Farnham Cricket Club won by 31 runs at Worcester Park to secure their survival in Division Two of the Surrey Championship.
Captain Jim Berry lost the toss, and his side were inserted. Nathan Thorpe and Guy Hicks got the visitors off to a flyer until Hicks was caught behind with the score on 21 after one drive too many.
Number three Tom Flack joined Thorpe and the pair took the score to 36 before Thorpe fell for 16. Flack followed soon afterwards for 13 to leave the score on 44 for three.
Berry and Grimes battened down the hatches against some nagging line and length from the home side’s attack, with run scoring difficult on the docile track. The pair battled hard to take the score to 82 before Grimes was caught for a hard-working 22.
Golding was caught for 29 and Rob Goldsworthy’s off stump was pegged back next ball as the visitors were bowled out for an under-par 134.
Goldsworthy and Golding got things underway with the ball for Farnham. Goldsworthy made the breakthrough when Joe Hill was caught for seven by Golding at short cover.
The destructive Arpit Batra joined home skipper Richard Rawlings and the pair looked comfortable – forcing Berry to shuffle his pack and introduce Thorpe. The decision paid dividends when a beauty from Thorpe found the edge of Batra, which keeper Strachan took cleanly to leave the home side on 53 for two. Thorpe struck again soon afterwards, having number four Dev Borse caught at long-on by Flack.
Rob Hill joined Rawlings at the crease and the pair looked at ease as they guided their team towards the modest Farnham score.
At 88 for three Farnham looked down and out, however it was that man Thorpe who made the breakthrough – having Hill caught by Grimes.
That wicket started an extraordinary passage of play.
Number six Longhurst was run out by a superb direct hit by Golding for two, and the introduction of the left-arm spin of Jake Henderson saw him take three wickets for just six runs – accounting for Assad Siddique, Aaron Benjamin and Nailson Raj as Worcester Park had slumped to 101 for eight.
Captain Berry finished the job, bowling Rawlings for a well-made 52 and having Luke Sapey caught and bowled for a duck to bowl the hosts out for 103. The final seven wickets fell for just 15 runs.
Berry said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year as captain and the team have given it their all. Our batting was a lot better this season compared with recent years – which is testament to the coaching and advice from Alan Thorpe, who acted as the senior men’s coach and mentor.”