PIRBRIGHT were denied a result by the weather, but second-placed Lurgashall missed their chance to close the gap on the I’Anson Division Two leaders because they lost to Grayshott 2nd XI.

Grayshott II, third in the table and able to bolster their line-up with a couple of first-teamers, were inserted by Lurgashall on a damp, green wicket. Caution was the watchword and Andy Lang and Gary Hunt did well to take the sting out of Lurgashall’s opening attack.

Hunt made 38, hitting the only two boundaries of the innings. Nathan Phillimore and Paul Marden shared a solid stand of 40 and David Eeles marshalled the tail sensibly, so that Grayshott were able to bat out the maximum 48 overs for a good total of 135-9. Alex Wadey was impressive behind the wicket and stumped three batsmen, two off Darren Hodd who took 3-33 in 14 overs.

Young speedsters Kiaran Wells (3-14) and Alex Marden (4-19) then decimated Lurgashall’s top order and after their seven-over spells, the visitors were a sorry 32-7. Drew Clark and Hodd dug in and nearly doubled the total until Eeles took a good catch off Dylan Hood to break the stand. Soon after, Lurgashall were all out for 63.

Fernhurst, put in by Badshot Lea, expected the weather to end the game early. But it didn’t work out that way and although 30 overs were lost to rain, the home side came within one wicket of maximum points.

Badshot Lea bowled well, especially Dan Addison who took 4-39 in 14 overs, and Fernhurst struggled for runs until James Bristow and Josh Allen added 57 for the ninth wicket. Bristow made 46 and Allen 40 not out and Fernhurst posted a decent 160 all out in 36.2 overs.

Badshot Lea were immediately in trouble against Bruce Baxendale who clean-bowled four of the first five batsmen. Ella Chandler and the lower order then put up some resistance, but after 23 overs, the visitors were hanging on at 57-9. Baxendale finished with 5-21 in 10 overs.

Elstead and Frensham II defied the weather and after a keenly-fought game, played in the right spirit, Elstead emerged with a valuable eight points to renew their promotion challenge.

A strong-looking Frensham side were made to work hard for their runs. Moisin Ahmed conceded a miserly 13 runs in nine overs and it was his accuracy that helped Lewis Sheppard and Ali take three wickets apiece. Ryan Sherman held Frensham together with 56 not out and 172-8 from 46 overs looked a competitive total.

However, a fluent opening partnership between Sam Egan and Nathern Thomas (46) put Elstead well on their way. Frensham plugged away, but skipper Egan batted on and his 58 not out and an unbroken stand with Dave Tye saw his side home in 35 overs.

The Bourne won an important toss and inserted bottom side Headley II on a moist track. Richard Jackson and Ashley Cook were steadfast, but found run-scoring difficult and once they were out wickets fell at regular intervals. Matt Du Gay was the pick of the attack with 5-26 from 11 overs.

The Bourne, chasing just 81, struggled in turn against the medium pace of Paul Kelly (3-23) and leg-spin of Charlie Neville (2-32). It needed an excellent 43 not out from debutant David Stone to see The Bourne home in the 27th over.

Abandoned: Harting v Hindhead, Pirbright v Shalford.