ELSTEAD and Pirbright, both relegated last season, have made strong starts to their Division Two campaigns.

Elstead looked destined for a low total as wickets tumbled to the attack of Baxendale (6-45) and Bristow. However, the later batsmen gave solid support to Mubarik Ahmed whose counter-attacking 67 gave the home side something to bowl at.

Fernhurst were set a target of 142 and that man Mubarik Ahmed (4-18) was quickly amongst the wickets. Fernhurst’s hopes, as usual, lay with Mike Allen and his 47 seemed to be turning the game around. However, Faz Syed (4-27) got his man and skipper Tristan Rissik was left stranded as Fernhurst tumbled to 115 all out.

Pirbright’s third straight win came at the expense of Grayshott II. Ian Milton elected to field and the makeshift opening attack of Ivan Wright and the skipper, and then change-bowlers Rupert Howe and Puneet Saraswat, reduced Grayshott to 46-6. However, the lower order dug in and notable contributions from Kieran Wells and James Johnson and the last pair of Dylan Hood and Alex Marden got the score up to 152 all out.

Young Marden struck with the first ball of Pirbright’s innings, but Awais Khan and Elex Van Rensburg remained calm against some fine bowling, paving the way for Robbie Jones to settle the issue with a free-scoring 58 not out.

An outstanding all-round display by Ollie Pearce earned Lurgashall a convincing win away to Headley II. Pearce got off the mark with an exquisite drive through extra-cover and thereafter peppered the boundary. The visitors powered to 258-5 before declaring after just 38 overs, only to realise that Pearce was 149 not out!

Pearce then showed excellent fitness levels by working up a lively pace. Aaron Evans (5-16 in 14 overs) did most of the damage, however. Ian Neville played some aggressive shots, while composed opener Richard Jackson put on 39 with skipper Blake Hatt. But there was no denying Lurgashall and it was fitting that Pearce (3-24) should take the final wicket at 98.

After their shaky start to life in Division Two, Shalford came within three runs of beating The Bourne. Opting to bat, Bourne posted a decent 171-8 in 46 overs, thanks to another good innings by Neil Poulter (60).

Dave Rowe took 5-54 and then made 40 as Shalford made a determined push for victory. Adam White (43) and Peter Simmons (36 not out) also batted well, but Shalford came up three runs short on 169-8 in their 44 overs. The accuracy of Andy Rooke and Dave Clarke saved Bourne from likely defeat.

Frensham II openers Alex Warren and Peter Harrison piled on the runs against Hindhead. Warren plundered 138 and Frensham declared on 220-3 from 42 overs.

Jack Hamilton played some nice shots for Hindhead, but the visitors soon turned their sights on a draw and their first points of the season. David Babb and Matt Jeffs (42) batted well, but it was Ben Thorne who held the innings together with a marathon 36 not out from 144 balls, steering his side to 159-7 from their 48 overs.

Harting, inserted by Badshot Lea, owed much to Terry Wadey whose 56 guided the home side to a competitive 153-5 against good bowling.

Badshot Lea began well, with Gregory making 42 at the top of the order, but Alex Bennett (6-23 in 14 overs) looked to be bowling Harting to victory. Tim Gray and Hasan Safdar held firm, however, and Badshot Lea finished on 131-8.