Australian Adam Zampa has been labelled the next Shane Warne back home and a delivery right out of the Test legend’s play book has East Molesey skipper Sam Burge purring.

The 23-year-old rising star’s latest exploits spun Burge’s side to victory at Old Whitgifitians to send his team top of the Surrey Championship Division One table on Saturday.

Zampa, who has 24 league wickets already, celebrated hard when trapping dangerous Whitgift opener Christopher Tompson lbw with his “slider” delivery moments after the batsman had bludgeoned him for six.

It was the first of a six-wicket haul that dismissed the hosts for 169 at the weekend and allowed Molesey openers George Cairns (52) and Simmon Barrett (56) to ease their side to a six-wicket win.

“Adam is absolutely class and he showed that again at the weekend,” said Burge.

“The slider, which pitches a bit shorter and just fizzes through straight, is probably the best ball I’ve seen bowled in club cricket.

“It is not the leg spinner that gets him his wickets, it is that ball and he is so accurate. It is one thing knowing what is coming, but another thing playing it.

“His reaction to getting his first wicket shows he cares.

“He could come here and swan around being the big gun, but he is here to make a difference and wants East Molesey to do well.”

Burge’s men host second placed Spencer at Graburn Way this weekend and the captain – not usually one to look at the tables – is aware of the game’s significance.

“It is a big one. They will be looking to bounce back quickly from a defeat at the weekend,” he added.

“We are desperate to finish first or second and there is breathing space between us and third now.

“We are looking to win, but it is important not to lose. We need to keep them behind us in the table.”

Elsewhere, opening pair Alex Butler and Will Clapp led the way for Malden Wanderers’ four-wicket Surrey Championship Division One win over Farnham on Saturday.

Butler (48) and Clapp (49) set-up victory at Cambridge Avenue after the Stags restricted the visitors to 199 for 8 from 66 overs, despite an unbeaten 102 from James Berry in the face of 4-31 from 16-year-old paceman Rafeh Jafri. 

Malden subsided to 164 for six in reply after Butler and Clapp were separated,  but an unbroken 40 between experienced Neil Mander (31) and Giles Puckle (14) saw the Stags home.

Premier Division Weybridge almost wasted the heroics of spinner Thushara Managei as they edged a thriller against Beddington at Hanger Hill.

Managei claimed 4-34 to  dismiss the visitors for 187, but skipper Sarel Erwee’s men struggled in the face of Ryan Cummins’ remarkable 8-94 and needed a 20-run last wicket partnership from  Henry Cripps (21) and Matt King (4) to get them home. 

SELECTED FIXTURES: Guildford v Weybridge, East Molesey v Spencer, Cranleigh v Malden Wanderers, Esher v Purley, Walton-on-Thames v Worcester Park, Epsom v Chessington, Old Emanuel v Dorking, Guildford City v Kingstonian.