CHRIS MURTAGH has called on Reigate Priory to win the Surrey Championship title "in style" on Saturday at Valley End.
After the Llamas beat local rivals Banstead on Saturday, and title rivals Wimbledon lost to Weybridge, the Park Lane side need just one win to lift the Premier Division title for the first time since 2008. And while Priory have four games to find the win they need, or merely wait to see if Wimbledon drop further points, Murtagh wants to see the side claim the title in a way that befits champions.
"We still need one win," the batsman explained. "Hopefully that will be at Valley End on Saturday but whether it's this weekend or next, we want to finish in style.
"We don't want to win because of someone else's result, we want to win the title having won the game.
"It's been a great year and we have had a mixture of players who have been around a while along with some skilful players who have come into our side.
"I think we have provided quite a good brand of attacking cricket that has hopefully been good to watch."
With no Jason Roy, Richie Oliver or Craig Cachopa on Saturday, Murtagh opened the batting for the second week running, scoring 110 runs from 143 balls for the Llamas as they beat Banstead by 136 runs. The move up the order has coincided with a change of luck for the former Surrey player, having scored an unbeaten 87 at Leatherhead the week before, and Murtagh admits it is a role he enjoys.
"It's nice to be able to contribute," he said. "I've been disappointed with the amount of runs I've been scoring, particularly in the early part of the season, and also the middle bit, and towards the end.
"I opened the batting a bit for Surrey when I was there and it is something I enjoy but I think probably the change in form is a coincidence.
"When you open the batting you get yourself in a good mindset because you know where you are, you don't have to sit around."
And despite having the title all but in the bag, Murtagh, who has been at Priory for 12 years, believes the lasting legacy of the season will be in the way they have helped their players on to bigger and better things.
"I think that has been one of the great things this season. We haven't just been successful as a team but the club have helped it's cricketers become better cricketers," Murtagh said. "I can't remember another season where we have two players picked up by county sides like we have with Richie Oliver and Craig Cachopa.
"We can take a lot of pride in that and I fully expect Luke Beaven to make it three soon. I'd be surprised if there was a better spinner in the county than him, his stats have been phenomenal this season."
