AS Tim Peake returned to earth, so Churt regained the peak of the Surrey Championship Division Five, thanks to excellent batting from Jon Palmer and Toby Finneran and a superb all-round bowling display.

Churt were inserted on a soggy wicket at Oxshott and openers Will Hucker and Ben Mitchell adopted a ‘leave it or go hard’ approach. At 27-2, both having been dismissed by Mark Wheeler, those tactics might have been deemed reckless, but it was clear that a moderate total would be defendable.

Palmer (64) and Finneran (48) built a solid partnership at a staccato pace, aided by numerous dropped catches, the hapless Carl Fuller missing no fewer than five in the outfield.

That partnership and a rapid bowling rate meant that Churt could afford to hit out near the end and use up the maximum 55 overs, knowing that they would be able to bowl more than the minimum 45 back.

Steve Sake and Matt Hutcheon snapped up some cheap wickets and Churt were all out for 189 in the last over.

Maori never looked like getting the runs and it soon became a question of whether they could hold on for a draw – as Kempton had done the week before.

Oli Plaistowe (9-1-22-4) wreaked havoc and with the help of fine catches from Dave Thomas, Will Hucker and Finneran, he removed four of the top five, including the dangerous Oscar Kolk and Hutcheon.

Mitchell was unplayable at times, although it was straight ones that accounted for opener Henry Thorpe and Saker.

Michael Jarrett and Paviraj dug in to frustrate Churt until Mitchell had the former well taken by keeper Will Hucker and Rowley Marshall trapped Paviraj plum in front.

Marshall and Mitchell whipped out the tail and Maori were all out for 73 in the 31st over.

A painful defeat for the Oxshott side, but the usual good spirit between the teams was epitomised by skipper Neil Driscoll’s decision to retract an appeal after Palmer had been adjudged lbw to a ball that clearly hit bat before pad.

Churt are home to Old Pauline this Saturday.