TAILENDER Bruce Baxendale struck six sixes in an over as Fernhurst ended Thursley’s winning start to the season in I’Anson Division Two.

Fernhurst, put in to bat, got off to a flyer as openers Mark Charman and Nick Jackman took 65 from the first ten overs. But both fell to Aleem Fazal and suddenly Thursley had the initiative as the visitors dipped to 95-5 from 20 overs.

However, a couple of spilled catches proved costly as Harry Lambert and Steve Tytler counter-attacked. And the tail wagged, painfully hard, first through skipper Tristan Rissik and then number 10 Baxendale who ‘did a Sobers’, hitting Derek Agge – not averse to some hard hitting himself – to six consecutive sixes with a mix of clean straight driving and good use of the shorter square-leg boundary.

Baxendale’s 44 contained seven maximums in total and although he then fell to Agge, his prodigious hitting will not be forgotten by those who saw it, not least Graham Jackson who was wearing the white coat. “In almost 50 years of umpiring, I have never actually witnessed this before,” he said later.

Fernhurst’s total had rocketed to 276-9 and, thereafter, a shell-shocked Thursley were never in the game. Only opener Lewis Meears made a score of note, digging in and combining determination with sensible shot selection before being stumped by Lambert off Rissik for 42.

Baxendale, nicely warmed to the task, took the first two wickets to fall and Rissik, also having a good day, claimed three victims as Thursley were bowled out for 106.

It was another sobering defeat for Hindhead who need to bat their full 45 overs to give themselves a chance in the limited-overs format, particularly against a powerful side like Brook. Hindhead elected to field, but the decision backfired as the visitors piled on the runs. Tom Williams (46), Marc-Antony Eysele (59), Paul Challinor (70 not out) and Robin Hudson (48) all made sizeable contributions to a formidable total of 258-4 from the 45 overs. Young Harry Stokes bowled with consistency and took an excellent one-handed catch, while Matt Jeffs also performed creditably in trying conditions.

Joe Harrison and Josh Williams gave Hindhead hope with a good 50 opening partnership. But there followed a sadly familiar batting collapse as Hindhead went from 51-0 to 80-7 through a combination of good bowling, especially from Eysele, and poor shot selection from the batsmen. Greg Talbot hit a lusty 30, including three sixes, to give the score some respectability before Hindhead were dismissed for 141 with 10 overs remaining.

Frensham II gave Harting first use of a dry, flat pitch at Hollowdene. Archie Wadey gave the Sussex side a fine start with a fast half-century before the evergreen Adam Page applied the brakes with 1-20 off nine overs. Further wickets proved hard to come by and with a solid platform laid, Dan Thistleton accelerated to a fifty of his own, allowing Harting to post 220-5.

The Frensham reply was circumspect at first, but once Peter Harrison and Nick Green had played themselves in, the pair put the bowlers to the sword, building a partnership of 150 which won the game with three overs to spare.

Grayshott II recovered from 45-5 against Badshot Lea to post a competitive 210 all out in the 45th over, thanks to a captain’s knock from Neil Sampson and impressive batting from the late order, notably Ian Roberts (23) and Rob Gregory (32), numbers 9 and 10.

Gregory and Dom Ford then restricted Badshot Lea to 30 runs from their first 15 overs. Sampson (4-27) and Ravi Sriharan plucked out the middle order and after some stubborn resistance from the tail, Grayshott clinched victory in the 41st over. Badshot Lea all out for 119. Raziq Khan made 20, but ‘Extras’ top-scored with 33.

An unbeaten 114 from Peter Unsworth and an opening partnership of 145 with Bryan Winson (53) ensured that Shalford reached a formidable total after being inserted by visitors Elstead. Tim Sutton made a breezy 41 in another stand and Shalford closed on an imposing 254-4.

Guy Drayton (59) and Max Holland staged a good stand for Elstead’s second wicket, but after they both fell to Satyarajesh Ravipati (3-26), it was left to Sam Holland to hold the visitors together. Winson and Juan Vorster inflicted further damage and Elstead finished the day on 178-9 with Holland still there on 37 not out.

Skipper Liam Gadd led Tongham to victory at The Bourne with a free-scoring 89 not out. Bourne were on course for a decent total while Rob Stoker (43) was at the wicket, but he became one of Lee Bennett’s four victims and the home team were restricted to 176-8 in their 45 overs.

Gadd, who had taken 3-26 in his nine overs, then played a match-winning innings and Mark Andrews joined him in an unbroken stand as Tongham powered home in just 29 overs.