IN PICTURES: Surrey Championship round up

PREMIER DIVISION

Ashtead picked up their second win in the Premier Division on Saturday as the Surrey Championship entered its match declaration format. Weybridge were the visitors, and they elected to field, and when Ashtead limped to 51-5 it seemed a good decision. However, Stewart Cameron (122) and Conor Young (40) put on 101 for the sixth wicket, and got the hosts to 236 all out in the 64th over. With the ball, Jordan Thomas (3-46) dismissed the top order, and Dom Sibley (3-28) was also among the wickets as the visitors fell all out for 214 - Thushara Managei top socred on 65. Ashtead are due to face Chipstead Coulsdon & Walcountians in the Surrey T20 tonight (Thursday), and are back in league action on Saturday at home to Guildford. Weybridge face Churt in the Surrey T20 tomorrow night (Friday), and are back in league action at Sutton the following day.

Ryan Cummins was the star of the show on Saturday as Beddington showed their struggling neighbours Sutton no mercy with an eight-wicket demolition. Cummins took 7-30 off 15.3 overs as Sutton amassed only 72 in 31 overs. It took Beddington, who host East Molesey this weekend, just 18.1 overs to tick off the runs.

While the format of the Surrey Championship season changed to the declaration, there was no change at the foot of the table after East Molesey suffered a fifth consecutive defeat. Title-contenders Sunbury were the visitors to Graburn Way on Saturday, and they promptly won the toss and had East Molesey all out for 133. Sunbury’s South African test international Dane Vilas hit the winning runs in the 20th over. East Molesey continue their hunt for a first win of the season at Beddington this weekend.

Wimbledon are up to third after a five-wicket win at Guildford. The season’s first game in the declaration format looked to be getting away from Wimbledon when their hosts were cruising at 115-2. However, the remaining eight wickets would tumble for just 30 runs, leaving Wimbledon to hit the 146 needed in 37 overs – Ryan Patel, who took 3-26, top-scored on 37. Wimbledon, who are 17 points behind the leading pair, go to Normandy this weekend.

DIVISION ONE

Tyler Meyer took 5-55 on Saturday, but it was not enough to ease Banstead’s worries after a five-wicket defeat at Old Whitgiftians kept them in the bottom two of the Division One table. After being put into bat, Banstead skipper Dan Newton top-scored with 40, but his team-mates offered little support in being skittled for 148 in an innings that included fine figures for Harshil Patel (4-37) and Mo Raza (4-43). Old Whitgiftians' Adam Clarke top scored on 68 as they ticked off the runs, despite Meyer’s best efforts, in the 53rd over. Banstead go to Walton on Thames this weekend, and the Old Boys go to Valley End this weekend.

Leatherhead maintained their push for an immediate return to the top flight thanks to a 156-run win at Valley End. Aneesh Kapil (94) and Jack Baker (88) fired Leatherhead to 283-8 in the first of the season’s declaration format matches. With the ball, Adam Dyson was too good for the hosts taking 4-9 off 6.3 overs and they were all out for 127. There was less good news in the Surrey T20 last week when a 19-run defeat at Chessington ended their interest in the competition. This weekend, Leatherhead go to Division One strugglers Spencer.

Malden Wanderers will be kicking themselves after only managing a winning draw on Saturday at the division’s bottom club Spencer. Pete Young (58), pictured above, and Neil Mander (67) propelled Wanderers to 253-9 in the face of some great bowling from Gus Grant (6-76). Spencer, who have one win to their name so far this season, frustrated their guests to end on 175-8 off 55 overs. Wanderers host leaders Cranleigh this weekend, while Leatherhead are the visitors to Fieldview.

Old Rutlishians’ Dan Wood hit 85 runs on Saturday, but he could not stop Walton on Thames running away with a nine-wicket win at the Home Ground. The Old Boys, who host Chipstead Coulsdon & Walcountians this weekend, carded 156 all out, a target easily consumed by the visitors in 30 overs and with only one wicket down - thanks in no small part to Anthony Alleyne's century knock (103). Walton host Banstead this weekend.

DIVISION TWO

Epsom could not stop the runaway leaders of Division Two taking another step towards the title, going down by eight wickets at home to Camberley – who now lead the table by 28 points. Godfrey Stevens (52) top-scored as Epsom struggled to 148 all out off 53.2 overs – a target passed with ease by the visitors inside 38 overs. Epsom go to strugglers Bank of England this weekend.

A disappointing losing draw at bottom club Egham saw Esher drop out of the top two. Ata-Ur-Rehman took 6-49 off 22 overs to restrict Egham 192-9. However, despite Shoaib Khan’s unbeaten 63, his Esher team-mates toiled in the sunshine to just 130-8 off 45 overs. Life will get no easier this weekend when leaders Camberley are the visitors to Esher.

Purley’s Razi Khan, pictured above, took 7-66, but he could not inspire his side to out-right victory in an early-season six-pointer in Division Two at Bank of England. Instead, they had to settle for a winning draw that keeps them in the bottom two of the table. Khan’s impressive bowling restricted BoE to 229-8 - featuring Janil Ramesh's half-century knock (55) - while Stuart Glassington (72) and Oliver Thornton (65) frustrated the BoE bowling attack en route to 223-9. Purley go to promotion-chasing Dulwich this weekend, and BoE host Epsom.

There were too many Nelsons – 111 runs - for Worcester Park on Saturday when they tied at Chessington. Park, who climbed to second on the back of the 12 points, had Chessington all out for 111 – thanks in part to Rob Hill’s figures of 4-8 off 6.1 overs. In reply, Park crashed from 42-2 to 111 all out to share the points. Park go to bottom club Egham this weekend.