A stirring display with bat and ball by Neil Mander was not enough to prevent Malden Wanderers slipping to five-wicket Surrey Championship Division One defeat at Spencer on Saturday, writes Peter Morgan.

Mander, who came to the crease with the Stags in dire straits at 57 for seven, hit 61 in a 75-minute stay that boosted the total to 156 all out, thanks to excellent support from Giles Puckle (27).

For a while, it looked as if Mander would perform similar heroics with the ball, claiming two wickets in successive balls and three in nine, as Spencer slumped from 34 without loss to 39 for three.

At 66-4 in the 21st over, Malden looked the more likely victors, before a partnership of 74 for the fifth wicket between Jonthathan Batty (46) and Peter Walters (39 not out) took the game away.

Acting skipper Michael Cottrell was left to rue a missed opportunity.

“We did well to get ourselves into the game after a disappointing start, but we’d left ourselves too much to do,” he said.

“Credit to Spencer, who put us under pressure with the new ball and we struggled. Neil’s runs – and wickets – gave us an outside chance, but Spencer were good enough to get over the line.”

There was defeat also for Malden's second string, who put up a brave fight against Normandy to lose by 33 runs at Cambridge Avenue.

The visitors posted 240 for 8 (Tom Long 3-40, Spencer Stephens 3-51), but Malden’s top order floundered in reply before Mike Jacobs (82) and Richard Croney (30) helped them to 207.

The firsts entertain Banstead at Cambridge Avenue at 11.30am on Saturday, with the seconds travelling to Leatherhead.