Leatherhead CC skipper Matt Joblin was quietly confident of promotion to the Surrey Championship Premier Division, but even he is surprised at their level of dominance.

A single point from this weekend’s trip to Camberley will secure a second consecutive promotion with four games remaining.

The destination of the title is less clear-cut, although Joblin’s men are currently 28 points clear of their nearest rivals Valley End in second.

Leatherhead took a giant step closer to a first ever appearance in the Premier Division with an eight-wicket demolition of Dulwich at Fetcham Grove on Saturday.

Andrew Baker took 4-35 as Dulwich struggled to 76 all out, before Leatherhead chased the target down within 15 overs.

Joblin said: “No-one expected us to be at the top of the table by such a big margin with five games to go.

“At the start of the season, most people at the club were simply interested in how we would get on bearing in mind the step up between Division Two and Division One.

“I did not want to say anything at the time, but I was quietly confident about our chances.

“I did not think we’d be do quite so well, I thought we’d be in the top four for sure.”

He added: “We have the right blend of youth and experience, and everyone enjoys their cricket, which is ideal.

“And very few of the side had played in Division One before so we had no expectations, we were relaxed about it and we have reaped the benefits.”

Talk of winning the title is not banned at Leatherhead, but Joblin is adamant the team will simply go out to win the remaining games, and no-one is thinking too far ahead.

However, he admitted not winning the title from their lofty position would be a disappointment.

“If we don’t win the title, then it means we would not have played the level of cricket that we know we can,” he said.

“That would be a disappointment, so keeping focussed is what we have to do.”