YOUNG players George Hellyer and George Dale both scored half-centuries for Farnham, but Camberley were already out of sight, having posted a massive 317-9 on a benign pitch at the Park.

Both sides were relegated to Division Two last season, but Camberley’s top four is one of the strongest in the Surrey Championship and, after winning the toss, they set about the opening overs confidently, despite losing captain Max Shoveller in the third over – bowled by Rob Goldsworthy.

The hard-hitting Tim Burns struck 91 of just 65 balls, including 12 fours and four sixes, as the visitors raced to 155-3 off 22 overs.

James Day took over as the main aggressor and only debutant Chris Terry was able to keep the batsmen at bay through the middle overs with some tight left-arm spin.

With the score racking up, Guy Hicks threw the ball to Ben Ungaretti to bowl the ‘death’ overs. With a mixture of slower balls and yorkers, Ungaretti contrived to take 5-36, but Camberley still surged past 300, thanks to Day’s brilliant 109 not out off 78 balls.

Farnham, missing their skipper and vice – Tom Grimes and Ciaran Rooney were at a wedding – had to play their shots to have any chance, but the scoreboard pressure contributed to an awful start, with the top three back in the pavilion for only 15 runs.

Hellyer and Ungaretti weathered the initial storm and kept the score ticking over. Hellyer invariably dispatched bad balls to the ropes and raced to his 50 in a partnership of 97 before falling to a sharp leg-side stumping by the impressive Todd Hutcheson. His 55-ball 62 included 11 fours and a six. His departure triggered a flurry of wickets and Farnham’s collapse to 137-7 all but ended the game as a contest.

However, the belligerent George Dale kept the fielders on their toes with a quickfire 64 off 67 balls (12 fours) before finally being caught off Sam Holmes, having added 71 with the equally positive Terry (35).

Aiming to pick up as many batting bonus points as they could, Farnham eventually mustered 232 all out in the 48th over, Camberley winning by 85 runs.

Farnham visit Esher this week in pursuit of that psychologically important first win of the season.