Alton beat Farnham by 130 runs in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Alton batted first and got off to a flyer as Farnham’s opening pair of Henry Beattie and Charlie Hooker struggled for control. Mike O’Mahoney bounced out Aarav Rajnikanth before trapping Jude Wright leg before wicket with his next ball to leave Alton 79 for two. O’Mahoney then cleaned up ex-Farnham youth player Sam Ruffel for four and bowled opener Daniel Harris one short of his half-century.

James Berry turned to his spin options and Nathan Thorpe took a stunning one-handed return catch to remove Michael Heffernan for six. With Alton now 106 for five Farnham sensed an opportunity. Mark Heffernan and Ben Rolfs produced a 50-partnership before Thorpe accounted for the second of the Heffernan brothers as he took a smart return catch to leave Alton 164 for six.

Alton’s lower order played their shots. Peter Brown dismissed Rolfs for 46, Tom Wheeler accounted for Dan Sumner and O’Mahoney (six for 60) cleaned up the tail as Alton were bowled out for 278.

The Farnham batters were looking to spend time at the crease and test themselves against the visitors’ strong bowling attack. Thorpe and O’Mahoney started well, both finding the boundary before one stuck in the pitch from Zach Gadsby and Thorpe was caught with the score on 21.

Berry joined O’Mahoney and the pair looked assured before Berry was caught in the gully off Scott Myers to leave Farnham 66 for two. Farnham then lost wickets regularly. O’Mahoney top scored with 44, and Tom Grimes swept the Alton spinners with aplomb before he was caught at slip off Kartik Tank for 38.

The remaining wickets fell with little resistance and the hosts ended up 148 all out. Farnham host Cove this weekend in another pre-season friendly.