Cheam in high-scoring draw

On a warm sunny day, Banstead skipper Jak Martin chose to bat and sent Surrey pair Rory Burns and Tom Lancefield out to open the innings.

It took just a few overs to demonstrate that this would be a long day for the bowlers as the batsmen peppered the boundaries.

Although Lancefield was bowled for 14, in-form Ali Jaffer looked intent on making the most of the conditions while Burns looked well set before edging a low catch to slip from debutant Mark Smith.

Jaffer and Martin then set about the Cheam attack with a mixture of disdain and relish as Banstead reached lunch on 178-2.

Carnage ensued after the restart as the pair added 122 before Martin was caught at square leg.

But that did nothing to slow the run rate as Sam Woodward joined the fun, sharing a 155-run partnership at nine-an-over and Jaffer quickly passed 100 and 150 as the boundaries rain down.

Martin eventual called a merciful halt at 378-5 from just 55 overs.

But any hope the Banstead bowlers had that they would be able to extract more from the pitch were quickly dispelled as David Houpapa and Bradley Sciven launched into the bowling.

Houpapa fell for 28 but Chris Salmons joined Scriven and made batting look easy.

The pair added 50 before Scriven (44) got a little over confident and was bowled on the stroke of tea.

After the break Salmons and Cheam Captain Danny Miller took the attack to Banstead with Miller in particular providing fireworks equal to that of anything seen earlier in the day.

Hitting with the wind he launched a number of hits over 100m as Cheam kept pace with and, at one stage, started to bring down the required run rate.

However it was not to be as first Salmons (93), caught attempting a sweep, and then Miller (104) stumped attempting to clear the pavilion, were dismissed. The Cheam innings closed on 324 - 6 from 66 overs.

Cheam visit undefeated Wimbledon this week in what will be another tough encounter.