A five-wicket haul for Marc, coupled with another exemplary display by Mark Davis (four for 17) saw the visitors slump to a total of 113 all out off just 49 overs. As the sun beat down on a relatively lifeless wicket, Marc conjured up an alarming display of pace and bounce to secure the early breakthroughs for the home team. The customary precision bowling of Davis helped see the visitors slump to a derisory lunchtime score of 83-5.

Quick wickets followed the interval as little mercy was offered by the Sutton attack. Jean Jacques bowled astutely and, although consistently threatening, was unlucky to finish up wicketless. Backed up by tight all-round fielding, Marc polished off the tail to leave Sutton chasing 114 to win.

Spencer's opening attack of Greenwich and Kenlock bowled briskly, but the only threat to Sutton seemed to be the impending danger of rain. Although four wickets were lost, a Sutton victory never looked in any doubt as the team were steered home with a masterful display of poise and timing by Carberry (54).

The match done and dusted by 5pm, Sutton took the opportunity to celebrate a crushing victory and a richly deserved 13 points, and the men from Cheam Road ascended to joint 3rd position in the league.

An air of confidence pervades the club as they prepare for their visit to Wimbledon CC next Saturday. Recent form suggests that it is Wimbledon - weekend losers at Sunbury - who are likely to be on the receiving end as Sutton Manager Chris Kempadoo relishes the prospect of chalking up a further 13 points at their expense.

Team: John Fry, Richard Mansfield, Michael Carberry, Mark Newall, Mark Davis, Ramish Dwarka, Mark Roca, Martin Jean-Jacques, Kerwyn Marc, Steve Hewitt, Andrew "Hyena" Siefers.

Newton

hopeful

Morden cricket captain Maurice Newton is hopeful that his team can re-produce the form that has seen them rise to the second division of the Kookaburra & Fordham league, and is aiming for promotion back to the first division.

Newton has bad memories of the last time they were there, having broken his thumb mid-way through and watched in horror as the team slumped to relegation.

He said: "We will be playing a higher standard and be involved in more competitive games, with a good chance of doing well and possibly achieving promotion.

"I am expecting good things from our batsman, Paul Liddiard, Conrad Royer and Andy Sutton-Jones and all our bowlers, who enjoy a great challenge."

With the form they showed last term they could be the division's surprise package.

They bowled 12 teams out for less than 150 runs and won six matches on the trot in the middle of the summer.

The bowling options Morden have will rest on the shoulders of strike bowler Ian Richardson, who took over 40 wickets and Richard Rollins, averaging 10.04 runs per wicket.

Newton, recalls last term with good memories: "The team spirit was excellent and their belief was that we could get promoted."

Koch leads T's to victory

Twickenham 1st X1 vs West Harrow 1st X1 (Middlesex Championship)

The T's continued their fine start to the season with a thump-ing win against West Harrow on Twickenham Green.

After electing to Bat on a good pitch, the visitors were soon struggling against the blistering pace and accuracy of Bruce Koch ably supported by Justin Scriven.

A brilliant run out by Skipper Paul "The Claw" Johnson set the trend as wickets began to fall regularly.

With the score on 40 for 7 The T's were already thinking of their first beverage. However, the West Harrow tail rallied but only mustered 105 all out with Koch 2 for 13 and Scriven 4 for 27 the pick of the bowlers.

The T's put in another classy display in the field - 105 was never going to be enough runs on The Green and it seemed that the looming black clouds would be the only obstacle between the T's and victory.

In fact only 15 minutes were lost to the storms and allowed Yousef Naqvi time to compile a classy 35 and Koch completed a solid 29 not out as The T's cruised home by 7 wickets.

On Sunday Koch finished his weekend in style with 109 not out in the T's draw with Ham & Petersham. T's 200 for 3 Dec off 42 overs Ham & Petersham 175 for 7.

Mill Hill Village 2nd X1 vs Twickenham 2nd X1 (Middlesex Championship)

Twickenham's second XI travelled to Mill Hill Village in theMiddlesex Championship and bowled out the home side for 135 runs. Twickenham were 39 for 1 when rain fell and they had to settle for a draw.

Forthcoming fixtures:

Twickenham 3rd X1 vs Highgate 3rd X1 (Middlesex League)

Upcoming fixtures: Sat 20th May 1st X1 vs Old Lyonians (away 1.30pm); Middlesex Championship Sun 21st May 1st X1 vs Brentham (The Green 2pm) Friendly.

Richmond's form is one in the eye for Hastings

Richmond had a highly successful couple of days last weekend. They won their national knock-out game against Hastings by 59 runs on Sunday, and on Saturday beat Ickenham by 9 wickets.

Against Sussex Premier League champions Hastings, Richmond batted first and completed a satisfactory 236 for 4 in 45 overs.

Hastings began their innings at break-neck speed, scoring 31 in just 4 overs. But their frantic approach lead to a rash of wickets, and by the end of the 19th over Hastings' innings lay in disarray at 73 for 5.

Eldridge showed what could have been achieved with a sensible 74 in 77 balls, but he lacked support and the innings ended with Hastings all out for 177 in 39.5 overs.

Richmond won their opening Grolsch Middlesex County League Division 1 match at Ickenham last Saturday by 9 wickets.

Ickenham folded to 132 all out in 55.5 overs, having at one stage been 68 for 1 from 22 overs.

Richmond sauntered home in 33.4 overs, captain Richard Barlow making an aggressive 95 not out off 111 balls. His innings contained two sixes and 18 fours.

This weekend Richmond's league season in the Grolsch Middlesex County League gets under way at Ickenham at 11.30 on Saturday.

The 2nd team play Stanmore on Saturday at 1.30 at Old Deer Park. The 3rd team are away to Ealing. Saturday.

Graham Thorpe replies to Lloyd's 'tourist' jibe

Graham Thorpe has hit back at jibes from former England coach David Lloyd's autobiography, labelling him a 'reluctant forlorn tourist.'

The jibe comes after Surrey beneficiary Thorpe decided against touring South Africa last winter to be with his wife and two children.

Thorpe said: "After not having a winter break for ten years I felt as if I needed a rest over the winter.

"I wanted to be with my family because I didn't have a good summer against New Zealand and with that in mind decided that a break would stand me mentally in good stead for the new season.

"If the England thing comes it comes I know that after having the break I feel mentally and physically stronger.

"All I have to do is start scoring runs and hopefully that will be enough for me to feature for England during the summer."

Thorpe just wants to help his Surrey team mates kick start their stuttering start to the campaign. He said:"We need to do well this summer and looking at our team we are more than capable of winning things at county level."

Honor Oak cut down by Park's spin kings

Lateness meant that Honor Oak started in the field with five players - but that was as generous as the visitors got.

At full strength from the third over, Honor, relegated last season, outplayed Park in all departments to record a crushing victory.

In recent years, Park's batting has too often proved as limp as a damp flannel, and so it proved on Saturday.

Once captain Nathan Wells (17) was bowled by Terry Crabb - Honor's all-rounder from Otago, New Zealand - Park were exposed to the wiles of Clive Beagles and Paul Stimpson and failed to come to terms with genuine turn.

The spin duo took 65 wickets between them last season, but are well on track to exceed that total this time round.

Beagles strangled the scoring rate with 4-21 off 15 overs, while Stimpson, with 2-19, similarly stopped Park ticking over. The re-emerging batting form of wicketkeeper Hywell Steel was Park's one brief, bright spot, but his 14no was somewhat lost in the calamitous collapse around him.

After posting 240 in their season's opener against Brook, Honor had little difficulty in securing victory, although the 'variety' of John Daniell's off-spin did pick up 2-26.

Love wins

Cheam first team were thrashed by Weybridge last weekend, losing by nine wickets. Bob Falconer won the toss, but his side were all out for 156. Weybridge won by nine wickets with Martin Love (101*) the man of the match. The next day the first team beat Beckenham in the National knockout cup by 82 runs.

Hill victory

Hampton Hill CC 1st XI got their league campaign under way with a victory over Eversly. Bowling first the visitors were restricted to just 104 from their maximum 52 overs. In reply Hampton got home easily with Exworth (32*) and Fullicks (32) the winners by seven wickets with four overs remaining.