HASLEMERE beat struggling Battersea by a comfortable six wickets to continue their perfect start to the season in the Surrey Championship Division Five.

On what looked to be a decent Battersea track, home skipper Sean Graham had no hesitation in batting first and both teams knew that 180-plus was a must.

Haslemere got off to an unfortunate start, not through leaking runs, but through losing opening bowler Billy Boxall to injury, the youngster hobbling off after just three balls.

The visitors fielded ten men for the next 18 overs, but Battersea struggled to 23-3 in that time before a decent partnership between Graham and Phillip Mahony got them up to 86.

Chris May again bowled with great control and accuracy. Once Graham fell for 64, Haslemere’s dependable spinners went about their business. The batsmen kept going hard at the ball and this was their downfall. Three wickets apiece for Sam Williams and Chris Spooner kept the game firmly in Haslemere’s hands.

Battersea subsided to 157 – a total that never looked to be enough. Although not at their best in the field, Haslemere had done the first part of the job.

Their reply did not start well, with Spooner trapped lbw first ball by Ruari Isted. This brought in Scott Boxall and he was dropped first ball. It proved an expensive miss. The 17-year-old went on to make a solid 31 and he and Chris Hooker added 54.

Hooker looked sound throughout, defending when necessary and dismissing the bad ball. He and Chris Sturt took the score to 100 and when the latter was out, Haslemere required less than 60 with 20 overs left.

Simon Eastment hit a quick 22, while Hooker batted throughout for an accomplished 73 not out. Haslemere cruised to another 20 points with more than five overs to spare.

Haslemere host promoted Merstham at the Rec this Saturday. Can they make it five wins on the bounce?