FARNHAM 2nd XI made it 13 games unbeaten and climbed to fourth in the table in their bid for a return to the Premier Division

But it was a mighty close call against lowly Leatherhead II who came within two runs of victory.

Put in at Fetcham Grove, Farnham made steady if unspectacular progress. Wickets fell to poor shots and although scoring at four an over, they were 95-5 after the drinks break when Matt Crew, who had batted well, went for 28.

However, Dan Matthews took centre stage and hammered the bowling all round the ground. Having completed his maiden half-century for the 2nd XI, he went on to a superb 84, including 12 fours and a six, and took the visitors to 230-9 in their 50 overs.

It did not look enough as Leatherhead opened with a century partnership between Dave Mercer and Jack Gamble. Then Marc Lewis picked up three wickets in a fine spell, dismissing the dangerous Mercer for 64.

Lewis and Ian Thorpe put a brake on the run-rate and Leatherhead required 70 from the last 10 overs, with six wickets intact.

The game swung Leatherhead’s way as David Baker plundered two Thorpe overs and now 36 was needed off six.

With 13 balls to go, the home side wanted just eight runs, but Baker, who had reached his 50, skied George Osborne to Freddie Austin who took a great catch, and panic set in.

Tom Blackburn bowled the 49th over, took a wicket and conceded only a single, leaving Leatherhead to score seven off the final over for victory. Two off the first ball and a single off the next put them in the box seat, but Osborne struck again and two singles followed.

Dramatically, no contact was made with the last ball; as the batsmen hesitated, Jonny Matthews shied at the stumps, missed, and the ball rolled to the non-striker’s end where brother Dan, having first fumbled, removed a stump with ball in hand and Richard Eborn out of his crease. Farnham had won by one run.