Sutton will clinch the Surrey Championship Premier Division title if they beat Banstead at Avenue Road this Saturday.

A straightforward seven-wicket win over Sunbury at Cheam Road on Saturday means Sutton’s nearest rivals Reigate Priory, champions last year, are 15 points adrift.

Despite the absence of Sutton skipper Phil Sampson, only skipper Oli Roland-Jones (62) and James Kuiper (39) offered much resistance as Sunbury posted 176.

Greg Betz, back from a six-week injury lay-off, took 3-39, off-spiner Bilal Butt took 3-23 off just five overs and Zoheb Sharif 3-25 from a nine-over stretch.

Zoheb then led Sutton’s reply from the front scoring 89 of the required 177, ably assisted most of the way by skipper on the day, Dave Sampson, with 45 well-constructed runs.

There might be a double-celebration at Cheam Road this season as the club’s 2s currently head the Championship’s 2nd XI Premiership competition.

Two wins in the final two games and no other club can catch them. After their magnificent victory two weeks ago against title rivals Wimbledon, the 2s travelled to Sunbury last Saturday and made certain they remained in top spot by winning a tense match by 34 runs.

A superb knock of 90 by 17-year old opener Haseeb Nadeem, gave Sutton’s innings stability throughout which was enhanced by skipper Rich Day’s not out 76.

Sunbury worked hard at the chase but with the experienced Andy Siefers rolling-back the years for his 3-28 off 10 overs, Sutton eased over the line secure in the knowledge that the title is theirs for the taking.

This Saturday’s fixture is at Cheam Road against fellow title pretenders, Normandy, who sit just 7 points behind in the table.

Elsewhere, special mention must be made of the club’s Surrey Trust Development XI, who play in ‘The Surrey Trust League’, a competition that was established 7-years ago to bridge the gap between junior and senior cricket, encouraging young players over the traditional ‘colts’ ages to play in competitive matches with and against adults.

The games are played in coloured kit with orange balls and stumps and the format has produced some very exciting cricket over the years. Last Sunday Sutton’s Trust XI beat Farnham CC in one of the league’s semi-finals by a massive 192 runs!

In a total of 312 off the allotted 40-overs, Dan Edwards top scored with a big-hitting 76; skipper Russell Coombe contributed a pugnacious 61, and Haseeb Nadeem carried on with his Saturday form by hitting ten fours in a skilful 53.

A demoralised Farnham took to the field anticipating the worst; and that’s exactly what they got.

With Sutton’s bowling tight all-round, combined with excellent fielding, Farnham succumbed within 30 overs for just 120 runs!

The Final takes place at Normandy CC on Sunday September 6th against Wimbledon’s Academy XI.