HOOK and Newnham Basics moved into the Southern League Division One promotion shake-up, after a five-wicket win at Portsmouth, who are fading out of the title race after a terrific start.
Ben Thane and Matt Buckingham were Hook’s heroes, rescuing their side from an uncertain 75-5 after Portsmouth had been bowled out for 115.
Portsmouth soon lost openers Fraser Hay and William Smitherman, both caught behind by stand-in wicketkeeper Matt Buckingham, off the bowling of Shane Brewer (2-26).
They continued to find life tough with the bat and were soon 88-7, as left-armer Kevin Poulter (2-18) took two wickets in as many balls.
From there the Southsea side moved past 100, but from 112-7 they were all out for 117 as Harry Came struck twice.
Vikram Dawson finished Portsmouth’s top scorer with an unbeaten 22.
As well as a brace of wickets for Brewer, Poulter and Came, there were single dismissals for Jordan Hobday, Kieran Thomson, Anik Devicha and Rhodes Franklin, as all seven bowlers used took wickets.
A match winning innings from Ben Thane, pictured, with a superb unbeaten 81 steered Hook to victory, even if Andrew Marston took 5-18 with his left-arm spin.
He was unable to dismiss opener Thane, whose 90 ball knock, saw him hit two sixes and 15 fours.
Having reached 75-5, it was left to Thane and Buckingham to bring the side home in the 29th over.
Hook are now tucked in behind Andover, who consolidated their leadership potential with a ten-run win over Basingstoke & North Hants at London Road.
The Lions successfully defended 248-5 as Basingstoke, fuelled by an undefeated 89 from Will Phillips, too the North Hants derby to the wire.
Andover’s top order batted consistently, with Army left-hander Storm Green (51) making a half-century on debut and enjoying a 65-run launch with Ali Hooper (34).
Glyn Treagus (30) and Kiwi James O’Gorman (47) shone before Matt Knight’s 28 pushed Andover on to 248-5.
Dan Belcher (30) and Craig Williamson (29) provided Basingstoke with a bright start, but it was Phillips, in only his second match since returning from Durham University, who kept the game alive, hitting a six and six boundaries in his 89 not out.
Brad Neal (28) gave support, but in the end the task proved too great and the Bountymen finished ten runs adrift at 238 all out.
Captain Martin Miller beamed with pride as promotion chasing Bournemouth’s top guns paved the way for a blistering batting display against Totton & Eling at Southern Gardens
Lions duo Ben Bridgen (95) and Luke Matthews (71) racked up 118 for the second wicket with the healthy total allowing Chris Park to lash 38 off 21 deliveries.
Ryan Wiltshire followed suit with 28 from 22 balls as Bournemouth set a stellar target of 291-8 against a Totton side facing a huge task if its to avoid relegation from Premier 1.
Zimbabwean opener Mark Mbofana carried the fight with 54 from 43 balls, including five sixes, but once leg spinner Jem Warner (4-32) had taken out the top two, it was plain sailing.
“We have talked all year about the top four building a platform for the lower order to express themselves and this was a fantastic example of how to do that,” said Miller.
“Ben and Luke set up the other guys to just go and have a whack. It is a great pitch with a quick outfield and relatively short boundary at Totton and we cashed in.
“I think we hit 129 off the last 14 overs which was some acceleration and that knocked the stuffing out of them.
“It meant they had to come out all guns blazing from the start and to be fair to them, they did. They were up with the rate but just lost wickets.
“Jem took out the openers and after that, it was a case of when rather than if we would win.”
Jake Hurley weighed in with 3-14 as Totton fell to 163 all out and a 128-run defeat, which leaves them second from bottom in SPL1, 19 points behind Liphook & Ripsley.
Liphook & Ripsley crashed to 81 all out on a difficult Church Road surface – teenage left-arm spinner George Keeley taking 4-14 – where Rowledge won by six wickets.
Sarisbury Athletic’s title prospects go firmly on the line when table topping Andover visit Alltoment Road on Saturday, 1pm.
It’s a second v first affair which Sarisbury must win if they are to cling on to the prospect of regaining the Premier Division place they lost at the end of last season.
They rekindled their promotion chances after three barren weeks with a Baz Akram inspired five-wicket win at relegation bound Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
But go into the ‘must win’ Andover showdown 25 points behind the Lions, who boost their own title prospects with a tight ten-run win against Basingstoke & North Hants.
Akram, who is having trials at Sussex after being unable to land a permanent berth on the Ageas Bowl playing staff, led from the front, cracking 91 after OTs had posted 205-7.
He was fifth out at 142, having lost four partners before Sam Floyd’s unbeaten 49 got Sarisbury home with ten balls to spare.
Earlier, Charlie King struck a watchful 104, carrying his bat through the OTs innings after Shayne Freemantle (2-22) had struck two early blows.
King added 127 with third wicket partner Harry Tulk (54) before young spinner Tom Kitcher took 4-47 to check OTs’ advance.
Ben Thane and Matt Buckingham were Hook’s heroes, rescuing their side from an uncertain 75-5 after Portsmouth had been bowled out for 115.
Portsmouth soon lost openers Fraser Hay and William Smitherman, both caught behind by stand-in wicketkeeper Matt Buckingham, off the bowling of Shane Brewer (2-26).
They continued to find life tough with the bat and were soon 88-7, as left-armer Kevin Poulter (2-18) took two wickets in as many balls.
From there the Southsea side moved past 100, but from 112-7 they were all out for 117 as Harry Came struck twice.
Vikram Dawson finished Portsmouth’s top scorer with an unbeaten 22.
As well as a brace of wickets for Brewer, Poulter and Came, there were single dismissals for Jordan Hobday, Kieran Thomson, Anik Devicha and Rhodes Franklin, as all seven bowlers used took wickets.
A match winning innings from Ben Thane, pictured, with a superb unbeaten 81 steered Hook to victory, even if Andrew Marston took 5-18 with his left-arm spin.
He was unable to dismiss opener Thane, whose 90 ball knock, saw him hit two sixes and 15 fours.
Having reached 75-5, it was left to Thane and Buckingham to bring the side home in the 29th over.
Hook are now tucked in behind Andover, who consolidated their leadership potential with a ten-run win over Basingstoke & North Hants at London Road.
The Lions successfully defended 248-5 as Basingstoke, fuelled by an undefeated 89 from Will Phillips, too the North Hants derby to the wire.
Andover’s top order batted consistently, with Army left-hander Storm Green (51) making a half-century on debut and enjoying a 65-run launch with Ali Hooper (34).
Glyn Treagus (30) and Kiwi James O’Gorman (47) shone before Matt Knight’s 28 pushed Andover on to 248-5.
Dan Belcher (30) and Craig Williamson (29) provided Basingstoke with a bright start, but it was Phillips, in only his second match since returning from Durham University, who kept the game alive, hitting a six and six boundaries in his 89 not out.
Brad Neal (28) gave support, but in the end the task proved too great and the Bountymen finished ten runs adrift at 238 all out.
Captain Martin Miller beamed with pride as promotion chasing Bournemouth’s top guns paved the way for a blistering batting display against Totton & Eling at Southern Gardens
Lions duo Ben Bridgen (95) and Luke Matthews (71) racked up 118 for the second wicket with the healthy total allowing Chris Park to lash 38 off 21 deliveries.
Ryan Wiltshire followed suit with 28 from 22 balls as Bournemouth set a stellar target of 291-8 against a Totton side facing a huge task if its to avoid relegation from Premier 1.
Zimbabwean opener Mark Mbofana carried the fight with 54 from 43 balls, including five sixes, but once leg spinner Jem Warner (4-32) had taken out the top two, it was plain sailing.
“We have talked all year about the top four building a platform for the lower order to express themselves and this was a fantastic example of how to do that,” said Miller.
“Ben and Luke set up the other guys to just go and have a whack. It is a great pitch with a quick outfield and relatively short boundary at Totton and we cashed in.
“I think we hit 129 off the last 14 overs which was some acceleration and that knocked the stuffing out of them.
“It meant they had to come out all guns blazing from the start and to be fair to them, they did. They were up with the rate but just lost wickets.
“Jem took out the openers and after that, it was a case of when rather than if we would win.”
Jake Hurley weighed in with 3-14 as Totton fell to 163 all out and a 128-run defeat, which leaves them second from bottom in SPL1, 19 points behind Liphook & Ripsley.
Liphook & Ripsley crashed to 81 all out on a difficult Church Road surface – teenage left-arm spinner George Keeley taking 4-14 – where Rowledge won by six wickets.
Sarisbury Athletic’s title prospects go firmly on the line when table topping Andover visit Alltoment Road on Saturday, 1pm.
It’s a second v first affair which Sarisbury must win if they are to cling on to the prospect of regaining the Premier Division place they lost at the end of last season.
They rekindled their promotion chances after three barren weeks with a Baz Akram inspired five-wicket win at relegation bound Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
But go into the ‘must win’ Andover showdown 25 points behind the Lions, who boost their own title prospects with a tight ten-run win against Basingstoke & North Hants.
Akram, who is having trials at Sussex after being unable to land a permanent berth on the Ageas Bowl playing staff, led from the front, cracking 91 after OTs had posted 205-7.
He was fifth out at 142, having lost four partners before Sam Floyd’s unbeaten 49 got Sarisbury home with ten balls to spare.
Earlier, Charlie King struck a watchful 104, carrying his bat through the OTs innings after Shayne Freemantle (2-22) had struck two early blows.
King added 127 with third wicket partner Harry Tulk (54) before young spinner Tom Kitcher took 4-47 to check OTs’ advance.