Sutton Cricket Club claimed their first win of the Surrey Championship Premier Division season but skipper Johann Myburgh is not getting carried away.
Banstead were the victims of a 73-run win on Saturday – thanks in no small part to an unbeaten century knock from Gary Outram, and a six-wicket haul from Mathew Cawood.
The win is Sutton’s first in 10 games, but South African Myburgh said it had been coming and the team spirit at Gander Green Lane had never faltered.
“As a sportsman you don’t like to lose, and it is always nice to get that win, but I would not say I am relieved about it,” he said.
“I am pleased that the guys have been rewarded for all the hard work they have put in during training. I maintain that to do well on match day, you have to do well in training, and they have done that.
“We have a great team spirit, there has been no finger pointing and we know we’ve been threatening to win a match sooner rather than later.”
He added: “Hopefully this will give us some momentum. We have learnt from mistakes we have made and now we want to turn the tables round and put other teams under pressure and force them into mistakes.”
Against Banstead, Sutton were put into bat where opener Sam Wood (60) and Outram at four guided the score from 57-2 to 142-3.
Myburgh eventually declared on 241-9 when Outram reached his tonne.
With the ball, Cawood was the thorn in the Banstead side taking wickets at regular intervals to end on 6-53.
Banstead were eventually skittled for 168 in the 55th over.
The skipper said: "Mathew's a left-arm spinner and is a very good bowler, although he has taken as many wickets as he would liked this season.
"But he put the ball in the areas on Saturday and he got his rewards - it is a bit like the team, he has put the work in and it is started to get results.
"He's been helped by the very dry pitch, but he still has to make the ball do the work."
Myburgh took over the captaincy at the beginning of the season, and despite the troublesome start, he is enjoying the challenge.
He takes his charges to Spencer this weekend, where another win could lift them out of the bottom two for the first time this season.
“As coach and captain, you want to do well and you want the guys to enjoy playing for the club,” he said.
“I really look forward to the games and training, and I know the guys do too. It has been challenging, but we’re all up for it and hopefully we can put a run together.”
Century maker: Gary Outram was allowed to reach his tonne before Sutton declared
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