Dulwich 222-8 after 66 overs had a winning draw with Sunbury 171-6 (57 overs).
Dulwich started their last match of the season in seventh place, 11 points ahead of bottom placed Farnham. The latter’s comprehensive win over Wimbledon, completed by 2-30pm meant that Dulwich needed at least a winning draw in case one of the other two strugglers won. In the event this was achieved and Dulwich were able to secure their fourth successive season in the Shepherd Neame sponsored Surrey Championship Premier league.
Put into bat Dulwich progressed steadily thanks to a patient innings of 89 off 153 balls by Steve Hale who took part in partnerships of 39 for the first wicket with Zoheb Sharif (9), 38 for the second with Gareth Cornick (3), 40 for the third with Raza Ali Dar (15) and 47 for the fourth with Richard Farrow (15). The dismissal of Farrow and Hale in successive balls precipitated a collapse in which five wickets fell for 4 runs in barely seven overs. Off spinner Matthew Tait took three wickets and slow left armer Luke Woodcock two as Dulwich declined from 163-4 to 168-8. Ed Matten and Stefan Boss then steadied the ship and re-energised the Dulwich innings adding an unbeaten 54 in 10 overs for the ninth wicket. Matten finished on 27 not out and Boss on 22 as the Dulwich innings was closed at 222-8 after 66 overs. The home team’s total was boosted by 47 extras, 26 of which were byes. Todd finished with 4-42 off 21 overs and Woodcock 2-44 off 13 overs.
When Sunbury launched their reply Dave Burton struck with his third ball, removing Max Hall without scoring. Richard Gould and Woodcock then added 43 before Dar struck in his first over having Gould caught behind for 18. Woodcock was joined by Olly Roland-Jones and together they added 65 in 14.5 overs. Their partnership was ended in a confusion of calls as they sought a third run and Woodcock was run out for 44. Roland –Jones was joined by his brother, Toby but Burton and Dar struck in successive overs to send back Toby for 10 and Olly for 47. At 138-5 Sunbury needed 85 for a win or 51 for a winning draw in a minimum of twelve overs. Tight bowling by Burton and Dar kept down the scoring rate with only seven coming off seven overs. News was coming from elsewhere that both Guildford and Weybridge were closing in on their run chases. Neil Farnsworth was next out as he fell to Burton for 8 with the score on 145 by which time the winning draw seemed beyond Sunbury’s reach.
Dulwich strained every sinew to try and grab vital wickets to have a go at the Sunbury tail but Gareth Lewis with 14 and Adam Stanier with 12 fought hard to resist as Sunbury ended on 171-6 after 57 overs. Burton had taken 3-61 off 19 overs and Dar 2-60 off 22 overs. Dulwich gained four points for a winning draw which proved vital as Guildford hauled themselves out of trouble with a victory at the champions Reigate to finish seventh and one place above Dulwich. Despite winning Farnham could only muster 42 points – two less than Dulwich and were relegated alongside Weybridge who could only force a winning draw with Cobham Avorians.
A season much affected by poor weather and points deduction saw Dulwich survive and now the planning for 2008 starts!
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