TWO outstanding performances from the opposite ends of the age range helped Farnham to a superb win over Banstead who have been flying high in the Surrey Championship Division One.

Young George Hellyer supplied the mortar of Farnham’s innings with 74 not out, while the rather more mature Mike O’Mahony completed a thumping 122-run victory by taking 6-24.

Beaten only once this season, a confident Banstead inserted Farnham at the Park and it looked a good decision as Tom Pitchley bowled an out-of-sorts Guy Hicks in the first over and then, with the score 28, had Toby Davies caught.

Not for the first time this season, Joel Walker and Ciaran Rooney set about a rebuilding task. The in-form Walker drove with his customary elan, while vice-captain Rooney found the gaps skilfully, while also playing his shots.

The pair moved the score to 79 before Walker was out for 44, mistiming a drive off Tom Lancefield, bringing in Hellyer. At 103, Rooney fell leg before to the newly introduced Arsalan Abbas for 39.

Hellyer then showed great maturity as he took control in a calm and collected manner, picking up singles and keeping the scoreboard ticking over, assisted by Jim Berry in a half-century stand.

Later, Hellyer upped the tempo with some powerful shots, supported in turn by Ben Ungaretti and Matt Clarke. In the grilling sun, Hellyer faced 114 balls and was unbeaten on 74 when last man Rob Goldsworthy was run out on the penultimate ball of the 66th over, Farnham setting a target of 223.

Banstead were left 61 overs on a relatively placid wicket and made an awful start. Lancefield, formerly of Glamorgan and Surrey, was dispatched by an Ungaretti snorter with only seven runs scored and when skipper Dan Newton was clean-bowled by Goldsworthy, the visitors were 13-2.

There was a recovery of sorts as Banstead battled their way to 73-3 at tea, but first-change O’Mahony came out with energy and pace and proceeded to give one of the best exhibitions of seam bowling seen at the Park in recent times.

The vastly experienced England Deaf player ripped through the line-up with prodigious swing and, having broken a stubborn partnership, followed up with a triple wicket-maiden.

There was no coming back from 86-7 and O’Mahony finished the job in style. Four lbw victims testified to his movement and accuracy as he recorded exceptional figures of 10-3-24-6. Banstead had gone from 78-3 to 101 all out.

A morale-boosting victory for the black caps who take their improved form to Beddington this Saturday.