A relieved Farnham recorded their first points of the season, although they could only draw with Farncombe in a rain- affected game at the Park.

Farnham will take heart from the fact that they largely outplayed their local rivals, despite fielding an under-strength team.

After losing 21/2 hours to the weather, Farnham were put in on a damp wicket. With the game reduced to a minimum of 77 overs, Farnham were entitled to receive 43.

Alan Thorpe and Gary Clapham batted watchfully for four overs, before Fortington lost his length and was picked off by Clapham for a number of boundaries.

But Thorpe fell to a questionable decision and then Clapham, following a clip of his legs for six, was adjudged lbw. This brought in the luckless Aubrey Steyn who continued his nightmare start in English conditions by slicing his first ball to point: 42-3 in nine overs.

Nick Whitworth looked a class above the rest and accumulated runs at will. James Crutcher was bowled for 11 by Mansfield, but Mike Cooper, Simon Robson and Rob Smith all shared nice partnerships and Whitworth went on to make an excellent 72.

Clapham decided at 42 overs that 169 was enough, leaving the visitors a minimum of 38 overs.

In the absence of Murphy and Dickinson, Clapham took the new ball with Steyn and kept things tight as the Zimbabwean troubled the batsmen at the other end. The first 11 overs yielded just 22 runs.

Chic Stedman came on to take a wicket with his first ball, Turner skying a catch to Robson. Soon after, Stedman bowled Lewis playing across the line. Agge struck the ball sweetly before being snapped up by Whitworth in the gully.

Dunn and Mansfield took the total to 96 in 34 overs before Dan Kirkland induced a rash shot from the former. Then Crutcher ran out Mansfield with a superb direct hit (96-5).

Farnham only managed one more wicket before, after the 43rd over, time was called, Farncombe having limped to 119-6.

farnham

A Thorpe c Hewitt b Fortington 12

G Clapham lbw Fortington 23

N Whitworth b Agge 72

A Steyn c Turner b Fortington 0

J Crutcher b Mansfield 11

M Cooper b Sewell 18

S Robson c Hewitt b Mansfield 12

R Smith st Hewitt b Sewell 13

G Hill run out 2

D Kirkland not out 0

C Stedman not out 1

Extras 5

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Total (for 9 wkts dec) 169

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Bowling: R Fortington 3-40, D Agge 1-34, R Mansfield 2-30, G Sewell 2-16.

fARNCOMBE

D Lewis b Stedman 19

M Turner c Robson b Steyn 4

T Dunn c Steyn b Kirkland 24

D Agge c Whitworth b Steyn 19

R Mansfield run out 26

A Collier c Smith b Kirkland 12

A Robinson not out 5

G Sewell not out 6

Extras 4

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Total (for 6 wkts) 119

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Bowling: A Steyn 1-25, C Stedman 2-38, D Kirkland 2-23.