GRAYSWOOD, the season-long I’Anson leaders, were finally knocked off top spot as Grayshott inched ahead after their win at Headley.

Grayswood were homing in on 18 points at The Green, only to be frustrated by two experts in the art of survival, Jason Stones and Nigel Martyn.

With a realignment of the league looming at the ADM, teams are jockying for position and Blackheath were relieved to record only their third win of the season, Alex Bertola taking 7-15 on a helpful wicket at Pirbright.

There was also variable bounce at Tilford and Grayswood, put in to bat, did well to compile 194-8 in the full 48 overs. Rhys Dodson (47) and Alex Tucker shared a third-wicket partnership of 70, but thereafter the visitors were held in check. Alec Thomas finished 27 not out, while Huw Town-Jones took 4-41.

Tilford, after a solid start, staggered to 57-8, with slow left-armer Jon Ashworth taking 5-11 off 10 miserly overs. Their plight seemed terminal, but the imperturbable Stones and Martyn held firm for 16 overs as the bowlers were rotated and their stand of 43 steered Tilford to 100-8 and two points.

Headley, inserted by Grayshott in the local derby, slipped to 43-3 and then 81-5 on a tricky surface. However, number 7 Callum Hawtin (33) played sensibly with the lower order and the home side batted into the 48th over before Rob Gregory struck twice in two balls to end the innings on 159. Gregory (4-37) and Danny Brown (4-43) both returned excellent figures.

Grayshott openers Andy Wheble and Gary Hunt went for their shots from the start, Matt Hall going for 12 in his first over and George Ellis for 15. Any delivery with width was dispatched to the boundary and 50 runs came from five overs as the batsmen belied the crumbling nature of the pitch.

Wheble had hit 40 out of 64 when he was stumped off Zach Benstead and Grayshott’s most prolific batsman reached 14,000 Division?One runs in the process. Quite a landmark, and Wheble has now set his sights on 15,000.

Hunt then opened up with a series of cover-drives, constantly beating the field, and Nathan Phillimore helped him add 75 in quick time. Hunt was 75 not out as Grayshott streaked home in the 32nd over.

Alex Bertola, coming on first change, wreaked havoc on a Pirbright wicket giving uneven bounce. Jon Swinney (32) gave the home side a solid platform at 40-1, but the wheels came off as Bertola, locks flowing and operating off a short run, ripped through the batting with 7-15 in 12 overs.

Pirbright collapsed to 83 all out in 34 overs, but Blackheath also struggled at first and lost Josh Milton and Rob Parrott for 22 runs against good bowling by Aman Khan and Ryland Kelly. Will and Peter Melhuish then did enough to ensure a much-needed 18 points for Blackheath.

Puttenham predictably outclassed Witley. Aks Ilyas and ‘Sid’ Ahmed quickly got to work and, once again, only Ollie Hickman looked comfortable at this standard, making 34 before being caught off Ahmed who took 4-16 in 10 overs.

The visitors were bowled out for 75 and an unbroken stand of 56 between Ahsan Ahmed and James Crouch completed a nine-wicket win for Puttenham in 14 overs.

Opener Dan Bunter top-scored with 41 as Dogmersfield batted consistently to reach 197 all out at Frensham.

Skipper George Breddy scored another half-century for Frensham and although the run-rate slowed against the economical Dhaniyal and Imran Abbas, the home side secured the winning draw at 176-7.

Lurgashall, second from bottom, salvaged a draw after being mauled for 286-4 in 43 overs by Chiddingfold. Dean Spencer made 56 and the visitors continued to bat around captain Paul Ward who compiled a superb 147, including 18 fours and seven sixes.

Lurgashall lost four wickets cheaply before Nathan Kemp (48) and Darren Hodd came together in a match-saving partnership. Hodd finished unbeaten on 61 and with help from the late order, steered his side to 182-8 and an honourable draw.