WITLEY won their final game to seal runners-up spot behind Chiddingfold and take a more convincing route to the I’Anson Division One.

It would have been less convincing had they finished third behind Grayshott 2nd XI who are not eligible for promotion.

Grayshott were also winners, but Witley’s maximum points in a low-scoring game ends their ten-year absence from the top flight of the I’Anson.

Hindhead inserted Witley on a damp track, but Ollie Baker made light of the difficult conditions and hit a rapid 39 in ten overs before being bowled by Joe Harrison. Change-bowlers Harrison and Venu Joseph then took took control and the home side went from 63-2 to an alarming 83 all out in 30.2 overs. Harrison returned superb figures of 7 for 21 in 11.2 overs and Joseph claimed 3 for 15 in nine.

Hindhead had a tricky ten overs to negotiate before tea. Ollie Hickman struck in the second over and the visitors went in at a shaky 16-3.

The game really turned Witley’s way in the 14th over when Hickman bowled the dangerous Alex Bertola and then trapped Ali McGregor in front to leave himself on a hat-trick and Hindhead in disarray at 22-6.

Wickets continued to fall until, at 35-9, David and Mark Babb came together in a defiant partnership. As the field pushed in trying to finish things, the brothers picked off runs and six overs later, the scoreboard showed 61 and, with 32 overs still available, the home supporters were looking distinctly nervous.

Fittingly, it was skipper Kurt Lyall who had David caught by Hickman for 24 and Witley could begin their promotion party.

The fired-up Hickman finished with 6 for 25 from 12 pacy overs and Lyall took 4 for 29 in 12.5 accurate overs.

Grayshott II, needing a win to have a chance of finishing second, beat Frensham II by three wickets. Opting to bat on a moist wicket, Frensham struggled against the youthful attack of Alex Marden and Kieron Wells, and then change-bowlers Andy Lang and left-arm spinner Matt Haywood and were 48-4 after 24 overs.

John Wallace, Ben Harrison and Adam Page battled solidly, but the visitors were contained to 114-8 in 48 overs.

Paul Scanlon (38) and Ian Roberts batted well in reply, but there was a twist in the tale as Page snapped up wickets with his leg-spin and then Roberts was well caught in the deep off Stuart Forbes for 33.

However, skipper Paul Marden and Dom Ford saw Grayshott over the line with three wickets intact. A well-fought game played in a fine spirit and Grayshott seconds finish third for the second season running.

Badshot Lea won by one wicket at The Bourne to escape relegation by the skin of their teeth. Only one team drops from Division Two this year and it is Wood Street who go down, despite their last-day maximum points against Headley II.

Bent, Adams and Acres stepped up to the mark for Badshot Lea and their fine bowling restricted The Bourne to 124 all out in the 48th over, with only James Frost (22), Nick Farr (34) and Neil Poulter (23) reaching double figures. Matt Bent ran through the late order to finish with 5 for 24 in 13.1 overs.

In response, opener Gregory (46) showed excellent composure to steer Badshot Lea towards the target while wickets fell regularly at the other end to Andy Rooke (4-34) and Jordan Frost (3-38). In a tense finish, the last pair of Adams and Scanlon saw Lea over the line with nine balls to spare.

Wood Street’s most ruthless display of the season proved in vain. First, they amassed 190-5 in 43 overs, with skipper Josh Dobson making 67 at the top of the order.

A hapless Headley II were then demolished by Taylor Howard, James Grist and Hamish Chudley. Howard dismissed four of the first five batsmen to take 4 for 11 in seven overs and the visitors were shot out for 30 in 24 overs.

Chiddingfold and Lurgashall were both depleted and it was the nine-man visitors who inflicted an embarrassing 85-run defeat on the ten-man champions. Oli Rose top-scored with 60 as Lurgashall posted 162-8 (Nick Harman 4-38). Chiddingfold, in reply, were knocked over for 77, with Scott Evans taking 5 for 22 in ten overs