BLACKHEATH opened their I’Anson Cup title defence with a crushing defeat of Grayshott, the nine-time champions.

Inserted by Nathan Phillimore, the home side proceeded to bat Grayshott out of the game. Josh Milton and Rob Parrott scored half-centuries in an opening partnership of 126 and with skipper Peter Melhuish later hitting 33 not out off 22 balls, Blackheath closed on a hefty 232-6 from 46 overs.

Grayshott were handily placed at 59-1 and then 73-2, but Danny Harrison dismissed the dangerous pairing of Andy Wheble (31) and Phillimore (24) and the innings went into sharp decline as newcomer Hugh Jolly ripped through the middle order with 3-18. Peter Melhuish completed the rout and Grayshott were bowled out for 138 in 33 overs.

It was a painful return to Division One for Witley who lost by 225 runs after putting Frensham in on an April belter. Kurt Lyall, who took the only three wickets to fall, and Ollie Hickman bowled good opening spells, but Tom Charman and George Breddy savaged the change-bowlers in a second-wicket partnership of 148. Breddy eventually holed out for 74, while Charman went on to an impressive 123, including 15 fours and eight sixes, enabling Sam Farncombe to declare at 259-3 after just 39 overs.

Witley survived the first four overs without much trouble, but once Nick Cobbold and Jack Richards had loosened up, it was carnage. Aided by some sharp slip catching, the duo wrapped up the innings inside 16 overs (Richards 6-21, Cobbold 4-9) and the hapless visitors were shot out for 34.

An unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 110 between debutant Jassi Shonky (66 not out) and stalwart Iain Jackson (44 not out) gave Grayswood’s innings substance after Tilford had reduced them to 95-6. As Shonky’s confidence grew, so his bat became straighter and he offered only two chances.

Alastair Gloak’s declaration at 205-6 left the visitors 47 overs, but Andy Gloak and Jackson between them conceded only ten runs from the first eight overs and Tilford never really got going. That they escaped with two points was largely down to Mark Ramesar who batted more than two and a half hours for his 66, while wickets fell regularly at the other end.

He eventually found a partner in Chris Wilson and the two put on 62 in an hour before a flurry of lbws for the Gloaks put Tilford back in trouble. With nine wickets down, skipper Jason Stones fended off the last two balls and Tilford salvaged a draw at 131-9.

Andy Gloak, now able to leave strategy to his brother, took 5-20 from 14 deadly accurate overs.

Headley, after bagging maximum points the previous week, came down to earth with a bump as Puttenham knocked them over for 54. Electing to bat, Headley were in early difficulties against Aks Ilyas and James Crouch. Their plight worsened against the two Ahmeds (A Ahmed 4-13 with left-arm spin) and the home team were dismissed for a meagre 52 in 28 overs.

Puttenham, looking to finish the game quickly, took 13 from the first two overs, but then lost three wickets for 22 before Dan Harrison and James Crouch brought it to its inevitable conclusion. Andy Coutts and Graham Badland bowled well, but Headley must get their batting together.

Dogmersfield scored consistently and briskly against Wrecclesham. Skipper Imran Choudhary led the way with 57 and six other batsmen made more than 20 as the home side compiled 222-8 in 42 overs. Dan Vasey took 5-74 from 13 overs.

Henry Bate replied with a captain’s innings for Wrecclesham. Opening the innings, he defied the Dogmersfield bowlers with a vital 40. He received solid support at the other end and despite some fine bowling by Imran Abbas and Malik, the visitors played out time on 140-8.

Chiddingfold, having run away with Division Two last season, secured maximum points at Alfold in their first match back in the top division. Alfold chose to field first, but only Tim Pullen was able to contain the visiting batsmen. Opener Matt Wright dominated the innings with 84 (11 fours, 2 sixes), while Matt Barnett and Ben Moir boosted the run-rate, enabling a halfway declaration at 215-4.

Dave Burke fought a one-man battle for the home side, scoring 76 out of a total of 123. Alfold came within two overs of saving the game, but Paul Hundley’s 4-36 and two economical wickets apiece for Paul Ward and Ben Evans, won the day for Chiddingfold.