Skipper fights lone battle

Aug 27 2008 Surrey Herald

SURREY CHAMPIONSDHIP PREMIER DIVISION Avorians 142 all out Reigate Priory 144-4 Avorians lost by six wickets

AN excellent innings from skipper Steve Naylor was not enough to save Avorians from a disappointing defeat at Reigate on Saturday.

Naylor came to the wicket with Avorians reeling at 1-2, and he soon lost four more partners as they stumbled to 45-6.

Only Mark Shepherd provided any support in a 75-run partnership, posting a battling 35 off 64 balls to help Avorians reach 120-7.

These two were the only batsmen to reach double figures, with Naylor finishing on 74, including 10 fours.

Facing a mediocre target, Reigate's openers soon took control, putting on 101 for the first wicket. And despite the commendable efforts of Jeremy Hinds (3-2), they cruised to an inevitable victory.

SURREY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE Banstead 201 all out Esher 78 all out Esher lost by 123 runs

ESHER'S see-saw season took another downward tilt on Saturday as they collapsed to a heavy 123-runs defeat.

It was a frustrating day for bowler George Brooksbank, who toiled for a marathon 26 overs, claiming an excellent 6-66, and also taking a catch.

Stubborn opener Mark Houghton made 78 off 296 balls, however, to steer his side to more than 200.

Esher's reply was in trouble from the moment they lost openers Thushara Managei and Robert Mutucumorama for just four apiece.

Charlie Rusell managed a defiant 30, but with eight batsmen failing to make double figures the outcome was all too predictable.

SURREY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE Walton 227 all out Beddington 174 all out Walton won by 63 runs

A TREMENDOUS 124-run partnership between Mark Bainbridge and Jason De Reuck set Walton on the way to a deserved victory over Beddington on Saturday.

They came together with Walton stuttering on 36-3. De Reuck, in particular, wasted no time in taking on the Beddington attack, scoring 58 off 57 balls, including nine fours, while Bainbridge scored 47.

Paul Hardwick (17) and Will SawtryCookson (22) added useful runs to make sure Walton could set a decent target.

Beddington were soon struggling in reply, and apart for brief mid-innings resistance, Walton's bowlers were always on top, with James Barrow, Mark Bainbridge and skipper Giles Henderson taking three wickets apiece.

SURREY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION FOUR Woking & Horsell 137 all out Chertsey 138-4 Chertsey won by six wickets

CHERTSEY boosted their survival hopes with an excellent victory over fellow strugglers Woking on Saturday.

Steve Bussey set the pattern, claiming the first three Woking wickets and going on to record excellent figures of 5-49 off 20 overs.

Skipper James Morley prevented a humiliation with a defiant 45, but with Phil Boast also taking three wickets, Woking could only set a modest target.

Chertsey lost both their openers cheaply, but then Lee Houghton (40no) and Brendan Byrne (74) put on a match-winning 114 run partnership.