FRENSHAM strengthened their position at the top of Division One on a day when rain selectively disrupted the I’Anson Competitions.

Grayshott, Chiddingfold and Frensham were granted sufficient time to record valuable victories, but the elements forced an early finish at Tilford, while Blackheath edged the bonus points in a rain-reduced match against Grayswood.

On a day when the toss was crucial, Nathan Phillimore won it for once and set his bowlers to work on ailing Wrecclesham. With the weather threatening, Grayshott aimed to bowl the visitors out quickly and knock off the runs – and that was what happened, albeit not without a hiccup or two.

Mark Richards quickly bowled two batsmen, but the real action started when Cameron Oosthuizen was brought into the attack, with some shine still on the ball.

Bowling with superb accuracy and control, Oosthuizen was straight on the spot and, less than six overs later, had astonishing figures of 6-1, one of his victims being opener Matt Parkinson whose 23 was more than half his side’s total. The first nine wickets were all bowled and when Oosthuizen claimed the final wicket – leg before – he had taken 7-8 in six overs to leave Wrecclesham all out for a miserable 41.

Grayshott were in a hurry, determined that Oosthuizen’s efforts should not be in vain. After four balls from Mitch Brown, Andy Wheble and Phillimore were back in the pavilion and it wasn’t quite going to plan. Gary Hunt and James Cavannagh soon followed and Wrecclesham dared to dream.

However, the combination of Will Kriehn’s youthful confidence and Neil Moseley’s great experience settled the issue. The defiant Brown took 3-12 in five overs.

Chasing 192, an energetic Blackheath reached the win-draw target in the penultimate over and kept their last two wickets intact in the final one.

Drizzle turned into a downpour and tea was taken at 2.35pm with Grayswood on 60-1. When play resumed, Alex Tucker looked to be aggressive, but Blackheath’s bowling was tight and restrictive and other batsmen fared less well, with only 20 runs coming from 11 overs.

Tucker reached his 50 and was finally caught off a skier for 75. Iain Jackson hit out for 37 and the declaration at 192-7 left Blackheath 32 overs to get the runs.

Blackheath were on their heels at 16-2, but stands of 38 and 39 between Torsten Wrigley and Rob Parrott and Wrigley and Peter Melhuish took the home side to 93 after 22 overs. Back came Grayswood and they had more than a sniff of victory at 99-6 with eight overs remaining.

Blackheath went for it, though, and Alex Bertola hit 31 not out from 26 balls to take his side to 142-8 (and 4 points) as Ben Rinck (4-35) threatened to winkle out the tail.

Frensham inserted Headley on a greenish Hollowdene track. The seamers failed to make an impact, though, and it was slow bowlers Ben Maxwell, Ray Clarke and Tim Knight who did the damage. Stuart Smith (36) and Matt Clarke (58) batted with skill in the testing conditions, but from number 5 down, no-one reached double figures and the visitors were bowled out for 126 in the 45th over.

Clarke was in his element and outwitted Headley’s young batsmen on a slow track to take 5-36 in nine overs.

Matt Hall produced a good delivery to bowl Alex Warren, otherwise it was pretty much a stroll for Frensham. George Breddy continued his imperious form with 64 not out and Tom Charman (31) and Jack Richards (21 not out) rattled up quick runs at the other end to help complete an eight-wicket victory in 22 overs.

A second win of the season for Chiddingfold left Witley further adrift at the foot of the table. Put in to bat, Witley made slow, but steady progress through their top order, with Jimmy Hill and Ollie Hickman sharing a useful stand. Kieran Lyall top-scored with 32 not out, but lacked support from the late order. Nick Harman took 4-38 in 14 overs and Paul Hundley, Nick Ayling and Paul Ward picked up two wickets apiece to leave Witley all out for 111 in 42 overs.

Kurt Lyall dismissed Chiddingfold’s openers cheaply and Witley were still in the game at 53-4 and then 60-5. However, skipper Ward (40 not out) stood firm and an unbroken partnership with the positive Tony King (33 not out) saw Chiddingfold home without further loss.

Put in at Tilford, Puttenham reached 75-4 after 21 overs, with Iffy Aziz (37) and Sunny Ayoubi (17) sharing a partnership of 42 for the second wicket. But a storm caused a premature finish and flooding at the wooden bridge.