FARNHAM 2nd XI had good reason to celebrate after their win against Normandy II on Saturday.

Not only did they secure their Premiership status in the Surrey Championship 2nd XI section, but this is the first time since the league became a 10-team division that Farnham, having won promotion the year before to the Premiership, have managed not to be relegated straight back down.

Ian Thorpe, returning after a long absence, lost the toss and Farnham, rather surprisingly, were put in. At the drinks break, after useful contributions from Jamie Strachan and Ben Ungaretti, and with Will Davies going well, Farnham were 100-3 and handily placed for a big total.

Relegation-threatened Normandy had other ideas and the home side lurched to 140-7 before Jonny Matthews and Thorpe restored the momentum with a stand of 58 in only eight overs. Thorpe top-scored with 29 and a generous 31 extras helped Farnham to a respectable 211 all out in the last over.

With Farnham’s opening seamers going for 20 in two overs, Thorpe immediately turned to spin and Chris Terry and Alec Goldsworthy restored order. Terry extracted sharp turn and was quickly rewarded, while the miserly Goldsworthy bowled the dangerous Ross Skidmore.

Normandy slipped to 78-5 and Terry (4-32) then reduced them to 125-9.

Thorpe took the final wicket and that was fitting because the long-serving captain is retiring from cricket at the end of the season. Saturday will be his last home game after 37 years as a playing member of Farnham CC.

Ian Thorpe, the oldest of the three brothers who all played for Farnham with distinction – Alan was a prolific opening batsman, Graham, the youngest, went on to great things for Surrey and England – has moved to New Milton for work reasons and feels the time is right to end his marathon 17-season stint as 2nd XI captain. He also led the first team for four seasons.

“I’m 52, the body aches and I’ve also been carrying a knee issue for the last two years courtesy of my footballing days,” Thorpe told the Herald. “So it seems the right time for a change, both for me and the club.

“I will be leaving the club knowing it’s in good shape and will still come back to watch the odd game.”

Thorpe, with his shrewd, no-nonsense captaincy, managed to combine success on the field with encouraging and developing young talent. Several of the current first team passed through his hands and were able to enjoy a good standard of cricket in the 2nd XI Division One and, in particular, the Premier Division, where the standard is high and the pitches first-rate.

Ian Thorpe has the satisfaction of knowing that his side has comfortably maintained that hard-won Premier status.