Surrey Championship

Premier Division

Banstead 155

Reigate Priory 158-3

CHRIS Murtagh's sublime 65 not out guided Reigate Priory to victory over Banstead that keeps the Llamas title aspirations alive.

The Surrey batsman played a masterful innings that broke the back of the home side who were already struggling to defend their modest total of 155 all out.

Earlier Daryl King had taken 4-30 with only Mark Houghton's 58 providing any sort of resistance for Banstead.

Reigate captain Ian Hewett paid tribute to Murtgah saying the innings showed maturity.

He said: "It was a pretty measured innings. He had to step it up at the end but he did what he needed to do. He made sure we got the bonus point as well which was a good effort on a slightly difficult wicket."

The result was also a massive blow to Banstead's hopes of avoiding relegation back to division one.

But skipper Jak Martin refused to raise the white flag and insisted, with four games to go, his side were still hopeful of avoiding the drop.

He said: "Ideally we need two wins to get out of the danger zone, and with an ounce of luck we can do it. The spirit is still good and if we have all our guys available I'm confident we can.

"The 50 over format suits us and we'll give it our best shot."

With torrential rain all across Surrey in the 48 hours preceding the game, it wasn't a surprise to see that the wicket had taken on a fair bit of moisture, but the sunny conditions ensured there would be no delay to the start.

Hewett won the toss and made no hesitation in asking Banstead to bat first on what seemed to be a wicket that would provide assistance to the bowlers.

"We did the toss and when it came down in our favour Jak just looked at me and said 'do I really need to ask'," joked Hewett.

"It was a good toss to win but the pitch played better then expected as it was hard underneath and would have been a very good track if there hadn't been so much rain."

Openers Rory Burns and Houghton made a solid start to their innings getting to 26 without loss.

When Daryl King had Burns trapped in front, the Llamas were on their way. Sam Woodard followed shortly to a good catch at second slip off the bowling of Hewett, and when Jonathan Gale had the Banstead captain, Martin chopping on to his stumps, Banstead were in a precarious position at 54-3.

A good partnership between Houghton and Pearce (25) got the Banstead team up to a respectable 92-3, but then the flood gates opened when Houghton was caught on the boundary for a well made 58.

Martin's team then proceeded to lose four wickets for five runs and at 95-7, the Llamas were looking to wrap things up.

However Richard Bedbrook batted sensibly with the tail and got their total up to 155, getting bowled out in the last over of their 50 allotment.

Brett Forsyth finished with three wickets and Daryl King, upon his return from a bout of swine flu, returned with four.

Mention must go to Matthew Bennet who took three sensational catches up to the spinners which set Reigate on their way.

The Llama run chase began in flying fashion with Michael Foster dispatching the opening pair of Bedbrook and Adam Clark to all corners and getting Priory to 30 for no wicket.

When Bedbrook had Foster trapped lbw, it brought Murtagh to the crease.

In typical fashion, Murtagh began to build a match winning innings, which he has done so many times for Reigate before.

He seemed untroubled, and with Forsyth providing solid support at the other end, the two took Reigate to 64 before a mix up saw Forsyth run out for a well made 27.

Jonathan Perkins then joined Murtagh and the two methodically took the tally within 26 of victory before Perking was adjudged caught behind.

Hewett and Murtagh saw out the remaining total required with 8.5 overs to spare and collecting the bonus point.

Clearly the innings of Murtagh was the highlight as he finished the game off with a six over the sight screen.

"We know we need to win all our games and hope that Sutton slip up," added Hewett.

"It won't be easy for either of us as every side has something to play for at this stage and the sides near the bottom who are fighting for survival can be a real test.

"But every game is like a final for us and we'll give it our best shot."

Reigate Priory face Cobham Avorians on Saturday desperate for another win to keep the pressure on leaders Sutton, while Banstead start a must win series of fixtures with a visit to Weybridge.