JAKE Austin turned the match on its head in typical style and gave Tilford their first win of the season in the I’Anson Division?One.

Headley had seemed firmly in control after inserting the visitors on a damp track and dismissing half the side with only 36 runs on the board. Kash Rashid and Mike Constantaras, playing his first game for seven years, made the most of the conditions, ripping through the top order.

But the Austin, after a steady start, revved up as the pitch dried and with support from the lower order, accelerated to a hundred off just 80 balls. By the time he was caught for 106, the score had advanced to 159 and he had struck 15 fours and three sixes.

Tilford declared at 169-9 after 46 overs, with Rashid and Constantaras both taking three wickets. After Austin, the next highest score was Extras on 16.

Headley also lost early wickets and slipped to 45-4, with Matt Cook taking a fine catch to remove the dangerous Gavin Arend for 25.

Opener and anchorman Zach Benstead then shared a stand of 52 with Constantaras to put Headley right back in the game. Constantaras was adjudged lbw to Huw Town-Jones and Benstead followed soon after for 35, stumped off occasional bowler Andy Hall Hall.

Those were key dismissals and wickets continued to fall, the innings ending in the 42nd over when Rashid was bowled by Jason Stones for a defiant 31, with the total on 141.

Left-armer Town-Jones bowled two excellent spells and recorded outstanding figures of 6-37 in 14 overs. Tilford won a highly entertaining match by 28 runs.

Cup holders Grayswood show every intention of retaining their title after reeling off a third straight win with victory at Grayshott.

Having won an important toss, Alastair Gloak set a tight field in support of his accurate seamers and then deployed Jon Ashworth to wreak havoc, the left-arm spinner taking 6-41 in 14 overs. Iain Jackson, Andy Gloak and Cameron Kent between them conceded only 78 runs in 31 overs, forcing batsmen to take risks against the probing Ashworth.

Andy Wheble (36) batted watchfully to take the home side to a solid 66-1, but Ashworth took the next four wickets and when Matt Jackson was caught for a brisk 23, Grayshott were 99-5. There was no coming back from that against the remorseless champions and Grayshott were all out for 129 in the 48th over.

Grayshott had to produce something special in the field, but bowled too many loose balls and the visitors moved rapidly to 50-1. Nathan Phillimore then bowled Tom Barnardo, but Alex Tucker was quickly into his stride and saw up the 100 before departing for 42, leaving skipper Gloak (30 not out off 28 balls) and David Handley to see Grayswood home with 12 overs to spare.

Second-placed Frensham were frustrated at Puttenham. Conditions were not easy for batting and Frensham, put in by James Crouch, predictably struggled against a strong attack, with Aks Ilyas and the two Ahmeds sharing seven economical wickets. Opener George Breddy top-scored with 38 in a total of 153-7 in 48 overs.

Sam Farncombe opened with Tim Knight and Jack Richards – a shrewd move as Puttenham slumped to 22-5, with spinner Knight taking three wickets. James and John Crouch then shared a face-saving stand of 47 and although Knight returned to dismiss both father and son, Aks Ilyas and Martyn Latham stood firm. Puttenham ground their way to 96-7 from their 42 overs, Knight returning 5-22 in 14 overs.

Brook had the better of a draw against Chiddingfold. Brook bowled accurately after winning the toss, but the visitors’ top order were consistent. The returning Tom Gleave, coming in at number 5, broke the shackles with 41 off 39 balls, including two sixes, and Chiddingfold posted 177-7 from the maximum 48 overs.

Brook, after losing a quick wicket to Paul Hundley, mounted a determined run-chase, with opener Paul Challinor (51) and Robin Hudson (48) leading the way.

Hundley (3-33) and Nick Harman (3-34) kept the run-rate under control, though. Archie Spicer claimed the vital wicket of Hudson and Brook had to be content with eight points after finishing 14 runs behind.

Conditions favoured the bowlers at Dogmersfield and Blackheath owed their 15-run victory to Will Melhuish who batted throughout the 48 overs for 71 not out. Other batsmen came and went against tight bowling, particularly from Samad Ayoubi and Abbas (9-0-13-2). Melhuish, after finding a late partner in Josh Cummings (28), faced 132 balls and hit eight fours, and his very disciplined innings saw Blackheath to 184-8.

Dogmersfield, after a bright start (Z Raja 37), faltered against Alex Bertola and Cummings, but then Samad counter-attacked, hitting four sixes and six fours. But having got themselves in a winning position, Dogmersfield collaped to Mitch O’Dwyer (4-32) and were all out for 169, with Samad left high and dry on 59 not out. Bertola finished with 3-13 in 10 overs.