Farnham entertained promotion-chasing Stoke D’Abernon and hoped to cause an upset to move out of the relegation zone.

After a week of indifferent weather the pitch was green and contained a significant amount of moisture – making the toss seem more important than usual. Farnham skipper Jim Berry lost the coin flip and the hosts were inserted – the game was slightly shortened to give the pitch time to dry out.

Nathan Thorpe and Guy Hicks were tasked with getting the innings under way and had to weather a difficult opening spell from left-arm spinner Will Frost and South African overseas seamer Nick Scott.

The pitch rendered scoring difficult but the pair showed exceptional concentration to keep out the good balls and punished anything ever so slightly off line or length.

The first change bowling coincided with both openers feeling more settled and accustomed to the pitch, and they began to up the scoring rate. Thorpe swept the spin well and Hicks continued to drive the ball on the up through the covers – much to the delight of the gradually-growing crowd.

Thorpe was the first to bring up his half-century, advancing to the spin of Ben Choy and depositing the ball over the sightscreen for six.

Hicks also passed his half-century, and looked in fine fettle as he smashed a slog sweep into the golf club off the bowling of Ian Hopton.

The pair put on 150 before Hicks was bowled for 63 by the returning Scott as he tried to accelerate the scoring towards a declaration.

Number three Harry Morrogh came and went for two, and skipper Berry joined Thorpe at the crease. Thorpe pulled a back of a length delivery from Robbie Blackburn to move to 98, and shortly afterwards the opener reached his second century of the season and moved to the top of the league’s run-scoring charts.

Thorpe then fell for 107 looking to really kick the scoring on, and a flurry of lower-order hitting and wickets meant Farnham ended their 51-over innings on 216 for six.

The visitors were always likely to take the game on with a powerful batting line-up and a minimum of 41 overs. They got off to a flier with captain Max Subba-Row hitting the ball cleanly down the ground.

It was his opposite number Berry, however, who got things going for Farnham as he had opener James Corbishley caught by Thorpe at gully to leave the visitors on 43 for one.

Rob Goldsworthy then had Subba-Row caught for 30. Berry picked up another two quick wickets and Tom Wheeler produced a stunning run out to leave the visitors teetering on 93 for five.

Thorpe then outfoxed George Laing and the visitors were in real trouble at 99 for six. However, Scott then took matters into his own hands as he struck the ball cleanly to all parts of the ground. Farnham somewhat aided his course by not taking a couple of chances, and the visitors began to creep towards the Farnham total.

Farnham claimed a couple more wickets, but Scott had successfully secured the winning draw for his side and then looked to close the game out with number ten Frost.

Farnham were unable to claim the last two wickets and the visitors ended on 200 for eight from 43 overs.