FARLEY claimed their third win on the bounce in a fluctuating encounter at Ramsdell in RD1 North.

Having elected to bat first, experienced opening pair of Ian Swain and Keith Redding looked wholly at ease as they took the score past 50. But when Redding was run out for 18, a rapid collapse followed.

Swain (30) and Mike Covill were both adjudged LBW, and the middle order crumbled against Attridge (4-26). Farley slumped to 78-6 before Jake Hand helped Geoff Ramsey stem the flow of wickets, but the runs had also dried up.

It took a crucial eighth wicket partnership between Ramsey and Phil Owen to give the Farley total some respectability. Ramsey compiled a fine 58*, while Owen, after finding his stride, began to pepper the long-on boundary as he made his highest league score of 35*. The stand of 67 helped Farley to 152-7.

Ramsdell’s reply began in exactly the same way as Farley’s innings had, with the senior openers Simpson and Munday, calmly taking the score beyond 50.

Covill shuffled his attack, but Ramsdell had 71 on the board before Owen induced Munday to play on.

He struck again two balls later, and Farley had prised an end open. Jake Hand’s perseverance paid off as he claimed two victims in a teasing spell, then Owen (3-32) found a way through Simpson’s defence to trap him leg before.

Five wickets had fallen for 20 runs, and the returning Ted Glanvill quickly added two more, proving too swift for the lower order.

Cooke’s booming drives gave Ramsdell hope, but Ramsey removed him with a slower ball, before Glanvill (4- 29) finished things off in the 37th over.