HASLEMERE continued their brilliant run of form by beating league leaders Kempton on their own ground last Saturday.

So Leigh Thayre’s men have now won 10 out of 11 matches and have their sights set firmly on promotion to the Surrey Championship.

Haslemere were inserted by the home side and Thayre would also have chosen to bowl first on a deck that looked likely to suit the bowlers. Indeed, Lee Clement was quickly dismissed by a ball from Ellis Miah that held up on the soft surface – one down for seven runs.

Chris Spooner and CJ Hooker looked to rebuild, and that they did, putting on 64 for the second wicket before Hooker was caught brilliantly in the gully by the impressive Ellis Miah.

Spooner, as in recent weeks, was the mainstay of the Haslemere innings. He scored an excellent 102 and rubbed salt into Kempton’s wounds after being dropped on nought.

Others chipped in around him, with Simon Eastment and Alex Hooker, in particular, playing good hands as Haslemere advanced to 177-6 in their 45 overs, giving themselves something to bowl at. 

Kempton got off to an absolute flyer, though, as Ellis Miah and Rohan Scott pounced on every loose delivery, the latter hitting two huge sixes.

Two quick wickets from Ollie Ellis pulled things back for the visitors, but character still needed to be shown as Kempton looked well set on 121-2.

However, Chris May got Miah for 59 and Haslemere went on on to take eight wickets for 45 runs, demolishing the middle order and tail.

May and Alex Hooker bowled tight lines, but it was Eastment who stole the show, taking 4 for 15 in four overs with some excellent ‘death’ bowling.

He was ably supported by some superb catching and ground fielding as Kempton fell short by 11 runs in a tense finish – all out for 166.

Haslemere thus close the gap on Kempton to 17 points with two games to go. This week, they travel to bottom side Southern Railway & Kenley.  No complacency, though.