East Molesey v Wimbledon

David Rushmere’s outstanding 80no was key to Wimbledon securing an exciting 12-run victory, which saw them leapfrog East Molesey into second place.

The visitors were looking sickly at 118-8 after being sent in but, aided by Richie Lamb’s obstinate 9no from 47 balls, Rushmere lifted them to a just about defendable 158 all out despite Toby Porter’s 7-48.

The value of that total was soon obvious, Matthew Benning producing a sprawling return catch to remove James  Cake for a duck and having Ollie Soames (4) caught in the slips off what appeared to be his elbow to leave Moles in trouble at 11-2.

It was Ollie Pike at the other end who proved the home side’s greatest menace, his 6-53 haul earning Wimbledon a notable victory.

A match never short of drama, on a pitch offering regular help to seamers, included a five-run penalty against the visitors for a level two disciplinary offence – for serious dissent.

The teams had plenty of opportunity to enjoy their meal when it came, rain taking an hour out of the match. It also gave Porter – acting head groundsman – a chance to recover from his 11-over opening spell, East Molesey regretting not having a third seamer on a pitch where it was required.

Rushmere cracked five fours and four sixes in his commanding display, Michael Shean finishing off the innings in the 52nd over with Porter finally resting after delivering 19.

Shean was soon back in action at in making 17 at the top of the order but at 77-7, after Nick Stevens was run out by Rushmere’s direct hit, they were in danger of a heavy defeat.

Newcomer Tom Cullen, the former Glamorgan player who had been scoring heavily for Old Rutlishians earlier in the season, impressed on his debut in making 33 and found a worthy partner in Matt Tigg (32) for an eighth-wicket alliance worth 53. But Benning returned to castle Cullen, Pike cleaning up the rest to ensure it was Wimbledon’s day after all.

It put them 14 points behind Sutton, defending champions Moles another 14 adrift in third.

Sutton v Sunbury

Leaders Sutton easily defeated Sunbury, cruising to victory by eight wickets.

Sam Seadon’s side made it three wins out of four – the run of successes only interrupted by an abandonment at Spencer – against a visiting side depleted by a wedding.

And when they slumped to 69-5 after being sent in, the visitors looked set to make the nuptials as late guests, skipper Rajan Soni’s 45 gaining little support. But Subhan Ramza (33), Aditya Prakasan (45) and Tyrone Visvakula (32) effected a partial rescue so that they reached 207 all out in the 62nd over.

Left-arm spinner Aneesh Jhalla, steady all season but without major reward, gained his just deserts by claiming 5-39 from 17.4 overs, Harry Gardner chipping in with 2-54.

Although missing Josh Blake from their top-order following his fine all-round display for Surrey at Scarborough, Sutton barely missed a beat chasing down the total thanks to openers Ryan Hackney (83n0) and Cameron Tanner (92) putting on 155 in 40.3 overs against a weakened attack.

By the time they were separated, the match was all but over and Sutton head into Saturday’s Thameslink derby at Wimbledon in confident mood.

Ashtead v Reigate Priory

Reigate restated their title credentials in a hard-working victory by 73 runs at Ashtead.

Having been inserted, Priory’s ability to bounce back from defeat by nine wickets at Sutton – prior to being rained off against lowly Dulwich – was tested when they slid to 58-3, Richie Oliver having scored 46 of them.

Skipper George Ealham’s 39 was followed by Fraser Sheat (57) and Harry McInley (54) as the visitors used their full 66 overs to reach 262-9, Ben Sidwell and Tom Homes taking three wickets each.

Ashtead’s reply was in good shape at 82-1 in the 26th over only for them to lose three wickets for 14 including former England opener Mark Stoneman for a third-ball duck. All-rounder Simon Keene led a revival with his aggressive 45 from 31 balls but the hosts went into terminal decline against spin pair Michael Munday (3-46) and Tommy Bates (3-14) to be bowled out for 189 in the 53rd.

That ensured Priory remain in sight of the summit, 28 points adrift, while inconsistent Ashtead slid to seventh with safety yet to be assured.

Banstead v Esher

Harri Aravinthan’s career-best 7-65 earned Banstead victory by four wickets.

He bowled throughout the Esher innings – a spell of 19 straight overs, three of them maidens – to ensure the visitors were dismissed for 151 after being sent in. They did well to get that many after being 17-4 and then 29-5, owing 34 from Nicolas Smit, and Alex Chambers (56).

Arjun Gill led the response by making 41 of the first 72 but Banstead too found batting less than easy, leg-spinner Freddie Harrison’s 4-46 giving Esher hope but without sufficient runs to back him up.

Esher sit just a point above the relegation zone, Banstead rising to sixth.

Dulwich v Spencer

Ollie Steele steered Dulwich to their first win for more than two months, offering hope of a miracle escape from the drop.

They beat Spencer by three wickets in the south London derby, a miserable run of five defeats having finally been ended a week earlier when they were rained off at Reigate.

It is Dulwich’s first season at top level since 2008 and they launched it with two wins out of three but since a shattering 342-run defeat to Sunbury it’s been a sobering summer.

Mid-table Spencer, promoted alongside them last year, offered them little encouragement initially by reaching 258 all out, having chosen to bat first. Toby Pratt (43), Troy Johnson (42), Henry Allinson (55) and Ben Kempley (41) all contributed although none went on to a major score. Much of that was down to William Jenkins (4-86) and Ahmed Khan (3-62).

Good starts have been rare for Dulwich but they made one this time, Khan (45) and Indian Test wicketkeeper KS Bharat (41) putting on 70. That proved a strong foundation for Steele, his major ally Jenkins (42) in a sixth wicket partnership worth 69, and when the captain departed just three more runs were needed before the hosts could celebrate for the first time since May 24.

They remain bottom and survival still looks a stretch but are now just 13 points below eighth-placed Esher.

Best of the rest

Weybridge went back on top in Division One thanks to a seven-wicket success at Malden Wanderers.

A controversial defeat at Walton, followed by last week’s rain, had halted their seemingly inevitable return to the Premier, following relegation last year, but they dismissed Wanderers for just 117, Joey Field’s 3-21 leading the way.

Haydir Ali’s 62no ensured the runs were knocked off in 28.5 overs.

Guildford, joint leaders at the start of the day, slipped to third after a five-wicket reverse against Normandy, who leapt over them.

Spin pair Viggy Venkateswaran (4-75) and Nathan Sowter (2-99) played a leading part in undermining the hosts, who stumbled to 230-8 from 65 overs, needing Australian all-rounder Josh Bartlett’s 52no to get them there.

But Normandy were given the ideal start by openers Oskar Kolk (62) and Trystan Kennedy (56) putting on 107.

And although Olly Birts (3-77) chipped away, Leicestershire’s Louis Kimber cracked 50 from 30, Chris Jones (22no) seeing his side to victory.

Blink or you miss it award went to Beddington, who disposed of rock bottom Oxted & Limpsfield for 49 in 24.4 overs, thanks to Tom Bevan’s outstanding 8-13 in 12.

Victory by nine wickets was achieved inside nine overs, leaving the hosts fourth while O&L are a massive 41 points adrift at the bottom and already needing snookers.

League placings at week 12/18

Premier Division: 1 Sutton 196; 2 Wimbledon 182; 3 East Molesey 168; 4 Reigate Priory 168; 5 Spencer 149; 6 Banstead 145; 7 Ashtead 140; 8 Esher 115; 9 Sunbury 114; 10 Dulwich 102.

Division 1 – promotion zone: 1 Weybridge; 2 Normandy. Relegation zone: 9 Cranleigh; 10 Oxted & Lmpsfld. Division 2 – promotion zone: 1 Rutlishians; 2 Horsley & Send. Relegation zone:  8 Cheam; 9 Stoke d’Abernon; 10 Wimbledonians.

Sunday supplement

East Molesey gained the ideal revenge for defeat a day earlier as they smashed Wimbledon by 133 runs to claim the Edwards Cup.

Finals day at Normandy a week earlier had been limited by weather to the semi-finals, which meant the teams had to reconvene at Church Road on Sunday.

Wimbledon soon found home advantage dissipating as Sam Burge (56) and Michael Shean (54) smashed 101 off the first eight overs, Marcus Campopiano (45 from 22) and Jamie Southgate (28 from 18) driving Moles up to an impressive 223-5.

Any sort of challenge to that was quickly lanced by skipper Andy Westphal taking three early wickets, the home side fading away to be 90 all out as spinner Shean and Southgate took two cheap wickets apiece.

Westphal was presented with a trophy which commemorates the huge contributions made by David and Virginia Edwards to the running of the old Surrey Championship and Moles head to Ealing on Sunday for the regional stage of the national competition.

Ashtead made a tame exit from the ECB National Club Championship when Wanstead & Snaresbrook thrashed them by eight wickets in the quarter-final.

They crashed to 14-3 and then 41-5 after being sent in, en route to being bowled out for 127. Daniel Geddes (22), Conor Young (35) and wicketkeeper Jevan Kher (31) were the only batsmen to reach double-figures, Muhammad Hameed (4-31) and Kishan Velani (3-12) doing much of the damage.

Opener Haaris Usman (67) led the visitors to their target in the 19th over.