THE race for the I’Anson Division Three championship opened up again as leaders Shalford lost at Tongham.

Second-placed Fernhurst were thwarted by Peper Harow in a drawn game, but the points average margin is down to .37, with both teams having two games remaining.

Put in on a damp wicket, Shalford openers Peter Unsworth and Kevin Huttly put on 44 for the first wicket and, after a mini collapse, Kevin Rogers and Dave Gregory added another 60 runs to have the home side well placed at 119-3 after 29 overs. However, seven wickets then tumbled for just 10 runs, with Liam Gadd (3-38) and Amir Bajwa (4-24) doing most of the damage, and Shalford were all out for a below-par 129. Five batsmen were out for ducks.

Tongham replied with a match-winning opening stand between Adam Farrier (36) and Was Khan (57), albeit aided by several dropped catches. Satya Ravipati and Gregory picked up some late wickets, but the result was never really in doubt and Tongham cruised home with seven wickets intact.

Almost inevitably, it was Fernhurst’s Mike Allen who stood between Peper Harow and a gettable total. Allen hit 79 at the top of the order, launching six sixes, while Liam Harding gave staunch support. The other batsmen struggled against some good bowling. Steve Bradley took 2 for 24 from 12.2 economical overs and Glenn Taylor claimed 4 for 33.

Needing 176 for victory, Peper Harow were making good progress until that man Allen took two vital wickets, Adam Bradley going for 34. The home side were teetering at 113-6, but Dan Heath (42 not out) found a stubborn partner in Gary Andrews and steered his side to two points at 152-7.

Bramley’s hard-fought win against Blackheath II keeps their survival hopes alive – just. Opener Bobby Lowe (47) was the mainstay for the visitors and a total of 157-8 from 48 was a good effort.

Bramley, after several batting collapses this season, rose to the challenge. With boundaries hard to come by, Henry Turner (30), Lee Burgess (43) and Kevin Street (24) ran superbly to keep up the momentum. And after a nervy couple of overs at the end, Kafait Ahmad and James Renny saw them home.

Tilford II turned in a good bowling and fielding performance to dismiss Kingsley for 138. They had a bonus when the consistent Wayne Moulds was well caught at cover by Ben Gray off the second ball of the innings. Matt Cooper and Paul Boxford counter-attacked, but then Johnny Barran ripped the heart out of the innings with 5 for 38 from 12 overs. However, Nick Randall made a patient 49 and a stand of 60 with Steve Logan got Kingsley up to a decent total.

After a shaky start by Tilford, the experienced pair of Tim Gray and Denis Hounsham knuckled down against the excellent swing and seam attack of Steve and Oli Cooper. Running well, the pair took the score to 95 before Gray was yorked by the returning Steve Cooper for 38. Oli Cooper then struck twice in an over, but that was Kingsley’s last success. Adi Walker joined Hounsham and they eased their side over the line in the 42nd over. Skipper Hounsham finished 73 not out off 109 balls and hit ten fours and a six.

Lindford ended a long losing sequence with victory over local rivals Grayshott III on their ‘home’ ground at Lurgashall. A very young Grayshott side started well with early wickets for Julian Oosthuizen and Tom Bacon, but then Lindford skipper Leon Ellen and Andy Coutts took control with a 150-plus partnership. Coutts was eventually well caught by Ali Wheble for 64, while Ellen’s power-packed 101 not out took Lindford to 211-6 after 35 overs.

Nick Farrar hit a defiant 29 for Grayshott and Oosthuizen and Will Farrar put on 20 for the last wicket, with the latter hitting two big sixes. A spirited Grayshott were all out for 126.