CHURT slumped to the foot of the Surrey Championship Division Three after their home defeat to Addiscombe on Saturday.

Dave Thomas and Greg Talbot bowled decent opening spells after Churt had inserted the visitors, but wickets proved elusive. Alex Rogan made the breakthrough at 43, but that only brought in Aidy Monk to join David Waters in a partnership of 169.

Monk was completely dominant, hitting 120 off 82 balls, and a quickfire 42 from Esmatullah Zadran sent the score soaring past 300. Dan Higgins, given a rare bowl, picked up 3-51.

The Higgins brothers, at least, enjoyed their day. Dan made 58 at the top of the order and keeper Arran hit a defiant 31, albeit in a losing cause as Churt were bowled out for 173. Ruairi Bowen was the pick of the bowlers with 4-34.

Haslemere put further space between themselves and the drop-zone in Division Four with a fine win away to second-placed Woking & Horsell.

Ramish Malik (92) and Angus Hargan (53) put on 107 for Woking’s fourth wicket, but Haslemere came back well. Simon Eastment prevented a late charge by taking 3-14 in four overs and Woking & Horsell were held to 215-8.

Haslemere also needed a substantial partnership to have a chance and Chris Hooker (61) and Scott Boxall (61) provided it, adding 86 for the second wicket.

They were 168-4 when Hooker was caught, but Eastment steered Haslemere to a well-judged win with four balls to spare.

Farnham 2nd XI have found the ‘Premiership’ opposition too hot to handle this season and will return to Division?One next year.

They were up against leaders Wimbledon II on Saturday and were always up against it after being inserted on a damp pitch. The visitors were 19-2 after 10 overs and with no let-up from a probing attack, slipped to 67-5, with Jonny Matthews out for a gutsy 33.

The spinners offered little respite and a spell of 4-10 in seven overs by Robbie Gunn left Farnham all out for 107 in the 40th over.

Wimbledon had to bat 10 overs before tea and Jamie Jones had a strong appeal for caught behind with his first ball, but to no avail. Jones was a real handful, constantly beating the bat and having little luck as he recorded figures of 7-5-3-1. He took the only wicket to fall before the break and, on the restart, the bowlers made Wimbledon work hard for the runs. Chris Terry made a second breakthrough and reeled off 10 overs for only 16 runs.

However, Oliver Jones and Billy Sewell shared a solid unbroken partnership of 65 to put the game to bed, both hitting towering sixes amongst a series of fine boundaries. Wimbledon cruised to an eight-wicket victory with more than 16 overs to spare.