BADSHOT Lea beat Hindhead in a game between two sides striving to pull away from the lower reaches of I’Anson Division Two.

Inserted on a wicket spiced up by a shower, Hindhead struggled to 26-4 before a rain interruption. With 14 overs lost, Hindhead rebuilt their innings through opener Joe Harrison and David Babb (28). The lower order struggled against accurate bowling and when Harrison dragged on for a gritty 52, Hindhead subsided to 111 all out in 43.2 overs.

Jamil Aryobi (3-27 in 13 overs) and Tim Gray (4-38 in 14) bowled with great control, well backed up by Max Morris.

Hindhead needed early breakthroughs and Matt Jeffs delivered with an excellent spell that brought him four quick wickets. Jon Richards was still there, however, and found an able partner in Morris.

The pair picked off the change-bowlers to see Badshot Lea to a six-wicket victory with more than nine overs to spare, Richards making a classy 64 not out. Jeffs was the shining light for Hindhead, bowling unchanged from one end to take 4-36 from 12.5 overs.

Fernhurst were put in by Elstead and it looked an excellent decision when the home side were reduced to 49-7 after a dramatic all-bowled hat-trick by Rehman. Fernhurst were staring down the barrel, but Mark Charman was still there and he was joined by skipper Tristan Rissik in a vital partnership. Rissik was finally caught for 47, having hit seven fours and a six, and Charman was 61 not out (nine fours and a six) when Fernhurst were dismissed for 145.

Elstead began brightly in reply and Lewis Sheppard (31) and Danny Troy batted well in the middle order. But then Josh Allen really got into his stride, swinging the ball at a lively pace, and the visitors collapsed to 123 all out. Allen cleaned up with 7-45 in 14 overs, well supported by Leon Fourie.

A untimely rain break denied Frensham II in their push for victory against Headley II and the hosts secured some welcome points as they held out for a draw.

Roger Johnston got Fensham off to a fast start after being dropped in the third over and went on to reach his half-century. The change-bowlers brought a degree of control and leg-spinner Charlie Neville dismissed three batsmen, including Nick Green for 49, before Leon Ellen accelerated the scoring with 39 not out and Frensham declared at 186-7 after 42 overs.

Headley lost four overs to rain as opener Richard Jackson (27) played a defensive knock to take his team close to a draw. The lower order tried to make things interesting and five wickets went down for seven runs before Ian Neville (18 not out) and Chris Joyce played out the last three overs, Headley finishing on 99-8.

Shalford, put in by Grayshott II, found Alex Marden and Kieron Wells too hot to handle and slumped to 26-5. Skipper David Shilock then clubbed an extremely quick 24 (three sixes) and the home side were 55-6 when heavy rain turned it into a 72-overs contest.

Simon Whitley and Andy Lang bowled tightly on the damp track, but Dave Rowe, Marc Callcutt and Satyarajesh Ravipati eked out some vital runs and Shalford reached 111 off 37.3 overs.

Left 34 overs, Grayshott fancied their chances, but ran into trouble against straight bowling from the Shalford seamers, notably Shilcock who took 4 for 20 off 13 overs. It was left to Whitley (19 not out) and Ian Roberts to make sure of two points at 64-7.

The top-of-the-table clash between Lurgashall and Pirbright was called off after the leaders had reached 185-7 from 41.2 overs, Jon Burch top-scoring with 40. Lurgashall’s Aaron Evans took 4-42 in 10.2 overs.

Harting v The Bourne – cancelled.