BLACKHEATH finish just .03 of a point on the average behind I’Anson champions Puttenham after taking maximum points against Dogmersfield who lost by 49 runs after a spirited run-chase.

Mansoor Bashir took an early wicket after Dogmersfield had elected to field, but this only brought in Alan Cope to join Rob Parrott in a hard-hitting century partnership.

The prolific Parrott (average 43.6) signed off the season with 87, including 13 fours and a six, while Cope’s 64 contained nine fours and three maximums. With Peter Melhuish, Harry Giles and Paul Nash all chipping in, Blackheath declared at 261-5, leaving themselves 48 overs to dismiss the visitors.

Dogmersfield went about their task in their usual flamboyant style. Eight players reached double figures and Blackheath used seven bowlers to chip away at the batting. Imran Choudhary top-scored with 35, but captain Melhuish and the returning Rob Weston (3-38) ensured victory in the 39th over – Dogmersfield all out for 212.

Tilford moved past Grayswood into fourth place after beating Chiddingfold by 38 runs at Peper Harow’s ground. Tilford laboured at first against the accurate pair of Paul Hundley and Mahesh Yoganathan. Nathan Sprittles and Brandon Ambrose gradually raised the tempo and then Sprittles and Mills Richey put on 75. The returning Hundley finally bowled Sprittles for a fine 64 (10 4s), but Richey (34) and Richard Hargreaves added useful runs and Tilford declared at 166-6 after 46 overs.

Chiddingfold quickly lost Matt Wright to James Clements who went on to take four more wickets, leaving the ‘home’ side in tatters at 52-6. Nigel Martyn grabbed three quick wickets and it was left to the last-wicket pair of Simon Schollar and Yoganathan (18 not out) to frustrate Tilford in a defiant stand of 32.

Finally, Geoff Coombe came on and Schollar – top scorer with 35 – was adjudged lbw. Chiddingfold all out for 128 in the 31st over and Clements’ 5-38 in 10 overs was his best I’Anson return. This was Tilford’s first win since the end of July.

Grayswood, inserted at Headley, struggled against Callum Hawtin and Matt Hall and slipped to 27-3, Hawtin taking all three wickets.

George Worman picked up a further wicket, but it was the introduction of spinners Stuart Smith and Zach Benstead which enabled Headley to really turn the screw. Skipper Alastair Gloak held his side together with a disciplined 59 before falling in the 41st over trying to marshall the tail and Grayswood were dismissed for 112. Between them, Smith and Benstead took five wickets for only 62 runs in 24 overs.

Benstead fell to Iain Jackson in the first over after tea, but Headley batted positively and scored fluently, despite Jackson picking up further wickets.

When Harry Clarke departed in the 13th over and Worman followed soon after, the game was in the balance at 61-5, but skipper Andy Clarke joined son Matt in a match-winning partnership of 48.

Clarke Snr fell with only three runs needed for victory, while Matt Clarke finished 49 not out, including three big sixes into the car park. The very accurate Jackson finished with 3-32 from his maximum 14 overs.