SIX weeks of the I’Anson season to go and Grayswood took another big step towards regaining the championship by defeating Puttenham in a desperately close finish and replacing Grayshott – without a game on Saturday – at the top of Division?One.

An early finish seemed likely at Grayswood when Puttenham, put in by Alastair Gloak, lost their eighth wicket at 108 in the 31st over. Opener Ahsan Ahmed (51) had fought a lone battle as Andy Gloak dismantled the top order on a decent track with 4-39 in 14 overs and Matty Hussain, coming in at 59-5, improved the situation, hitting 30 of his 32 runs in boundaries.

With Gloak having finished his stint, the score mounted rapidly as John Crouch and Imran Khan, two rather useful tailenders, plunderered 100 for the ninth wicket. Khan launched six sixes in his hard-hitting 62 and veteran Crouch was 32 not out when Puttenham were dismissed for 209 in the 44th over.

The Grayswood batsmen had plenty of food for thought at tea, but were no better fortified than Puttenham had been against Gloak when they faced Matty Hussain who reduced them from 47-1 to 69-5, Iain Jackson making half the runs.

Fortunately, Grayswood had Dave Handley coming in at number 7. The keeper conducted the run-chase in masterly style, ably assisted by James Atkinson, Andy Gloak and Cameron Kent.

Fielding errors and an over-throw for four helped turn the game Grayswood’s way, but it was mighty close. Nine runs were needed off the final over and then five off the last two balls. Handley hit Khan’s penultimate ball for four and pinched the winning single off the last delivery. It was that close. Handley finished 64 not out.

Headley posted a respectable 185-9 at Frensham, skipper George Ellis leading from the front with 82. Tim Knight and Sam Charman each took three wickets, while Ray Clarke stifled the run-rate with 1-36 in 12 overs.

The home team quickly lost Jack Richards to Matt Hall, but George Breddy was soon into his stride and hit 15 boundaries while making 82. Sam Farncombe then ensured an early finish with a fast 54 not out, including four sixes, Frensham winning by seven wickets in the 35th over.

Opposing captains both scored centuries as Blackheath and Witley drew a hard-fought game. Peter Melhuish’s 110 not out off 125 balls, including 19 fours, steered Blackheath to 216-4.

Witley, left 47 overs, were put in a good position by the second-wicket pair of Alex Cook (32) and Ollie Pearce. Thereafter, Hickman saw partners come and go as Rob Weston and Archie Freeth shared six wickets.

Hickman finally fell to Freeth for a disciplined 103 (15 fours and a six), but the last wicket eluded Blackheath and Witley ended the day on 193-9.

Tilford won in double-quick time after winning an important toss and inserting Pirbright on a drying wicket. The home side struggled against the accurate trio of Huw Town-Jones, Jason Stones and Nigel Martyn and were at one stage nine wickets down for just 30 runs.

The last pair of Luke Brerton and Aman Khan virtually doubled the total to 59 all out in the 31st over.

Openers Andy Hall Hall and Jake Austin wasted no time in chasing down the meagre target. Austin, in particular, went for his shots and ended the game with a six, Tilford winning by 10 wickets in the 11th over. Time for tea.

• Lurgashall failed to raise a side and conceded to Dogmersfield.