CAMBERLEY looked true champions in the waiting as they overhauled Farnham’s 217-7 in little more than 30 overs last Saturday.

The Surrey Championship Division Two leaders had suffered their first defeat of the season the previous week and took out their chagrin on Farnham, their nearest rivals.

Tom Andrews, who had taken 7-17 against Egham the previous week, discovered that cricket can be a great leveller. He was hit for 33 in three overs and new-ball partner Ben Ungaretti went for 31 in three as openers Max Shoveller and James Day ensured an early finish with a brutal opening partnership of 157.

Tom Grimes lost a vital toss and Farnham were inserted on a hard, but grassy track. The visitors began brightly against the pace of Day and Kyle Philander, but although Jim Berry and Joel Walker played some bold, attacking shots, both were castled by Day and Farnham were 36-2.

Number 1 Nathan Thorpe and Ciaran Rooney looked to rebuild the innings and the pair put away the bad balls and rotated the strike to great effect.

The pair added 88 before Thorpe came down the track to spinner Sam Holmes and was stumped for a solid 42 off 93 balls.

Rooney followed shortly after for 47 (88 balls), going for one big shot too many and picking out Trevor McGeer at long-on.

Farnham had opted for the extra batsman in their line-up and this depth helped them accelerate in the later overs.

Ungaretti moved the ball around nicely, but George Hellyer was the real hero. After getting himself settled, he took the attack to Camberley and scored a blistering 53 from 45 balls, including two mighty sixes, helping Farnham post what seemed a competitive 217-7 in 55 overs.

Camberley made their intentions immediately clear when skipper Shoveller dispatched Andrews’ first ball for four. He and Day raced to 60 from the first five overs, with the ball disappearing to all parts.

Grimes, deciding to take the pace off the ball early, introduced Thorpe and Chris Terry, but the assault eased only slightly and Shoveller shot past his 50.

Third-change Rooney finally broke the stand at 157, thanks to a sharp catch by Jim Berry at cover.

The loss of Shoveller, who had hit 85 from 66 balls, including 15 fours, slowed the rate, but Day was still there, the Australian all-rounder having reached his half-century in better than even time.

Grimes rotated his bowlers and the Berry brothers picked up a wicket apiece, Day going for 79 at 203, but Camberley had the game wrapped up in 31 overs.

A chastening defeat for Farnham after a truly impressive batting display by the leaders. Farnham remain well placed for promotion themselves, but need to bounce back this Saturday when they host mid-table Dulwich.