FARNHAM were relieved to come away with a draw after suffering in the field as Valley End piled up 351-5 in the Surrey Championship Division One fixture.

Valley End elected to bat in the first of the 120-over timed matches – an easy decision, with a great-looking wicket at the Park and clear skies above.

Rob Goldsworthy and Jim Berry kept things tight early on and the former dismissed Paul Williams with only 11 on the board. Valley End saw off the new ball efficiently, though, and Chris Peploe and overseas man Jason Oakes began to look more comfortable.

The early introduction of spin only encouraged the visitors to go on the attack and and with Farnham struggling for a breakthrough, Peploe and Oakes put up the 100 before drinks were taken.

The pair continued to play their shots, riding their luck at times, and when Ciaran Rooney finally broke the stand, Valley End were an intimidating 179-2.

Peploe continued to hammer the bowlers, launching multiple sixes into the car park and accelerating to his 100.

Captain Ben Kingsnorth now partnered him and joined in the run feast after a slow start. Farnham eventually dismissed Peploe for 120, caught at deep mid-wicket by Toby Davies off Matt Clarke, but could not contain Kingsnorth who, now supported by Oli Dunnett, continued to hand out punishment.

Kingsnorth raced to his century off 72 balls, hitting the ball to all parts, and declared at an unassailable 351-5 off 63.3 overs.

Farnham’s reply certainly got off to an eventful start, with Will Davies and Guy Hicks taking 15 off the first over.

The openers put on a promising 61, dispatching the bad ball efficiently until Hicks was caught for 25. When the consistent Davies followed for 40, Farnham were 94-2 and Toby Ward carried on the good work, hitting boundaries seemingly at will and combining well with Toby Davies who was working hard, rotating the strike against the four-prong Valley End spin attack.

The going became harder as the pitch began to take turn, but Farnham were still picking off the runs.

Ward finally went at 137, but Berry also played positively, picking off boundaries and playing the spinners cleverly.

But Farnham were always behind behind the prodigious run-rate and getting to the winning draw mark would require a lot of risks. After a flurry of late wickets, they ended on a creditable 196-7 from 56 overs and took a hard-earned five points.

Farnham make the short trip for a local derby at Guildford this Saturday.