Weybridge CC’s SJ Erwee admitted he could not sleep ahead of his shot at a fifth consecutive century in the Surrey Championship.

Unfortunately, Saturday’s weather played a major role as Erwee fell short with a knock of 59 during a winning draw over Banstead in the Premier Division.

The dropped points saw Wimbledon, who thumped East Molesey by 193 runs, regain the lead at the top of the table by three points, with six games remaining.

Undeterred by missing out on his fifth ton, Erwee has a new target in his sights.

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Fast pace: Henry Turner fires one towards off stump against Banstead's Jack Martin     SP73007

He said: “The vice chairman Mike Arnott has told me if I reach 1,150 runs by the end of the season, the president Oliver Slipper will make me a vice-president.”

Erwee has 821 runs so far, meaning the South African needs an average of 55 until the end of the season to take his place at the club’s top table.

That target is infinitely more within reach than the record for the most runs in one season, set by David Ward in 1999 while playing for Banstead.

The former Surrey CCC man hit 1,500 runs in 18 Premier Division games, with an average of 100 – Erwee would need to hit six centuries in the final six games to even get close.

“That is excellent consistent cricket, I’ll stick to the target the club have set me,” Erwee said.

“Missing out on the fifth century was disappointing. The weather was closing in and we were in a race to hit the runs we needed for a winning draw.

“It was getting so dark and drizzly that the umpires were talking about calling it a day. Stupidly I threw my wicket away, but three balls later we came off for rain, so there was not much I could have done.

“Before the game I was buzzing, and I had trouble sleeping because I was so up for it.”

He added: “We were disappointed not to win because now Wimbledon are top, although they have to play Sunbury and Banstead yet.

“It is going to be close, we need to make sure we get a result at Sunbury this weekend, that is the most important thing right now.”

Against Banstead on Saturday, Thushara Managei was the stand out bowler for Weybridge taking 3-50 as the visitors reached 285-9 off 66 overs.

In Weybridge’s reply of 189-3, opener Luc Durandt hit 55, before the rain came.

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Before the pain of rain: Weybridge’s Thushara Managei gets Banstead’s Harsha Vithana trapped LBW       SP73007