FARNHAM II moved up to eighth in the Surrey Championship 2nd XI?Premier Division after beating East Molesey II by 71 runs.

After losing a wicket in the first over, Farnham made good progress through Wes Taylor and Will Davies in a partnership of 70. Taylor made 41 and Davies top-scored with 56.

Senura Jayasinghe bowled a good spell and Farnham were 180-6 in the 45th over when Russ Golding and skipper Ian Thorpe (back from injury) shared a quickfire stand. Golding was unlucky to fall to an amazingly one-handed catch on the boundary for 47, but Thorpe and the tail took the total to 225-8, leaving East Molesey a minimum of 47 overs back.

Osborne immediately broke through, but Neil Campbell and Phil Ellwood held firm until Alec Goldsworthy came on to snap up three wickets. It then became a battle of attrition as Farnham strove to take six wickets in the last 20 overs.

New leg-spinner Saaj Patel bagged two wickets and Osborne (4-41) claimed the vital wicket of Ryan North for 36 before taking two more.

The last pair held firm for four overs and with only two to go, Thorpe recalled Goldsworthy. His fifth ball found the edge and Taylor took a low catch to clinch victory, Goldsworthy finishing with 4-28 from 10.5 overs.