AFTER two consecutive defeats, Headley bounced back with a very convincing win over Cranleigh St Andrews.
Put in on a good track, Headley duly punished the visitors by amassing 225-5 in 45 overs.
The top order scored heavily, with Bate and Ashley Cook putting on 66 in just 10 overs and then Pugh coming in to hit a quick 40. Three wickets then fell cheaply, but Alan Rooney, back from injury, and Gavin Arend came together at 121-5 and, after taking time to rebuild the innings, scored 63 in the last six overs.
Arend contributed 68 out of the stand of 104 and with Cranleigh unable to remove the 'old man and the boy' (to quote the fielding side), Headley were able to set their opponents a stiff target.
Cranleigh, who opened their season with three straight wins, lost wickets to a series of indifferent shots, with no-one offering support to Knight who never looked in trouble while compiling 75 not out. Arend followed up his batting with three wickets and St Andrews tumbled to 116 all out.
Dogmersfield, after their cracking start to the campaign, had suffered three defeats on the trot, but roused themselves to beat Lindford in a close game. Fielding five players under 18, Dogmersfield had to bat first against the accuracy of Keddle and Coppleston, and on a pitch that played a few tricks. They were in trouble at 56-4, with Neil Shirley nursing a broken finger, but the experienced Tim Shirley and Paul Baker got them out of a hole. The former batted superbly for his 64 and although Baker had to retire hurt after top-edging the ball into his jaw, Dogmersfield fought their way to 165-8 in 48 overs.
Lindford's reply followed a similar pattern and it was the middle order, notably Rose (51) and Ellen, who kept their side in contention after a bad start. Skipper Len Smith emerged as the key bowler, operating unchanged to take 4 for 45 in 19.5 overs, and with the Yorston brothers picking up important wickets on their first-team debuts, Lindford's 10 men were all out for 151 with two overs to go.
Puttenham again had the look of champions in the drawn match at Frensham. The home team must have fancied their chances after asking Puttenham to bat and reducing them to 49-3, with Jon Green taking all three. But a mightily impressive innings from Matt Cook changed the course of the game. The youngster was particularly savage on anything outside off-stump and, with skipper Smith giving fine support, Puttenham raced to 151-5 at 30 overs.
However, the experienced Ray Clarke (5-38 in 14.2 overs) stemmed the flow of runs and despite a good knock from Lay, who batted on after being struck in the face by a Green lifter, Puttenham were bowled out for 209 in the 46th over.
But a Frensham challenge never really materialised after Beagley had whipped out the openers. Harrison and Thomson batted well for a time, but both fell to Paul Crouch and although Matt Page made a good 31, too many rash shots were played against the unforgiving Puttenham attack. It was left to the unflappable Chuter and number 11 Stone, facing only his fourth ball of the season, to secure the two points.
A good batting wicket had the final word at Thursley, with Fernhurst holding out for a comfortable draw. Six Thursley batsmen scored more than 20. Rees top scored with 38, while skipper Fuller hit Meears' first two balls for sixes. With runs coming at a good pace, the home side were all out for 198 in the 45th over. Howe took 5 for 26, but the best bowler was Tremlett.
Fernhurst took 15 off the first two overs, but then fell behind the clock as the bowlers found their line (Sylvester bowled seven overs for seven runs). However, wickets were hard to buy and a fine 61 by opener Howe and a solid knock from Payne ensured that Fernhurst came away with two points.
Grayshott had to work hard for the better part of a draw against an in-form Tilford side. Grayshott lost Wheble in the third over to a nasty thumb injury, but Richard Baker batted with authority from the start, building good partnerships with Hunt and then Schwick. Purdie picked up a deserved 5 for 58, but Lindsey-Clark came in on Baker's dismissal for 48 and struck the ball aggressively to help Grayshott to a respectable 163 all out in the 45th over. Wheble returned to the crease and was required to face his aggressor, Martyn, for one ball, one-handed.
Tilford started well against a wayward opening attack. Wilson never looking in trouble before being adjudged lbw to Sobey who claimed another four wickets with his lively spinners. Whitley and Baker kept the runs down at the other end and Tilford were hanging on as the openers rejoined the attack. Martyn finally negotiated the final tense over of a good competitive game.
Wood Street took advantage of a plumb batting track at The Bourne, with Howard hitting the ball to all parts until Siebert tempted him down the wicket and he was stumped for a rapid 60. The score ticked along, but Siebert and Rooke started to take wickets and slow the scoring rate. Morrison contributed a decent 40 and Dobson a useful 33 before the innings was ended by the first ball of the 46th over.
When The Bourne batted, the accuracy of Wright and Morrison paid dividends and no batsman got in as the pitch began to break up.
Falkiner threatened with a powerful 26, but was bowled by Wright, and only an eighth wicket stand of 51 between Poulter and Cole took the score to respectability. Two late wickets ensured a tense finish, but Poulter saw out the last over and the visitors took the better part of the draw. Wright and Morrison deserved their four wickets apiece.