Skipper Neil French led from the front with a superb five-fer after a splendid half-century from Jasper Chia-Croft set the tone as Farnham 3XI beat by Whiteley Village by 71 runs.

Farnham made 212 for the loss of eight wickets from their 45 overs having won the toss at Crondall, thanks to 71 from Chia-Croft who occupied the crease for the majority of the Farnham innings and mixed stroke play with patient accumulation. A belligerent innings from Henry Beattie (42*) accelerated the rate towards the back of the innings to take the home side to their total, after Jake Harris (24) and Ryan Mills (29) partnered Chia-Croft with useful cameos in the middle overs.

In reply, Mills and Beattie combined to dismiss Village’s top-order, before French put himself on to bowl at the halfway stage with the visitors requiring 120 for victory.

The slow-bowler (who once went 20 years between league wickets) teased the away side with his wily guile, and bowled the dangerous Wahid Siddiqui to tip the game in Farnham’s favour. He then ripped through the late middle order to finish with figures of five for 28 from his five overs; his second five wicket haul of the season.