IN the end, Puttenham made short work of securing the I’Anson Cup championship on Saturday.

Needing eight points to be sure of their fourth title, Puttenham dismissed Witley for 62 and knocked off the runs in 10 overs. The game was over by 3pm, causing more than a few to miss the cup presentation.

Two of the last four weekends of the season were wash-outs, making Puttenham’s task that much easier as they were spared meeting Blackheath, runners-up and defending champions. Puttenham would have been missing Aks Ilyas, key bowler and inspirational captain, through suspension in that showdown match.

But, as the well-used cliche goes, the league table does not lie and the statistics show that Puttenham lost only once (to third-placed Frensham) in 16 games, winning 12 and drawing three. Blackheath had one more win, but lost twice and had one fewer draw.

Witley, perhaps demob happy after avoiding the bottom two, chose to bat and predictably struggled for runs on a soft wicket against the formidable duo of Ilyas and ‘Sid’ Ahmed.

When James Crouch came on to dismiss the experienced Mark White, the writing was on the wall and the home side went from 31-2 to 34-5 before Elliott Burton and Charlie Hunt added 27 in a defiant stand.

But when Burton was run out by Ahmed, a complete collapse set in and the last five wickets fell for one run. Imran Khan administered the coup de grâce by taking 3-1 in two overs.

The innings had lasted into the 31st over, but Puttenham required only 9.1 overs to finish the job. James Andrews and Sajad Hussain hammered 49 in quick time before Ollie Hickman broke the partnership.

Kashif Hussain hit two more boundaries and Samad (four 4s and a 6) finished 31 not out.

Aks Ilyas was presented with the I’Anson Cup by competition chairman Simon Whitley.

Puttenham thus completed a notable double, having successfully defended the Stevens Cup in July by beating Elstead in the final.

Puttenham players finished top of both the Division One batting and bowling averages. James Crouch scored 383 runs at an average of 63.83. Two more wickets for Aks Ilyas took his final tally to 44 at an average of 9.16. The next best return was from Tilford’s evergreen Nigel Martyn who claimed 40 victims at 12.08.

Puttenham, one of the intake of new clubs after the decision to expand the I’Anson in 1989, previously won the cup in 2003, 2004, and 2007.