THE local derby between Frensham II and The Bourne in Division Two produced the first I’Anson tie of the season.

Bourne’s innings went in fits and starts, but a fine partnership between Dave Stone (40), playing against his former club, and Mark Budd (37), plus useful runs from the tail, took the visitors to a handy 202-9. Hally Baldock and John Turnbull each took three wickets and Jack Blythe bowled a tight spell of off-spin.

Frensham were fighting to stay in the game at 109-5 and they still needed 80 when Adam Goulder was joined by 15-year-old Archie Rawnsley. Goulder mounted the attack with an aggressive 42 before holing out, leaving the youngster to score at a run a ball in the last four overs. With support from Blythe and then Baldock, he took his side to the brink of victory.

Needing 10 to win in the final over, and three off the last ball, Rawnsley and Baldock scampered two and the match was tied. Rawnsley 56 not out – his maiden fifty – and he had shown Frensham’s older batsmen how to do it.

Brook, having hammered Fernhurst in the Stevens Cup in midweek, followed up by winning the top-of-the-table clash.

Happy to win the toss and insert the home team, Brook nevertheless had their work cut out as Fernhurst built a decent total, thanks to a fine innings by number 3 Nick Jackman. Jon King and Alex Johns plucked out the middle order and Fernhurst were struggling at 77-5 when Steve Tytler (38) joined Jackman in an excellent stand. Neil Cooper then took two timely wickets and when Rhodri Williams finally dismissed Jackman for 85, Fernhurst were all out for 181.

The total was not enough to seriously extend Brook, though. Toby Pheasant (52) shared stands of 44 and 62 with Johns and George Cook. The latter’s fine 69 effectively ensured victory, and although Jackman picked up three wickets, Robin Hudson speedily put the game to bed, Brook winning by five wickets.

Badshot Lea must have been confident of victory after amassing 298-5, but Tongham conducted a superb run-chase and pulled off a spectacular win in the last over. The wicket proved a batsman’s paradise and a bowler’s nightmare. Badshot Lea’s top four all reached 30, Aryobi leading the way with 61, well supported by Jon Richards (48) and Ben Gray (40), while the visitors contributed a generous 57 extras.

Tongham, after losing a quick wicket, were put on their way by Adam Farrier and Matt Carrington. Rah Rocky eventually dismissed both batsmen, but only after Carrington had made 65 and Farrier a splendid 90. Shane Carrington (35) and Mark Andrews took up the baton and Andrews (40 not out) saw Tongham home in the thrilling climax.

Hindhead lost by an agonising nine runs at fellow strugglers Elstead. Harry Stokes and Matt Jeffs quickly removed Elstead’s openers, but middle-order batsmen Max Holland, Dave Tye and Adil played their shots as the home side recovered. Stuart Woods then clean-bowled four batsmen as Elstead fell to 100-7 and it took a vital knock from young Sam Holland to get them up to 126.

Hindhead were in trouble at 37-4, but Jeffs built good partnerships with David Babb and then Woods. Jeffs’ dismissal for 29 proved to be the key moment. Moisin picked up up 4-20 as the challenge fell away and Hindhead were dismissed for 117, just 10 runs short of their first win of the season. Young Sam Holland backed up his good batting with an outstanding spell of 2-3 from 5.5 overs.

Grayshott II, despite handing back 47 extras (37 wides) in exchange for the 41 (37 wides) conceded by Shalford, still managed to win a hard-fought game by 29 runs. Grayshott were strongly placed at 144-3, with Luke McBain batting particularly well for his 40, but a mini collapse followed and it took a mature innings from number 9 Toby Joyce (30), well supported by last man Julian Oosthuizen, to lift the total to 218.

Grayshott bowled well at Shalford’s strong top order, despite the many wides, and the game looked set for an early finish at 50-5. However, David Gregory dug in to make a patient 51 not out and received staunch support from Sam Stone (25) and Srinivas Marisetti as Shalford fought their way to 189-8 and two valuable points.

Thursley conceded to Frensham II. Thursley, in fact, conceded both their I’Anson fixtures. They had only five players available on Cup Final day.