A STRONG all-round performance earned Churt a third consecutive victory on a mixed-weather day.

Relegated last season, Churt have opened up a healthy 17-point lead in Division?Five of the Surrey Championship.

Believing the game would be restricted by rain, skipper Dan Higgins was surprised when Old Pauline counterpart Chris Berkett elected to bat. However, opener Alex Duncan made hay with last week’s bowling hero, Ronnie Defreitas, who found it hard toil running into the gusty wind at Thames Ditton.

Oli Plaistowe had better success and removed the top three, restricting Old Pauline to 63-3, Duncan making 47 of those runs.

But on a placid pitch, Ollie Ratnatunga (75) and Tom Rigby (59) progressed the score to 199 without any real alarms, both playing with freedom.

Ben Mitchell claimed a couple of late wickets and Defreitas returned to take one, but the home side amassed 224-6 from their 50 overs. Fifteen-year-old Josh Williams bowled with maturity on his first-team debut.

With Churt needing a positive start, Mitchell blasted a quickfire 36 from 20 balls, before skewing one to cover-point. The visitors were 50-1 from six overs at that point and Will Hucker and Toby Finneran added 33 before Jehan Sherjan snapped up three wickets to reduce Churt to 95-4.

Higgins was then joined by Rowley Marshall who tempered his usual attacking game, while still punishing any loose deliveries. Higgins was content to support his younger partner and the two progressed serenely towards the 200 mark with a chanceless partnership of 103.

With 15 overs still remaining and victory seemingly assured, Marshall mis-timed a shot and was caught for 57. Five runs later, Higgins was bowled by Berkett for 40 and when Defreitas followed soon after, Churt were teetering at 207-7.

But Churt has a more solid batting core this season. Plaistowe and Guy Hucker took them to within two runs of victory and the job was finished with six overs to spare.

Old Emanuel visit the Rec this Saturday. Churt’s prospects look bright, but the side urgently needs an umpire. Anyone interested can contact Dan Higgins via email ([email protected]).