SURREY A moved three points clear of Melbourne at the top of the Jamaica County Championships after claiming first innings points from their main rivals in the drawn top of the table clash at Derrymore Road yesterday.
After making a disappointing 158 all out on Saturday to which Surrey A had replied with 166 for five overnight, the visitors were dismissed for 243.
Melbourne in their second turn at bat, rushed to 262 for nine declared courtesy of a brilliant unbeaten century, 116, from veteran Colin Fletcher and a typically aggressive 69 from Kevin Baugh.
Surrey A needing 178 to win, reached 133 for five when bad light forced the umpires to call an end to the exciting affair.
With three points gained from the two-day encounter, Surrey A are now on Melbourne's 12 with one round to play.
At Nelson Oval, Lucas after grabbing first innings points from Cornwall were given a scare by visitors Cornwall.
Cornwall, resuming on 87 for three in chase of 231 to take first innings honours, were undone by pacer Ashuman Kentish and left arm spinner Omar Burke.
Kentish took three for 29 and Burke snared four for 60 to spearhead Lucas' attacking bowling which saw the opposition falling 24 runs short of their target.
Chris Miller and Kenroy Williams, who were not out batsmen overnight for Cornwall, added another 44 runs before Williams held out to Royan Smith at deep midwicket after he had made 28 at 131 for four.
Lorenzo Ingram, who hit a top score of 36 was trapped leg before wicket by legspinner Wayne Gayle at the same score. Sheldon Gordon (11), Myron Wilson (13), Nicarlo McFarlene (11) and Ainsley Goss (nought) all fell cheaply to hand the hosts first innings points.
Lucas, ahead by 24, ran into early trouble with the loss of Kevin Riley (one) and Ian Dewar (four) but were rescued by a captain's knock of 62 from Andre Coley and a useful 28 from the in-form Royan Smith, allowing the home team to declare their second innigs at 140 for seven.
Cornwall, set an improbable target of 164 runs in 12 overs, initially took up the challenge as the hard hitting Kamal Dennis took a liking to Kentish and rushed to a quick 29 before he lost his middle stump to the same bowler at 36 for two. With the loss of Dennis both captains decided to call off the game.
Lucas with first innings honours are now on five points, three less than Cornwall.
Next door at Kensington Oval, Surrey B whipped Middlesex by nine wickets.
After dismissing Surrey A for 84 all out on Saturday, and making 198 all out on the same day, courtesy of half centuries from Raymond Ferguson (53) and Cecil Lewis (63) Middlesex could only muster 116 all out in their second innings with Glenmuir Hall getting 43. Brenton Beckford took 3-59, Sadike Brown 4-58 and Xavier Marshall 3-57.
Needing only two to win, Surrey B scored five runs for the loss of Ferguson for one. With the win, Surrey B are now on ten points to Middlesex's three.
