DARK horses Sutton continued their silent march up the league table with a two-wicket win over local rivals Pymoor on Saturday.

After a meek start to the campaign, Sutton have grown into a force to be reckoned with in recent weeks and surged up into third position in the league with a narrow win over a mercurial Pymoor side.

Sutton sit just 0.25 average points away from promotion chasers Little Downham in second spot while Pymoor slipped to sixth position and worryingly closer to the drop zone.

It was home side Sutton who won the toss and wisely chose to field as the overnight rain had made the wicket damp. Young Ryan Bowles (3-29) dealt with openers Jack Hargreaves (7) and Lourens Hersleman (9) with minimal fuss before Jamie Russell settled the visitors down with a decent knock of 32.

Bowling tandem Michael Grady (3-49) and Chris Greaves (2-35) kept the wickets coming for the home side as Pymoor struggled to cope with an unpredictable pitch.

Mark Neighbour (20) helped steady Pymoor’s ailing middle order before a lightning knock of 33 from tail ender Mike Suckling helped haul the visitors on to 133-9 at the close of a difficult innings.

Pymoor blasted their way out of the blocks after the lunch break and quickly had Sutton in dire straits at 40-5. Opening bowler Herselman (2-15) struck first to remove openers Michael Grady (13) and Rob Braybrooke (12), before Carl Ward (2-23) accounted for danger duo Ren Barnard (0) and Lloyd Brown (12).

There was still hope for Sutton however, as Chris Greaves (22) and Bowles (28) came to the crease determined to take on the Pymoor bowling.

The match was finely poised at 123-8 before tail ender James Nuttall came to the crease and blasted Sutton to victory, bringing up the victory with a monster six hit.

Ashley Legge (2-43) and Suckling (1-23) were also among the wickets for an unfortunate Pymmor side.