FARNHAM failed to get enough runs to seriously test Sutton, the unbeaten Surrey Championship Division One leaders.

Tom Grimes chose to bat first on a fine wicket at Cheam Road and openers Joel Walker and Guy Hicks shaped up well against Aman Shinwari and Surrey 2nd XI bowler Conor McKerr who form easily the quickest opening attack in the league.

Hicks, in particular, looked in good nick and after Walker lost his stumps to Shinwari at 27, he and Toby Davies took Farnham to a promising 40-1.

However, first-change Sam Seadon bowled Hicks for 23 and although Davies and Ciaran Rooney took the score on to 57, the latter’s dismissal was followed by a middle-order collapse as Farnham crumpled to 72-7.

Matt Clarke and George Osborne held Sutton up with a spirited stand of 32, young Clarke proving effective at manoeuvring the high-quality bowlers about, and Farnham were eventually dismissed for 123 in the 42nd over. Harry Allen took 4-21 in 10 tight overs.

Sutton were in the mood to finish the game quickly and Jamie Smith and Grant Edmeades batted with style and flair as they put on 110 for the first wicket.

Smith raced to 41 off 25 balls before being caught off Grimes and Edmeades, who has played first-class cricket in his native South Africa, had stroked 66 off 43 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, when he holed out to cover after mistiming a shot off spinner Clark.

Sutton charged to victory inside 14 overs and with it secured the league title and promotion back to the Premier Division.

Farnham, currently sixth in the table, visit second-placed Banstead this Saturday and host Walton in their final game on September 2.