FARLEY made it ten wins in a row as they overcame some early jitters to record an ultimately comfortable five-wicket victory at home to Breamore.

The result means that the Regional Division One West leaders travel to second-placed Winton next Saturday for a title decider.

Skipper Mike Covill had no hesitation in inserting the visitors on a green track. Geoff Ramsey immediately made the ball talk, but it was Dan Jackson who struck the initial blows, reducing the Breamore top order to 27-3. Shaun Marlow survived the opening salvo and, in company with Alan Northway, went about rebuilding. The pair added 66 before Paul Roberts found some sharp turn to remove Northway for a battling 28.

Jake Hand then claimed two scalps in an over to leave Breamore at 98-6. Marlow continued to play a lone hand, using his feet well against the spinners, and had reached his half-century when he chipped Hand to long-off with five overs to go. Farley continued to keep it tight, and Ramsey finally claimed an overdue first victim in his tenth over. But Breamore’s last-wicket pair were resolute, and played out a maiden to end the innings on 137-9.

Run-scoring proved equally difficult for Farley at first, as Breamore’s opening pair of Andy Bennett and Tom Marlow settled into an excellent line and length. Farley scored just eight runs in the first six overs, and when Tom Pitt-Brooke and Covill sought to show some aggression both fell in quick succession to leave Farley 21-2 off ten. Andy Coveney and BJ Cole set about rebuilding and after a watchful start began to find their range. As the bowlers tired, Cole (49) slammed four sixes over midwicket.

The pair added 72 before both fell to good catches in Northway’s second over. But Ramsey was determined to finish things quickly, and brought Farley in sight of victory. A late wicket deprived Farley of maximum batting points, but Ramsey (35 not out) saw them home with thirteen overs to spare.

Farley’s second team lost by two wickets in a hard-fought encounter at Winterbourne. With boundaries hard to come by on the damp outfield, ten-man Farley scrapped their way to 106 all out with Keith Redding top scoring. Winterbourne found batting no easier as Phil Owen used the conditions to perfection, ripping through the top order with 5-29. But with only three recognised bowlers, Farley couldn’t keep up the pressure and Winterbourne’s sixth wicket pair took them over the hundred mark. With the target in sight, there was a sudden panic as Farley claimed three victims to leave Winterbourne on the brink. There was no fairy-tale ending, however, as the home side claimed the points.