FARNHAM were celebrating a promotion double on Saturday night as their 2nd XI made up two places on the last day of the season to steal runners-up spot behind Valley End.

Conscious of the heavy rain forecast to arrive at around 4.30pm, skipper Ian Thorpe elected to field at the Park and either bowl out already relegated Old Wimbledonians quickly or race through their 50 overs to leave enough time to receive back the minimum 20 overs which constitutes a game.

OWs proved more resilient than earlier in the season, with Dave Gibson and Will Markham sharing an opening partnership of 60 against some initially wayward bowling and then Markham and Phil Brown adding 55 for the third wicket.

Farnham whisked through their overs, bowling at 20 per hour, but Markham went on to a fine 67 and with Dion Redelinghuys making 47, the visitors were 182-3 at one stage. However, they managed only 34 from the last 10 overs as Dan Matthews and Thorpe got amongst the wickets, and Wimbledonians closed on 216-8.

Farnham, needing 87-plus runs from the hoped-for 20 overs, began poorly. Jonny Matthews was run out in the second over and the departures of Freddie Austin and Mike O’Mahony left them 31-3.

Russ Golding and Alec Goldsworthy steadied things and runs started to flow. As the weather began to close in, the partnership reached 66 and Farnham were into the magical 20th over when Golding was caught for 35.

Three balls into the 21st over, the heavens opened and Farnham came off at 100-4, with Goldsworthy unbeaten on 25.

There followed a long and anxious wait, with much ringing around other clubs. Incredibly, leaders Guildford were lagging behind third-placed Valley End on run-rate, as were second-placed Walton who were playing Banstead. Neither game could restart and it was finally confirmed that Farnham had leapfrogged both to finish second and clinch promotion back to the prestigious Premier Division.

Farnham’s remarkable season began with three successive defeats. They then remained unbeaten for 15 games and reeled off 10 victories, including the double over Valley End.

Farnham 3rd XI finished a respectable fifth in their West Division after beating Weybridge III in their final fixture.

Weybridge, choosing to bat first at Crondall, were bowled out for 96 in 31 overs, with Dan Jones taking 4-33 and Hugo Cooper 3-12.

A fine opening stand between Adam Elstow (42 not out) and skipper Jones (39) made sure of an early victory for the home side. Farnham needed only 18.1 overs to complete a nine-wicket win.