BROOK moved closer to the I’Anson Division Two title by beating Badshot Lea, while second-placed Fernhurst came unstuck against Grayshott II.

Brook were on the front foot from the moment Rhodri Williams bowled Josh Menzies with the first ball of the match. Williams went on to claim 4-30 and with Toby Johns and Paul Challinor taking three apiece, Badshot Lea were hustled out for 93 in 28 overs.

Brook also struggled at first. Matt Bent and Jack Addison dismissed Toby Pheasant and Robin Hudson in the first two overs and Rick Godfrey was hit on the head trying to hook a Bent bouncer and fell on his wicket. But that was as far as Badshot Lea got as Jim Macauley and Neil Cooper took control and saw Brook to a comfortable victory.

Shalford lost to Hindhead in the basement battle. Wayward early overs and dropped catches helped Hindhead on their way and Joe Harrison and Darren Carter (49) put on 95 for the first wicket. Harrison anchored the innings with 75 and the visitors totalled a healthy 201-9.

Shalford flew out of the blocks as Dave Shilcock and Peter Unsworth took 52 off six overs. However, first-change Stuart Woods (4-25) dismissed the top four in an excellent spell and although Dave Gregory and number 9 David Rowe put on 57 in a defiant stand, Shalford were bowled out for 171.

Keith Tilson played a trademark innings for Thursley, batting throughout for 46 not out as Frensham II worked their way through the rest of the order.

Needing just 98 for victory, Frensham struggled long and hard, with that man Tilson taking two wickets and conceding just three runs in nine miserly overs, of which seven were maidens. However, the experienced pair of Martin Breddy and Adam Page did enough to ensure a Frensham victory.

The second I’Anson tie of the day came at Elstead. The Bourne chose to bat first and only Nick Hales (32) and Joe Morse reached double figures against some good bowling, particularly from Attaul Moisin (4-23). Morse’s excellent 74 not out saw his side to a competitive 148.

Elstead started well (Lewis Sheppard 32), but then Matt Duncan, Andy Rooke and Ed Garrett got amongst the wickets. Moisin (29) and Faz Syed (36) counter-attacked to bring the target in sight. Finally, with nine wickets down, the scores level and the tension high, Garrett hit the stumps and the sides took six points apiece.

Neil Sampson (31) again batted well for Grayshott II, but it was 47 extras, including 34 wides, that enabled them to post a challenging 138 against Fernhurst.

Missing some of their best players, Fernhurst were bowled out for 98. Luke McBain (4-32), Richard Baker (3-18) and Mark Morris (3-28) shared the wickets.

Liam Gadd (34), Matt Carrington (35) and Tyler Carrington (40) were the main contributors as Tongham totalled a useful 185-7 at Harting. Simon Kyte (35) gave Harting a decent start, but a collapse followed to Matt Carrington (4-31) and Scott Meyer who polished off the innings with 4-7 in 4.2 overs. Harting all out for 87.