 16 fours and one six. It was Cowdrey’s second ton of the season; his first also against Spencer early in July. Both Dan Edwards and Etinder Bopara remained not out 3 as the innings closed on 249 for 4.
Spencer’s response started well enough with openers Ed Kilbee and skipper Darby reaching 42 before Darby had his middle stump uprooted in the 8th over by a perfect ball from Connor Griffin (5-0-33-1), for 16 runs.
25 runs later saw Kilbee perplexed by a Dane Currency sharp one, Josh Blake taking a neat catch behind the stumps to dismiss Kilbee for 31 runs. Aside from George Roberts’ 92no, showing batsmanship knowhow beyond his 18-years, the remaining 8 wickets fell to the left-arm finger spin of Currency, (10-2-40-3), Cowdrey, (10-1-28-3), and Aneesh Jhalla, (7.4-0-16-3), as Spencer collapsed to 193 all out in 45.4 overs.
A terrific season ends in jubilation as Sutton CC’s 1st XI gain promotion back to the Premiership. The depth of the club will again be tested next season of course, as it was in 2019; but that’s a discussion in which others will play a part.
In the interim, the club can celebrate their very successful season throughout. The 1st and 2nd XI squad’s respective 2021 achievements; the 3s maintaining their playing status for 2022; and the 4s crowned champions of the Surrey Downs League Div. 4. Moreover, with 1 fixture remaining, the club’s Women’s XI have an excellent chance of maintaining their playing status enabling them to start in the new women’s, ’Surrey Championship’, next season.
Here’s the final ‘table top’ after Saturday’s results:
| POS | TEAM | P | w | wcn | t | l | c | a | BatP | BowlP | Pen | Pts |
| 1 | Malden Wanderers CC | 18 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 271 |
| 2 | Sutton CC | 18 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 267 |
| 3 | Spencer CC | 18 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 230 |
| 4 | Valley End CC | 18 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 198 | |
| 5 | Guildford CC | 18 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 191 |
Full table available here: https://surreychampionship.play-cricket.com/website/division/87539
The 2nd XI 1st Division’s final table is available here: http://www.surreychampionship.play-cricket.com/website/division/87545
Winter well, everyone!
How shall we live, who love our loveliest game
With such bright ardour that when stumps are drawn
We talk into the twilight, always the same
Old talk with laughter round off each tale —
Laughter of friends across a pint of ale
In the blue shade of the pavilion.
Passage from ‘Close of Play,’ by Thomas Moult.
Saturday 28th August 2021 at Woodbridge Road Guildford.
Guildford CC won toss and elected to bat.
Guildford CC 258-8 (50 overs) 5 bonus points, (batting) lost to Sutton CC 262-4 (40.5 overs) 20 points.
Breath-taking innings by opener Sam Seadon fashions Sutton victory.
Carrying his bat, Seadon, captain for the day in the absence of Luke Smith, scored an unbeaten 147 off 139 balls as Sutton beat Guildford at Woodbridge Road on Saturday by 6 wickets, in the penultimate Surrey Championship round of fixtures this season.
Seadon’s innings contained 24 fours and 2 sixes and underpinned his side’s 262/4 off 48.5 overs, after Guildford had won the toss and batted, reaching 258/8 off their allotted 50 overs. He featured in a 5th wicket stand of 104 with Rehan Ratnasapathy, who contributed 35 off 36 deliveries, hoisting Sutton to a magnificent and vital victory.
Seadon batted beautifully on a flat wicket that didn’t offer a lot throughout the day, handling the situation superbly in a controlled and measured way; exactly what Sutton needed given the tough challenge laid down by Guildford’s demanding total.
Sutton sensed they were in for a tricky afternoon as the Guildford openers, Matthew Teale especially, and skipper Oliver Birts, got off to a rapid start reaching 82 by the end of the 14th over. It took Sam Blake (10-0-46-1) uprooting Birts’ middle stump off the 3rd ball of the 15th over to temporarily stop the flow of runs; Birts departing for 17 off 38 balls.
At that stage, Teale was having a field day, pummelling Sutton’s attack as he advanced to 63 runs off 47 balls. He was joined at the crease by Oli Soames; but in the 18th over, Aneesh Jhalla, got his prize after suffering a tad from the unhelpful wicket, by bowling Teale round his legs. Teale scored 72 runs off 54 balls including 12 fours and 1 six and Guildford now stood at 102/2.
The run rate slowed as three wickets fell for 62 runs. Fred McMillan was caught Sam Woods, bowled Jhalla, (10-0-46-2) for 8; Alex Sweet, bowled Dane Currency, (10-2-34-2) for 5; and keeper Andy Parker, caught Chris Morris, bowled Currency, for 8. Meanwhile, Oli Soames, joined by Joe Morse, had worked his way to 45no as the hosts progressed to 164/5 off 35.1 overs.
Seadon (5-0-28-1) bowled Morse, 22 off 37, in the 46th over, by which time Soames had begun to display his full range of shots, reaching 92no, in helping Guildford move to 235/6 at a run rate of just over 5 an over.
The hosts eventually made 258/8 off their allotted 50 overs. Duncan Selmes was run out (Sam Blake) for 1. Soames was stumped Josh Blake off Ratna’s bowling for a dominant 107 runs off 103 balls, (12 fours, 1 six.) Both James Crouch, on 2, and Shoaib Bashir, on 1, remained not out.
The Guildford wicket was certainly batsman friendly but a target of 259 to win would still require monumental application on the part of Sutton, given this was the only time during the season that they had been asked to score over 200 runs to win a game.
Lacking Luke Smith, Josh Blake joined Sutton’s other regular opener Seadon, to launch the innings. They started solidly, reaching 71/0 by the end of the 16th over but looking to up the run rate, Blake was caught next over at mid-wicket by Selmes, off Bashir, for 34 off 53 balls. Morris came and went, caught Fred McMillan in the third man area, again off Bashir, for 8 off 7 balls, leaving Sutton standing on 83 for 2 after 19.4 overs. By then Seadon had collected 38 runs off 52 balls.
Bashir, (10-2-24-2) was causing problems for the batsmen who were finding it tricky getting to grips with his nagging consistency. Nonetheless, Bopara and Seadon, coming together at the fall of the 2nd wicket, played cautiously and navigated Bashir’s final few overs pragmatically.
In the 32nd over the match looked to have moved Guildford’s way. Bopara was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary by James McMillan off Teale’s bowling for 13 runs off 43 balls; and 6 overs later, Dan Edwards was trapped LBW by Teale for 20 off 15 balls. Sutton, now 159/4, with just 12 overs remaining, needed exactly 100 runs to win at over 8.3 runs an over. This job necessitated something special!
Seadon, standing firm on 78no from 107 balls, was playing the wicket perfectly, whilst keenly eyeing another Championship ton. He was joined at the crease by Ratnasapabathy; and by the end of over 45, Sutton stood at 220/4; Seadon 111 runs from 124 balls and Ratna 29 off 28. 5 overs remained; 39 runs wanted.
At 7.8 runs an over required, with 6 wickets in hand, the game had turned decisively in Sutton’s favour. A tall order still but absolutely possible with Seadon, batting as well as he has ever done in Sutton colours, and Ratner, diligent in support.
Matches as tense as this are often won by a bit of brilliance. Today, it was Seadon’s genius that did the trick. Six singles were taken in the 46th over and with the score now 226/4, 33 runs were needed to win off 4 overs. With Seadon facing, up stepped Selmes for his final over of the day, the 47th of the innings. In an over that proved pivotal to the game’s outcome, Seadon destroyed the bowling, belting SIX CONSECUTIVE 4s to all parts of the ground. An amazing sequence of ball striking that left Guildford’s fielders totally deflated.
With 2 overs remaining, Sutton, 250/4 needed 9 runs to win. Fittingly, another Seadon 4, dispatched through mid-on, secured a famous and significant victory for the visitors, who now need just two points from their final league fixture to secure promotion back to the Premiership.
Seadon’s partner in the 104-run 5th wicket and winning partnership, Ratna, deserves special mention. His effort in support of his partner was, quite frankly, exemplary. Well played Rehan.
Next Saturday, September 4th, the 2021 Surrey Championship programme ends. To gain promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt, Sutton will need to take at least two points from their fixture against Spencer CC at Cheam Road, start 11.30am.
Here’s the table after Saturday’s results, followed by the remaining significant ‘promotion influencing’ fixtures.
| POS | TEAM | P | w | wcn | t | l | c | a | BatP | BowlP | Pen | Pts |
| 1 | Malden Wanderers CC | 17 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 251 |
| 2 | Sutton CC | 17 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 247 |
| 3 | Spencer CC | 17 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 228 |
| 4 | Guildford CC | 17 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 188 |
| 5 | Valley End | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 178 |
Full table available here: https://surreychampionship.play-cricket.com/website/division/87539
- Sutton CC vs. Spencer CC
- Malden Wanderers CC vs. Camberley CC
- Valley End CC vs. Guildford CC
**20 points for a win.
FOR INFORMATION: The following outlines the competition’s bonus points distribution, followed by a breakdown of the promotion criteria should clubs end the season with equal points.
The following points will be awarded:
• 150 runs or more and less than 175 runs – 1 point
• 175 runs or more and less than 200 runs – 2 points
• 200 runs or more and less than 225 runs – 3 points
• 225 runs or more and less than 250 runs – 4 points
• 250 runs or more – 5 points
• 5 or 6 wickets taken – 1 point
• 7 or 8 wickets taken – 2 points
• 9 wickets taken or “the complete dismissal of a side” – 3 points
Promotion criteria below amended from original since this season’s competition set as ‘overs’ format throughout. No ‘timed’ games.
In the event of two or more sides finishing on equal points with each other, then in order to ascertain their respective finishing positions, in their respective Leagues, generally, and for the purposes of promotion and relegation the position shall be determined in the following manner:
(i) The side or sides with the highest number of wins (this to be the total of the timed and limited over matches) shall be placed higher.
(ii) If there are still two or more sides with an equal number of points in equal position then the side with the highest number of ties shall be placed higher. (this to be the total of the timed and limited over matches)
(iii) In cases of two matches between clubs in that season the greater number of points attained will decide their position.
(vii) If there are still two or more sides with an equal number of points in equal position then their position shall be decided by the side who has taken the highest number of wickets in the season.
(viii) If there are still two or more sides with an equal number of points in equal position then their position shall be decided on the basis that the side which finished in a higher position in the League in the previous season shall be deemed to be the side finishing higher.
Saturday 21st August 2021
Sutton CC v Beddington CC
Matchday programme.
210821_Match Programme Sutton CC v Beddington CCDownload
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm ‘50-Overs’ format. (Game reduced initially to 35 overs per team; then 30 overs per team.)
Sutton CC (20 points) 152/3 in 28.3 overs; Beddington CC (0 points) 149/8 in 30 overs.
A232 Derby goes Sutton’s way.
Sutton CC maintained their promotion push with an exciting win over near neighbours Beddington CC at Cheam Road on Saturday.
With overnight rain, lingering cloud, and a period of persistent rain around the official start time, it looked for a while that Sutton might not get the chance to atone for their strangely lame effort against Valley End last week. However, the rain did eventually die away and the game, a revised 70-overs one, started at 2.20pm.
Despite the damp conditions the wicket, well covered, was dry and had the appearance of yet another excellent, well-tended, Cheam Road strip. Beddington’s captain, Chris Beck, had no hesitation in batting first, after winning the toss.
Regardless of losing Harry Gardner early on, bowled by Sam Blake, (6-1-24-1) no score, Beddo progressed well, with Fawad Bajwa Ahmad, 22no and Simon Lewis10no, moving to 34/1 by the end of the 7th. Next over, after adding 4 more runs, Connor Griffin (5-0-28-1) forced Ahmad, 26 off 25 balls, to play at one just outside off, resulting in a neat catch by keeper Josh Blake.
At 3.07pm the rain returned, and play was suspended with Beddo standing on 52/2 off 10.1 overs; Lewis 19no and Michael Ruffell 5no. Tea was taken, during which time the rain stopped. Thus, after an appreciatively short delay, play resumed at 3.45pm; with the game this time revised to 60 overs.
A significant 3rd wicket partnership (48 runs) was developing fast, as Lewis, with a flurry of boundaries, and Ruffell maintained the scoring rate at near 5 runs an over. It ended spectacularly when Dane Currency, (6-0-22-2) struck in his 3rd over. A magnificent Fabian Cowdrey slip catch helped dismiss Ruffell for 18 off 26 balls.
From this point, 86/3 after 16 overs, Beddo wickets fell regularly. Tom Bevan, LBW Cowdrey (6-0-43-2) for a duck; Lewis, LBW Currency, for an enterprising 46; Hamid Gonal, run out 2, via a Cowdrey assist; Parth Vyas, stumped Blake, bowled Anish Jhalla, 7; Seb Chmielinski, bowled Cowdrey, 4. Beddo 123/8 off 28.1 overs.
Beddo’s keeper, Sam Owen, 16no, kept the board ticking-over nicely while wickets fell around him. Owen, batting splendidly in support of Beck’s successful attempt to set Sutton a substantial target, helped take Beddington’s total at the conclusion of their allocated 30 overs to 149/8. Both ended not out. Owen 25, off 22 balls, and Beck, 17, off just 9.
As there was an interruption to play during Beddington’s innings, when the game’s overs of 35 each team were reduced to 30 overs each team, Sutton’s target automatically required the intervention of DLS (Duckworth Lewis Stern) which would then adjust Sutton’s target score. (For a brief explanation as to how DLS affects the score of ‘Team 2’, please click below.)
Summary of impact on Team 2Download
With a revised DLS target of 151 to win the game, Sutton were frustrated immediately as skipper Luke Smith was bowled in the first over by Bevan’s 4th ball. Notwithstanding this setback, a sensible, controlled attack on the objective followed. Initially, Josh Blake and opener Sam Seadon contained a notable opening spell of pace by Bevan and Gondal and all was calm seemingly. Then at 30/1 in the 9th over Blake received a ball from Chmielinski that appeared to keep a tad low, and Blake was bowled for 20 off 36 balls.
Seadon, 7no, was joined by Cowdrey and soon the run rate started to rise, especially once drinks were taken after 15 overs, as both batsmen put pressure on the Beddo fielding with some quick and effective running between the wickets. Neither batsman looked in trouble as they coasted to 86/2 in the 21st over; but a very sharp Beck caught and bowled saw Seadon’s excellent innings end on 35 runs from 48 balls. Setting aside Seadon’s dismissal, the 3rd wicket stand of 56 runs fashioned a perfect platform for a Sutton win.
Cowdrey, 26no, and looking in excellent nick, was joined at the crease by Dan Edwards. Sutton, 86/3, wickets in hand, 65 runs needed to win, and 9.3 overs left. An assertive, yet pragmatic approach would surely do it; and that’s exactly what took place as Cowdrey, 46no off 61 balls, and Edwards, delivering a typically explosive 43no off 24 balls saw Sutton home by 7 wickets with 7 balls remaining.
With only two games remaining, this victory put Sutton back into the promotion driving seat. Guildford, who Sutton visit next week, were beaten by Malden Wanderers on Saturday by 8 wickets and are now out of the race. A positive result next week at Woodbridge Road, would virtually seal Sutton’s passage back to the Premiership.
Here’s the table after Saturday’s results, followed by the remaining significant ‘promotion influenced’ fixtures.
| POS | TEAM | P | w | wcn | t | l | c | a | BatP | BowlP | Pen | Pts |
| 1 | Malden Wanderers CC | 16 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 244 |
| 2 | Sutton CC | 16 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 227 |
| 3 | Spencer CC | 16 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 208 |
| 4 | Guildford CC | 16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 183 |
Full table available here: https://surreychampionship.play-cricket.com/website/division/87539
Saturday August 28th:
Guildford v Sutton
Spencer v Malden Wanderers
Saturday September 4th:
Malden Wanderers v Camberly
Sutton v Spencer
Saturday 14th August 2021
Valley End CC v Sutton CC 1st XI
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm ‘50-Overs’ format.
Valley End CC, (20 points), 158ao in 43.3 overs; Sutton CC, (4 points), 150ao 49.1 overs.
Sutton CC’s 1st Division title hopes were dealt a severe blow on Saturday when they suffered defeat by 8 runs at Valley End CC.
It was a strangely abject display by Sutton who appeared to have lost the sharpness exhibited in five consecutive wins following their shock defeat by Stoke D’Abernon in early June. After two weekends and one essential training session lost to the weather, signs of rustiness were clear in some aspects of Sutton’s performance.
Valley End’s captain Tom Nevin won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that although dry, displayed signs of wear. It was a good toss to win!
Steady bowling by Sam Blake, (7-2-16-0) and Connor Griffin, (6-1-26-1) ensured VE’s openers, George Freeman and Russell Lane, batted cautiously at the start, reaching 7 runs by the end of the 5th over. The first ball of the 6th over, however, saw Dane Currency take a fine catch at mid-on to dismiss Lane off Griffin’s bowling for 2 runs.
Keeper Ben Kingsnorth joined Freeman and the pair advanced to 55/1. In the 15th over, Fabian Cowdrey’s 3rd ball of the day bowled Kingsnorth for 16 runs. From then on, spin dominated play, the turning ball proving a test for VE’s batsmen and by the time Currency (10-0-42-2) and Cowdrey (10-5-18-3) had completed their spells at the end of the 33rd over, the hosts stood at 105/6.
VE’s lower order had a swing and helped the innings reach a respectable 158 runs, given the wicket’s disposition. Aneesh Jhalla (6-0-19-1), Sam Seadon (3-0-20-1) and Sam Woods (2.3-0-13-2) collectively wrapped up the innings, and VE were all out for 158 in 44.3 overs.
Sutton suffered an early setback in their chase. With only 1 run on the board Seadon was caught and bowled no score by Josh Dodd. The slow pitch was offering progressively more turn and despite a patient 39 off 75 balls from Josh Blake, and a valiant 28 off 85 by Rehan Ratna, spin steadily won the day. Sutton were dismissed for 150 off 49.1 overs and victory was Valley End’s by 8-runs.
A naturally disappointing result for the visitors but credit Valley End who, to a man, remained focused throughout the game and ended deserved winners. Possibly the dearth of recent cricket had something to do with Sutton’s lack of edge. Last Saturday’s return fixture at Stoke D’Abernon was cancelled due to excessive rain; the week before, rain intervened and the significant, ‘top-of-the-table’ clash at Cheam Road versus Malden Wanderers was curtailed after just 17-overs; and not a lot of cricket was required for victory at Leatherhead in the week preceding the two weather influenced games.
Whatever the circumstances around Saturday’s defeat, promotion is now the focus, given winning the divisional title took a massive knock with this result. Nevertheless, top spot is not out of reach as there are some significant divisional fixtures still to play in the final three rounds of the competition. These games could influence the final standings substantially.
Next Saturday, 21st August, Sutton welcome near neighbours Beddington to Cheam Road, start 12.00pm.
Valley End CC v Sutton CC scorecard here.
Latest top 4, 1st Division table with 3 games left to play:
| POS | TEAM | P | w | wcn | t | l | c | a | BatP | BowlP | Pen | Pts |
| 1 | Malden Wanderers CC | 15 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 224 |
| 2 | Sutton CC | 15 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 207 |
| 3 | Spencer CC | 15 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 188 |
| 4 | Guildford CC | 15 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 183 |
Full table available here: https://surreychampionship.play-cricket.com/website/division/87539
Saturday 7th August 2021
Stoke D’Abernon CC v Sutton CC 1st XI
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm ‘50-Overs’ format.
Match cancelled before toss; 5 points each.
Rain washed out all the Surrey Championship’s 1st Division fixtures on Saturday; and conditions were similar at almost all other Surrey Championship grounds. As Sutton’s game was called-off early in the morning, we didn’t make the trip to Stoke D’Abernon; but here’s how Sutton’s ground at Cheam Road looked around 10.00am on Saturday.
Plan B’ for some on the day was to adjourn to Sutton’s clubhouse for a beverage or two, and a session of TV sport. A very pleasant afternoon, (and evening) was spent in the company of quite a few members. Plentiful debates took place (as usual) about a myriad of ‘important’ issues: the weather, DRS, DLS, DBS, England’s problem with the number 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 spots in the batting order, whether Sutton Utd have the quality to remain in the EFL, should the Lions have had a stab at the 3-points offered, will Chelsea finish higher than Man U, (ed: yes; no contest!) etc. Nothing concluded, predictably!
Let’s hope for a full day’s play next week, although a similar day to Saturday’s is no bad substitute if adverse weather conditions intervene in the same way again!
Latest 1st Division table with 4 games left to play:
| POS | TEAM | P | w | wcn | t | l | c | a | BatP | BowlP | Pen | Pts |
| 1 | Malden Wanderers CC | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 204 |
| 2 | Sutton CC | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 203 |
| 3 | Spencer CC | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 168 |
| 4 | Guildford CC | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 163 |
| 5 | Stoke D’Abernon CC | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 141 |
Full table available here: https://surreychampionship.play-cricket.com/website/division/87539
Next Saturday, 14th August, Sutton visit Valley End; Malden Wanderers are at Beddington; and Spencer are at home to Chipstead, Coulsdon and Walcountians.
Saturday 31st July 2021
Sutton CC 1st XI
v
Malden Wanderers CC 1st XI
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm start. ‘50-Overs’ format.
Match Day Programme here. Score card here.
Abandoned after 17 overs. 5 points each.
The Sutton and Malden Wanderers ‘top of the table’ clash on Saturday was abandoned through rain.
The five points awarded each club means that Wanderers still top the division, with Sutton just one point behind. Nearest rivals, Spencer CC, lost a reduced overs game at Stoke D’Abernon, gaining only one bonus point in the process.
The ground staff had worked tirelessly to ensure a prompt start could take place; but realising that goal, was entirely up to a pre-toss inspection by the umpires, given heavy rain fall the day before, and also overnight. Having deemed the wicket, infield, outfield, and boundary areas fit for play the umpires called upon the respective captains to complete the toss, which Sutton’s skipper, Luke Smith, duly won and elected to bat. The wicket was dry and although a tad green, looked like another good Cheam Road batting strip.
Good strip or not, it didn’t take long for MW to strike the first blow. Rafeh Jafri, after being hit to the boundary off his first ball by Sam Seadon, got the 5th to surprise Seadon, 4 runs off 5 balls, with extra pace; and an edge to gully saw Jack Morgan clasp a undemanding catch. Sutton 4/1.
At the crease Josh Blake joined Smith, who had yet to score. The opening MW bowlers were making it hard for the Sutton batsmen to create any momentum at all. Joe Lavender (6-4-3-0) and Jafri (6-0-22-3) exhibited great control and accuracy, using the muggy conditions to swing the ball effectively.
Jafri struck again with the last ball of the 6th over. Zac Elkin taking a splendid catch low down at slip to dismiss Smith, who had worked hard to resist the excellent bowling, for 1 run off 23 balls. Sutton 11/2. Determined application was needed now to stem the tide.
Incredibly to all around, Sutton found themselves three down soon after. A third wicket for Jafri in his 5th over. Fabian Cowdrey was tempted by one that drifted towards leg and was caught by keeper, Alex Redmayne, for 2 runs off 10 balls.
Dan Edwards entered proceedings and he and Blake did stem the tide! Both Lavender and Jafri were replaced after 6 overs each, by Kevin Boudville and Dan Kenton respectively.
Edwards, taking a liking to Boudville’s spin, ended the 17th over on 26no off 23 balls. Blake, having outlasted the early attack stoically, had accumulated 13 off 41 balls. Sutton were now better placed, standing at 52/3 off 17 overs…………and then at 1.20pm, the rain came!
Will we or won’t we?
Despite numerous attempts at restarting, the odds of that happening were always slim; and too many squally showers, even though brief, saw an end to the day’s play. At 5.20pm the umpires and captains all shook hands, metaphorically of course, and the game was officially abandoned, 5 points each. Rain came again, 15 minutes later!
Let’s call it a day. Honours even!!
| POS | TEAM | P | w | wcn | t | l | c | a | BatP | BowlP | Pen | Pts |
| 1 | Malden Wanderers CC | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 199 |
| 2 | Sutton CC | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 198 |
| 3 | Spencer CC | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 163 |
| 4 | Guildford CC | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 158 |
| 5 | Stoke D’Abernon CC | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 136 |
Full table available here: https://surreychampionship.play-cricket.com/website/division/87539
Monday 26th July 2021, the second of Sutton Cricket Club’s Cricket Week fixtures, (the first being v The Paralytics on Friday 23rd July!)
SCC v MCC 260721_match day programmeDownload
Sutton CC Midweek XI vs. MCC Midweek XI.
MCC 163 all out in 53 overs. Sutton 164/7 from 42.5 overs. Sutton win by 3 wickets.
Remarkably, this game, the highlight of Sutton CC’s Cricket Week, started on time at 11.30am. No sign of any rain water resting on the ground; and the wicket seemed dry, although it looked a little green. Not unexpected really, after such a deluge within the borough that continued almost non-stop right through Sunday. Just 2.5 miles away, as the crow flies, Worcester Park CC suffered incredibly: see below!
Rain stopped play at Worcester Park Cricket Club.
Cheam Road drains well but……….
So, without any bother at all, we started on time. Must say here that setting aside the prompt start, great credit goes to the club’s ground staff who worked tirelessly from the early hours to ensure play went ahead as scheduled. Fantastic work lads; and thank you!
It was a little humid, but conditions for play were largely good as MCC’s skipper JBF Woodroof, (formerly Sutton CC) won the toss and elected to bat.
An early breakthrough left the MCC at 15/1 from 6.4 overs, D Edwards (Sutton CC and a fresh MCC ‘candidate’) caught behind by Matt Gardner off Connor Griffin, for 7. Sutton’s opening bowlers, Griffin (7-1-15-1) and Sam Blake, kept up the pressure as the MCC top order struggled to create impetus to the innings.
Both batsmen were struggling with the sultry conditions which were slowing down the ball and consequently, making it harder for them to strike into the deep. Credit must go to Sutton’s young opening bowlers though. The swing they extracted off the surface clearly helped them keep the MCC in check.
The second wicket fell after 14.4 overs when D Ribbetts, who replaced Edwards, was caught behind off Blake, for 9 runs from 29 balls. MCC now stood at 31/2, Gardner had his second victim, and the players took drinks.
H Goodwin joined opener R M Rawlings, steadfastly 13no from 43 balls, and first ball after drinks, Goodwin became Gardner’s third catch behind, again off Blake (15-7-33-2) for a duck. MCC 31/3 off 15.3 overs. H Litherland joined Rawlings at the crease and the duo held firm until lunch was taken after 29 overs, at which stage MCC were 78/3 with Rawlings 33no off 77 balls and Litherland 22no off 52. With MCC’s run rate at around 2.7 runs per over, Sutton may have felt that the session had been theirs.
The players returned at 2.20pm after another excellent Cricket Week lunch, provided by Sutton’s events chef, Aiden Tierney, and his team. Soon after Dane Currency struck with his left-arm orthodox spin off the first ball of the 32nd over to dismiss Rawlings, caught Sam Schofield around square leg, for a hard earned 35 runs from 84 balls. P Cohen replaced Rawlings. Taking the place of Rehan Ratnasapbathy (8-2-25-0) for the 26th over, Currency was now beginning to have a real impact on proceedings.
MCC were still finding batting difficult. In the 37th over at 95/4, Litherland, desperately looking for a second run, was run out by a sharp piece of Currency fielding. 95/5, and C S Wedgewood joined Cohen at the wicket.
In the 42nd over, at 113/5 and with the batsmen still grappling with the conditions, MCC lost their 6th wicket. Currency tricked Cohen, 21 off 30, with a quicker one that shot up a bit, and Gardner snaffled his fourth. KDJ Winder linked up with Wedgewood and suddenly the momentum improved, although Wedgewood was deceived completely by Currency in the 48th over and comprehensively bowled. J M Bruce was next in.
Sam Schofield came on in the 47th over for Ratna and was soon delivering a miserly spell, which is his wont. In the 49th over Schofield got his reward getting the first ball to break through Winder’s defence, bowled for 15 off 28 runs. A Collier met up with Bruce with MCC standing at 143/8 off 49.1 over. In the 50th over Bruce was out for 2 from 9 balls, Schofield taking a nice gully catch off the bowling of Currency (13-1-47-4).
MCC stood at 145/9 when skipper Woodroof came to the crease. He and Collier swung the bat, which was needed if they were to pose any sort of target for Sutton to chase. Off the final ball of the 53rd over, Woodroof pushed Schofield (9-3-21-2) to mid-off and Griffin took a neat catch. MCC 163 all out off 53 overs; Collier ending 12no off 16 balls.
At 3.50pm the Sutton innings began with Skipper Smith and Etinder Bopara opening. Bruce was generating genuine pace from the Cheam Road end and off the final ball of the 3rd over, Bopara, 3 runs from 9 balls, nicked him to Ribbetts who grabbed a tough chance at second slip. Sutton 5/1, and Sam Woods joining Smith at the wicket.
By the 10th over, with the score at 17/1, Sutton had realised, if they hadn’t before, that they were in for a challenging time ahead if they were going to win this game. The target of 164 now looked quite demanding on this wicket!
8 runs glanced to leg by Woods off Bruce’s 6th over, eased the pressure a smidgen and Sutton went to tea after 12 overs at 25/1. Smith stood on 8 off 39 balls and Woods 14 off 24. Winder, leading the MCC’s bowling with Bruce, was enjoying teatime figures of 6-3-9-0, whilst Bruce 6-3-16-1. Both were bowling fast and straight, not giving the batsmen an inch.
Returning from tea to start the final session at 4.55pm, umpires and captains agreed that a minimum of 20 overs would be available to Sutton from 5.30pm. The first 5 overs after tea were dominated by Woods who was beginning to time the ball nicely, using the pace to cut neatly, and to help the odd glance to leg. Whilst Smith, 15 off 49 balls, held up one end, Woods had pushed on to 35 off 44; and by the end of the 17th over, Sutton had moved quite quickly to 55/1. With potentially, around 25 overs plus left to play, Sutton were now smelling victory.
As the batsmen were getting on top MCC skipper Woodroof rang the changes. Ribbetts replaced Bruce for the 17th over and Collier came on for the 18th taking over from Winder (8-3-20-0). Collier was immediately successful, forcing Woods back in his crease, LBW for 35 runs off 45 balls. Had the change of bowling altered the balance of the match? Time would tell.
Steve Dolben was next in, joining Smith, who was digging in, on 16 runs from 50 balls and Sutton now 56/3. 5.4 overs were bowled before the 5.30pm, minimum 20 overs in the final hour arrangement kicked in. During that time Smith and Dolben added 15 runs taking the hosts to 71/2.
So, with 20 overs at least available to Sutton, a further 93 runs were required to win. Given the way the game had evolved so far, 93 to win in the time left seemed a demanding undertaking. The task grew even more exacting as, in the 3rd of the minimum overs, Smith was drawn by Collier, stumped Wedgewood, for 22 runs off 76 balls. Ratna came in and during the next over his partner Dolben was caught off the bowling of Ribbetts for 14 runs off 27 balls.
The score stood at 81/4 off 4.2 overs and Seadon joined Ratna with a minimum of 15.4 overs left in which to score the 83 runs needed to win. Litherland replaced Collier (6-1-16-2) for the 7th of the minimum and promptly dismissed Ratna, stumped by Wedgewood, 3 off 7 balls. Enter Matt Gardner, taker of 4 catches behind the stumps in MCC’s innings.
At 85/5 and still 79 to win, the MCC were now favourites. Not by the end of the 12th of the minimum though. Gardner had taken a distinct liking to the bowling of Litherland and Goodwin (4-0-25-0), dispatching them both several times through and over the mid-wicket area boundary. Sutton were now 130/5 with Gardner, destroyer in chief, 32 off 24 balls and Seadon 11 off 22.
Woodroof replaced Litherland (3-1-18-1) and bowled Seadon with his first ball of the over for 11 runs off 23 balls. 130/6 with the game edging again towards the MCC. Schofield entered the fray and slammed 3 x 4 in a brief cameo of 13 off 19 balls before having his middle stump uprooted by Woodroof. Bruce was brought back after Cohen’s only over had shipped an expensive 9 runs. Sutton were 152/7 with Griffin now partnering Gardner, who on 41no off 31 balls, had turned the game toward the home club with his magnificent bout of big hitting.
6.30pm passed leaving just 3.3 overs remaining. 21 balls to score 12 runs with 3 wickets left. Should be a doddle, right? Not with two such seasoned campaigners as Woodroof (4-0-20-2) and Bruce hurling the ball down at pace, in ever more determined fashion. Such was their velocity and accuracy, with 9 balls left Sutton still needed 10 to win. It was remarkably tense, now the apparently easy nature of the task with 21 balls left to play had been turned on its head.
Step forward that man Gardner, who with another mighty slap for 6 over mid-wicket, effectively led Sutton towards the winning enclosure. Still nerve-racking though, with 6 balls to go and 3 runs required. Bruce bowling (10.5-3-29-1); Griffin facing. Dot ball followed by a leg bye. 2 to win from 4; Gardner facing. Dot ball followed by a single. Scores tied; 1 needed from 2 and Griffin facing. A nervy prod to leg, single taken and it’s all over. Sutton win by 3-wickets with one ball of the game left!
MOTM: Matt Gardner.
Matt Gardner, greeted by an ecstatic Gus, after his master’s winning knock!
Another great day of festival cricket at Cheam Road. Both teams deserve credit the way they battled through the game. Some superb bowling, with pace at times unplayable; and several excellent batting cameos given the difficulties presented by the wicket on occasions. The officiating was ‘near perfect’ and the catering delicious.
To summarise, a wonderful day’s cricket played in an excellent spirit. It was great to see a genuine, competitive, friendly game, played with smiles all round. (Now we don’t have to wear face coverings!)
Scorecard here.
Cricket Week ‘extra’ Friday 23rd July 2021: Sutton CC Chairman’s XI v The Paralytics
Match programme 230721 SCC Chairman’s XI v Paralytics CCDownload
Match report Chairman’s XI vs. The Paralytics CC_230721Download
Chairman’s XI v The Paralytics 23 July 2021. Scorecard here.
Latest Sutton CC 1st XI Match Report
Saturday 24th July 2021
Leatherhead CC
v
Sutton CC
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm start. ‘50-Overs’ format.
Leatherhead CC 109; all out in 40.2 overs; Sutton CC 111/3 in 25.3 overs. Sutton win by 7-wickets.
Flickit To Win It!
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Another grey, muggy Saturday greeted players, officials, and spectators to Fetcham Grove on Saturday. The weather forecast had been scrutinised rigorously by all concerned since around mid-week as indications were that some difficult playing conditions were due in the afternoon. Incredibly, the weather just kept on improving and the game started on time and despite a short period of light drizzle, progressed without interruption.
The toss was won by Adam Dyson, Leatherhead CC’s skipper. He elected to bat which admittedly, surprised a few, given the heavy overhead conditions and poor light. As the first wicket fell in the initial over, Simon Roberts LBW to Connor Griffin, for 1 run, it seemed the doubters might be spot on with their early theory. Still, Dyson, who opened the innings, had other ideas. It was, after all, he who decided to bat first. Keeper Joel Walker joined him at the crease and the pair really got to work; and to be fair started to disprove the doubters convincingly, despite being troubled on occasion by the swing produced by Sutton’s opening bowlers, Griffin and Sam Blake.
The host’s score progressed to 72/1 after almost 17 completed overs; Dyson 34no off 51 balls, Walker 28no off 44. Off the last ball of the 17th over Blake got one more to move in the air, deceiving Dyson, who was bowled 34. That stand of 68 for the second wicket was the only worthwhile partnership of Leatherhead’s innings.
The next 20 overs or so of play was controlled by the off spin of Dane Currency and the medium pace of Sam Seadon. 8 wickets fell for 37 runs as Currency (10-2-14-2) and Seadon (10-2-21-5, of which the 1st over went for 8 runs) simply overwhelmed Leatherhead’s batting.
The conditions suited Seadon perfectly and he exploited them thoroughly with his well-controlled and accurate medium pace deliveries. With the ball swinging it was no surprise that Currency got some turn; and he certainly made the most of it. The two combined to deliver a superb exhibition of individual bowling skills that just bamboozled the host’s batting. Fabian Cowdrey, having his first bowl for a few weeks due to a shoulder strain, nipped in with one wicket: that of Marcus Dawes, LBW 13.
The Sutton innings began badly. Skipper Smith failed after just 3 balls, bowled by Mark Farrant, 0. It was a surprise to all around given his recent impressive form with the bat. A blip, surely.
So, Leatherhead got the start they so desperately needed if they were to have any chance of salvaging the game. For Sutton, thoughts drifted back towards the loss vs. Stoke D’Abernon when Sutton failed to make the 104 required to win. Could the same be happening again? Emphatically no!
Opener Seadon was joined by Josh Blake at the fall of Smith’s wicket. By the 25th over the pair, with Sutton on 106/1, had essentially, won the match for the visitors. Both had played purposefully and trouble free and looked to have secured another resounding Sutton victory; but there was still a bit more fun to be had.
Blake was bowled at the end of the 25th over by Dyson for 40 of 67 balls; and Cowdrey only survived one ball before being captured by keeper Walker off the bowling of Daniel Lee for a duck. At 107/3 Edwards joined Seadon and hit the winning runs first ball.
A 7-wicket win secured another 20 points to remain second in the table to Malden Wanderers by just a single point. Spencer lost ground to the leaders by losing at home to Guildford by 4-wickets.
Next week Sutton face Malden Wanderers at Cheam Road in a top of the table clash. Should be fun!
Scorecard here
Saturday 17th July 2021
Sutton CC 1st XI
v
Chipstead Coulsdon & Walcountians CC 1st XI
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm start. ‘50-Overs’ format.
Match Day Programme
170721_Programme Sutton v ChipsteadDownload
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SEADON TON ENSURES SUTTON CRUISE TO BIG WINSUTTONvictors by 109-RUNS.
Sutton CC 303-8 (50 overs)
Chipstead C & W CC 194 all out (43.5 overs)
Sutton CC recorded a convincing win over Chipstead Coulsdon & Walcountians CC (Chips) at Cheam Road on Saturday, finishing 109 runs to the good.
On largely, the first warm match day of the summer, under a blue and cloudless sky, Sutton’s skipper, Luke Smith, won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that looked to encourage attacking cricket. A good crowd was building, anticipating a decent day’s play, in conditions perfect for cricket.
Sutton’s customary opening pair, Smith, and Sam Seadon, got the innings off to a fast start, scoring at an average of 5 runs per over. By the 29th the pair had raced to 145-0 before, in the 30th, at 146, a smart caught and bowled by Chips paceman Charlie Edwards dismissed Smith for a thoughtfully built 52 off 98 balls. Seadon, 82 off 78, was joined by Josh Blake.
In the 39th over Seadon secured his first league ton of the season with a clip to leg for a single. His century had taken 107 minutes, off 102 balls, including 8×4 and 4×6; and there was more to come!
No sooner had Seadon captured his ton, than Blake lost his wicket to the spin of Sanjika Ridma, caught at mid-off by Leigh Padfield, for 21, leaving Sutton 187-2 off 39.2 overs. Fabian Cowdrey linked-up with Seadon at the crease and by the end of the over, Sutton were 192-2. With 10 overs remaining, a substantial total was in the offing.
The next 4 overs produced 49 runs of which Seadon had notched 38, including 21 off the 43rd over. First ball of the next over Seadon smacked a 4 to mid-wicket. Second ball he succumbed to a Darren Saunders catch on the mid-on boundary, off Stefan Van Biljon’s bowling, for a magnificent 142 runs. A terrific, match winning innings that included 13×4 and 6×6, off just 122 balls.
At the end of the over Sutton had moved to 245-3. Dan Edwards, who joined Cowdrey, 12no, at the fall of Seadon’s wicket, was 5no, and there were 6 left of Sutton’s allotted overs.
The spirited hitting continued however, as the mid-order drove Sutton’s final score to 303 for the loss of 8 wickets. A flurry of lusty contributions from Cowdrey 24, Edwards 12, Etinder Bopara 15, and ‘birthday boy’ Rehan Ratnasapabathy, 13no, ensured Chips were faced with a total that they would have to set about challenging almost from the off.
Sam Blake nearly had Chips stalwart Nick Woods caught and bowled first ball, as Woods chipped the ball back low down. Blake’s was a valiant effort and he almost grabbed it. From then on, Chips confronted the task set them commendably; but wickets fell regularly. Blake (9-0-44-2) bowled Ridma for 0 in the 3rd over; and then had Saunders caught deep mid-wicket by Ratna, for 23 at the end of the 9th over.
Connor Griffin (7-0-44-1) nipped in to dismantle the stumps of visitor’s skipper, Rob Wooley, for 1 in the 12th over. Paul Best departed LBW to Dane Currency, (10-2-28-2) in the 17th over for 7. Chips brave attempt to reach the target then ended effectively, with the run out of Finlay Milton 4, by a super Sam Blake assist off the first ball of the 21st over. By then the innings had slumped to 96-5 and realistically Chips could only hope now for one or two batting bonus points.
That the visitor’s gained 2 points was due, in the main, to the sound batting of Padfield, 27, and Van Biljon 39no. Chips were, in the end, all out for 194 after 43.5 overs as Currency, who bowled Woods in the 29th over for a responsibly executed 64, Aneesh Jhalla (10-1-33-2), Ratna, (6-0-39-1) and Edwards (1.5-0-6-1) wrapped up the innings.
One of this season’s most endearing post-match sights was watching both clubs at the conclusion of the game, sharing as a group in their match debrief. Wonderful to see!
This win sees Sutton still one point behind Malden Wanderers in the 1st Division table; Spencer remain 3rd. Next week Sutton travel to Leatherhead who Malden W beat on Saturday; whilst Spencer won at Beddington.
We wish Chips all the luck in the world, as they endeavour over the next 7 rounds, to avoid the drop to Div 2.
| POS | TEAM | P | w | wcn | t | l | c | a | BatP | BowlP | Pen | Pts |
| 1 | Malden Wanderers CC | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 174 |
| 2 | Sutton CC | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 173 |
| 3 | Spencer CC | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 160 |
| 4 | Guildford CC | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 118 |
| 5 | Stoke D’Abernon CC | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 116 |
Full table available here: https://surreychampionship.play-cricket.com/website/division/87539
Scorecard here.
For this season’s previous match reports please click here.
Camberley CC 1st XI v Sutton CC 1st XI at Upper Verran Road. Match reduced to 31-overs each as start is delayed to 2.45pm.
Camberley CC: 156-8 off 31 overs (2 bonus points, 1 batting; 1 bowling.)
Sutton CC: 159-5 off 28.4 overs, (20 points.)
With a wicket, you can have the best covers in the world, but if the outfield has taken in too much rain, there is nothing yet invented to stop the water table rising through the soil structure. As you would have thought, concern of the harm that persistent overnight and morning downpours at Upper Verran Road might have caused, was uppermost on players on and officials minds as they journeyed to Camberley, Saturday morning.
As luck would have it, Camberley’s ground is one the better draining venues and once the rain eventually stopped, the umpires got the game on; albeit 2¾ hours later than the scheduled start time of 12.00pm, and with reduced overs of 31 each.
The covers did their job admirably!
The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first, on a wicket that looked it might turn out useful to Sutton’s opening bowlers. However, the early overs proved more fruitful for the hosts. Although trying to make allowances for the ball’s movement caused by the cloudy and muggy overhead conditions, Sam Blake, (4-1-20-0) Connor Griffin, (4-0-22-0) and first change Rehan Ratna, (4-0-32-0) found it difficult to establish their usual control. By the end of the 15th over, Camberley’s openers had progressed to 80-0; Trevor McGeer 39no and skipper James Crosthwaite 35no. At a rate of 5.33 an over, it was the batsmen who had control of the game.
An abrupt halt came to Camberley’s impressive start once the left-arm spin of Dane Currency entered the fray. A nicely flighted ball in the 16th over completely deceived McGeer, who was bowled for 39, leaving the host’s standing at 81-1. The run rate was maintained as Crosthwaite, joined by Todd Hutcheson, opened-up a tad. The pair moved on to 123 runs by the end of the 24th over, before, off the bowling of Aneesh Jhalla, Fabian Cowdrey, round about square-leg, grabbed a superb running catch over his shoulder, to dismiss Crosthwaite, gone for a neatly made 69.
The hosts could only manage another 33 runs during the final seven of their allotted 31 overs. They would find a few runs, and then another wicket would fall as Currency (7-0-23-4) and Jhalla’s left-arm spin (6-1-27-3) left the batsman perplexed. Currency’s caught and bowled to sack the hard-hitting Kyle Philander for 13, was special. The ball was hit hard and fast by the batsman, but somehow Currency grabbed it and held it tightly to his chest. A great catch. .
Seadon (6-1-26-1) with his right-arm medium pace also helped subdue Camberley’s intent, and was the only other wicket-taker on the day, as Camberley ended their 31 over innings at 156 for 8.
Umpire Dave Walter was replaced, due to injury, by Chris Blake, father of the brothers Blake, who stood at square for all of the Sutton innings. Well played Chris. Thank you for helping out.
Aside from losing Seadon early on, caught behind in the 4th over by keeper Crosthwaite, off Max Carter for 8, the visitor’s response to Camberley’s total was solid and good to watch. Skipper Smith continued his good form with 37 runs off 45 balls. Josh Blake a nice, smooth 45 off 56. Cowdrey, with 28 off 25, and Dan Edwards, 31 off 22, just smack the ball. Etinda Bopara hit a winning boundary, ending 6no, as Sutton surpassed the target, finishing 159-5.
That victory sees Sutton move to second place in the league table, one point behind leaders Malden Wanderers, who yesterday beat Chipstead C & W by a massive 153 runs. Spencer now sit in third place after their tight one wicket loss to Valley End.
Next week sees Chipstead C & W at Cheam Road. Chipstead currently stand ninth in the table, with a single win to their name thus far. Let us hope Sutton can continue their winning ways.
| POS | TEAM | P | w | wcn | t | l | c | a | BatP | BowlP | Pen | Pts |
| 1 | Malden Wanderers CC | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 154 |
| 2 | Sutton CC | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 153 |
| 3 | Spencer CC | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 140 |
| 4 | Guildford CC | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 113 |
| 5 | Stoke D’Abernon CC | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 111 |
Full table available here: https://surreychampionship.play-cricket.com/website/division/87539
Scorecard here
Saturday 3rd July 2021
Spencer CC 1st XI
v
Sutton CC 1st XI
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm start. ‘50-Overs’ format.
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Sutton’s hopes soar after brushing aside promotion rivals!
Gap at top narrows as Sutton maintain their impressive season, securing 20 valuable points by winning at contenders Spencer.
Spencer CC 1st XI v Sutton CC 1st XI at Fieldview.
Sutton CC won by 57 runs.
Sutton CC: 274-6 off 48 overs, (20 points.) Spencer CC: 217ao 48 overs (3 bonus points, batting; 1 bonus point, bowling.)
After a short rain delay, which reduced the overs from 50 to 48, and the start to 12.15pm, Spencer’s skipper Hugo Darby won the toss, and elected to field first. Given a somewhat green wicket, and overhead conditions helpful to swing bowling, Darby’s decision was not that surprising.
Sutton’s innings started dreadfully. With only 5 runs on the board Sam Seadon, opening as usual with skipper Luke Smith, was pinned LBW by seamer Abid Jafri for 3. Josh Blake was soon to depart, caught at mid-on by Hugo Trotter, from the off spin of Tim Young for just a single, leaving Sutton standing riskily on 9 runs for 2 wickets, after 7.4 overs.
Fabian Cowdrey joined Smith at the crease and happily, the two moved trouble-free for the next 12 overs to 67 before Smith, off the pace bowling of Dan Costa, sent a leading edge to Ed Kilbee at short mid-on, caught comfortably for a well-made 36 runs. As Dan Edwards strode to the crease, Cowdrey stood on 24no.
The next 20 overs saw the pair systematically dismantle Spencer’s bowling. The score soared briskly to 202, with Cowdrey on 89no from 89 balls, and Edwards 64no off 63. Edwards, off the last ball of the 40th over, attempted a massive pull shot off the returning Costa. Without really getting hold of it, Trotter, positioned just inside the boundary at deep mid-wicket, pocketed a straightforward catch. A marvellous innings though; and in tandem with Cowdrey, a terrific game changing partnership of 135 runs at 6.75 runs an over.
8 overs left of the innings, and Cowdrey was joined by Etinder Bopara, who seemed determined to maintain Sutton’s momentum. In the twinkling of an eye a swashbuckling 72 runs were added off 44 balls before Cowdrey fell to a Kilbee catch at short mid-on, off Freddie Horler, for a magnificent 114 off 112 balls, including 13 boundaries. Meanwhile, ET was true to his early demeanour, smashing 44 runs off just 25 balls, before the fall of Cowdrey’s wicket.
Attempting a quick single, ET was run out for 44 off the last ball of the innings, leaving Sutton on a final total of 274-6 from their allotted 48 overs.
Kilbee and Darby headed Spencer’s response; but they were soon in trouble as the Blake brothers combined to see off Darby, caught behind by Josh for 7 in the 3rd over. Kilbee was joined by Will Harris and the pair added 75 runs at a respectful 5 runs an over until Harris was caught by Josh Blake behind the stumps, off Seadon, for 23 runs.
87-2 soon became 90-3 as new batsman Young was bowled by Cane Currency for 1. Kilbee meantime, after a flurry of runs early in his innings, had since batted calmly for his 49no. His stay at the crease did not last much longer though as Currency claimed his second bowled of the innings, dismissing Kilbee in the 22nd over, for a well-constructed 52 runs. This left Spencer battling hard to stay in the game at 96-4.
26 overs remained and Spencer needed 179 to win, at 6.88 an over, with 6 wickets left. Adam Caddy joined Maduranga Zoysa, 2no, at the fall of the 4th wicket. Both found the going tough, as Seadon, (9-1-38-1) Currency, and Aneesh Jhalla bowled tight lines, restricting the host’s run rate to a tad over 4 an over. Rehan Ratna replaced Currency (10-3-31-2) in the 36th over.
In the 38th over with Spencer on 158 runs, Caddy was caught at deep third man by Bopara, off Ratna, for 32 runs. By then, at 158-5, Spencer’s required run rate to win had climbed to around 11.5 an over, with 10 overs left. A difficult task but not impossible; however, the next 5 wickets fell for just 59 runs as scoreboard pressure took its toll.
At 171 in the 40th over, Zoysa lost his wicket for 37 to an Edwards catch at mid-on, off Ratna; and with it, any reasonable chance the hosts had of reaching the target had all but disappeared. Realistically, at a required rate to win of almost 15 an over, they only had bonus points to play for.
Sutton’s youngsters, Jhalla (10-0-45-2) and Ratna, (6-0-39-3) wrapped up the innings between them, taking full advantage of the burden on Spencer’s lower order to reach bonus point territory.
The hosts were eventually all out in 46.3 overs, reaching a total of 217, and falling short by 58 runs of the target set.
##
Whilst Spencer and Malden Wanderers found themselves idle last weekend due to a COVID concern cancelling their fixture, Sutton took full advantage, convincingly beating Guildford to close the gap at the top of the division to 17 and 1 point, respectively. After Saturday’s impressive 57-run win over fellow promotion contenders Spencer, the margin on last week’s leaders has now reduced to just one point:
| POS | TEAM | P | w | wcn | t | l | c | a | BatP | BowlP | Pen | Pts |
| 1 | Malden Wanderers CC | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 134 |
| 2 | Spencer CC | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 134 |
| 3 | Sutton CC | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 133 |
| 4 | Beddington CC | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 93 |
| 5 | Guildford CC | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 93 |
Full table available here: https://surreychampionship.play-cricket.com/website/division/87539
Scorecard here.
Next week Sutton travel to Camberley CC, whilst Spencer CC host Valley End CC and Malden Wanderers visit Chipstead C&W CC.
Saturday 26th June 2021
Matchday Programme here.
Sutton CC 1st XI v Guildford CC 1st XI
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm start. ‘50-Overs’ format.
Sutton CC won by 62 runs.
Sutton CC: 268-4 off 50 overs, (20 points.) Guildford CC: 206ao 49.3 overs (3 bonus points; batting.)
No ‘time’ games this season!
After seven weeks of 100-overs matches, the Surrey Championship was due to start its nine rounds of time/declaration games on Saturday, 26th June. Sutton CC’s home fixture versus Guildford CC would have been the first in the series of time/declaration games for both clubs. However, the government/ECB restrictions on dressing room and pavilion use, etc. are not being lifted further for at least another three weeks plus. Given the circumstances, the Championship asked for input from the ten 1st Division clubs as to which game format they preferred to follow for the remainder of the season. The consensus, accepted by the League, was for this year’s 1st Division competition to continue as a 100-overs only competition.
Thus, no time/declaration games are to be played this season in the 1st Division. All future fixtures will start at 12.00pm; with the final two fixtures starting at 11.30am. So, after preparing for a series of time/declaration games, it’s as we were for this and the succeeding ten week’s cricket.
Sutton CC v Guildford CC
On a bright, warm, afternoon at Cheam Road, Luke Smith, Sutton’s skipper, won the toss and elected to bat first. The wicket looked perfect for batting, which became apparent as the game took shape.
Tight opening spells from James McMillan and James Crouch were patiently negotiated by the Sutton openers, Smith, and Sam Seadon, as the first 10 overs yielded just 18 runs.
Oli Birts, the Guildford captain, replaced McMillan for the 11th over; and the next 10 overs produced 30 runs. Shoaib Bashir replaced Birts; and Alex Sweet switched with the highly effective Crouch, whose 10 over spell conceded a miserly 23 runs.
The following 10 overs delivered a further 46 runs without loss. Skipper Smith stood on 40no and Seadon, 48no. At 94-0 off 30 overs, Sutton’s run rate was improving nicely, with the innings poised to take advantage of the wickets in hand and a progressively more encouraging pitch for batting.
On the other hand, Guildford, at that stage, must have been delighted with their efforts in the field. On balance, restricting the hosts to a rate of only 3 and a bit after 30 overs, must have encouraged the visitors hugely.
Guildford’s pleasure soon sank though. In total contrast to the rather solid, albeit rather unexciting action during the first 30 overs, the final 20 saw Sutton’s top order explode in a frenzy of potent hitting that took the score to 268 for the loss of 4 wickets at the end of Sutton’s allotted 50 overs. The visitor’s bowling wilted under of the pressure of the batting onslaught as 174 runs were scored during the last 20 overs, at a rate of 8.7 an over.
The opening partnership hit 147 off 37 overs before Seadon, batting boldly for his 70 runs, swung vigorously at Jason Soames only to snick to keeper Andy Parker. At 203/1, Smith who had batted patiently at the outset but then explosively, sashayed down the wicket, stumped Parker, for a superb 92.
Fabian Cowdrey, who stood on 30 off 21 balls at the time, was joined by Chris Morris, who, attempting to remove the leather from the ball as only he does, came, and went for 2, leaving Sutton at 218-3 by the end of the 44th over. Cowdrey added another 20 to his score before falling to a Jason Soames slip catch off Birts in the 46th over, for a brilliantly constructed 50 off 31 balls.
At 227 for 4, Dan Edwards, 1no, was joined by Etinder Bopara. The final 25 balls of the innings flew to all parts, as Edwards joined in the fun. At the conclusion of the innings, he finished 29no off 17 balls. Bopara, offering careful support, ended on 12no from 10 balls.
So, Sutton’s innings progressed exponentially, reaching a final total that realistically, no one on the ground would have believed possible after the first 30 overs. In turn, one cannot overestimate the value of Sutton’s opening partnership, especially the final 7 overs, which grossed 53 runs. It set the tone for the innings; and left the Guildford XI with a tough challenge to overcome.
In reply, the visitor’s got off to a bad start. Facing Sam Blake, former Hampshire professional Oli Soames, fell to a sharp Edwards catch behind the stumps, 3rd ball of the innings for a duck. In the 9th over Blake (10-2-35-2) struck again. Edwards once more involved, taking the catch to dismiss George Stephens for 10.
At 99-2 in the 28th over, Guildford were making a good fist at reaching the target. Freddie Geffen, a stylish teenage bat who came to the crease at the fall of Oli Soames, was standing on 51no, supported ably by Jason Soames, on 33no.
107 runs and 8 wickets later Guildford were all out for 206 as Sutton’s spinners took it in turn to mesmerise the batsmen although it was a sharp run out that started the slide. Geffen was left high and dry by the call for a single from Soames, off the bowling of Cowdrey (10-0-32-1). It was a risky run. A smooth pick-up and accurate throw by Morris from square-leg to Edwards, ensured that it was not completed. Geffen, run out for a beautifully made 51, leaving Guildford at 99-3 in the 29th over.
Sutton’s three left-arm spinners then got to work. The next 4 wickets were all bowled. Soames by Aneesh Jhalla (9.3-0-51-3) for 41; Sweet by Cowdrey for 3; Fred McMillan by Dane Currency (10-1-41-2) for 33. Connor Griffin’s pace (10-1-42-1) sneaked into the act by spreading James McMillan’s stumps for 14. Meanwhile, Parker was tempted by Currency and Blake’s safe-hands seized the resultant slog to deep mid-wicket. Parker gone for 14 and Guildford labouring at 170-8 in the 42nd over. During the 38th over, Morris, who struggled with injury for a few overs, was replaced by 12th man, Jay Evemy.
A plucky 9th wicket counter of 36 between Birts and Crouch, saw the visitor’s reach 206 in the 49th over before Jhalla captured Birts’ wicket LBW, for 20. Jhalla’s next ball, to Bashir, gave skipper Smith his chance to crown a top personal performance. Bashir simply lobbed the ball straight to him at mid-on, who grabbed it gleefully, seeing Sutton home by the margin of 62 runs.
As top-notch result which keeps Sutton at third place in the table. The gap with the top two, Malden Wanderers CC and Spencer CC, has closed however, as their fixture was COVID affected and like Sutton’s last week, cancelled.
| POS | TEAM | P | w | l | c | a | BatP | BowlP | Pen | Pts |
| 1 | Spencer CC | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 130 |
| 2 | Malden Wanderers CC | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 114 |
| 3 | Sutton CC | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 113 |
| 4 | Leatherhead CC | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 91 |
| 5 | Stoke D’Abernon CC | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 90 |
Top 5 standings (of 10) at close of play 26th June 2021
Next week sees Sutton look to close the gap even more as they travel to top of the table Spencer CC. This should be cracking encounter; and all support is welcome, naturally.
Scorecard here.
Parking on the Spencer Club side of Fieldview.
Important: When parking on the pavement, please allow 1.2m between your car and the hedge or any street furniture – parking attendants regularly patrol the area even on Saturdays and Sundays!
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Due to the incidence of COVID amongst clubs, last week’s fixture between the 1st XI’s of Beddington CC and Sutton CC, was cancelled. The Surrey Championship, following advice from the Surrey Cricket Foundation and the ECB, required players of affected clubs to quarantine. Thus, throughout the level’s, fixtures were cancelled, as many clubs fell victim to the virus. Aside from Sutton’s game at Beddington, cancellations also included two other fixtures from Division 1.
Saturday June 19th 2021: Beddington CC v Sutton CC Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) CANCELLED, (COVID influenced.)
Saturday 12th June 2021
Matchday Programme here.
Sutton CC 1st XI v Valley End CC 1st XI
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm start. ‘50-Overs’ format.
Sutton CC won by 6-wickets.
Valley End CC: 193ao 48-overs (2 bonus points; batting.)
Sutton CC: 195-4 in 43.2-overs, (20 points.)
VALLEY END FALL TO CALCULATED SUTTON WIN
This week Sutton returned to doing plenty of the right things needed to gain victory. A comprehensive win at Cheam Road, against a spirited Valley End 1st XI, the result.
The visitor’s skipper, Tom Nevin, won the toss and on another beautiful, sunny, and warm day, elected to bat on a wicket that looked perfect for batting. Openers, Shaun Young and Russel Lane started steadily, playing the new ball partnership of Sam Blake and Connor Griffin watchfully.
Throughout an exceptional 10 over spell, Blake had no luck whatsoever, (10-2-29-0); but his accuracy, supported very well by the determined Griffin, kept a lid on Valley End’s occasional attempts to push on at a quicker rate.
Undoubtedly frustration at the sluggish batting tempo produced the first Sutton wicket. Lane, on 20 and attempting to pull Griffin’s final ball of the 10th over, simply clipped the ball to an appreciative Fabian Cowdrey at square leg. Standing 34 for 1, Young was joined at the crease by Ed Young and the pair progressed, little by little, to 76 at the end of the 21st over. Shaun on 31no and Ed, 21no.
Next over, Dane Currency, replacing Griffin’s pace with left-arm spin for the 14th, tempted Shaun Young who, on 31, edged and gave keeper Josh Blake an undemanding, yet competently taken catch. With Valley End standing at 77 for 2, the attack was now all-spin; Fabian Cowdrey joining Currency in the 21st over after Blake had completed his first-rate opening spell.
The pressure on Valley End increased and as the run rate tumbled to around 3.30 an over, the spinners regularly breached the opposition’s defences. Three further wickets fell during the next 14 overs, for 43 runs. Currency added another wicket by bowling Charlie Dunnett for 4; Cowdrey, (10-2-26-1), bowled Ben Kingsnorth for 5 and Aneesh Jhalla, replacing Currency, (10-0-47-2), in the 30th over, bowled Ed Young round his legs, for a dogged 47.
With the score standing at 120 for 5, off 36.1 overs, Dan Vernon, 8no, was joined by Valley End’s skipper, Tom Nevin. The next few overs produced a robust counterattack, adding 33 runs until, in the 42nd over, Jhalla struck again, bowling Vernon for 20.
Jhalla, (9-0-44-3), and Griffin, (9-1-45-4), returning to the attack in the 44th over, wrapped up proceedings whilst the predictable end of innings thrash took place. 40 valuable runs were added as Valley End’s score moved on from 153 for 6 to 193ao at the conclusion of the 48th over. Despite the visitor’s late flurry, the challenge for Sutton to win was essentially, a straightforward 4 runs an over.
A steady response developed before Sam Seadon, with 32 runs on the board after 9.3 overs, attempted one of his most productive shots, the lofted cover drive; but this time he was caught comfortably by Nevin, off the bowling of Angus Boobbyer for 21. Josh Blake joined skipper Smith and the pair progressed to 57 before Smith, attempting a brisk second, was run out by a terrific Dunnett throw from deep point.
With the Sutton score standing at 57 for 2 after 16.2 overs, Cowdrey arrived at the crease to link up with Blake. A magnificent century plus stand ensued, placing the home XI in total control of the match. From 20 overs the pair added 109 runs taking the score to 166, at which point Dunnett, bowling effectively from the Tennis Courts end, knocked over Cowdrey’s stumps.
Cowdrey’s 60 in 71 balls had taken 74 minutes during which time partner Blake, 56no, had added 43. Just 28 runs were needed now for Sutton to return to winning ways: and there were 7 wickets and just over 12 overs remaining.
The target was reached comfortably, despite losing Chris Morris in the 41st over, bowled Dunnett, for 11. Etinder Bopara hit the winning runs, ending the match 5no. Blake had played superbly for his 69no. His was a significant contribution, along with Cowdrey’s, to a convincing Sutton win that was sorely needed after last weekend’s shambles.
This week the players all responded in the best way possible. Again, it was not perfect; but more than enough of the right things were accomplished to gain victory. An all-round, professional, and focused approach netted the 20 points for Sutton. More of the same next week vs. Beddington CC, would suit very nicely indeed!
Scorecard here.
For this season’s previous match reports please click here.
Saturday 5th June 2021
Matchday Programme here.
Sutton CC 1st XI v Stoke D’Abernon CC 1st XI
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm start. ‘50-Overs’ format.
Stoke D’Abernon CC won by 12-runs.
Stoke D’Abernon CC: 103-10 (30.3-overs) 20 points.
Sutton CC: 91-10 (24.3-overs) 3 bonus points, (bowling.)
There were sullen faces all-round Sutton Cricket Club on Saturday evening as all, and sundry expressed their dismay at the 1st XI’s failure to chase Stoke D’Abernon’s low total.
After dismissing the visitors for just 103-runs, Sutton’s hopes of securing their fourth league win of the season were high. After all, they achieved victories from similar positions against Camberley and Leatherhead earlier in the season, following dismissals of 102 and 123, respectively. In turn, Sutton then went on to easy wins by 6 and 7 wickets. This time it was not that simple.
On another glorious Saturday for cricket, Stoke D’Abernon won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket that looked promising for batting. It appeared a good choice. Having said that there was rain on the previous day, probably adding a bit of spice to the wicket.
A good toss to lose then. It certainly felt like it as Sutton immediately made the visitors pay. Off Sagar Joshi’s third fair delivery, Stoke’s captain, James Trower, was dismissed no score, cutting straight to gully, where Sam Woods took a sharp catch low down. 8 for 1 soon became 12 for 2, when Will Gudgeon edged Sam Blake to Dan Edwards, who took a fine catch at slip.
Opener Max Subba Row was next to perish, caught behind by Josh Blake off Joshi for 1-run. 14 for 3. A superb piece of keeping followed. Standing back from the pace of his brother, Sam, Josh collected cleanly, and propelling the ball instantly, hit the stumps directly. Oliver Trower was deemed just out of his crease by the umpire at square. Stumped for a duck; Stoke 14 for 4.
Sam Blake, bowling beautifully without much luck, continued from the Tennis Court end, while Sam Seadon’s medium pace replaced Joshi’s speed, (3-0-23-2), from the Cheam Road end. Seadon’s third ball crashed through Alasdair Curran’s defences, bowled for 12, and Stoke, at 32 for 5 off 7.3-overs, were truly staring at the abyss.
Sutton’s bowlers were now well on top. In over 10, Stoke’s keeper, Tom Frost, was caught expertly at slip by Fabian Cowdrey, off Seadon for 10-runs, leaving Stoke 41 for 6. Blake and Seadon continued for the next 7-overs, but the pair were unable to make further inroads, although Robbie Blackburn, who joined Ian Hopton, 3no, at the fall of the 6th wicket and yet to score, straightaway survived a deafening, confident close fielders’ appeal for a catch behind off Blake.
Thereafter, the Stoke innings stabilised a tad, as Hopton maintained the anchor role. Blackburn, taking a liking to Seadon’s bowling, was making hay however, reaching 30 off 25-balls by the end of the 17th over. At that stage, Hopton, offering determined, obstinate defence in support, stood on 3no from 30-balls and the Stoke innings, 73 without further loss.
Left-arm spin would dominate the latter stages of the Stoke innings. Aneesh Jhalla replaced Seadon, (6-1-39-2); and Dane Currency came on for Blake, (8-5-9-2). Immediately, the pair restricted the scoring and eventually created several chances.
Blackburn, attempting to resume his swashbuckling approach to Stoke’s shaky circumstances, eventually fell in the 21st over for 33-runs, off 37-balls, including 6 fours. Hitting out at Jhalla, Blackburn hoicked a pull to Cowdrey who took a straightforward catch at mid-off. 78 for 7.
The last three wickets manufactured 25 vital runs as Stoke’s innings came to an end on 103. Currency ended with a double strike and figures of 7-2-7-2; Jhalla with figures of 6.3-0-22.2.
To win Sutton needed to overcome another low total, something they should have got used to doing this season, as described earlier. After all, it was a decent wicket. So, a doddle, right? Sadly not.
Stoke came out at the resumption determined to make Sutton sing for their supper, as the opening bowlers set the scene. Steaming in, unwavering as they searched for the positive start they needed, it was Toby Tarrant who established the perfect foundation.
At 14 in the 4th over, he grabbed Luke Smith’s wicket, caught superbly at cover point by Ollie Trower, for 8-runs. At 22 in the 6th over Tarrant struck again. This time Seadon falling to a Will Frost slip catch for 5. At 22 for 2, with 8 wickets remaining, the money was still on Sutton achieving the 82-runs needed to win.
Disconcertingly, 57 runs later Sutton had lost a further 6-wickets, as Tarrant and his fellow opening bowler, Ben Townsend, ripped through the card. Tarrant ending with figures of 9-2-24-4; and Townsend 9-2-47-4. All-in-all, a superb exhibition of controlled, aggressive, and effective pace bowling.
Dan Edwards stood alone, almost single-handedly turning the game in Sutton’s favour. Sadly, he fell to a Townsend mid-off catch, off Blackburn, for 32-runs from 33-balls. Realistically, any hope of a miraculous win disappeared with that wicket. Youngsters Sam Blake and Aneesh Jhalla, worked hard to stay in the game, nonetheless, scoring 12-runs in 6-overs for the 10th wicket, before Blake was bowled by Hopton for 7, leaving Jhalla 3no. So, Sutton, all out for 91-runs off 24.3 overs, handed Stoke with an extraordinary victory by 12-runs, against all the odds.
After reaching a total that on most days Sutton would have bettered, Stoke D’Abernon fought like fury to come out ahead, their never-say-die spirit ultimately rewarded. Well played!
For Sutton, the manner of defeat was surprising, given how dominant they have been for much of the season. Their recent wins have come from doing enough of the right things to get the job done. It does not mean that when they were victorious, they were perfect. It simply means they did plenty of the right things needed to gain victory. Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn!
Next Saturday there is an opportunity to get back on track and ‘do those right things again’ as Valley End CC visit Cheam Road in the 6th round of the Surrey Championship Division 1 fixtures; 50-overs, start at 12.00pm.
Saturday 29th May 2021
Malden Wanderers CC 1st XI v Sutton CC 1st XI
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm start. ‘Overs’ format.
Sutton CC won by 4-runs.
Sutton CC: 217-6 (50-overs) 20 points.
Malden Wanderers CC: 213-7 (50-overs) 4 bonus points, (3 batting, 1 bowling.)
Splendid all-round display results in narrow Sutton victory.
On Saturday, Sutton registered their third win from four games (one abandoned) in the Surrey Championship 1st Division, with a tight 4-run win over Malden Wanderers at Cambridge Avenue.
Contrasting dramatically from recent rain and ice-age match day backdrops, the change in weather conditions could not have been starker. The sun appeared, dogs howled, young children wept, the temperature soared; and the game started on time at 12.00pm!
Sutton captain, Luke Smith, won the toss and elected to bat. Although a little green, the wicket did look a good one. Wanderers’ opening bowlers, Rafeh Jafri and Joe Lavender, set off strongly though, restricting Sutton’s opening batsmen, skipper Smith and Sam Seadon, to just 21 off the first 10-overs.
The pressure was mounting to increase the run rate and in attempting to do so, Smith fell victim in the 12th-over to an edge off Lavender, caught behind by Wanderers’ skipper/keeper, Richard Croney, for 7-runs. 22/1 and Josh Blake joined Seadon (12 not out) at the crease.
By the 37th-over the pair, getting to grips neatly with the pitch conditions, had advanced rapidly to 150/1. Out of the blue, Seadon was bowled by Kevin Boudville, for a beautifully fashioned 76, which included ten 4s and two 6s! Fabian Cowdrey was next in, joining a buoyant Blake, 51 not out, and riding his luck a tad after two Boudville caught and bowled attempts were put down. In fairness to the bowler, both chances were extremely tough, and he did well to get a hand on both.
Cowdrey quickly reached 21 before being adjudged LBW off William Sabey; questionably, some would say! 185/3 off 44.2-overs and Sam Woods joined Blake, who had moved on to 64 not out.
The run rate was now almost 4.25 an over, and the desire to increase this to a more challenging level was clear to see. After all, with 7-wickets left and a little over 5-overs remaining it meant the Sutton mid-order could, ‘go for it’; and they did to a degree, adding a further 32-runs, to reach a total of 217 in their allotted 50-overs. In the process, 3-wickets fell. Blake, attempting a big hit straight, was bowled by Boudville for a tidy 69. Dan Edwards was caught, unquestionably ‘going for it’, on the mid-on boundary by Alex Butler off Lavender for 3; and Woods was run out attempting a second run, for 13.
Chasing 218 to win, Wanderers started briskly and at 32/0 off 6-overs openers Zac Elkin on 14 and Andrew Carson on 17 were building a very productive base from which Wanderers could challenge the target. That was until Edwards took an excellent slip catch low down, to dismiss Carson for 17, off the bowling of Sagar Joshi. 32/1 soon became 39/2 when Alex Butler, shouldering arms, was clean bowled by an excellent Sam Blake delivery that came back devastatingly off the seam.
After a period of consolidation, Toby Finzel fell LBW to Blake at the end of the 12th-over, for 12. Elkin remained resolute, standing on 22 not out. Then came one of three mini stands that for periods of the innings, looked to have turned the game in Wanderers favour. Elkin was joined by Pete Young, and at 101/3 off 24-overs Sutton were beginning to feel a little anxious that the game might be slipping away from them. At that point Edwards stepped in again, taking another superb catch, this time at mid-on, bagging the highly effective Elkin for 48-runs, off the left-arm spin of Cowdrey.
‘Get one, get two’, as an old pro used to say, although this time it was, ‘get three!’ 101/4 soon became 134/6 as skipper Smith performed two of his three acts of fielding brilliance. The first, in the 32nd-over, was a one-handed catch at cover-point, to dismiss Sabey off Aneesh Jhalla for 12; and then in the 36th-over another top grab nailed Jafri for 4-runs, again off Jhalla’s bowling.
Young, now 26 not out and performing admirably, was holding the Wanderers innings together. Nevertheless, with just 4-wickets to go and 84-runs required, the target now seemed a long way off; and the energy returned fully to the Sutton fielders as they sensed victory. However, Wanderers are no push-over this year, and with 14-overs left, they were never giving up on this game.
Young was joined by Croney, and the pair made valuable headway during the next 7-overs to reach 172/6. The game had shifted in Wanderers’ favour again. 46-runs needed to win off 7-overs, and still 4 wickets left. Suddenly, the pressure on Sutton eased a smidgeon as Smith completed one more outstanding piece of fielding, running out Young for 43, with a terrific direct hit from the covers. Thus, from Sutton’s viewpoint, breaking an increasingly effective and dominant stand.
At 172/7 it was still anyone’s game. The run rate required was edging up nonetheless and stood at just over 6.5 an over as James Rimmer came to the crease. He and Croney made solid progress, reaching 190/7 off 46-overs. The game was undeniably moving their way, although the required rate was now 7-runs per over.
Special mention at this juncture to the team’s youngest two players, Sam Blake and Aneesh Jhalla, both of whom handled commendably the pressure of bowling the final 4-overs, defending the 28-runs needed for Wanderers to win. Blake with pace from one end and Jhalla’s left arm spin from the other. Valuable advice by the skipper and experienced colleagues helped the lads complete their task successfully.
Staying calm and focused throughout the 4-overs, both kept particularly good lines and length, and were never distracted by the odd boundary. The final over of the 50 allotted arrived with Wanderers wanting 14-runs to win; and the ball was handed to Blake, with Croney facing.
First ball, an appeal for LBW. Decision: leg-bye! 5-balls to go. Rimmer, striking the ball with ferocity, saw Blake’s 2nd ball rattle pass the outside edge to the keeper. 4-balls left and 13-runs needed. Rimmer then magnificently struck two consecutive boundaries. 2-balls to go and 5-runs needed. The tension was palpable, as Sutton’s skipper offered Blake guidance. Two superb, swinging delivers later, missed completely by the batsman, and Blake sees Sutton through to victory by 4-runs!
A tremendous game of cricket. Two extremely well-matched XIs. Quality batting, precise bowling, and from both teams, terrific fielding all-round. The club game at its best!
What a week it has been for your steadfast Third Man! First, Gander Green Lane neighbours, Sutton United, gain promotion to the Football League, (congratulations U’s); second, a great day scoring as Sutton CC win at Malden Wanderers; and finally, but certainly not least, my Chelsea FC are crowned Champions League winners! I am still recovering from it all!
Saturday 22nd May 2021
Sutton CC 1st XI v Leatherhead CC 1st XI
Matchday Programme here.
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm start.
Sutton CC, Surrey – 1st XI – Won by 7-wickets
Sutton: 119-3 (30.3 overs) (Revised Target 116 from 40.0 overs) 20 points.
Leatherhead: 123 all out (42.4 overs) 0 points.
1.00pm start. Reduced overs to 45 from 50.
Sutton cruise to comfortable win!
Once again rain fell relentlessly during the week preceding the game and it came as no surprise that there were damp spots on the edge of the wicket; and that the start would be delayed. An area right near the popping crease at the Tennis Courts end caused most of the concern. However, sterling work by the grounds staff, the chairman, skipper and players, all determined to ‘get the game on’, resulted in the umpires inspecting conditions at 12.30pm, before deciding when to start.
The outfield was drying nicely and once a few smatterings of sawdust were laid to secure the bowlers footholds, the umpires determined that play could start at 1.00pm, a delay of just one hour, with the match now reduced to a 45-overs game.
Sutton’s captain, Luke Smith won the toss and given the understandably greenish wicket, elected to field. It proved a wise decision. Within minutes Leatherhead were stunned by the ferocity of opening bowlers Sam Blake and Sagar Joshi. Opener Jonathan Tribe was bowled by Blake’s first ball of the game for a golden and then next in, James Musgrave, on 1-run, nicked Joshi to Dan Edwards at slip.
The score stood at 3-runs for 2-wickets after 2.4-overs, as Leatherhead’s skipper, Adam Dyson, strode to the crease; and with opener Joel Walker, they went to work repairing the damage. After reaching 60 in the 17th-over, Dyson miscued to mid-on off Dane Currency’s 4th ball, where Fabian Cowdrey held an excellent running catch. From 60-3 Leatherhead fell away, scoring only another 67 runs.
Sutton’s trio of left-arm spinners were simply relentless as they ran through the visitor’s remaining batsmen to tumble them out for 123 off 42.4-overs. Cowdrey ending with 3 for 17 off 9-overs, Currency 2 for 20 off 9, and Aneesh Jhalla, 2 for 12 off just 4.4. In between, Joshi took one more to end with figures of 2 for 18 off 6.
With the rain beginning to play hide and seek, Sutton’s openers, Smith and Sam Seadon, reached 24-runs after 7-overs when the heavens worryingly opened. The game was halted for an hour, thankfully resuming at 5.15pm; but now with a reduced target of 116, off 40-overs. So, 92 more runs needed from the remaining 33-overs.
Sutton’s top order all contributed to an uncomplicated and victorious run chase. Smith scoring 34-runs, Seadon 23, and Josh Blake 31. Cowdrey on 13 not out, and Etinder Bopara, 7 not out, guided Sutton home untroubled, to win by 7-wickets. Sutton finished 119 for 3, off 30.3-overs. Scorecard.
Another comprehensive win for Sutton leaves the club joint leaders of the division on 45-points. This coming Saturday, 29th May, Sutton visit one of the other two clubs on 45-points, Malden Wanderers CC, start 12.00pm.
Saturday 15th May 2021
Chipstead Walcountians & Coulsdon CC 1st XI v Sutton CC 1st XI
Surrey Championship 1st Division (1st XIs) 12.00pm start.
Match abandoned due to adverse weather conditions: it simply chucked it down!
Remarkably, despite overnight and early morning rain, Saturday’s league fixture started on time at 12.00pm. After taking a good look at prevailing conditions, the umpires deemed the wicket and the outfield fit for play. Although the general forecast was unfavourable, there was no rain around at the time. CW&C skipper, Nick Woods, won the toss and given the greenish strip, unsurprisingly, elected to field.
Sutton skip, Luke Smith, and Sam Seadon opened the innings as ominously, heavy clouds appeared to the west. Off the first ball of the day, bowled by Michael Bradley, Smith survived a confident appeal for caught behind by what sounded like all eleven of the CW&C players. Not out! Bradley was bowling tidily and eventually entrapped Smith, LBW for 5-runs off 18 balls.
With the score standing 11 for 1, Seadon was joined at the crease by Josh Blake. After dealing sensibly with Bradley, (9-5-19-1) the pair seized the initiative and forged a carefully constructed stand of 75-runs before the rains came and forced everyone to run for cover, whatever form that cover legally took! The score at the time, 1.30pm, stood at 86-1 off 19.4-overs; Seadon 60 not out off, 67-balls, and Blake 14 not out, off 34-balls.
Attempts were made a couple of times to get play on again, but two very heavy downpours saw to it that the abandonment was inevitable, with both clubs awarded 5-points.
The game in pictures:
AFTER THEY ALL GAVE IT A GOOD GO, THE MATCH WAS, SOMEWHAT INEVITABLY, ABANDONED.
Saturday 8th May 2021:
Matchday Programme here.
Sutton CC 1st XI v Camberley CC 1st XI Cheam Road, Sutton.
Surrey Championship 1st Division, (1st XIs); 50-overs format. Scheduled start 12.00pm.
Match reduced to 86-overs, (43-overs each,) due to adverse ground conditions. Start delayed 1 hour 15 minutes.
Camberley CC 1st XI won the toss and elected to bat.
Camberley CC 1st XI 102 all out (40.5-overs.) Sutton CC 1st XI 103-4 (27.3-overs.)
Result: Sutton CC 1st XI Won by 6-wickets.
The opening Saturday of the league season was indeed a golden day for Sutton Cricket Club. All four of the Club’s league XIs were victorious, led by a stonking 1st team victory at Cheam Road. In a collective feat that, when it occurs always gives the Club a justified lift, other XIs matched the 1s with equally impressive triumphs.
Contrary to predictions, the rain showers gradually dispersed, enabling play throughout the county to take place, where possible, much earlier than originally anticipated. Nevertheless, the start of the 1st XI’s game versus Camberley was delayed by the umpires who, quite rightly, needed the ground to dry out more before deciding whether play could safely start, or not. Happily, they decided that play would commence at 1.15pm.
The visitor’s captain, (and wicketkeeper), James Crosthwaite, won the toss and elected to bat. Opener Vijay Bhaskar commandeered much of the strike during an opening stand with Trevor McGeer of 43-runs from 13-overs. In the 14th over, Sam Blake, producing a spell of fine, controlled seam bowling from the Tennis Courts end, lifted McGeer’s wicket, caught by Fabian Cowdrey at mid-on, for 15-runs, leaving Camberley 43-1. The next batsman, Dominic Peter, survived just one ball before Blake trapped him, plum LBW. 43-2.
Rehan Ratnasapabathy bowling from the Cheam Road end, supported Blake admirably until replaced by Dane Currency in the 13th over. Ratna finished his two spells wicketless, (7-0-24-0); but his tight bout of determined pace helped to keep Camberley’s batsmen tied down. The run rate was just 3.25 per over at this stage.
Blake ended his effective 9-over spell after the 19th over with 2-wickets for just 19-runs, replaced by Anesh Jhalla. Whilst keeping the Tennis Courts end quiet in support of first, Currency, and then Cowdrey, who came on for the 27th over, Jhalla produced an excellent final return of 8-0-17-0.
At 61-runs off 23.3-overs, Bhaskar, who had started to look dangerous, fell to a sharp Dan Edwards slip catch off the left-arm spin of Currency for 37. Camberley were really struggling now. At this stage, they were nowhere near a decent run rate, suffering at just 2.62-runs per over.
With only 19.3-overs remaining the visitor’s natural desire to up the score fell into the trap that is Fabian Cowdrey’s measured left-arm spin. 17.2-overs later and with the score at only 102-runs, Camberley were all-out, suffering at the potent finger-spin of Cowdrey. He walked off with a well-deserved 5-fer to his name and ended a devastating spell after 7.5-overs with 5-wickets for 18. Currency returned and added one more to his tally, finishing with admirable supporting figures of 9-3-19-2. Jhalla assisted splendidly with the last man’s run-out.
Chasing the relatively small target of 103-runs to win in 43-overs, Sutton were in for a shock early on. The 3rd ball of the innings, bowled by Trevor McGeer, saw Sam Seadon fall LBW without scoring. Skipper Luke Smith was joined by Josh Blake with the score at 3-runs for 1-wicket.
At the end of the 4th over, Camberley’s Josh Halsey, in a forlorn chase to save a Smith boundary, crashed into the sightscreen at the Tennis Courts end. Halsey sustained bruises around a knee and after a short while was driven to A & E at St Helier. All at Sutton CC wish Josh a full recovery and hope that he is back playing cricket again very soon.
Play resumed and soon the hosts were cantering home, standing at 47 for 1 after a mere 7-overs. Suddenly, however, Blake, on 29 from 22 balls, was bowled by Paul Stephens. 53 for the loss of 2-wickets soon became 65-3 after Cowdrey fell for 4-runs, caught at mid-off by Todd Hutcheson off Elliot Green. At this stage of the game, after 13-overs, Smith was standing not out 24.
Smith was joined at the crease by Sam Woods, and both proceeded calmly towards the target. With the score standing on 99-3, Smith 40 not out, and the job almost complete, Woods attempted to end the game with a showy clip off his legs. He’s played that shot many times before with success, but not today, as Holmes saw him coming down the track, reacting accordingly. Stumped by Crosthwaite for 17.
Smith was joined by Dan Edwards and the target of 103 was reached quickly after. Smith carried his bat for a fine, controlled 41 not out; and Edwards, hitting the winning run, finished 3 not out. Sutton victors by 6-wickets and 20-points collected.
A very satisfactory conclusion to a day when, given the menacing weather forecasts, most were anticipating a prolonged period of inactivity. One just can’t trust the English weather, can one?
Playing a team sport is about making your teammates better and helping your team win games. That’s the only thing that really matters, and the good players always have some effect on a game’s outcome.
Sutton CC now make a hard-working, resilient, competitive squad, with several being in and around for Club for many seasons. They’re certainly an experienced and talented side with match-winners in the team; and there’s undoubtedly potential to challenge for honours this season. It’s early days, of course, but the signs for success are extremely positive.
Beckenham CC 1st XI v Sutton CC 1st XI Saturday 1st May 2021 12.00pm at Foxgrove Rd Beckenham.
45-overs. Sutton CC won the toss and elected to bat.
Result: Sutton CC won by 185-runs.
Sutton CC 295/6 (45-overs).
Beckenham CC 110 all out (27.5 overs).
Sutton end pre-season strongly with another convincing win!
After winning the toss, Sutton’s skipper, Luke Smith, elected to bat. With their customary batting order modified slightly, striving to ensure the squad is fully prepared for the coming season, Etinder Bopara and Sam Woods opened the innings. They produced a rock-solid stand of 58 after the first 12-overs, before Bopara fell LBW to Alex Purwar for 30-runs.
Dan Edwards joined Woods, 25 not out, at the crease. Edwards progressed rapidly by smacking four boundaries in quick, characteristic fashion. A decent catch at deep mid-on did for him though. 17-runs off 14-balls. With the score now standing at 75-2 off 15-overs, a determined looking Josh Blake joined Woods. The score moved steadily to 100 before, in the 21st-over, the latter became the victim of a sharp, lifting ball from Cameron Pitt. Caught smartly by Beckenham’s keeper, James Balmforth, for 33.
Fabian Cowdrey was next in. By the 33rd over he and Blake had raced to 197. Both applied their wide array of shots judiciously, before Cowdrey was caught behind, off the bowling of Kamron Takhar, for a soundly made 43. Blake remained at the crease on 61 not out.
The next 12-overs brought Sutton another 98-runs for the loss of two further wickets, during which time Blake had sped to 106-runs. Another quality innings by the club’s very own, ‘run-machine’! Made off just 80-balls with sixteen boundaries, including one 6. Blake ultimately gave way in the 43rd-over to a Nick Rigg gully catch off Jahid Ahmed. At the close of their allotted 45-overs, Sutton had accumulated 295 for the loss of 6-wickets.
Facing a challenging 296 to win, Beckenham’s early responses as the game unfolded gave no indication of what lie ahead of them. Starting briskly, their openers, in the main Finnan Bryan, raced to 34 before, in the 5th-over, Sagar Joshi had Rigg caught behind by Josh Blake for 6-runs. At 87-1 in the 15th-over, the hosts looked more than capable of making a fist of the target set them.
Enter Sam Seadon who, in his 3rd-over, suddenly put a halt to Beckenham’s ambitions, bowling skipper James Fear for 27. At 97 in the 19th-over, Seadon struck again, forcing Pitt into a wasteful hoick, appreciatively and neatly taken by Woods at mid-on, for 4-runs.
During the following hour, Beckenham’s remaining 7-wickets fell for only 13 more runs. Dane Currency’s aggressive left-arm spin destroyed their middle-order, capturing 5-wickets off 6.5-overs for just 10-runs, including 3 maidens. Seadon, especially helpful in Beckenham’s batting collapse, finished with 3-wickets for 15-runs off his 7-overs of intelligent medium pace. There was also a run-out as Beckenham were skittled for 110, leaving Sutton resounding winners by 185-runs.
Aside from this and last week’s decisive 1st XI wins, victories were recorded against all opponents at all levels, for the second consecutive Saturday. The club is probably in the best shape it’s been in for a long time and is rightly optimistic as regards league prospects. Starting next Saturday, 8th May, the initial fixtures are as follows:
Another clean sweep next week would really set the pulses running!
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Friendly: Sutton CC v Dorking CC Cheam Road Saturday 24th April 2021 12.00pm
Dorking CC – 1st XI won the toss and elected to field
Result: Sutton CC – 1st XI – Won.
Sutton CC – 1st XI 410-6 (50 overs)
Dorking CC – 1st XI 89 all out (20.2 overs)
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t report on pre-season friendly fixtures. However, the game that took place at Cheam Road yesterday demands a mention, given the extraordinary batting display by one of Sutton CC’s exceptional young talents.
Josh Blake, entering the contest at the fall of Sutton’s first wicket (Sam Seadon, bowled T Dennis, 29-runs), scored 202-runs in 160 minutes, off just 124 balls. He remained not out in a knock that included 23 x 4, and 7 x 6, a total of 134-runs in boundaries! At the close Sutton had amassed a massive 410 for 6.
Built on a defence of remarkable impenetrability, Josh was simply impossible to play or to defend against. His was a tremendous innings viewed and enjoyed by a delightfully large Cheam Road crowd who, whilst lining the boundary in numbers, respected dutifully the groups of up to 6 people or 2 households’ protocol.
At the fall of the second wicket, on 69-runs, (skipper Luke Smith, c T Blood, b M Dunn, 31-runs), Blake (0*), Sutton welcomed Fabian Cowdrey, the former Kent CCC professional and now Sutton member, to the crease. 201-runs later, after an authoritative batting exhibition in support of Josh and his flourishing innings, (101*), Fabian departed just 9-runs short of a debut ton, (c Ikuta b B Rogers, 91-runs).
Of Sutton’s final total, 39-runs were scored by the mid-order whilst they simply let Josh carry on regardless of what the Dorking attack could bowl at him. Accumulating another 101-runs Josh ended his stint at the crease on 202 not out! After the tea break, Sutton brushed past Dorking’s batting swiftly, to record a pre-season win in style.
Instrumental to the win was Barbadian Dane Currency, a left-arm orthodox spin bowler and another fresh face amongst Sutton’s playing ranks this season. Dane’s skilful spell brough him 4-wickets for 9-runs. He was supported nicely by Cowdrey who, emphasising his all-rounder credentials, also with sharp left-arm orthodox spin, snatched 3-wickets for 5-runs.
Dorking succumbed, all out for 89-runs in 20.2-overs. Toby Blood, the visitor’s more than capable skipper, scored 41 of those runs in an excellent if brief cameo. Sagar Joshi took the first two Dorking wickets, (2-20) and Aneesh Jhalla grabbed the last wicket with his second ball of the match, (1-4).
Sutton, competing in the Surrey Championship Division One this season, were dominant from the first ball as they made light work of their Division Two rivals, whose innings was over within 90-minutes. Gratifyingly in time for Sutton’s valiant, shivering scorer to see his beloved Chelsea warm the cockles by thrashing Hammers 1-0! Not a bad day at all.
The Third Man @Harold_Limey
The Third Man 