FOR the second time this season, Farnham were left to take the positives from a narrow defeat, Beddington winning with three balls to spare on Saturday.

Tom Grimes made the positive decision to bat first in the Surrey Championship Division One fixture, but Farnham found scoring difficult against the new-ball partnership of Tom Bevan and ex-Leicestershire professional Ryan Cummins who bowled Guy Hicks for 12 with a fine delivery.

Spin was introduced early on and resulted in a freakish dismissal for Toby Davies, while Nathan Thorpe was adjudged lbw when sweeping for a composed 31.

At 95-4, Will Davies joined the in-form Toby Ward and the pair played very sensibly in adding 60 for the fifth wicket.

Farnham had reached a promising 154-4 when Ward, having made 60 at a run-a-ball, was also out in unlucky circumstances.

Beddington then reduced the visitors to 171-8, but the gritty Davies, helped by the tail, saw Farnham through the 50 overs and finished 38 not out.

The total of 197-9 looked useful on a sluggish surface that was taking turn and it looked even better when Jim Berry had whipped out the Beddington openers; 24-2.

However, skipper Simon Lewis and Tom Bevan showed application in getting themselves in and advancing the score to 80-2 after 25 overs.

The spinners kept the runs down and after a luckless period, Alec Goldsworthy at last made the breakthrough, dismissing both Bevan (60) and Lewis (51) during a tidy spell. 

The game was going down to the wire, with Beddington needing 30 from six overs. Berry removed Hamid Gondal and Cummins (a fine catch by Hicks), but Parth Vyas was playing a good hand, picking up boundaries to keep his side on track.

The hosts finally required five off the last over and match-winner Vyas (31 not out) picked off Rob Goldsworthy to get his side over the line with three balls to spare.

Farnham are away to Chessington this Saturday.