Surrey Championship Premier Division

Sutton 250 Cobham Avorians 216-7

ALREADY missing three vital members, the Cobham Avorians' paper-thin squad was further decimated by on-field injuries, leading eventually to their 34-run loss to fellow title contenders Sutton.

The Avorians took the field without first-choice wicket-keeper Ben Kingsnorth, free-scoring batsman Ian Cockbain, and middle-order man Ben Chapman.

With emergency keeper, Graham Crawford, behind the stumps the game was only minutes old when the injury jinx struck again. James McLaughlin overstretched on a throw and damaged his back, leaving him in agony, and unable to bowl.

On a low and slow wicket the A's opening bowlers, Steve Naylor and Scott Jarvis, restricted Sutton to 39 runs in the first 10 overs, but Sutton opener Sharif made steady progress, taking nearly two hours to reach his 50.

At the drinks break, the A's were forced to shuffle their pack. One bowler short, Steve Naylor took over behind the timbers from Crawford, who became the A's sixth bowler. Naylor was successful both with ball and gloves, taking one wicket during his bowling spell, and two stumpings and a catch as keeper. However, the news was about to get worse for the A's.

Fielding on the boundary, David Umpleby fell awkwardly, and needed extensive on-field treatment to a badly-torn hamstring. Umpleby, who had scored 69 the previous week against Weybridge, took no further part in the game.

The A's continued to battle, and a fired-up Scott Jarvis ripped through the Sutton tail, claiming five wickets for 42 runs, supported by left-arm spinner Reece McConnell, who took 2-50.

Sutton were unable to complete their allotted 50 overs, and were all out for 250 with almost two overs remaining.

In reply, the Avorians found scoring difficult. The normally free-flowing opener, Luc Durrandt, was kept in check by some tight Sutton bowling.

Durrandt eventually perished for 34, following his opening partner Rajiv Tanna (21) back to the pavilion. Naylor and Jarvis offered stubborn resistance, Naylor top-scoring with 36 runs, but, when these two went, and Steve Harpley and Tom Collins came to the crease, the emphasis changed from a run-chase to victory to ensuring that Sutton did not claim the bonus point.

With the pressure on, Collins did himself and his club proud. He remained not out, finishing with 33 hard-fought runs and in the last over, when it seemed that Sutton would get that valuable bonus point, Collins suddenly found two glorious boundaries to ensure minimum damage to the A's title chances, as the innings closed on

216-7, Sutton winning by 34 runs.

Kingsnorth is expected to return to the side for Saturday's match against Spencer, but Umpleby faces several weeks on the injury list, and the search is on for replacements to bolster the team and maintain the challenge at the top of the Premier Division.