Farnham’s third team beat Churt & Hindhead’s fourth team by 12 runs in their opening I’Anson Cricket League Division Seven match of the season on Saturday.

Having won the toss and decided to bat first on a slightly damp wicket, Farnham captain Henry Beattie and his fellow opener Evan Mann got off to a slow and streaky start. Mann was dismissed in the tenth over when he attempted a swipe to the leg side and sent it straight up in the air to fall for 12 runs from 23 balls. The following three overs saw the wickets of the dangerous Peter Brown and Ben Greenstreet. Both batters were bowled attempting to send straight deliveries into Frensham. Alexander Kardamilakis came to the crease and began to rebuild with the skipper for 12 overs, before he was eventually caught behind for a well-made 33. Will Kirkland managed to sweep a delivery straight into the keeper’s gloves and shortly afterwards Beattie managed to drop a half-hearted slog right into mid-on’s lap to fall for a slow but crucial 54. The remaining six overs saw three further wickets fall, with the visitors ending on 147 for eight.

In reply, Churt & Hindhead captain Jeremy Cowles was caught for a duck in the first over with a cross-batted shot giving Max Wood the first of his three wickets. Fellow opener Oli Plaistowe was the pick of the batters, striking 86 and driving his team towards the total. By the time Plaistowe was dismissed with a well-executed off-cutter from Toby Farrell he had seen the wickets of Jake Bills, Matthew Lill, Mike Marmion, Felix Cowan, Carlos Soares and Ian Leek fall. An excellent display of line and length bowling by Charlie Hooker saw the visitors to a 12-run victory. Wood (three for 37), Farrell (one for 21), Hooker (two for 30), Beattie (two for 17) and Brown (one for 14) all impressed with the ball for Farnham.

The match showed the tenacity of the junior players involved. Of the 18 wickets to fall, seven were taken by players under 18 and all four opening bowlers were juniors.