Earlier they had won the toss and asked the home side to bat first. Stephen Brennand dismissed both openers with just 19 runs on the board but Tom Smith and captain George Ellis started to repair the damage, adding 38 before Smith was caught for 20. Two quick wickets fell to youngster Sam Riddy before Huw Town-Jones added a further 40 with Ellis to see the score pass 100.
The innings was given a late boost with a partnership of 50 from Michael Braans (26) and Ellis – who ended the innings with a fine 76 not out off 109 balls. The final total was 180 for eight off 48 overs. Left-arm spinner Ian Souness finished with one for 17 off ten overs.
After the interval opener Will Melhuish made a rapid start with 49 at a run a ball to bring the score to 61 for two.
Blackheath’s progress was checked with first change bowlers Dan Wrenn (three for 32) and Nigel Martyn (three for 17) making inroads, and Town-Jones returned to bowl James Fortescue for 31.
With two overs left and nine wickets down, Danny Harrison and Riddy stayed firm as the innings ended on 150 for nine off 42 overs with Tilford claiming the winning draw.
Opening bowlers Devyn Scott (three for 23) and Matty Hall (two for 12) proved a handful in helpful conditions and blew away the top order to leave Midhurst on 27 for four.
Paddy Cowell joined Archie Wadey at the crease. When the change bowlers came on, Cowell freed his arms and struck the ball powerfully as he made the most of some loose bowling and untidy fielding.
The pair moved the score to 107 for four before Wadey was caught for 45 by Dylan Harris off his own bowling. With Cowell still going well, D Evans joined him and made 18 before he was caught off the bowling of Johnson. Cowell was caught on the deep square-leg boundary by Scott for a well-made 57 and the Midhurst lower order managed to get to a competitive total of 173 all out.
Headley had 43 overs to chase the target. They made the worst possible start as Ben Homewood chopped on for a duck in the second over and Harris was bowled by a ball that kept low by Wadey (three for 15). Overseas player Alex Wenban was adjudged leg before wicket and Gavin Arend was well caught by Midhurst captain Craig Edwards in the cordon, leaving Headley ten for four. Callum Hawtin joined opener George King and the pair consolidated before Hawtin (11) fell to a stunning one-handed catch by Wadey to leave Headley on 32 for five. Scott joined King and made 25 before he was caught behind.
William Atkinson (three for 32) returned to the attack and had the resolute King caught at short cover for 34. Jack Baldwin was bowled for a duck by the last ball of the penultimate over, leaving skipper Johnson and Hall (31 not out) to see out the final over as Headley finished on 116 for nine.
Headley’s second team lost by four wickets against Dogmersfield’s second team.
Having been asked to bat, Headley lost wickets at regular intervals and found boundaries hard to come by thanks to tight bowling, a lush outfield and inconsistent bounce.
The innings closed on 59 all out in the 37th over with only Anthony Gentle (14) and Tim Canning (ten not out) making double figures.
After the break, Dogmersfield struggled to find runs but batted sensibly given the low chase. Hari Elisetti (three for 11) bowled a fine spell to leave the visitors on 44 for six, but Qazi saw the away side home in the 26th over with a few lusty blows.
Headley’s third team lost by nine wickets against Midhurst’s second team. After a steady opening stand by skipper Alan Mistlin (16) and Billy Ray (25), Headley lost regular wickets and were bowled out for 113 in the 37th over.