PUTTENHAM kept their unbeaten record at the top of I’Anson Division One, but came perilously close to losing a low-scoring match against Tilford.

Set a modest target of 127 by the visitors, Puttenham edged home by one wicket at the Heath.

Put in to bat, Tilford lost Ryan Chitty to Aks Ilyas in the first over and found run-scoring extremely difficult against the opening bowlers, labouring to 26-2 in the 16th over when Jason Stones was run out. At 30-3, Andy Hall Hall and Huw Town-Jones (top scorer with 32) staged a fightback before both fell to Sajad Hussain trying to force the pace.

The later batsmen were unable to break the shackles and Tilford totalled 126-7 in the full 48 overs. Ilyas and Sid Ahmed, between them, yielded just 31 runs in 23 overs.

Puttenham also lost a wicket in the first over – James Andrews adjudged lbw to Town-Jones – and Stones claimed two wickets before Ilyas joined Sajad Hussain in a partnership of 75. Hussain hit 10 fours before holing out for 57 and Stones bowled Ilyas soon after for 27 to leave the home side on 115-7.

With plenty of overs left, James and John Crouch seemed to be leading their team to victory, but both were run out with the scores level and it was left to Iffy Aziz to score the winning run. Stones finished with 4-23 off 14 overs.

Blackheath scored maximum points for the second week running to keep the pressure on the leaders. Choosing to bat first against Wreccleham on a good-looking track, Blackheath ran up a large total, but only after openers Josh Milton and Rob Parrott had seen off Sam Greensitt and Mitch Brown who bowled controlled spells with the new ball, finding plenty of movement.

The pair compiled a 100 partnership, however, and were picking up the pace when the dangerous leg-spin of Yoganathan saw the end of Parrott (48) and then Peter Melhuish. Harry Hiles came in to make a quick 45 not out and helped Milton (85 not out off 111 balls) see Blackheath to an early declaration at 229-3.

Wrecclesham lost skipper Henry Bate early on, Rob Weston (3-25) finding the edge and having him caught at third slip by Ben Price. Rob Symes and later Yoganathan put up determined resistance, but Blackheath then turned to the spin of Hugh Jolly who brought the game to a swift conclusion by snapping up 3-3 in two overs. Wrecclesham all out for 97 in 29 overs.

Alex Marden bowled Frensham opener Adam Pailing with his third ball, but it proved a false dawn for Grayshott as Alex Warren and the aggressive James Wood formed an effective partnership of 86. The ball shot across the lighting fast outfield to the short boundaries and dropped catches did not help the visitors’ cause.

Danny Brown broke the partnership during a controlled spell, having Wood caught for 61, and Grayshott had a bit of luck when George Breddy was run out by a deflection.

But returning soldier Jack Richards hit three sixes in a free-scoring 53 and Nick Cobbold (36 not out) marshalled the tail to get Frensham up to 223-8 from 45 overs.

Grayshott, in reply, scored rapidly against attacking fields, but lost wickets almost as quickly to Jordan Frost (3-30) and Cobbold (3-43). Tim Knight and Ray Clarke made short work of the late order and number 10 Rob Gregory was the only batsman to reach 20 as the cavalier visitors were tumbled out for 103 in 28 overs.

Grayswood ended their lean spell with 10 points at Chiddingfold after a high-scoring encounter that produced a century for each side. Grayswood, deciding to bat first, were confident enough to declare after 40 overs with 230-3 on the board, Iain Jackson having made a masterful 117 not out at the top of the order. Scoring at nearly a run a ball, he struck nine fours and six maximums, and received excellent support from Andy Major (36) and skipper Alastair Gloak (46).

Chiddingfold recovered from being 9-2 to make a valiant effort to get the runs. Dean Spencer headed the run-chase with a measured 111 off 153 balls, including 17 fours and a six.

With Matt Barnett (35) and the middle order in support, Spencer took the home side to 188-4 before Gloak swung the match back Grayswood’s way by taking 5-35 in an inspired 13-over spell. Spencer was run out at 220 and it was Jackson who took the last wicket in an exciting finish.

Headley pulled further away from the drop-zone with their first win since June 11, beating bottom side Dogmersfield by three wickets. Dogmersfield, as usual, went for their shots and opener Sunny scored a breezy 58. But Mustafa and last man Imran Abbas were the only others to reach 20. Matt Hall took 4-54 and Andy Coutts 3-32 and the home team were dismissed for 165 in the 36th over.

Apart from Harry Clarke, Headley’s top order failed against the home attack, with Nick Berridge and Malik each taking two wickets. However, skipper Andy Clarke (34), Dave Bentley (31 not out) and Hall (35) shored up the middle order and Headley edged home in the 50th over.