A MARATHON half-century by Chris Hooker gave Haslemere a respectable total, but it was not quite enough to win the Surrey Championship Division Four match at Woking & Horsell, despite a valiant bowling effort.

Put in to bat, Haslemere were a shaky 24-2 when Hooker came in and embarked on a 152-ball innings as wickets fell at the other end.

The Horsell bowlers were all difficult to get away, especially Mitchell Turner (3-31) and Arun Aiyer (2-26) who bowled 14 tight overs apiece, and only Hooker’s gritty 51 not out enabled Haslemere to reach 140-9 in 55 overs.

It looked a decent total when Ollie Ellis had reduced Woking to 39-3, but then Stuart Warner and Tim Keene came together in a vital partnership of 62.

Simon Eastment broke the stand and Scott Boxall took another wicket.

At 114-5, Haslemere were still in the game, but Keene and skipper Phil West added a further 26 runs and although Boxall picked up two more wickets, Keene’s 48 not out saw Woking & Horsell to a three-wicket victory in the 45th over.

Ellis finished with 3-16 in nine overs and Boxall returned 3-15 in five.

• Haslemere 2nd XI’s home match against Ham & Petersham ‘A’ (2nd XI Div II) followed a similar pattern. Invited to bat by the visitors, Haslemere totalled a modest 130, with Robbie Judge contributing 42.

Haslemere made Ham & Petersham work hard for the runs, with Tom Hastilow taking 3-11. However, number 6 Steve Tebb clinched a three-wicket win with a fine 46 not out.