FARNHAM recorded their fifth victory in seven matches, beating Bank of England by seven wickets at the Park.

Tom Grimes decided to bowl first after early-morning rain and, for the first time this season, Josh Berry was given a go with the new ball.

Farnham kept things tight early on, conceding only 12 runs in the first eight overs, and the pressure paid off when Berry found the edge and keeper Jamie Strachan took a juggling catch to dismiss Naeman Symonds-Baig.

The home side had to be patient while the Bank consolidated and Richard Rawlings and Harry O’Brien took the score past 40. Then change-bowlers Rob Dale and Ben Ungaretti reduced the opposition to 89-5, Guy Hicks taking a brilliant catch for the fourth wicket.

Damon Ridgway held the visitors together, but struggled to force the pace as Farnham backed up their bowlers with sharp fielding. The spinners maintained the pressure and when pace was reintroduced through Berry late in the innings, more wickets fell.

The former Elstead player finished with 3-43 in 13 overs and with Ungaretti claiming 3-36 in 12, Bank of England were restricted to 186-9 of 55 overs, with Ridgway still there on 64 not out.

Farnham probably backed themselves to chase down the runs in 45 overs, but opening bowlers Jack O’Brien and Nikul Ramesh were a handful and claimed a wicket apiece with only 24 runs scored.

However, the Bank failed to cash in as Nathan Thorpe was joined by Toby Ward in a superb partnership of 84. Both batted with great assurance, invariably punishing the bad ball when it came along.

Ward was particularly aggressive and hit 47 at a run-a-ball, including seven fours and a six, before being caught off Symonds-Baig.

Thorpe continued to bat fluently, now accompanied by Grimes, and the pair were content to keep the score moving at the asking rate of just over four an over.

Their unbroken stand of 80 saw Farnham coast home with three overs to spare. Thorpe’s unbeaten 88 off 116 balls contained 15 boundaries and Grimes finished 29 not out.

Farnham are away to Epsom this week, looking to make up further ground on the Surrey Championship Division Two leaders.