LEATHERHEAD hosted prospective league champions Cheam and despite an epic fightback, lost for the first time in eight games.

LCCC won the toss and decided to bat with Cush and the fit again Dyson opening.

After last week's 140, all eyes were on Cush to see if he could replicate his innings. Unfortunately his innings lasted one ball as he was caught at slip off the bowling on Clarke, proving what a great leveller the game is.

This early wicket caused a top order collapse which saw French (4), Peak (13) and Laidman (1) all depart.

Only Dyson looked comfortable making a faultless 31 before being caught behind off the bowling of Salmons.

Matt Roberts joined George McCullough at the crease with the pair having the majority of the overs to bat. This partnership added 66, of which Roberts contributed 50, his maiden half century for the club.

He played some fantastic strokes but was undone by the leg spin of Cohen having reached his 50. McCullough (20) and Matthew Baker (14) made contributions and Dillon Wouretz (15no) added some late boundaries to leave Leatherhead 168 all out.

The total was at least 40 short against a powerful Cheam side, but the bowlers were not deterred as they came roaring in.

Wouretz removed Singh and Salmons with the help of two fine slip catches by Cush and McCullough.

The problem Leatherhead faced was the Cheam shipper Danny Miller who was dispatching both good and bad balls to the fence with alarming regularity.

Having passed 50, he was in the process of single handily winning the game and Leatherhead knew they had to remove him quickly. The ball was thrown to Wakefield who in his second over swung one back into Miller, trapping him lbw for a brutal 83.

At 133-3, Cheam were still massive favourites but the one thing this side do not do is roll over and they almost produced one of the great comebacks.

Once again it was Michael Wakefield who was chief destroyer as he removed Johnson (0) who was stumped brilliantly by Laidman, Clarke (22) caught well by Dyson and Jones (0).

This left Cheam suddenly on 136-6 and in trouble. However the fairytale was not to be as Hendry and Cohen showed a level head to take Cheam home.