Medders joy as super Sutton clinch title (From This Is Local London)

Medders joy as super Sutton clinch title

2:46pm Thursday 31st August 2006 in Sport By Stuart Amos

Sutton skipper Keith Medlycott says his club's first Surrey Championship title for 15 years ranks as one of the highlights of his illustrious career.

The 41-year-old opening batsman won three county championships and four one-day titles as Surrey coach, but believes his achievements as a veteran player are just as sweet.

The Cheam Road club secured the title with a six-wicket win at Farnham, which saw seamer Phil Sampson claim season's best figures of 6-39 and heave two sixes to take his side to the crown.

The 25-year-old has taken 49 wickets this season and Medlycott believes he has been the mainstay of a team who have won 11 Premier Division matches this year.

"Even when I was winning things with Surrey I said you get more pleasure out of winning things as a player and that is still the case," said Medlycott.

"Winning things is lovely and this ranks right up there.

"I'm competitive and winning cricket matches still means a lot to me.

"It is a big achievement for as a club to come up into the top division and win.

"Having Phil Sampson available for a whole season was a big bonus, but everyone has contributed throughout the season and the lads were always confident they could compete.

"I always enter things thinking you will and if that says I thought we would win the championship from the start then so be it. I really felt we would be competitive from the beginning."

Farnham were dismissed for 139 before 43 from David Mitchell set Sutton on their way. Sampson then blazed 27 off 19 balls - including two sixes off the final two balls - to claim the win.

Medlycott added: "This club is thriving. The players have come together at the right time in the careers in terms of maturity and wanting to win things.

"We are looking forward to doing this again."

Sutton face strugglers Weybridge in their final match of the season on Saturday.