WITH Tilford II not playing, Thursley took their chance to close the gap on the I’Anson Division Three leaders and secured maximum points against the improving Wood Street side.

Thursley were in dire trouble at 26-4, with Jake Slyfield again inflicting early damage, but a typically determined 44 from Keith Tilson and some excellent stroke-play from first Anthony Cook (30) and then Derek Agge, who made a round 50, saw the home side recover to 166 all out at the end of the 43rd over.

Slyfield, skipper for the day, bowled with good pace and accuracy for a deserved 5-42 in 12 overs, well backed up by Hamish Chudley (3-16).

Wood Street failed to follow up their fine bowling and only opener Dan Saunders knuckled down to make a decent score.

When Aaron Smallbone bowled him for 40, the remaining wickets tumbled to the spinners and the swing of Tilson who took 3-4 in 4.4 overs. Agge, also having a good day, claimed 3-11 in 7 and Wood Street were bowled out for 91.

Brook remain third after just failing to finish off Tongham in a well-contested game. Skipper Tom Williams set the tone for Brook’s innings with a fine 63 and Paul Challinor (31), Charlie Harvey (45), Shane Thomson (38) and Alex Johns (26) all chipped in as the home side, mindful that Tongham had chased down 234 in the earlier fixture, batted into the 48th over for a total of 253.

Luck was with Brook when Adam Farrier, who had scored a century in that first meeting, ran himself out in the fifth over, but fellow opener Mathew Carrington fell just two short of what would have been a well-deserved ton of his own.

Several catches went down and the game was drifting to a draw when Tongham were 169-4 in the 38th over. However, the game erupted as Thomson had Carringon caught by Charlie Harvey for 98 and then, in a dramatic penultimate over, Alex Johns took three wickets. Nine wickets down, Tongham played out a tense final over to finish on 192-9.

Grayshott III beat Frensham III by seven wickets in the Broxhead battle of the 3rd XIs.

Frensham were looking to repeat their success of the first game of the season and, after an early setback, John Wallace (34) and Richard Champneys shared a 50 stand. Chris Brophy (4-37 in 13 overs) and Nick Fenton settled on a good length, however, and runs were hard to come by. Neil Sampson brought himself on to take 3-20 in 10 overs and the visitors were bowled out for 120 in 42 overs.

Andy Kamm took a quick wicket when Grayshott replied, but promising youngster Alistair Wheble and Rob?Ward (32) put their side on the road to victory. Harry Hannam then came in to hit a rapid 33 not out and Grayshott eased home in 38 overs, with Wheble still there, unbeaten on 37.

Bramley conducted a fine run-chase to overhaul a target of 221 in their away match against Blackheath II. Ian Nolan (52) and Richard Gray (82) put on 104 for Blackheath’s first wicket and the home team seemed safe after making a midway declaration at 221-8.

But Bramley were in the mood to register only their second win of the season. Henry Turner (63) and skipper Lee Burgess shared a partnership of 108 for the third wicket. At 165-5, Bramley still had a lot to do, but Jon Vocking and Ed Evans came together in an unbroken stand and the visitors completed a fine win with two overs to spare.

Peper Harow’s first win of the season came at the expense of Kingsley who remain rooted to the bottom of the division. Glenn Taylor (67) and Sunny Mahey shared a century opening stand for Peper Harow and the home side continued to punish the Kingsley bowlers, with Kamran Choudhary hitting a fast 43. Nick Randall took 5-40 in 14 overs, but Kingsley found themselves chasing 244.

Oli Cooper played a captain’s innings of 55 in reply, but Peper Harow had the scent of victory when Mark Houghton bowled Randall for 21. Andy Covington (3-2) dismissed Cooper and Kingsley folded to 152 all out in 36 overs.