NATHAN Thomas and Lewis Sheppard took top honours as Elstead beat Badshot Lea by eight wickets in I’Anson Division Two.

Put in to bat, Badshot Lea posted a competitive 186-7 in the full 48 overs, with Sam Dixon, Silva and Tim Gray all getting into the 30s. The total could have been a lot more but for an excellent spell of spin from Sheppard who took 4-59 in 14 overs.

Elstead didn’t make the best of starts, yet it took them only 32 overs to knock off the runs. Australian Thomas and Dave Tye launch a twin assault on the home bowlers and boundaries came thick and fast, with Thomas hitting 19 fours and Tye blasting three sixes. Thomas just had time to complete his maiden I’Anson 100 and Tye was 53 not out as the carnage came to an end.

Frensham II were held to a draw by plucky Headley II. The old firm of Martin Breddy and Peter Harrison shared a century opening stand for Frensham and Breddy went on to reach an excellent century, regularly finding the boundary with well-timed drives and pull shots, before tiring in the hot conditions. After useful contributions from Jack Blythe and John Turnbull, Frensham declared at 247-4 from only 37 overs.

Headley negotiated the 16 minutes before tea with some ease. They scored freely early on against attacking fields, and although the momentum then slowed, gave good support to anchorman Richard Jackson. The home team made multiple bowling changes, but could not break down Headley’s stubborn defences. After 53 overs, the visitors were 166-5, with the defiant Jackson still there, 65 not out.

Leaders Pirbright beat Harting off the last ball of the game. Harting seamer Jake Wadey bowled James Thompson in the first over, but Robbie Jones (37) soon got the scoreboard moving, well supported by Awais Khan, top scorer with 46. Archie Wadey (3-16) bowled Rupert Howe for 30 as Harting began to take wickets, but the visitors conceded 40 extras and Pirbright closed on 190-9 after 42 overs.

Ian Milton and Aman Khan strangled Harting’s batsmen from the start, but the Sussex side dug in, particularly Steve Baldwin and Terry Wadey. Two wickets were required with four overs to go. Howe claimed one, leaving Aman Khan to bowl the final over. Three of the first five deliveries went down leg-side, but the last ball moved the other way and hit the top of middle stump. Ten points to Pirbright.

An under-strength Hindhead, inserted at Shalford, made a disastrous start, losing five wickets for just 15 runs against the accurate James Gover and Juan Vorster. Chris Stokes (a fast 34) and Ben Thorne (32) gave the score respectability, but change-bowlers David Shilcock and David Rowe continued to pick up wickets and Hindhead were dismissed for 93 in 37.1 overs.

Shalford cruised to victory in reply, with openers Peter Unsworth (48) and Tim McEwen (40 not out) quick to pounce on anything loose. Lance Thorne picked up two late wickets, but the home side eased home with plenty of overs remaining.

Chris Brophy reduced high-flying Lurgashall to 54-3 on a good-looking wicket, but a fine, well-paced 89 from opener Nathan Kemp put the home side on course for a big total against Grayshott II. When Kemp holed out to David Eeles, Grayshott might have thought they were back in the game. However, ten brutal overs later, after few smashed roof tiles and some close shaves for afternoon drinkers, Ben Homeswood (68 not out) and Darren Hodd (48 not out) had added 100 runs and accelerated the score to 236-4.

Grayshott hoped to make a good fist of their reply in the good conditions, but at 8-5 those hopes were in tatters. Simon Whitley was run out without facing a ball in the first over and with Ollie Pearce and Aaron Evans bowling tight lines, the rest of the top order came crashing down.

At 40-8, it seemed all over, but Richard Baker, batting at 7 due to a hamstring injury, showed what could be achieved with application and a good technique. His 100 partnership with Kiaran Wells made a mockery of what had gone before.

When Wells, dealing solely in boundaries, was finally bowled by Evans for 48 (12 fours), Brophy came in and hit further crunching boundaries. Lurgashall finally called up Pearce again and he bowled Baker for an excellent 77. Grayshott 192 all out in 39.3 overs, and pride restored.

Fernhurst and The Bourne have both been dogged by erratic form this season. Invited to bat, Bourne didn’t seem to have enough runs to test the visitors’ powerful line-up after posting 147-9 from the maximum 48 overs. Nick Hales (38) and Rob Stoker (30) were the main contributors, while Mark Budd made valuable runs down the order against some fine bowling against Tristan Rissik who took 6-30 from 14 overs.

Mike Allen threatened to win the game for Fernhurst and it was a key moment when he was bowled for 28 by Russ Mayhew. The veteran went on to take 5-24 and a late-order collapse left Fernhurst all out for 95, with a frustrated Will Isaac left stranded on 34 not out.