Surrey Championship

Premier Division

Wimbledon 222-5

Banstead 224-7

BANSTEAD secured their Premier League status thanks to this tense three-wicket win over Wimbledon at Avenue Road on Saturday.

With their relegation rivals also winning, Banstead's win maintained an eight point margin to lift them out of the relegation zone, thanks largely to a superb innings of 94 from Tom Lancefield – who left his best of the season performance until his side needed it most.

Captain Jak Martin expressed delight and relief in his young team's performance.

He said: "To win three of our last four matches under this pressure shows the character in this team. Tom stepped up today, but I can't over emphasise the spirit in this team and the part it played in helping us get over the line.

"Staying in the Premier Division is crucial to this club. We can hold on to our best players and build for next season."

Banstead appeared to be in the box seat earlier in the day as Tristan Caviet and Richard Bedbrook made inroads into the Wimbledon top order, each capturing 2 wickets apiece to reduce their opponents to 52-4.

This together with Caviet's economy of 29 runs from his 10 overs inspired thoughts of a short conclusion to the season.

But as has so often happened this summer, Banstead could not maintain the pressure and a hard hitting 128 not out from Sean Davies carried Wimbledon to a defendable total of 222-5 from their 50 overs.

Along the way Davies received excellent support from Tarun Nethula who contributed 34 in a fifth wicket stand of 103, before falling to Dan Newton - and William Leith who finished 19 not out.

Banstead's nerves were not improved when Rory Burns (6) fell to a catch at slip off Graham Porter with the score on just nine.

Neil Turk produced an impressive opening spell that was rewarded with the wicket of Mark Houghton for 29 with the score still to pass 50.

Banstead's need for a stabilizing partnership was provided by Matt Spriegel and Tom Lancefield who batted cautiously at first and then more expansively in a stand of 96, but just when the considerable Banstead support was beginning to relax in the late afternoon, Turk returned with a double wicket maiden to remove Spriegel for 51 and Jak Martin, both caught behind, to reduce Banstead to 145-4.

This was the signal for Lancefield to take control. Although Turk added the scalp of Sam Woodward, bowled for 12, and Warren Griffiths claimed Dan Newton lbw for four, Lancefield edged Banstead towards their victory target.

It was with some surprise and great disappointment when Lancefield holed out to Cameron Bailey off Griffiths just six short of a well deserved century, leaving the ever reliable Adam Clarke to hit the winning boundary.