Surrey Championship

Division Five

Dorking 102

Staines and Laleham 103-5

ON a crucial day of the season Dorking's promotion challenge faded as they went down to a disappointing victory at second place Staines.

Winning the toss on a sunny afternoon on a hard looking pitch captain Graham Dymond opted to have a bat.

However, the hosts bowled well first up as Mullard and Colbert bowled terrific areas reducing Dorking to 20-3. Ben Overton and Tom Chisman looked to consolidate the position but were both undone by the Staines attack.

The only Dorking batsman to get any sort of score was the dependable Francis Chadwick as he played sensibly to compile 39 ably supported by Charlie Davies. However, Dorking looked well short as they were dismissed for 102.

As Dorking took to the field they knew they had to give their all for one last time this season if they had any hopes for second place. With this they came out flying as opening pair Chadwick and Overton reduced the hosts to 8-3.

This brought the dangerous left hander Smith to the fray as he stuck things out in dogged fashion.

Chadwick continued to bowl his socks off and bagged two more wickets as Staines were reeling at 40-5 and Dorking buoyant.

Smith was dropped soon after at a crucial point in the game as he and Colbert saw Staines home to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Dorking entertain Richie Richardson's Thames Ditton this Saturday at Pixham Lane with their promotion ambitions now disappeared.