HEAVY rain, accurately forecast, swept across the south at around tea-time on Saturday, forcing many games to be abandoned early in the second innings.

The Southern Premier League and I’Anson Competition were severely effected. Only four games were completed in the four divisions of the SPL, but an eight-wicket victory over Portsmouth enabled Andover to snatch the Division?One title on the last day of the season.

The 24 scheduled I’Anson fixtures produced only three results.

There were more completed games in the Surrey Championship, especially in the fixtures closer to London, and the teams who won their race with the weather included Farnham 1st and 2nd XIs. Their victories and other key games that were abandoned combined to give the club an unexpected promotion double on the final day of the campaign.

Churt, the Division Five champions, were well on their way to a 12th win of the season when the weather intervened nine overs into the second innings. Churt amassed 244-8, with overseas player Ben Mitchell hitting a season’s best 112, and then reduced visitors Kempton to 25-5, with Dave Thomas taking 4-11 in four overs.

Haslemere got a result, but it was a defeat in a low-scoring game away to Maori Oxshott.

Haslemere chose to bat first and opener Lee Clement made 30 while watching Oscar Kolk (4-14 in 10 overs) wreak havoc at the other end. Haslemere were in dire straits at 56-6 and it was left to Leigh Thayre, Pete Dudley and Ollie Ellis to score some handy runs and get the total up to 105 in 39 overs. Baz Medlycott made good use of a helpful track and claimed 4-18 in his 10 overs.

Maori were soon in similar difficulties and lost two wickets for no runs. At 49-5, the game could have gone either way. Kolk was the difference between the sides, however. He followed up his bowling with a match-winning 57 and Maori won by three wickets. Billy Boxall’s fine spell brought him figures of 3-8 in seven overs.

Haslemere fell away in their final games, but still finish a creditable fourth in their first Surrey Championship season.