WOOD Street’s shock defeat of Brook enabled Tongham to go top of I’Anson Division Three, while Thursley put two successive defeats behind them to rejoin the promotion race.

There were two important factors in Thursley’s defeat of Tilford II at the Green – winning the toss and Derek Agge!

Put in on the proverbial ‘sticky dog’, Tilford did well to post a healthy 210-4 in 45 overs. Nathan Sprittles and Hamish Macdonald ground out 63 runs for the first wicket and then Denis Hounsham joined Sprittles in another half-century stand. After Sprittles was caught in the deep for an excellent 72, Hounsham took the attack to the bowlers and completed his first league 50 of the season, finishing 62 not out.

Thursley struggled initially against the pace and bounce of young Matt Bozier, although it was Ben Matthews who dismissed the openers cheaply. However, this was to be Tilford’s last success.

Cometh the hour, cometh ... Derek Agge. With some of the cleanest hitting seen at the Green since Jake Austin, Agge dismantled the home attack as he scorched to a century.

With Aaron Smallbone scoring a fine 50 of his own in an unbroken partnership of 184, Agge hit six fours and no less than 12 sixes, mixing brutal cover-drives with pulls, cuts and huge leg-side shots over the Barley Mow.

Thursley powered to victory in a mere 31 overs and a shell-shocked Tilford could only hold their hands up and agree they had been beaten by a very good cricketer on the day.

Brook put Wood Street in on a decent track and fine opening spells from Rhodri Williams and Oliver Eccles made the openers work hard for their runs. The pace picked up when Liam Binfield (37) and skipper Josh Dobson (40) came together. They saw Wood Street past the 100 mark and when they were removed, Jake Slyfield batted sensibly, combining defence with powerful hitting, and with help from the late order, took his side to a respectable 168-8 off 48 overs.

Ed Bishop launched Brook’s reply with a fluent 30, but the match changed when a brilliant diving catch by Gary Dobson gave Slyfield his first wicket and then Bishop was bowled by an excellent James Grist delivery.

Skipper Tom Williams scored freely before being caught down the leg-side off the impressive young Tom Grist and Binfield, normally behind the stumps, took two wickets in his first over to check the run-chase.

Older brother James Grist (4-18) then returned with a triple wicket-maiden to finish the game off in style. Brook all out for 111 and 10 points to Wood Street.

Tongham seized top spot after beating a depleted, much-weakened Grayshott III. Charlie and Tim Fry did their bit for Grayshott who managed to bat out 42 overs for a score of 112. Adam Farrier was in no mood to hang around and his free-scoring 79 not out, well supported by Michael Carrington, saw Tongham home in the 19th over.

A second consecutive win gives Kingsley hope of another late-season revival. They won an important toss and backed it up with excellent bowling and fielding to dismiss Frensham III for 70 on a wet wicket. Steve Cooper bowled particularly well to take 4-19 in 14 overs and Adam Robinson (3-12) mopped up the tail, while only Joe Toft reached double figures.

Kingsley had little trouble knocking the runs off on a drying wicket for the loss of two wickets. Wayne Moulds held firm while Matt Cooper and Sam Parrott scored briskly at the other end.

Blackheath III, after winning the toss, dismissed Dogmersfield II for a modest 112, with Ben Taylor and Ed Allen sharing seven wickets and Baz Laksamba top-scoring with 24.

A good second-wicket partnership between Neil Cozens (51 not out) and Fred Martin-Dye completed an early win for the home side.

Peper Harow and Bramley, both eager for a win, had to settle for a draw in a rain-reduced game. Ali Holmes made another half-century for Bramley who posted a decent total of 154 all out in the 45th over. Khaqan Azis returned fine figures of 5-38 in 12 overs.

Peper Harow opener Gary Bugdale defied the visiting bowlers with an important 61 and a determined effort took the home team to 124-7 in their 37 overs.