Sutton remain top of the Surrey Championship after gaining four points in a dogged winning draw against Wimbledon at Church Road last Saturday.

The toss won, Wimbledon decided to bat but they lost wickets at regular intervals on their way to a circumspect, albeit reasonable total of 256 for 8 off 66-overs.

While opener Tim Carter, 51 runs, and keeper Dan Pratt, 47 not out, attempted to provide impetus to the Wimbledon innings, top order batman Mohammed Jaffer took 37-overs to reach his 60, tormented on the way by a stream of quality line and length bowling from Sutton’s fine attack.

Off-spinner Bilal Butt’s 2 for 70, from a marathon 22-over spell, was supported skillfully by medium fast Greg Betz, (2 for 37 off 9,) and laid the foundation to Sutton’s satisfying result.

With the squad in such excellent form this season thoughts naturally turned to winning the match.

Having been given back 55-overs, left-hander Zoheb Sharif, 36 runs, and old hand John Fry, 33 runs, set the tone as Sutton made every effort to establish a solid base from which to have a real go at the target.

After 20-overs at 74 for the loss of no wicket the chase seemed on but the arrival of Wimbledon’s wrist-spinner, Tarun Nethula, soon had Sutton on the back foot and wondering at one stage whether they would survive at all.

Nethula’s superb spell of 21-overs, 6 wickets for 53, almost secured victory for Wimbledon and at 200 for 8, with 16 balls to go, and effectively only one wicket, as Greg Betz was at hospital with a troubled shoulder, Sutton were gazing straight at their campaign’s first defeat.

But not for the first time this season Sutton regained the initiative with some positive cricket, as Butt, 14 not out, and Russell Coombe, 11 not out, saw the popinjays pass the 213 winning draw target in the 54th over, reaching a final tally of 222 for 8 and 4 well-deserved points.

Sutton will entertain Spencer this Saturday at Cheam Road.