WHILE Grayswood were putting the final touches to another I’Anson championship, Tilford were providing some great entertainment for the usual Saturday crowd outside the Barley Mow.

The star turn was renowned hitter Jake Austin who, even by his standards, went into overdrive with 155 off 70 balls, including an astonishing 17 sixes clubbed to all parts of the ground, resulting in several lost balls and one that cleared the Institute roof.

Seventeen maximums in an innings – it has to be an I’Anson record.

The hapless victims were Headley who had started well after winning the toss, Matt Hall removing both openers with only 23 runs scored. But then Austin joined Mark Ramesar and the fun started as the pair added 60. Austin hit top gear during a partnership of 142 with Joel Burrows who was a useful bystander with 12.

The score had rocketed to 225 when the rampant Austin was caught off Hall who returned a creditable 4-32 in his nine overs.

But Headley continued to suffer as Matt Cook struck 37 off 18 balls, including four sixes, during a partnership of 51 with Huw Town-Jones, and Tilford closed on an unassailable 308-8.

Some of the bowling figures made painful reading, with George Ellis conceding 49 runs in four overs and the normally economical Graham Badland going for 30 in two.

A shell-shocked Headley slumped to 24-4 in reply, with two wickets apiece for Town-Jones and that man Austin. A partnership of 44 between Callum (35) and Marc Hawtin held Tilford up for a while, but the outcome was never in doubt.

Martin Cantwell and Jason Stones shared the remaining wickets and Headley, with Algie Trotman unable to bat, were bowled out for 95 in the 28th over.

For the second week running, Tilford claimed all their wickets to catches – some of them outstanding efforts. They move further away from the danger area, while Headley hover dangerously close to the drop-zone.

Brook must have thought they were on course for victory in the bottom-of-the-table clash at Chiddingfold after posting 250-8 in their 45 overs. Robin Hudson made 50 and skipper Tom Williams (43 not out) marshalled a strong effort by the lower order.

Chiddingfold lost an early wicket to George Cook, but their two premier batsmen, Dean Spencer and Tom Gleave, came good in a stand of 143.

Tom Williams finally bowled Gleave for 81, but Spencer completed a masterful hundred and when he was run out for 101, Chiddingfold required 37 for victory. Matt Wright and Richard Day knocked off the remaining runs with nearly three overs to spare.

Dogmersfield were set a target of 210 by Blackheath (Peter Melhuish 44, Josh Milton 44) and looked to be cruising as Raja (58) and Imran Chouhary (44) staged a fine third-wicket stand. But Mitch O’Dwyer (3-9) and Ben Taylor (3-6) ripped through the later batting and the visitors fell well short on 155 all out.

Puttenham picked up much-needed points with a hard-earned win at Frensham. Skipper Aks Ilyas top-scored with 42 not out as Puttenham, helped by a generous gift of 40 extras, totalled 230-8.

George Breddy and Tom Charman (43) put on 70 for Frensham’s first wicket and after six wickets had tumbled for 15 runs (‘Sid’ Ahmed 4-31), Jordan Frost (43) and Sam Charman (44) led a determined push for victory.

But the visiting bowlers kept plugging away and Frensham were dismissed for 217, just 14 runs short of victory.

• Relegation-threatened Brook are home to champions Grayswood this Saturday. Chiddingfold visit Dogmersfield and Headley entertain Frensham.