Despite a valiant effort with the bat, Farnham 2XI were unable to muster their first win of the season at Walton-on-Thames on Saturday as the visitors fell 44 runs short of victory on a baking hot day in South London.

Farnham were, unsurprisingly, asked to bowl first after losing the toss, and the home side capitalized with the bat, racing to 63 from 12 overs before the loss of their first wicket, Toby Elstow snaffling the catch at short mid-wicket off the bowling of Tiago Alvares.

Some good fortune fell the way of Walton opener Sam Gorvin in the opening stages as Peter Goldsworthy chipped away at his outside edge yet found little reward for his efforts.

Gorvin hit his straps though and continued attacking, cashing in on some occasionally loose bowling along with partner Shaun Cox, the pair accelerating the run rate as Farnham struggled to defend the short boundary and testing outfield.

The pair had amassed a partnership of 133, with the hosts nicely placed on 194-2, by the time Gorvin gave away his wicket in the 31st over, Tom Youngman the man to dismiss the centurion who faced 101 balls for his 107 runs.

Youngman saw further success with the ball, claiming the wicket of Paul Bainbridge, while the rotated attack managed to prevent Walton pressing on to an unassailable target, setting a healthy yet chasable target of 269, as Alvares claimed a run out in the dying embers to dismiss Cox who batted well for 82.

In reply, Farnham were on track in the opening blows. Skipper Ollie Godden and Wes Taylor batted fluently to bring up a 61 run partnership from 8 overs before the latter top edged a sweep shot to square leg for 27. It sparked a run of wickets for Farnham and it looked as if they would struggle to get close to the lofty target when Godden was pinned LBW on a slowing pitch, dismissed for a 49 ball 64 and leaving the away side 110-5.

However, Peter Goldsworthy joined Dan Jones in the 24th over following the dismissal of Harry Morrough for a promising 19, and the pair set about a stifling counter attack. Rotating the strike well, the pair mixed guile with striking and carried the visitors to within 47 runs of victory with an impressive 75 run partnership before Jones, who made 38, miscued a heave with 5 overs left. When Goldsworthy was bowled an over later for 34, the writing was on the wall, and Walton tied up the win in the 37th over, Farnham dismissed for 224.

Farnham 2XI play Camberley at Farnham Park next week as they approach the halfway stage of the Surrey Championship season.