Surrey Championship

Premier Division

Reigate Priory 298-6

Wimbledon 250

The Llamas kept up the pressure on leaders Sutton with a convincing 48 run victory over Wimbledon at Park Lane.

As every game has been for the last month, this was another must win situation for the Priory to keep their title hopes alive, and they responded in kind with a measured performance to account for Wimbledon.

Visiting skipper Graham Grace won the toss and elected to bowl on what seemed to be a wicket that would assist the seamers, but with what could be described as an under strength attack, Wimbledon did not cash in early.

Brett Forsyth and Michael Foster got the home side to 51 without loss before Forsyth chased a wide delivery and was caught behind for 21.

This brought Chris Murtagh to the crease and he proceeded to put on 80 for the second wicket with Foster with both showing innings of class and composure.

Neil Turk returned to the attack and accounted for Foster (59) to halt what was another first class innings from the Reigate veteran.

Jason Roy and Alex Richards departed soon after to Turk and Reigate were at 144-4.

Ian Hewett continued the momentum with Murtagh and proceeded to put on 90 for the fifth wicket and take Priory to a platform for a big score. Murtagh carried on with Perkins and Bennett and took the total to 298 after the allocated 50 overs.

Murtagh finished on 96 not out in what was another innings of brute strength and elegant timing. He once again showed why he is one of, if not, the best and most consistent batsman going around in the county's premier competition.

The Wimbledon innings started cautiously with Hewett and Daryl King keeping things relatively tight but without an early breakthrough.

The introduction of Stuart Hume however was the turning point in the Reigate bowling performance. Hume turned back the clock with accuracy and at times genuine turn on the Reigate wicket.

Consistent wickets fell throughout the innings as Hume bowled in tandem with Brett Forsyth.

All the while Neil Turk was building an innings that may have briefly threatened the total, but a lack of support from surrounding batters left him on a solo mission that was too big even for the class of Turk.

Mention must go to Toby Briggs who bowled extremely well without luck, and good support from all bowlers, including Alex Richards, who turned in with his first Premier wicket, caught on the boundary by Roy.

Reigate Priory are showing the form of a side that can take this all the way, and if Sutton slip up this week against Banstead, and the Llamas win at Weybridge, it will come down to the last round when Reigate host Sutton in what could be the game of the year and decides who takes the 2009 title.

On Bank Holiday Monday Reigate Priory will compete in the Regional Finals of the Cockspur Twenty20 at Billericay Cricket Club in Essex.

Priory, who qualify as Surrey winners play Bromley, the Kent winners, in one semi final and Chingford from Essex play Finchley from Middlesex in the other.

The winners then go into the last eight with all the other regional winners before a national finals day.