FARNHAM 2nd XI went down fighting at league leaders Wimbledon II (Surrey Championship 2nd XI Premier).

Electing to bat, Farnham lost a wicket in the first over, but skipper Jamie Strachan took the attack to the bowlers. At 41-2, Will Davies was joined by Russ Golding and after some early ‘lives’ the pair grew in confidence and built a fine partnership of 86.

After Golding departed for 40, Alec Goldsworthy supported the established Davies in a stand of 57. But the game changed when Goldsworthy was run out backing up. The returning Billy Sewell pinned Davies in front for 74 and then wickets tumbled as Farnham tried to up the run-rate. They were bowled out for 218 with one ball to go, having lost their last eight wickets for just 34.

It still looked a decent total as Wimbledon captain David Wills was run out in the first over and, with only 19 on the board, Niall Solomon was bowled by a beauty from George Osborne.

Chris Smith and David Scott settled quickly, though, and added 57 before Scott top-edged spinner Chris Terry and Goldsworthy pouched a swirling catch.

Smith found another partner in Robbie Gunn and a stand of 84 seemed to take the game away from Farnham. But the visitors hit back and, at 175-5, Wimbledon still needed 44 at just under eight an over.

They got the requirement down to six off two and there was one final twist as Goldsworthy conceded just two singles in the first four balls of the penultimate over and then had Gunn caught for a fine 60.

Sewell marched in and smashed the sixth ball over midwicket for the winning boundary.