FOR the first time this summer, rain severely curtailed the I’Anson schedule, with only nine of the 27 fixtures producing a result last Saturday – and this at a pivotal stage in the season.

Division One front-runners Blackheath and Grayswood were denied likely victories as rain swept across the region in mid-afternoon, but Puttenham had time to secure a valuable eight points after dismissing Frensham, who had beaten Grayswood the week before, for a mere 52 runs.

Pirbright, meanwhile, improved their chances of beating the drop by beating Tilford.

Puttenham extended their winning run to seven matches with an overwhelming victory against Frensham. The visitors were inserted on a slow pitch and openers Tim Knight and Ryan Sherman put on 35 before the former was trapped in front by James Crouch in the 12th over.

Sherman struck five boundaries in his 27, but his was the only meaningful contribution. A bowling change in the 16th over brought ‘Sid’ Ahmed into the attack and, 13 balls later, he had the remarkable figures of 5 for 0.

Ahmed removed the top and middle-order batsmen in an amazing seven-over spell that yielded final figures of 7-4-8-6. Sohail Awan and Crouch shared the remaining wickets and the next highest score behind Sherman was extras with 12. Frensham were shot out for 52 in 28.2 overs.

With rain threatening and tea due to be taken at 3.30pm, James Andrews and Ahsan Awan wasted little time, scoring 32 in six overs before Awan holed out to Tom Smith off Sam Farncombe. This brought Seamus Leonard to the crease and it was he who hit the winning runs at the end of the ninth over, just before heavy rain arrived.

Pirbright beat Tilford by two wickets in a low-scoring game at the Gardens. The home side won an important toss and Tilford, put in on a very damp track, lost both Chris Wilson and Mark Ramesar to Aman Khan with only 10 on the board.

The promoted Nigel Martyn was out for 12 – a first victim for Ian Milton – but opener Guy Wilson battled away before he was caught behind off Rupert Howe for a patient 32. Jake Austin hit 29 in fairly quick time, bringing the score to 87, but the last five wickets fell for only 20 runs and the visitors were all out for 107 in the 42nd over, some 30 to 40 runs short of what could have been a winning total.

Milton returned fine figures of 5 for 34 from 14 unchanged overs and young Khan claimed 4 for 19 from 12.3 overs.

It started to drizzle during tea and four overs were lost before Pirbright began their reply. James Thompson was bowled second ball by Jake Austin and Tilford threatened to win against the odds as Austin and Martyn reduced Pirbright to 48-5.

But Brett Flanegan, having been called in at the eleventh hour, played a key innings and he and Aman Khan added 30 before the latter was well run out by Brandon Ambrose.

Milton and Flanegan put on a further 27 and although Tilford took two more wickets, Flanegan (37 not out) fittingly hit the winning four at the end of the 34th over, with the light fading and rain imminent.

Grayswood required an early declaration and a devastating bowling performance to pull off victory and were well on the way to doing just that as they raced to 187-4 (Alastair Gloak 60) in just 24 overs and then reduced Wrecclesham to 45-5 before play was abandoned 14 overs into the visitors’ innings.

Graywood have to win their final two games and then it may all come down to Blackheath’s display against Puttenham on the last Saturday of the season (Sept 19).