Surrey Championship

Division Two

Leatherhead & Cobham 301-8

Old Mid Whitgiftians 162

AN emphatic and at times brutal century from Australian Stephen Cush set up a scintillating victory for Leatherhead & Cobham at Old Mid Whitgiftians.

The 139 run victory leaves the Tanners still hanging onto an outside chance of promotion.

Cush was in scintillating form at the top of order, smashing 140 off 130 balls, much to the delight of captain George McCullough.

"This was the best all round performance of the season and the first time the side had passed 300 in living memory," he said.

"The undoubted star was Stephen Cush whose 140 rounded off a superb week for him. Another mention must also go to 16-year-old Matt Laidman who kept very well on debut taking three catches and a stumping."

LCCC lost the toss and were surprisingly asked to bat first on what looked a cracking wicket. Cush opened with Conan Brewer and the pair looked to emulate they're excellent partnership of last week.

It was not to be as Brewer, perhaps suffering the effects of his stag party the night before, was caught behind off the bowling of Mcsherry for six.

Nick French joined Cush at the wicket and the pair were watchful during the early encounters but hit the boundaries whenever they presented themselves. The pair were well set and began to cash in on some wayward bowling by their hosts second string bowlers and both moved past 50.

Cush's confidence was sky high following his unbeaten 72 last week and he duly completed his maiden century for the club.

When he was eventually out lbw, he had amassed 140 from 130 balls, a fantastic effort from the Tanners overseas star. Cush and French put on 231 for the second wicket.

French's innings was less spectacular but no less important. He eventually fell for 95 trying to clear the ropes to bring up his century.

After such a great platform, the remaining batsman had one order and that was to tee off. This was done to varying success by the batsman but Leatherhead passed the magical 300 mark to finish on 301-8 from their 50.

The visitors knew that OMW would swing the bat from ball one and Piggin certainly did that. He rode his luck as Leatherhead dropped him twice before McCullough snaffled one at mid-on from the bowling of Dillon Wouretz.

Elliot Daly was bowling a hostile spell at the other end and he bowled Shorten for six.

Conan Brewer then ripped out the OMW middle order taking three wickets from his spell, including the prized wicket of Sales.

With the home batsman swinging from the hip, the spin of Matt Roberts and Cush was brought in to the attack. Roberts took three wickets and Cush one as Leatherhead tightened the screw.

It was left to 16-year-old Daly to complete the victory when he bowled Mcsherry for 15 as OMW were bowled out for 162.

The team host league leaders and champions elect Cheam on Saturday hoping to replicate this performance.