THE day was largely dry, but sodden wickets and outfields meant that only eight of the scheduled 32 fixtures were played to a finish on the official opening day of the I’Anson competition.

Three of the five Division?One matches produced results under the scrutiny of I’Anson pool umpires. Grayswood were unable to open their title defence against Frensham, but Blackheath, Grayshott and Headley all chalked up victories in the limited-overs format.

The hard work of groundsman Paul Roberts paid off as Grayshott’s fixture against Dogmersfield went ahead after a lengthy debate about the ground’s condition.

Unexpectedly, the visitors opted to bat first, but it looked to be a good decision as they reached 81-3 in a game that was always likely to be low-scoring. However, seamers Danny Brown, Kiaran Wells and Mark Richards turned the screw in mid-innings, taking six wickets for 12 runs, and Dogmersfield slumped to 93-9.

However, a defiant last-wicket stand between Jamildar (25 not out) and Z Raja added 46 runs and Grayshott were regretting several dropped catches when skipper Stuart Kennedy finally ended the innings at 139.

Alistair Wheble made an impressive first-team debut behind the stumps, taking three catches.

Young Wheble then became his father Andy Wheble’s 40th career opening partner as Grayshott began their reply in dismal drizzle and at 59-4, with the run-rate creeping up, the game was in the balance.

However, the determined Wheble Jnr had dug in and the scoring accelerated when he was joined by Harrison Ward, the number 6 launching spinner Jamildar for three sixes in an over. Ward was caught soon after and when Wheble eventually went for a gritty 13 in the 35th over, Dogmersfield were back in the game at 92-6.

But Kennedy and Dom Ford finished the job with a fine unbroken partnership of 37 and the captain’s 31 not out steered Grayshott home with 11 balls to spare.

Dean Spencer opened the season with a half-century as Chiddingfold totalled a healthy 183-9 at Blackheath, Peter Melhuish and Josh Cummings both taking three wickets.

But Blackheath made light work of the target, thanks to an opening partnership of 134 between Will Melhuish (60 not out) and Rob Parrott, the latter facing just 74 balls and hitting 13 fours in his 82.

Brook visited Headley for their Division One debut and found Ashley Cook rolling back the years with a solid 61. He and Callum Hawtin wore down the Brook bowlers with an opening partnership of 132 and Hawtin batted throughout for 83 not out as Headley reached an imposing 198-2.

Skipper Tom Williams batted well for his 39, but Brook were undermined by the canny seam of Graham Badland (4-31) and fell well short on 133 all out.

Fernhurst, unlucky to miss out on promotion last season, easily beat Elstead in the only Division Two game completed. Harry Lambert scored 57 in Fernhurst’s unassailable 245-7 and then Tristan Rissik followed up his hurricane 36 not out with 3-20 as Elstead toiled to 101-6 in a rain-reduced innings.

Matt Jaggard played a captain’s innings of 84 as I’Anson newcomers Farncombe beat Bramley in the only Division Three result.