A WINNING draw against promotion rivals Stoke D’Abernon was a moral victory for Surrey Championship Division Five leaders Churt, while Haslemere moved back into second place after beating bottom side Old Pauline.

Churt’s in-form pair, Jon Palmer and Toby Finneran, shared another excellent partnership, taking the home side from 36-2 to 117 before Palmer was caught for 58.

Finneran anchored the innings with 69 off 114 balls – a vital innings against the accuracy of James Miller and Toby Farrant who between them bowled 34 overs for 102 runs.

Churt declared at 189-9 after 55 overs and Oli Plaistow and Dave Thomas promptly reduced Stoke D’Abernon to 3-2. However, Adrian Taylor and James Whitmarsh got their heads down in a 50 partnership.

Taylor went on to make a match-saving 70 as Ben Mitchell (4-39 in 15 overs) threatened to spin Churt to victory. The visitors closed on 144-7 in 45 overs.

Haslemere had young speedsters Ollie Ellis and Billy Boxall back in their attack, but it was Leigh Thayre who made inroads into Old Pauline’s batting, the skipper taking 3-19 before breaking down injured in his seventh over. However, Keighan Cronin and Alex Hooker shared five wickets, while Chris May bowled 12 very accurate overs, and the visitors were dismissed for 151 in the 54th over.

Haslemere needed a solid start and the opening stand of 55 between Lee Clement and Chris Sturt proved vital because Pauline debutant Bhanu Dhanjul (5-50) then reduced them to 86-5.

Simon Eastment and May halted the slide and then May and the forceful Pete Dudley wrapped up a four-wicket win with an unbroken stand of 45.