FARNHAM kick-started their Surrey Championship season with victory off the penultimate ball of a thrilling Division Two match at Esher’s delightful New Road ground.

The track looked good for batting, but new skipper Tom Grimes elected to bowl first. Esher made a solid start, but found it difficult to get the ball away as Rob Goldsworthy found an excellent defensive line and length.

Will Edwards fell to a sharp catch by keeper Joel Walker and although Peter Blackhurst (49) and Alex Martin (49) shared a good stand, Grimes rotated his bowlers to good effect and some tight left-arm spin from Chris Terry in the middle overs kept the batsmen under pressure.

As Esher tried to accelerate, Mike O’Mahony and Ciaran Rooney bowled with great control, forcing the batsmen to take increasing risks.

John Mason became the third batsman to perish on 49 as Farnham held their nerve. Rooney and O’Mahony picked up three wickets apiece and Esher were held to 224-8 in their 50 overs – still a competitive total.

Farnham lost Grimes early and Walker and Rooney had to be watchful against a lively seam attack. The pair negotiated the new ball, punishing anything loose and rotating the strike well. They had added 77, with Walker reaching a fine 50, when Rooney was adjudged lbw for 25.

Guy Hicks and George Hellyer kept the run-rate ticking over, while Walker continued to bat with authority and looked well set for a ton until a sharp caught-and-bowled by Mason removed him for an excellent 75.

Still requiring 70, Ben Ungaretti and Josh Berry set about the task with gusto, running particularly well between the wickets.

One quick single too many had Berry run out for 26, but the experienced O’Mahony (23 not out) was a useful man coming in at 9 and he and Ungaretti (34 not out) chipped away at the target: 23 wanted off the last three overs and eight off the final over, to be bowled by Shoaib Khan.

The pair picked the gaps well and Ungaretti finished in style with a scoop behind square for four off the fifth ball.