Farnham were outclassed by a totally dominant Wimbledon on Saturday.

This was despite an excellent stand of 109 between Guy Hicks and Bob Brown that promised to get Farnham out of trouble.

They had been asked to bat on a fairly easy-paced wicket. And with the outfield decidedly fast, the visitors needed to post a big total.

But Farnham suffered an early collapse from which they never really recovered. Pace bowlers Kotkamp and Bellhouse were immediately into their stride, bowling a good line and length and regularly hitting the seam as they strove to expoit any early moisture in the wicket.

Alan Thorpe and Rob Smith never had a chance to settle. Thorpe edged to the 'keeper and two grievous blows followed as Bellhouse also accounted for Nick Whitworth and Smith, both for ducks.

Farnham 10-3 and then skipper Gary Clapham was also caught behind off a ball bowled in the right place, leaving the visitors at an alarming 28-4.

But Farnham did not buckle. Hicks, just back from Durham University, was joined by Brown and the pair played beautifully once the hardness had gone from the new ball.

Hicks was severe on anything wide of off-stump and Brown was confident enough to lift the ball over the infield when the opportunity came.

Both remained positive as lunch approached and Farnham reached 102-4 at the interval. It had been a stirring recovery.

But there was always the feeling that the end of the partnership would plunge Farnham back into trouble, and so it proved.

In the 46th over, Brown was caught at deep square for a well-made 52 (137-5). But Farnham had needed the pair to bat much longer together.

The frailty of the lower order was exposed. Peter Dickinson ran himself out and the out-of-form Dan Midwinter did not last long.

Ronnie Kotkamp was back in the attack and his express pace soon sent Dan Kirkland and Chic Stedman on their way, leaving the marooned Hicks with only Paddy Murphy to support him.

After a couple of good strikes, Hicks was last man out for a defiant 72 as he attemped to force the pace. Farnham were dismissed for an inadequate 166.

The score was put in context by Wimbledon's prolific openers, Tim Carter and Jon Wileman. Murphy was wayward, and duly punished, while Dickinson, bowling off a couple of paces on his comeback from injury, was ineffective against two very good batsmen.

Wimbledon took 50 off the first 10 overs and although Carter eventually holed out off Kirkland's spin for 53, this was Farnham's only success.

Wileman (84 not out) steered Wimbledon to an emphatic victory in just 37 overs.

Farnham are lacking self-belief at the moment, but the squad is getting stronger and they will be looking for a better result against Sunbury in the Park this Saturday (11-30 am).

farnham

A Thorpe c Redwood b Bellhouse 5

R Smith lbw Bellhouse 0

N Whitworth c Redwood b Bellhouse 0

G Clapham c Redwood b Bellhouse 10

G Hicks b Pearson 72

R Brown c Lavery b Pearson 52

P Dickinson run out 7

D Midwinter lbw Kotkamp 2

D Kirkland b Kotkamp 0

C Stedman b Kotkamp 2

P Murphy not out 0

Extras 16

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Total 166

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Bowling: R Kotkamp 3-25, M Bellhouse 4-51, R Pearson 2-38.

wimbledon

J Wileman not out 84

T Carter c Murphy b Kirkland 53

J Inglis not out 24

Extras 7

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Total (for 1 wkt) 168

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Bowling: D Kirkland 1-59.