DEEPCUT look like they mean business on their return to division two. Grayswood, normally tough nuts to crack, were rolled over for 36 after electing to bat on their own pitch.
Michael Speight and Stuart Ingham-Smith bowled very well, particularly the latter who pitched the ball up and swung it late, deceiving all the home batsmen.
It was all over in 20 overs, with Grayswood all out for an inglorious 36. Nine of the 10 wickets were clean-bowled, with Ingham-Smith taking 6 for 12 in 9.5 overs and Speight 4 for 16 in seven.
White dismissed the Deepcut openers in a good opening spell, but the result was never in doubt. Dave Speight and Craft made 16 apiece.
Witley beat Elstead by 14 runs in an excellent game of cricket. Opting to bat first, Witley got off to a flier and reached 100 in 20 overs, with Ritchie hitting the ball cleanly to all parts of the ground. Elstead fielded well in the heat and bowled the visitors out in the 45th over for 188. Diacon held a great catch at first slip.
Ahmed was the one batsman Elstead needed to stay in if they were to secure victory. But he fell to Ritchie for 40 and the rest of the batting collapsed to the spin of Kelly who returned match-winning figures of 8 for 60 in 16 overs.
Badshot Lea, inspired by the escape from eviction from the Big Brother house of club member Jon Tickle, won comfortably against Hindhead. An excellent 70 from newcomer Oldfield put Hindhead in a strong position at 154-3, but they then collapsed to 172 all out, with Australian Dave Gourlay and the reliable Rennie doing the damage. Warren held two sublime catches – both contenders for 'catch of the season'.
Badshot Lea were never troubled by the Hindhead attack. There were notable contributions from the broad-shouldered Bixby, the dogged Garfoot and the classical Stoker as the home side romped home by eight wickets.
Badshot Lea CC send a supporting message to Big Brother housemate Jon Tickle and urge all Herald readers to keep Jon in the house!
A confident Grayshott II declared after 44 overs, having amassed 248-5 against Frensham II, with fine half-centuries from Hannam, who shared an opening stand of 84 with Fisher, Sampson and Stephens.
But it was an excellent batting track and, like many a team before them, Grayshott discovered that such a score was far from unbeatable on the small Frensham ground. Sherman and Charman batted well, but it was Hammond who changed the game with a typically powerful 54. Then Mitchell, batting at 7, took the Grayshott attack apart with some brutal hitting to all parts of the ground. He ended 62 not out and Frensham won the game in 38 overs.
There was another good batting track at Chiddingfold, where Wrecclesham openers Gardner and Strachan put together an excellent 100 partnership. Strachan made 65, but Harman (5-44) and Cawdron bowled Chiddingfold back into contention and the visitors were held to 182-8 in 48 overs.
Webster led Chiddingfold's reply with a cultured 67, ably supported by Gleave and Hale. But Wrecclesham bowled and fielded tightly to take the game to the last over, Chiddingfold getting home with three balls to spare. Collier bowled well in two spells.
Top-of-the-table Milford narrowly avoided defeat at the hands of promotion rivals Kingsley. Bowlers, as usual, were on top at Kingsley and the home team did well to battle their way to 148-9 in 48 overs, with May and Croucher sharing an important middle-order partnership.
Milford's reply was slow but solid, and at 100-3 they looked favourites to win. But Randall and Cooper rattled through the later batting and number 11 Talman had to survive three balls to make certain of the draw.