AFTER two successive abandonments, I’Anson Division Two leaders Pirbright showed no sign of rustiness as they beat the strong Fernhurst side to stretch their 100 per cent record to ten wins in ten matches.

Put in to bat, Pirbright found the moving ball a challenge and a great delivery from Josh Allen accounted for James Thompson. Awais Khan and Robbie Jones moved the score to 58 in the 18th over, when Jones was out for 36.

One danger man was followed by another, however, and Elex Van Rensburg, after a quiet season thus far, took centre stage with an array of attacking shots and controlled aggression. He was next man out for 93, including 10 fours and four sixes, after a stand of 145 with Khan who was 56 not out when Pirbright declared on 204-3 after 42 overs.

During his assault, Van Ransburg thought he had been caught on the boundary, but was sportingly called back by Fernhurst when they realised the fielder had stepped over the line.

Fernhurst openers Mike Allen (33) and Leon Fourie rattled up some quick runs and it was not until Rupert Howe found his length that Pirbright began to make inroads. Howe dismissed the top four and with Ian Milton striking twice, it was down to Josh Allen and Harry Lambert to save their side.

Howe finally bowled Lambert to claim his fifth victim and James Thompson and Luke Brereton took the last three wickets, leaving Fernhurst all out for 146 in the 35th over.

Elstead had the better of a draw away to Headley II, but wayward new-ball bowling cost them the chance of dismissing the bottom side. Electing to bowl, Headley began well as Craig Johnson struck with the second ball of the match and soon followed up with three more wickets.

Paul Kelly and Dom Johnson also had success, leaving Elstead six down, but the visitors were always scoring at a good rate and Mosin Ahmed counter-attacked to devastating effect to take the game away from Headley. Sixes regularly cleared the long-on boundary before Mosin was eventually caught in the deep for 92, and Elstead declared at 227-9 from 39 overs.

Elstead sprayed the new ball about and Richard Jackson and Ashley Cook peppered the short boundary to get Headley into the game. The openers had put on 67 when Jackson was out for 23. Cook was caught for an excellent 58 and, at 119-4, Headley began to look at the draw.

Lewis Sheppard took three wickets in a good late burst and Mosin struck in the last over to leave Headley nine down. Mike Hughes played out the last four balls to secure the two points.

Hindhead chose to bat first in the local derby with Grayshott II and openers Joe Harrison and Darren Carter put on 51 before departing in quick succession. Change-bowlers James Johnston and Andy Lang were difficult to get away and Hindhead focused on batting the full 48 overs. Jack Hamilton (46) and David Babb (40) added 76 in a fine partnership to take the score to 146, but then Hindhead suffered a sadly familiar collapse, losing five wickets for just five runs. They did manage to bat out their overs, finishing on 156-8, with Jack Molesey taking 4-23 in 10 overs.

Harry Stokes struck in his first over when Grayshott replied, but this brought in the experienced Richard Baker and he and Andy Lang picked off the bad balls with ease. The ten-man home side struggled to control the flow of runs and when Lang fell to a brilliant return catch by Darren Carter for 77, the pair had put on 144 and Grayshott were just nine runs from victory. Baker finished 34 not out and Grayshott cruised home with more than 11 overs to spare.

Harting inserted Frensham II at Hollowdene, but struggled to contain a strong batting side on a true surface. Openers Jordan Frost and Pete Harrison put on 126 in a free-scoring partnership before Frost (63) was well caught and bowled by Andy Wadey. The same bowler accounted for Harrison (73), but Adam Pailing and Nick Green kept the momentum going with a stand of 70. Green, after a tentative start, accelerated to 68 not out, hitting seven fours and five sixes, and Frensham declared at 270-3 from just 37 overs.

Harting were also positive, with Jordan Bates quick to punish anything over-pitched. He and Tim O’Kelly put on 44 in rapid time before being separated by an unnecessary run-out.

Frensham remained patient and it was third-change Harvey Herrington who made the important breakthrough by bowling the dangerous Bates for 42. Adam Page tempted out some batsmen with well-flighted deliveries and he and Herrington (4-22), backed up by good fielding, swung the game Frensham’s way. However, Steve Baldwin batted confidently for his 58 and a spirited last-wicket stand of 44 with Dean Jones saw Harting to a respectable 189 before Hally Baldock bowled the number 11.

Not just a bad day at the office for The Bourne, it was an absolute shocker as they replied to Lurgashall’s 258 with a paltry 51 all out.

Electing to bat, Lurgashall were going great guns at 107-1 before three quick wickets for Dave Stone reduced them to 118-4, with Lewis Hyde out for 54. However, Ollie Pearce (84) and Nathan Kemp (47) added 80 and Alex Wadey (33 not out) hit some quick runs, allowing the home side to reach 258 in the 40th over.

Bourne, with a strong batting side on paper, lost three wickets for no runs against Aaron Evans and Pearce, and never recovered. Skipper Rob Croucher (11 not out) received some belated support from the tail, but Evans (4-25) and man-of-the-match Pearce (6-26) wrapped up the eight points in 17.3 overs.