BROOK, Fernhurst, Elstead and Grayshott II, the top four in I’Anson Division Two, all won their games, two being extremely one-sided affairs.

Fernhurst’s trip to Harting verged on the farcical, the home team’s eight men being dismissed for 19 (Ashley Holloway 4-5) and Fernhurst collecting 18 points from a game that lasted just 17 overs.

Shalford, put in at Brook, struggled long and hard for their total of 123-6 in the full 48 overs. Opener Peter Unsworth, never an easy man to dislodge, grafted his way to 54 against very tight bowling. Toby Johns took 3-38 in 14 overs, while Paul Challinor and Oliver Eccles between them bowled 17 overs for 22 runs.

The leaders had no such problems and knocked off the runs for the loss of three wickets in 26 overs. Marc-Antony Eysele (69 not out) and Toby Pheasant (45) put on 118 for the second wicket.

Keith Tilson, coming on third change, recorded outstanding figures of 14-4-31-5, but consistent batting gave Elstead a competitive total of 160.

It proved easily enough, Elstead’s strong attack soon had Thursley in deep trouble and despite a defiant 48 from Derek Agge, they were dismissed for 90 in 36 overs. Attaul Moisin took 4-32 in his 14 overs.

Openers David Babb and Darren Carter gave Hindhead a rapid start at Badshot Lea, but the visitors then slumped to 63-6 on a slow pitch and a varied home attack. It took a good 22 from Matt Jeffs and some gritty lower-order contributions to get Hindhead up to a modest 103 from 40.4 overs. Young Jack Addison took an excellent one-handed diving catch in the field.

Badshot Lea also made a quick start, but change-bowlers Arpan Painter and Jeffs bowled excellent spells, and it took an important 28 not out from Rah Rocky to see his side home by four wickets.

Grayshott II swapped places with Tongham in the top half of the table after beating the visitors handsomely by 133 runs. A strong Grayshott side made a midway declaration at 176-7, Nathan Phillimore accelerating the run-rate with a fast 53, including a massive six into the trees.

Tongham saw off the opening bowlers, but then ran into trouble against Alex Marden (3-6) and Andy Lang (3-5). Grayshott held all their catches and with Rob Gregory returning to claim 4-13, Tongham were shot out for 43 in 27 overs.

The Bourne won a low-scoring encounter against near-neighbours Frensham II. Nick Hales batted for most of Bourne’s innings and his disciplined 59 not out steered the home side to 125-8 in 48 overs.

Frensham also struggled for runs and only Peter Harrison really got going. His 42 gave the visitors a chance, but Andy Rooke, another seasoned campaigner, had the final word and took the last three wickets to finish with 5-12 in 10 metronomic overs. Frensham all out for 107.