BATTERSEA’S defeat at Churt was good news for Haslemere who also lost – beaten on their own ground by Kempton.

A lot depended on the toss, with a very green deck at the Rec. Leigh Thayre lost it and Haslemere were promptly stuck in to bat

Kempton bowled very tight lines and the batsmen were under pressure from the start as Ellis Miah (4-22) and Navjot Sidhu reduced them to 29-4.

Scott Boxall and Keighan Cronin inched the score past 50, but the home side then slumped to 91-9, with Boxall finally out for an accomplished 28.

Ollie Ellis and Billy Boxall added 21 in a spirited last-wicket stand before Haslemere were dismissed for 112 after an innings that lasted 49 overs.

Ellis bowled the dangerous Miah with only 12 runs on the board, but Haslemere combined some good bowling with too many ‘four balls’ and the game slipped away from them as Jeeta Dhillon (57) and skipper Andy Ward put on 47 for the third wicket.

Kempton won by six wickets in the 34th over and Haslemere slip to third place in the Surrey Championship Division Five, but only one point behind Battersea. With players rejoining the fold, Haslemere are preparing for a big push over their remaining games.