FORDHAM S Phil Dean staked his claim for performance of the season at the weekend with an imperious spell of bowling. Dean s figures of 7-23 from his 10 over spell of mesmerising fast-bowling gifted him the most successful figures of any bowler this seaso

FORDHAM'S Phil Dean staked his claim for performance of the season at the weekend with an imperious spell of bowling.

Dean's figures of 7-23 from his 10 over spell of mesmerising fast-bowling gifted him the most successful figures of any bowler this season and also secured his side a mountainous 112 run victory over Sutton.

Put into bat first, Fordham batted with authority and stand-out knocks of 70 from Blaber and 60 from Clark ensured that the home side posted a daunting target of 217 from their highly productive 40 overs.

To their credit Sutton rose to their task early on and kept pace with their required scoring rate, thanks largely to the hard graft of Michael Grady and Rob Braybrooke who knocked 29 and 21 respectively.

Though Sutton continued to battle hard to find enough runs to pose Fordham a serious threat, they were hampered time and again by the belligerent bowling of Dean whose average of just over three ensured most batsmen's stay at the crease was an uncomfortably short one. Dean wrapped up the game by removing the last four batsmen for just seven runs, the game ending with Sutton all out for 105.