CHURT made the long journey to Dulwich, demolished Alleyn and returned to the countryside with 24 points and an extended lead at the top of the Surrey Championship Division Five.

It wasn’t all plain sailing, though. Dan Higgins won the toss at last and inserted an Alleyn side weakened by the wedding of regular captain Will Bevan.

Churt had their own problems, with Ronnie Defreitas and Jon Palmer caught up in traffic, meaning that, even with a delayed start, Churt began the game with nine players.

A lacklustre start by the visitors gifted Alleyn 30 quick runs. Oli Plaistowe removed Rob George with a beauty which nipped away to take off-stump, but Alleyn advanced to 55 without further loss.

Then Churt moved up a gear. Plaistowe, bowling a fine spell, had Phil Lewis – top scorer with 30 – and Ed Galloway caught in the slip cordon. DeFreitas, back in his happy hunting ground of last year, dismissed skipper Tom Eadon and then Arvind Madan, well caught by Dan Treder, and Ben Mitchell respectively.

Mitchell trapped Jim Bridgeman plum in front with an arm ball and the spinner also accounted for Adam Brawn and last man Isaiah Creighton, both caught in the deep by Palmer. Alleyn all out for 88 in 38 overs, having lost nine wickets for 33 runs.

Tea was delayed while Churt began their reply and Will Hucker, Palmer, and, in particular, Mitchell, feasted on the home bowlers instead. The New South Wales man smote ball after ball to the boundary, and over it, for a blistering 56 not out.

Hucker was the only casualty, bowled by spinner George, as Churt raced to the target, Mitchell finishing the game and bringing up his half-century with a four and a six, with only 17.4 overs used.

This Saturday (start 1pm), Churt are home to Haslemere in an intriguing local derby. Churt are hungry for an immediate return to Division Four, while Haslemere, although beaten last weekend, are putting in a strong bid for promotion themselves.