PUTTENHAM, having seized the lead in I’Anson Division One, consolidated it with a convincing win at Grayshott – never the easiest of places to get a result.

Aks Ilyas won an important toss, inserted the home side and applied the squeeze himself, with Saeed Ahmed equally miserly at the other end.

But it was first-change James Crouch (3-15) who removed the top three and bowled Andy Wheble for 20.

Then it was over to Ilyas who worked his way through the middle order with figures of 4-28 in 14 overs. Ahmed (1-34 in 12) and Matty Hussain (0-25 in 10) gave very little away, but Grayshott at least managed to bat out the maximum 48 overs, thanks to their gritty late order, and with the help of 39 extras, managed to post 138-9.

The home bowlers were unable to pose similar problems for Puttenham’s batsmen. James Andrews and Sajad Hussain put the game to bed with an opening partnership of 105. Stuart Kennedy ran out Matty Hussain for 3, but James Crouch and Sajad Hussain saw Puttenham home in 30 overs, the latter finishing 66 not out, having hit eight fours on a day when boundaries were few.

It was another good day for the Melhuish family as Blackheath saw off a spirited challenge from Chiddingfold. Blackheath looked to be out of sight after amassing 242-4 in just 40 overs, thanks to a superb maiden I’Anson century from Will Melhuish (104 not out), well supported by Rob Parrott (56) and Peter Melhuish (42).

But Chiddingfold were in no mood to roll over on their own ground and, after an early setback, got themselves in a winning position with a century partnership between captain Paul Ward (74) and Matt Barnett (84). Centurion Will Melhuish sampled the vagaries of the game by being hit for 30 in four overs.

However, it all changed when Peter Melhuish brought himself on fourth change. The captain wreaked havoc with a spell of 7-30 in 9.3 overs. Five of the last seven batsmen failed to score and Chiddingfold collapsed spectacularly to 205 all out in 41 overs.

Dogmersfield decided to bat first against Frensham, but never got going against an accurate and varied attack. Nick Cobbold dismissed the top three, all leg before, and two other batsmen were also adjudged lbw. Number 6 Malik was left stranded on 25 not out and the home side were dismissed for 116.

Shinwari bowled George Breddy for a rare duck when Frensham replied, but Alex Warren and James Wood got their heads down against some good bowling, especially from Nick Berridge who took 1-13 in 14 very tight overs. The determined Wood was 42 not out when Frensham completed a seven-wicket victory in the 34th over.

Wrecclesham won the basement battle at Witley, but only by two wickets in a low-scoring affair. It was Wrecclesham’s first victory of the season, Witley having been denied 10 points for an earlier win by Alfold’s withdrawal from the competitions.

Witley’s top order took a bit of a battering from Sam Greensit and Mitch Brown and they were in deep trouble at 17-4 in only the eighth over.

Elliot Burton and Ben Dobson steadied their side with a partnership of 33 before Brown (4-27 in 14 overs) struck again with the score on 50.

Wickets then fell rapidly to Cedric Cooray and Dan Vasey and although Chris Munday rallied the tail, the last two wickets adding 25, Witley were all out for a modest 83.

Wrecclesham lost a quick wicket to Dobson, but then made steady progress until four wickets fell in as many overs and at 47-7, with Dobson and Kurt Lyall in full cry, the ten-man visitors were staring defeat in the face.

However, last man Phil Hogg joined Rob Symes in a solid stand of 30 and Wrecclesham edged home to eight points.

Symes made a match-winning 32 not out, while Dobson was Witley’s stand-out bowler with 5-23 in 11 overs.