Farnham’s second team crashed to a 91-run defeat at Old Hamptonians’ second team on Saturday.

Farnham travelled hoping to secure their first win of the season.

However, it was the home side who emerged victorious, extending their winning streak to four games and maintaining their promotion push.

At the other end of the table, this result leaves Farnham bottom with lots of work to do.

After winning the toss, Farnham elected to field first.

Farnham’s bowlers started well, putting early pressure on Old Hamptonians’ openers Jack Rosser and Neil Lizieri.

The pressure eventually paid off as Kasun Sumanasekera dismissed Rosser, caught well at slip by Mike O’Mahony.

Lizieri dragged on shortly afterwards as Sumanasekera claimed his second victim.

Old Hamptonians slowly found their rhythm as the innings progressed, with Fraser Bates (58) taking charge and accelerating the scoring with a series of leg-side hits. Bates partnered with Harry Mayes to frustrate Farnham’s bowlers, building a solid partnership of 66 runs to take the score to 123 for three. Farnham managed to break through when O’Mahony (four for 42) had Bates caught on the boundary.

O’Mahony’s consistency in his 14-over spell brought Farnham wickets at regular intervals, but Mayes continued to hold the innings together for Old Hamptonians.

When Mayes was stumped off the bowling of Mohammad Talha Qamar for 34, Old Hamptonians were looking vulnerable on 156 for seven.

However, Richard Brown (30 not out) and Samuel Osborn (34 not out) rebuilt the innings, and their unbeaten partnership of 72 guided the hosts to a competitive total of 228 for seven off 49 overs.

Farnham’s chase started brightly, with captain Daniel Wakely (14) and Qamar (25) guiding Farnham to 48 without loss off 12 overs. However, once the off-spin of Brown dismissed both Farnham’s openers, the away side were left on 61 for two, and they never managed to recover their early momentum. The wickets of Peter Brown (ten) and Tom Blackburn (11) followed shortly afterwards.

Despite a promising partnership between O’Mahony (19) and Alexander Kardamilakis (27), which took Farnham to 112 for four, the spin of Mayes (four for 19) halted the Farnham resurgence. Wickets continued to tumble after this point, with Farnham eventually bowled out for 137.

Despite the loss, Farnham were competitive for large parts of the match, and there were many positives to take.

The challenge for Farnham will be to build on this performance, and turn progress into points in the coming weeks.