NIGEL Martyn, one of the most durable I’Anson cricketers, again held centre stage as Tilford ended Grayshott’s seven-match winning run in a heart-stopping finale at The Green.

Grayshott looked likely winners for most of the game, but Martyn, who had already played a crucial innings, induced a late collapse and with the visitors just two runs short of victory, the veteran seamer had Danny Brown caught neatly behind by Denis Hounsham with the first ball of his 14th and last over. Tilford had won by one run.

Defeat for Grayshott enabled Grayswood, winners at Headley, to strengthen their grip at the top of Division One, with third-placed Puttenham held to a draw by Pirbright.

The dramatic finish at Tilford was appreciated by a large and enthusiastic Barley Mow crowd. Put in to bat, Tilford lost Rick Seabrook in the second over, bowled by youngster Kiaran Wells, and Dom Ford trapped Nathan Sprittles lbw with the score on 42. Jake Austin hit three sixes and was threatening a big innings when he was well taken on the boundary by skipper Stuart Kennedy – one of three victims for Brown.

The loss of five wickets for 25 runs, including that of Mark Ramesar, who had held things together with a patient 45, had Tilford in deep trouble at 112-8. But then Martyn joined Huw Town-Jones in an unbroken partnership of 48. Even so, 160-8 was a below-par total after 48 overs. Brown finished with 3-48 from his full quota and Wells had a fine return of 3-26 from nine overs.

Grayshott had an immediate setback when Town-Jones’ third ball had Andy Wheble caught by Ramesar at first slip, but Gary Hunt and Neil Moseley played confidently while putting on 43, only to both sky catches off the probing Geoff Coombe.

Although the introduction of Martyn kept the run-rate in check, Grayshott were clear favourites at 125-5. Tilford, though, held any catches on offer and the visitors stumbled to 151-9, with a direct hit by Matt Cook running out Wells.

At this point, Martyn had taken four wickets, but Brown and last man Mark Richards inched Grayshott to within two runs of the target. Martyn, whose inspired bowling saved Tilford from likely relegation a few years ago, again came up trumps and finished with 5-44. The spoils to Tilford, cricket the winner.

Nine matches, nine wins now for Grayswood who never looked like faltering on a scorching day at Headley. George Ellis elected to bat first, but despite a couple of decent middle-order partnerships, Headley never really got going. Harvey Nash and Cameron Kent kept a disciplined line and length and just ten runs came from the first ten overs, with Stuart Smith and Ashley Cook both going cheaply.

Gavin Arend and Ellis added 45 in counter-punching style before the skipper was stumped by Dave Handley off Simon Nobes for 34. Arend, top scorer with 39, took the initiative in a further stand of 57 with Harry Clarke, but Alastair Gloak (4-30) and Henry Hind, who varied his pace nicely, mopped up the back end of the batting and the hosts were held to 165-9 on a decent track.

Graham Dooling and Kent went off like a train for Grayswood and the run-rate only slowed when Smith and Zach Benstead took the pace off the ball. Now under pressure, the openers lost patience, and their wickets, and with Rhys Dodson going for a duck, Headley glimped a chance at 76-3.

However, dropped catches off Andy Major and Gloak, both before they had scored, cost Headley dearly. Major went on to make a thunderous 61 not out off 40 balls with some supreme striking over the ropes. Gloak supplied the finesse with an unbeaten 47 and Grayswood powered home in the 30th over.

Puttenham, after three straight wins, were held to a draw by Pirbright who are now unbeaten in five. Ian Milton chose to bowl first and, rather predictably, the visitors had a torrid afternoon in the hot sun. Openers Sajad Hussain (80) and Ahsan Ahmed (62) plundered 140 on a superb track and lightning outfield.

Pirbright, who lost Robbie Jones with a twisted ankle, stuck to their task and Rupert Howe and Dean Burditt began to take wickets. But Puttenham, with their 20/20 approach, were able to declare at 247-7 after 39 overs.

Pirbright had a simple game plan, ‘bat long’, and openers Jonathan Swinney and Awais Khan put on 49 before Imran Khan broke through. Burditt joined Awais (40) in another valuable partnership, but at 105-5 Puttenham looked to be closing in for the kill.

James Thompson (34) and Ryland Kelly (33 not out) had other ideas and knuckled down in a stand of 63. Then Kelly and Howe, having ensured useful batting points, batted out time, Pirbright ending on 187-7 from their 51 overs.

Blackheath gave a much-improved batting performance, but were unable to winkle out Lurgashall. After Aaron Carter had bowled Rob Parrott for a duck, Matt Hardcastle and Peter Melhuish (51) made sure of a decent total for the home side. Torsten Wrigley added a watchful 65, well supported by Harry Giles and Ronny Harrison, and Blackheath declared on 235-7 from 46 overs.

Good bowling by Rob Weston and Ben Taylor put Lurgashall well behind the clock and, with five wickets down, they were facing likely defeat. However, Richard Stemp decided attack was the best form of defence and hit 58 not out off 60 balls, while skipper Carter (25 not out) held firm at the other end. Their unbroken partnership took the visitors to a comfortable 165-5.

Chiddingfold had the better of the mid-table match at Dogmersfield, but were denied maximum points by the home side’s last pair. Chiddingfold recovered from an unpromising 18-2 to reach 232-8 in the maximum 48 overs. Dogmersfield, electing to bowl, kept a tight rein on the run-rate. After good innings from Matt Barnett (40), Simon Schollar – top scorer with 52 – and Justin Cansfield (35), the visitors needed a late flourish and and Stuart Divers provided it with 37 off 22 balls, including four sixes.

Opener Danyal hit a fast 63 (47 balls) for Dogmersfield before falling to the spin of Ben Evans. Dan Bunter held his side together with a more painstaking 67 while wickets fell to Evans (4-48) and Paul Hundley (4-58). Bunter was finally eighth man out and then Hundley bowled Hussain, but Illyas and Abbas played out for the draw.