FERNHURST hardly had to break sweat in defeating bottom side Headley II in their I’Anson Division Two meeting.

Mike Allen (47) and Leon Fourie (36) took advantage of some wayward new-ball bowling and were soon scoring at a decent rate. A couple of half-chances went down as Headley’s difficult season continued, although George Worman bowled a tidy spell.

Both openers holed out against Mike Hughes when looking well set, but the home team still couldn’t stem the flow of runs. Harry Lambert and James Bristow both reached the 40s before Fernhurst declared on 232-6 from 40 overs.

Richard Jackson and Ashley Cook shared a composed opening stand for Headley, but it all changed when the Allens came into the attack. Josh had Jackson caught in the slips and when father Mike induced a top-edge from Cook, the innings went into rapid decline.

Tristan Rissik caused havoc with his gentle off-spin, claiming 5-7 in 4.3 overs, and Headley plunged to 70 all out in 27 overs.

Leaders Pirbright, inserted by Frensham II, progressed steadily to 78-3 from 15 overs, but very tidy bowling from Adam Page and Dave Stone restricted them to only 40 from the next 15.

Awais Khan and Rupert Howe put on an important 70 for the fourth wicket and opener Khan then played the anchor role as Luke Brereton immediately went on the attack with some savage hitting, especially in the 39th over when he plundered 25, including four consecutive sixes, to propel Pirbright to 238-5 from 45 overs.

The Frensham response was positive, with openers Roger Johnston and Peter Harrison putting on 53 in ten overs. But the home side suffered a double blow, with James Frost having to retire hurt and then Johnston (38) falling to a sharp catch by Jones at short mid-off.

Howe bowled very meanly, taking 4-24 from his 14 overs and with some excellent catching, Frensham were reduced to 135-7. The returning Ian Milton dismissed the dangerous Harvey Herrington for 32 and whipped out the tailenders, including the gallant Frost, to finish with 4-29.

Struggling Harting were content to come away with two points after Elstead had amassed 211 in 44 overs. Nathern Thomas made 53 at the top of the order and Dave Tye, coming in at number 7, hit a rapid 57, while Jake Wadey bowled well for his 3-32 in nine overs.

Harting relied heavily on Simon Kyte and the tall opener set himself to bat for the whole innings. Wickets fell at the other end, Mubarik Ahmed taking 3-17 in 12 overs, but Kyte’s vigil – 50 not out in 46 overs – saw Harting battle grimly to 118-6.

Hindhead were inserted at The Bourne and openers Joe Harrison and Darren Carter began brightly with a stand of 39. But the introduction of Andy Rooke and Vermana Anne saw wickets tumble, with only Ali McGregor and Matt Jeffs, top scorer with 32, putting up real further resistance. Matt Duncan (3-26 in 13.3 overs) returned to clean up the tail and Hindhead were dismissed for 133 in 42.3 overs.

Hindhead soon lost opening bowler Matt Jeffs with a sidestrain and always struggled to contain Bourne’s batsmen and, in particular, Rob Croucher who made an attacking 43 before falling to Lance Thorne. Nick Hales joined Nick Farr (42) and the two saw their side to within 11 runs of victory, Bourne winning by eight wickets with more than 14 overs to spare.

Shalford gave a fine all-round display to beat Badshot Lea, with all the bowlers taking wickets and the top four batsmen all scoring 30-plus runs. Put in to bat, Badshot Lea mustered a decent 167 all out in 47 overs. Hassan Raja (35) and Gregory put on 55 for the first wicket and there were useful contributions all down the order, despite a particularly accurate spell by Bryan Winson who took 2-16 in 14 overs.

The target posed Shalford few problems, however. Peter Unsworth (34), James Crutcher (38), Dave Shilcock (37) and Winson (38 not out) were all in the runs and Shalford eased to a six-wicket victory with six overs to spare.