PROMOTED Midhurst made it two wins from two in Division Three, beating former I’Anson big guns The Bourne by 67 runs.
Simon Lush scored a steady 73 at the top of the order and Chris Russell made 39, but the run-rate slowed in mid-innings. Skipper Tim Dixon (43) and Drew Clark got things moving again in the last 12 overs and Midhurst posted a healthy 237-4.
The Bourne got off to a slow start, but Joe Morse counter-attacked with a fast 39 and captain Mark Budd chipped in with 32. Both fell to Nathan Kemp who took 5-19 as Bourne fell just short of bonus points.
Ryan Luff and Sam Durrant negotiated some tricky early overs, but Headley II only separated the Farncombe openers when Mike Hughes lured Durrant into a swing across the line on 67. Luff was in prime form and batted serenely on until Ben Ryder-Smith nipped one back and bowled him for a classy 96. Lee Hudson (82 not out) and Wes Pusey (47 not out) continued to plunder the bowling and Farncombe closed on an unbeatable 252-2 off 45 overs.
Pusey was back in the thick of the action with a pacey opening burst and Headley fell rapidly behind the required run-rate. Ryder-Smith made a good-looking 62 against the change-bowlers, but it took an unbroken last-wicket stand of 36 between Paul Kelly and Hughes to lift Headley to a respectable 168.
Hindhead, put in by Wood Street, were in dire trouble at 8-3 and then 17-5, with Jacob Slyfield and James Grist (3-14) doing the damage. Ali McGregor and Matt Jeffs staged a recovery and then an eighth-wicket partnership of 51 between Stuart Woods (31) and James Shrubb (23 not out) got them up to 143.
Woods made an early breakthrough, but Wood Street batted sensibly on a good track. Opener Jack Mallett anchored the innings with an excellent 53 not out and Hamish Chudley, Stewart Jerome and Rory Leach all made telling contributions as the visitors won with six overs to spare.
Shalford were inserted on a less than inviting wicket at Thursley, yet managed to total a formidable 244-7, thanks largely to a superb 112 from opener Peter Unsworth and a fine 31 not out by Clare Huttly.
Thursley’s run-chase did not start well, a wicket falling to the second ball of the innings (the first was a wide). Sags Malik’s destructive hitting kept them in the game, but Thursley’s hopes faded when he was out for 58. The tail wagged and the home team missed bonus points by just one run.
Terry Wadey (93) and brother Andy (47 not out) were in the runs as Harting amassed 230-3 against Blackheath II.
Ronny Harrison replied with a fine 69 and the depleted hosts salvaged two bonus points with a creditable 181 all out.
A rearguard innings of 51 by Amer Bajwer helped Dogmersfield II to 168 against Bramley, Alasdair White taking 4-18 in nine overs. Nick Hyett’s rapid 63 ensured a fairly comfortable victory for Bramley.