ROWLEDGE beat the visiting I’Anson Representative XI (for the second year running) by two wickets, with just five balls to spare, in an entertaining match for the spectators at the club’s President’s Day on Sunday.

The I’Anson, who had beaten Farnham in the first representative fixture in June, lost their openers for 29 after being inserted by Ben Wish.

Headley’s George Ellis (35) hit out to good effect, but the league side looked like falling well short of a competitive total at 82-6, with 16-year-old leg- spinner Max Martin claiming three victims.

However, Iain Jackson (Grayswood) and skipper Aks Ilyas (Puttenham) added 40 runs and Jackson went on to complete a fine half-century in the 40th and last over, taking the I’Anson to a respectable 162-7.

It was a decent total in bowler-friendly conditions and although Jake Wish gave Rowledge a quickfire start with 30 in seven overs, the host side went from 41-1 to 93-5 at the halfway stage.

Change-bowler Huw Town-Jones (Tilford) got the I’Anson right back into contention with a double wicket-maiden over and followed up with two more wickets, dismissing the in-form David Lloyd, to finish with excellent figures of 4-21 off his eight overs.

Joe Randall, a former Kingsley and Headley player, rescued Rowledge with a patient 28, well supported by Max Martin and George Keeley, and Keeley and Ben Wish finished the job off the first ball of the final over.

The captains nominated Man of the Match awards for the opposite teams and they were Iain Jackson and Max Martin.

The match, played in a great spirit, was a fine advertisement for local cricket, much appreciated by David Gill, the Rowledge president, who hosted a pre-match lunch. His guests included Zafar Ansari, the former Surrey and England all-rounder, and Mike Hodge, Mayor of Farnham.