Victorious Calmore Sports captain Mark Lavelle took five wickets for seven runs off his ten overs, six of which were maidens, against Southern Premier League Division 1 strugglers Ventnor at Loperwood Park.
Ventnor were going nicely at 61 without loss through an eight-four onslaught by Chris Russell (41) and Mark Fletcher (35) – but the innings fell apart  when Lavelle came on to bowl.
As Lavelle sliced through the Ventnor top order to record a sixth five-wicket haul, Fletcher held firm, eventually being seventh out at 99 before George Willis made a sprightly 26 not out to take the visitors to 139-9.
Calmore looked like cruising it once openers Lavelle (32) and Jake Easton (20) put 69 on the board, but a five-wicket burst by Rob Snell (5-36) at least ensured that Ventnor went down fighting by four wickets.  It was Calmore’s first win in three.

Relegated New Milton lie bottom of Southern Premier League Division 1 after suffering a third straight defeat – by 42 runs – against a Sparsholt side, who they had struggling at 39-5 at one stage at Fernhill.
But last season’s SPL2 champions recovered to post 150 (Ryan Beck 3-34) , mainly on the strength of determined knocks by Sam O’Brien (40) and Liam Doran (31).
Set a weather revised target of 131 off 38 overs, New Milton’s reply followed a similar pattern with half the side back in the pavilion for 43 against the new ball bowling of Oli Perrin (3-32) and Michael Haworth (2-25).
Ryan Beck (20) and James Haggaty (22) did their bit for the Green & Yellows, who were eventually dismissed for 89, Jeremy Frith taking 3-13.

Two cricketers have received suspensions from the Southern Premier League since the start of the season.
James Manning sat out Calmore Sports’ defeat at Rowledge following a one-match suspension imposed ‘for showing dissent to an umpires decision’ in the round one match against Hook & Newnham Basics on May 4 2019.
Ryan Taylor will miss Bashley (Rydal) IIs Division 3 match against Tichborne Park this Saturday for ‘abuse of an opponent.’

Jack Marston admits Portsmouth lived dangerously as they bounced back to winning ways in Southern Premier League Division One against previously unbeaten Rowledge at St Helens.
The city side sneaked to a one-wicket win in a nail-biting finish after nearly throwing the game away, writes Kevin Ricketts of The News, Portsmouth.
Despite losing three early wickets, Portsmouth – chasing a Rowledge total of 188-8 - looked on course for a comfortable win when they reached 169-5 – but then lost five wickets for 14 runs to leave them tottering on the edge.
Reuben McArdle and last man Andrew Marston held their nerve at the death to secure the winning runs.
'It was a close run thing but it shouldn't have been,' said Jack Marston. ‘What should have been a comfortable five-wicket win turned into a nail-biter. When they got a wicket it put us under a bit of pressure and we panicked a bit.
'Mentally we capitulated and it was all a bit nerve wracking at the finish. With our last pair at the wicket it was very much touch and go.  They looked like they could get the vital wicket every other ball. Finally we managed to edge the ball down to third man and get over the line.'
Australian teenager Fraser Wilson, returning from his Sydney Grade club Gordon for a second summer, top scored with 60, while Nick Morant made 34. Former PGS youngster Dan Wallis took 4-29.
Portsmouth looked in trouble when they slumped to 22-3. Ben Duggan was run out, Matt Shaw chopped onto his stumps and Jack Marston was caught behind.
Captain Marston remained confident all the time Melville’s Fraser Hay (87) was at the crease.
The Western Australian, who came close to Perth Scorchers Big Bash T20 call up this winter,  hit eight '4's' and five '6's as he anchored the Portsmouth innings receiving vital support from Wallis (66), who is now studying at Chichester University and a potential candidate for the May SPL1 Cricketer of the Month award .
It all looked in hand until Portsmouth suffered their late meltdown, caused by Chris Broad (3-28) and David Lloyd (2-24).  But McArdle and Marston prevailed.

Several regional semi-final ties in the National Village Cup are set to take place on Sunday afternoon, 1pm, with the pick of the matches being the duels between 2018 Lord's finalists Liphook & Ripsley and Sparsholt at Ripsley Park, and Hook & Newnham Basics' visit to Sarisbury Athletic.
Sunday's ties -
East Horsley v Rowledge, Emsworth v Findon, Goatacre v Redlynch & Hale, Ifield v Bedhampton, Liphook & Ripsley, Parley v Burbage, Sarisbury Athletic v Hook & Newnham Basics.  
* A round up of the previous round ties will appear on this website shortly.

Southern Premier League side Burridge are set to face the fearsome Curtley Ambrose when the Lashings World XI pitches up at Botley Road for a T20 match on Friday June 28.
One of the fastest bowlers ever to set foot on a cricket field, Ambrose (now 55) took 405 Test wickets for the West Indies in their heyday and claimed another in ODIs over a career that spanned 22 years.
Burridge are selling hospitality packages for £60, which includes a three-course luncheon, a cash bar, complimentary wine, comedians, entertainment, T20 cricket, a host of ex-test cricketers and legendary broadcaster Henry Blofeld on the ‘mike’.  Marquee and bar opens at 11:30am, with lunch at 1pm and the T20 cricket match at 4pm.

Andover jumped to second in the Southern Premier Division 2 table with a resounding 42- run win over Test Valley rivals OTs & Romsey.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first at the Romsey Sports Centre, skipper Matt Hooper’s faith was rewarded with a 100-run opening partnership from Ali ‘Iron Man’ Hooper (40) and Glyn Treagus (48).
On a tricky, bowler-friendly pitch, the pair nudged the ball into gaps nicely, picking off the bad ball when it came along.
After falling in quick succession, both caught off the bowling of leg-spinner Joe Vaughan, Hampshire’s Lewis McManus (26) took over the run-scoring responsibilities before being bowled by one that kept low. A flurry of wickets followed while Andover tried to up the pace and pile on a big score.
A useful 40-run partnership between Matt Hooper (27) and Matt Knight (31) in the final overs, plus a few lusty blows from the tail, ensured a healthy 210 total was posted in just shy of 50 overs.
Mike Adams being the final man to fall, caught going for a big one at long on, as the town side used all but one of their balls in the first innings.
OTs produced a steady start, seeing off the tight opening attack of Mike Adams and Babu Veettil. However, the 55-run open partnership was ended by a superb piece of fielding by Charlie Ayers who ran out Vaughan for 16. Veteran seamer Richard Taylor then trapped Steve Smith lbw and OTs were in need of a big score from one of their top six.
Opener Elliot Mitchell-Lee (38) batted manfully before Taylor removed him thanks to a fine catch from Veettil at mid-wicket.
The procession of wickets then flowed as spinners Ayers and Hooper were introduced. The leg spinner returned the best figures of the day, ripping out two wickets for just 19 runs off his 10 overs.
Needing over 100 runs off the final tenovers, the game was all but complete. Hooper juggled his bowlers, trying to prize out all 10 wickets, but only managed to pick up nine thanks to some resolute defence from the OTs tail. Adams, Aidan Jansen, Hooper and Treagus all claimed a wicket apiece, leaving the hosts stranded on 169-9 off their allotted 50 overs.

Hook & Newnham Basics’ last three wickets yielded 127 runs to release the mid-afternoon grip Sarisbury Athletic enjoyed on their embryo top Southern Premier League Division 1 meeting at Allotment Road.
The splendid rearguard action, initiated by Martyn James and subsequently fought by Shane Brewer, Liam Shore and Aniket Divecha, enabled Hook to recover from a potentially disastrous 109-7 and post 236 before bowling previously unbeaten Sarisbury out for 96.
Hook went on to win by 140 runs to record a third successive win, the victory enabling the North Hampshire side to eke out a 16-point lead at the top.
Having lost their first three wickets for 26 (Chris Sanders 2-33), Hook progressed to 72 without further loss, largely on the strength of Josh Buckingham (40) and Rhodes Franklin (20).
But a three-wicket burst by Jason Allmark (3-22) left them back in the lurch at 109-7.
Brewer (440 and James (26) then added 77 before Tom Kitcher (2-50) nipped out both batsmen to leave the visitors 188-9.
Hook’s fightback wasn’t finished, with Liam Shore (21 not out) and last man Divecha (22) teasing Sarisbury with a tenth-wicket partnership of 48 to raise the HNB total to 236 all out.
Ricky Rawlins (42) eased Sarisbury’s reply to 50 without loss when James (2-27) struck twice in four balls.
Sarisbury inched on to 76 before suffering a calamitous collapse – the next seven wickets falling for a mere 20 runs, Jack Murrell finishing with 5-23 and spinner Divecha 3-14. They were 96 all out.

First-class cricket on holiday. That is how Scarborough was once described and the depiction could apply now to Newclose on the Isle of Wight, a setting created out of agricultural land with the tang of sea salt on the breeze. It is part a joyous revival of the game on out-grounds after so many have been discarded for economic and logistical reasons.
Hampshire no longer play at Basingstoke, Bournemouth or Portsmouth, but have returned to the Isle of Wight for the first time since 1962 as a consequence of World Cup matches taking place at the Ageas Bowl. And next year the Hundred will ensure that the fixture list will be clogged up still further so, all being well, they will be back.
Even if, as is likely, they make a loss on these four days. “We have to play somewhere,” as the chief executive David Mann put it.
A local businessman, Brian Gardener, was so keen to build his own venue that he invested £2 million in this creation, including purchasing white benches from Lord’s to place in front of the pavilion and designing a scoreboard that was a replica of one at the Oval. MCC and Hampshire second XI took the ferry to stage their own representative matches and now, ten years on, first-class cricket is a reality.
Gardener, alas, has died, and his son, Martin, is not so keen on cricket. He wants to sell up, for about £1 million, but is insistent that Newclose remains primarily a cricket venue.
                                                                                       Scope
There is scope for building a hotel and for staging weddings and conferences. Three interested parties have come and gone. Now an inquiry has been made by a representative of Sheikh Nahyan, chairman of the United Arab Emirates Cricket Board.
“I welcome their interest and want to preserve my father’s legacy,” Gardener said. The crowd on this first day of the County Championship game with Nottinghamshire, about 2,000, was more than would have been at the Ageas Bowl. There was the odd Portaloo problem and the beer ran out. Some early summer bees caused an umpire and several players to drop to the ground.
As to the pitch, which has been cut under the supervision of Nigel Gray, Hampshire’s groundsman, there was some movement for the medium pacers, doggedly confronted by Joe Weatherley, who made 66, and Oli Soames, who batted for two sessions for 44 and was out straight after tea.
Hampshire’s batting then fell away against the moving ball, but there was barely a ripple in the crowd. At out-grounds, what occurs in the middle is only one aspect of the experience.
Scorecard

Matt Metcalfe chalked up his 500th ECB Southern Premier Division wicket – only the second player to achieve such a milestone – in leading Lymington to a dramatic and improbable eight-run victory over South Wilts.
His ten-over spell of 4-35, which included wickets off the opening two balls of the South Wilts innings, was a decisive factor in Lymington successfully defending a modest 128 all out.
That all 20 wickets fell for an aggregate 248 runs – South Wilts were dismissed for 120 - was almost entirely due to a damp Lymington Sports Ground surface off which the ball seamed prodigiously all day.
So exaggerated was the movement during the afternoon session (when Lymington batted) that South Wilts’ bowlers were unable to control the swing and sent down 35 wides, a staggering statistic which contributed significantly to their downfall.     
But at 34-4 and after an impressive opening new-ball spell by Matt Burton, left, whose 5-31 return was his Premier Division best, Lymington would hardly have backed themselves to emerge with a third successive win.
Ryan Scott (25) and Darren Cowley (22), however, were able to piece together a handy fifth-wicket stand before Ben Attrill and Josh Proctor chipped in to give Lymington something, albeit a moderate total, to bowl at.
James Hayward (3-14) accounted for the three of the last four Lymington batsmen, while Ben Draper finished with four victims behind the stumps, his leg-side stumping to remove Proctor and give Burton his fifth wicket being particularly eye-catching.
                                                                                            First ball
The conditions were tailor-made for Metcalfe, who bowled Australian Peter Rowe with his first delivery and then had Joe Cranch superbly caught behind by Gareth Schreuder with his next ball.  South Wilts 0-2.
Hayward became a third victims for Metcalfe soon after (10-3) - but then Draper and Tom Morton knuckled down and released the tension with a 34-run stand.
Just as SW began to pick up some momentum, Lymington struck a decisive double blow.
Metcalfe’s successful leg before against Draper (15) was his milestone 500th SPL wicket.  One run later, Gareth Schreuder (selected to play for the Club Cricket Conference against Essex IIs at Billericay this week)  took a leg-side catch to remove Morton (20) off young Josh Royan.
With their top order back in the pavilion and only 44 runs on the board, South Wilts were in trouble, but Arthur Godsal (19) and Raff Hussey (13) nudged their reply to 77 before a flurry of wickets left them 81-8.
When Will Harries was yorked by Proctor at 97-9, the end was seemingly nigh for South Wilts, but a spirited last-wicket stand, climaxed by a huge six off a no-ball free hit by Luke Evans (18), left nerves jangling as the visitors crept to 120 and to within sight of the target.
The penultimate ball of Scott’s third over (the 35th), however, clipped the edge of Evans’s bat and Schreuder claimed his third victim.
South Wilts were 120 all out and Lymington had won for a third week in a row.   

Heavy mid-afternoon downpours put paid to the ECB Southern Premier Division matches at Bashley (Rydal), Basingstoke & North Hants and Bournemouth.
Harry Came had scored an unbeaten 67 of St Cross Symondians’ 118-1 (Jason Laney 35*) made at Bashley before a storm put paid to events after 28.4 overs.
Basingstoke & North Hants were 126-5 (Mitchell Stokes 32) against Burridge, while Peter Hopson (95) was agonisingly run out five runs short of his century as Havant posted 205-8 (Stu Ransley 32) by tea against Bournemouth at Chapel Gate, whereupon the rains came down.  Tom Robinson took 3-45 for the Lions.   

Tom South became one of the youngest batsmen to notch an ECB Southern Premier League hundred when he set up a thumping 133-run victory for the Hampshire Academy over Alton.
The 16-year old put his GCSE examination studies to one side to make a senior career-best 101, having arrived at the crease just as the Academy had lost two wickets in three balls at 68-3.
His maiden SPL century guided the Hampshire youngsters to a powerful 270 – a target Alton, restricted to 137-9, never threatened.
South, a product of the Highfield & Old Netley junior set-up, had to strap his pads on quickly after Dan Scott (2-34) had bowled George Pardoe (41) and George Metzger in the space of three deliveries.
But a handy 62-run stand with Fletcha Middleton (32) enabled the Academy to rebalance, though at 137-5 their innings was still in need of firm direction.
South took care if that, striking 16 fours in an impressive century, and adding useful runs with Mo Abbas (22) and the lower order before Kiwi Matt Bacon (4-58) made late inroads.
Ajeet Dale (4-31) nipped out Alton openers Michael Heffernan and Ryan Covey, before skipper Dan Harris (39) eased the Brewers to 90-2.
But the introduction of left-arm spin the shape of Abbas (3-21) saw Alton lose three wickets for only four runs – a mini-collapse which saw any hopes of a first win of the season  disappear in a cloud of smoke down the Watercress steam railway line.
Dale returned to send another four Alton wickets tumbling for a mere three runs and the Brewers to a tame 137-9.

Southern Premier League cricketer will be delighted to learn that the www.vimpsatthecrease.com cricket website, in conjunction with hosts Cricket-Hockey.com,, cricket/hockey specialists from Downton, near Salisbury, are to re-introduce the Divisional Cricketer of the Month awards, the first of which will be announced after the fourth round of  matches next Saturday, May 25.
There will be individual awards for each of the four Southern Premier League divisions, the winner receiving an inscribed glass statuette (as shown), together with a £25 sports equipment voucher redeemable at Cricket-Hockey.com.
The awards will be open to all SPL recreational cricketers, but Tier 5 overseas players (who have played First Class cricket overseas) are not eligible.
It should be noted that these are not official Southern Premier League awards.

ECB SOUTHERN PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE
RESULTS – ROUND 3 – 18 MAY 2019

ECB PREMIER DIVISION

Basingstoke & North Hants 126-5 (Stokes 32) v Burridge 
Match abandoned after 32.5 overs, rain.

Hampshire Academy 270 (South 101, Pardoe 41, Bacon 4-58)
Alton 137-9 (Harris 39, Abbas 3-21, Dale 3-31)
Hampshire Academy won by 133 runs.

Havant 205-8 (Hopson 95, Ransley 32, Robinson 3-45) v Bournemouth.
Match abandoned after 50 overs, rain.

Lymington 128 (Scott 25, Cowley 22, Burton 5-31, Hayward 3-14)
South Wilts 120 (Morton 20, Metcalfe 4-35, Proctor 3-21)
Lymington won by eight runs.

St Cross Symondians 118-1 (Came 67*, Laney 35) v Bashley (Rydal).
Match abandoned after 28.4 overs, rain.

DIVISION 1

Andover 211 (Treagus 48, A Hooper 40, Knight 31, M Hooper 27, Newman 3-32, Vaughan 3-39)
Old Tauntonians & Romsey 169-9 (Mitchell-Lea 38, Newman 38)
Andover won by 42 runs.

Hook & Newnham Basics 236 (Brewer 44, J Buckingham 40, James 26, Allmark 3-22)
Sarisbury Athletic 96 (Rawlins 42, Murrell 5-23, Divecha 3-14)
Hook & Newnham Basics won by 140 runs.

Rowledge 188-8 (Wilson 60, Morant 34, Wallis 4-29)
Portsmouth 191-9 (Hay 87, Wallis 66, Board 3-28)
Portsmouth won by one wicket.

Sparsholt 150 (O’Brien 40, L Doran 31, R Beck 3-34)
New Milton 89 (reduced target 131 off 38 overs)(Haggatty 22, R Beck 20, Frith 3-13, Perrin 3-32)
Sparsholt won by 42 runs.

Ventnor 137-9 (Russell 41, Fletcher 35, Willis 26*, Lavelle 5-7)
Calmore Sports 139-5 (Lavelle 32, Snell 5-36)
Calmore Sports won by five wickets.

DIVISION 2

Fair Oak 132 (Smith 35, Kemp 21, Porter 3-26)
Basingstoke & North Hants II 116 (Bucksey 23, Gwynn 4-28)
Fair Oak won by 16 runs.

Hartley Wintney 223-8 (Cockram 82, Knibbs 52, Pike 3-54)
Paultons 175 (Condon 51, Brown 4-43)
Hartley Wintney won by 48 runs.

South Wilts 160 (Berzins 63, E Wade 25, Burton 3-16)
Liphook & Ripsley 161-6 (Neave 59, Nicklin 26)
Liphook & Riosley won by four wickets.

Totton & Eing 267-8 (J Taylor 84, E Taylor 49, Mugochi 32, Adams 30, Allen 3-28)
St Cross Symondians II 232 (Middleton 71, Allen 50, Hawkins 29, Mugochi 3-32, E Taylor 3-46)
Totton & Eling won by 35 runs.

Waterlooville 147 (Goddard 38, Peters 3-32)
Langley Manor 148-9 (Budd 40, Reynolds 3-20)
Langley Manor won by one wicket.

DIVISION 3

Fareham & Crofton198 (Kissane 43, Wimble 41, Dean 3-20)
Purbrook 199-3 (Figgins 65*, Runswick 42, McCoy 41*)
Purbrook won by seven wickets.

Bashley (Rydal) II 206-7 (Lewis 44, Stroud 40, J Turner 32, Vaughan 32, Munir 3-27)
Fawley 77 (Read 3-15, Stroud 3-18)
Bashley (Rydal) II won by 129 runs.

Hambledon 163 (Marshall 44, L Le Clerq 36, Agha 4-25, Donaldson 3-29)
Trojans 162 (Mahmood 57, Kelly 42, Barber 4-34, S Le Clerq 3-11)
Hambledon won by one run.

Portsmouth & Southsea 226-7 (Kanavan 72, Bollom 64, Stow 3-34)
Hythe & Dibden 229-4 (Richards 76, Young 68)
Hythe & Dibden won by six wickets.

Tichborne Park 220-8 (Jess 40, Allen 37, Allam 28, Whyte 3-44)
Lymington II 129 (Crabb 42, Whyte 38, Hunt 25, Burstow 5-8, Allam 3-55)
Tichborne Park won by 91 runs.

Former Hampshire man David Griffiths is hoping the likes of Stuart Broad and Ajinkya Rahane can help make the Isle of Wight a cricketing hotbed again.
First-class cricket makes its comeback on the island for the first time in 57 years on Monday when Nottinghamshire visit Newclose in the Specsavers County Championship, writes Alex Smith.
England Test star Broad will be among main attractions, while Rahane will become the first Indian to play for the county having jetted in to replace Aiden Markram as Hampshire’s overseas player.
Griffiths, now Director of Cricket at Basingstoke & North Hants, said: “I think Nottinghamshire will have Stuart Broad and there will also be other international cricketers on show and for All Stars cricketers and other youngsters it could be their first experience of cricket.
“There will be plenty of people from the Isle of Wight who haven’t seen cricket before.
“Broad and Rahane are massive names in cricket. Broad is one of the best bowlers in England and Rahane is one of the best batters in the world.   “They are going to be incredible to watch.
“The island has missed this standard of cricket. 15 years ago there were some really good players coming out the Isle of Wight.
“There was a generation with me and Danny Briggs to play first class cricket after a quite big gap and hopefully this will bring out the next crop.”
Fast bowler Griffiths (left) was born in Newport on the Isle of Wight and learned his trade at Shanklin Cricket Club at Westhill before making 100 first team appearances for Hampshire and Kent.
The likes of Rahane and Broad will be living out one of Griffith’s childhood dreams – playing professional cricket on his home island.
“I’m not sure I ever played for Hampshire on the island but might have been back with Kent in the second team," Griffiths said.
“It would have been lovely to go back for Hampshire where I grew up playing my cricket. Playing for Hampshire on the Isle of Wight would have been my dream.”
Griffiths also gave a sneak peak of what to expect at Newclose. He said: “It is a first-class ground. They have spent a lot of money on it over the years and it is a shame they haven’t played any first-class cricket there before.
“It took a couple of years for the wicket to bed in but having played there a couple of years ago it is a good wicket.
“I think there was a second XI game there earlier this year and loads of runs were scored so hopefully that shows there will be plenty of runs on offer.
“A lot of clubs, especially around London, have cricket weeks at some nice schools and nice private grounds; so if you can get a one day game or a Championship and a T20 game there each year that would be great.”
                                                                                 Through the ranks
Griffiths, who is now Southern Premier League side Basingstoke and North Hants’ director of cricket, came through the Hampshire ranks with the likes of Liam Dawson and James Vince.
Both Dawson and Vince are hoping to sneak into England’s World Cup squad, and Griffiths is proud of their accomplishments.
“It is a shame I’m not there with them doing it at the same time!” Griffiths joked.
“You could tell at a young age that Daws and Vincey would go far.
“For one or other of them to get in a World Cup squad would be incredible for Hampshire and as a good friend of them still it would be awesome to see them in a World Cup in your home country.”
Hampshire are less than a week away from Saturday’s Royal London One Day Cup final against Somerset – as they aim for back-to-back Lord’s triumphs.
Griffiths was an integral part of Hampshire’s 2012 winning campaign, and fondly remembers his big day out in London.
He said: “Let alone being one of my greatest games of Hampshire or in cricket, it was probably one of the best days of my life.
“I grew up wanting to play for Hampshire and then wanting to play at Lord’s – that was the only time I got to play there for my home club.
“It was a boyhood dream and it was even better that we won off the last ball.
“To be playing with a lot of lads I grew up with made it a great day.”

Souvenir navy blue polo shirts and baseballs caps to commemorate Hampshire's County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Newclose on Monday - the first county match to be staged on the Isle of Wight for 57 years - will be on sale at the ground.
The polo shirts, available in Medium, Large and XL sizes, cost £25 each and the baseball caps £10.
If you are not able to attend any of the four days and would like to order a polo shirt or baseball cap, please email mike.vimpany@btinternet.com so that the necessary sale arrangements can be made.
* Hampshire are anticipating over 3,000 spectators to attend the first two days of the match, with cricket supporters coming to the Isle of Wight from all parts of the country to watch what will be a unique occasion. Corporate hospitality sales are extremely encouraging. Tickets will be available on the gate.

Two rounds in and Totton & Eling are the only club still able to boast an unblemished record in Southern Premier Division 2.
But beating Liphook & Ripsley by one wicket to record a second consecutive victory was a close call – Totton having lurched to 84-5 (chasing 224-7) before Dimitri Adams, with one six and 15 fours in a blistering 89, changed the face of the game.   Sam Beer’s 16 not out at the end proved critical.
Earlier, Liphook struggled, slipped to 67-5 (Ethan Taylor 3-30) before Jon Pryce (50), Grant Rouse (36), Andy Barnes (31) and Sean Burton (29), aided by 40 extras, put a competitive total on the board.
Nineteen wickets for 206 runs at Whitemoor Lane, where Paultons inched a slender victory over Fair Oak with four balls to spare and their last pair at the crease.
On a hastily prepared track (the original strip is understood to have been rendered unusable  when oil accidentally leaked from a mower while the pitch was under preparation), Fair Oak were shot out for 101 – a target Paultons took all bar four balls to reach, for the loss of nine wickets.
Philip Smith (38) rescued Oaks from a desperate 23-4 (Tony Richman 2-17 with the new ball), but when Paultons lurched to 44-5 (Andy Mash 3-28), it was anyone’s game.
Tom Smart (26) and Richman (15) added 41 before Paultons lost four more wickets for 12 runs. It brought about a nerve jangling climax.
Conor Browne (66) and Steve Harris (44) were Langley Manor’s match winners in the seven-wicket win over Hartley Wintney (141), while Basingstoke & North Hants II got home by three wickets chasing down a South Wilts’ total of 167.
Steven Booth (66) and Rob Pittman (44) anchored the South Wilts total – Chris Chandler returned 4-18 – while Greg Donaldson (48) and Joe Oates (38) did the trick for the Bountymen after early damage caused by James Wade (3-3-34).
The season has begun poorly for Waterlooville, who fell to a second defeat, by 19 runs against St Cross Symondians II, whose 201-8 (Jason Laney 50) proved just too many.  Dave Orchard took 4-20 as the Ville were reduced to 182-9. 

After a wait of 57 years – cricket’s coming home!
The Isle of Wight is now just a few days away from staging its biggest sporting event in more than 55 years. Newclose Cricket Ground, on the outskirts of Newport, will host a mouth-watering County Championship, Division One clash between Hampshire and Nottinghamshire, from May 20 to 23. 
The four-day game between two of the top flight’s best teams will be the first time since 1962 that a first class County Championship match has been played on the Island, and the first time ever that Newclose has hosted a fixture of such magnitude.
Newclose is anticipating the biggest crowd the ground has seen in the decade since it opened. In the venue’s 10th anniversary season, there can surely be no better way to celebrate than a match between Hampshire’s First XI and Nottinghamshire’s best, which in all probability will include fast bowler Stuart Broad, who has taken an incredible 437 Test wickets for England.
The opening day of the four-day match is likely to attract a crowd of more than 2,000, and is testament to the magnificent work laid down by the late Brian Gardener, whose vision and finances made it all possible. Sadly, Brian died in February, 2015, at the age of 73, having created a cricket ground out of agricultural land near Newport that he hoped would be a draw for the finest players in the world. Now that dream is about to become reality.
He invested £2million in the development of Newclose and on May 20 his family will join a large crowd of cricket fans to see this historic event. He would be immensely proud that the ground he developed was at last being graced by such high profile professional sportsmen.
As hosts, Hampshire will benefit financially from both admission and car parking charges, so Newclose will be relying on their magnificent hospitality facilities, in their pavilion, and in a marquee on the edge of the playing area, to generate income, and are hoping spectators will support their cause.
There will be a special area set aside for Hampshire, Nottinghamshire and Newclose members which will be stewarded by Newclose committee and volunteers. Staff and students from the catering department of the Isle of Wight College will be providing the meals for about 200 hospitality guests in the marquee. Members of the Vectis Sunrise Newport Rotary Club have been generous in offering their services as volunteers to assist with car parking.
Newclose was chosen for the match because during the two months of this summer’s Cricket World Cup both Hampshire and Nottinghamshire will be unable to play home games at their respective Test Match grounds. The Ageas Bowl and Trent Bridge are both fully committed to World Cup international matches. Newclose and Hampshire are confident that the match will be a great success for the players, officials and spectators, and that confidence is reflected in a four-year staging agreement for County Cricket at Newclose extending to the 2022 season.
But it has put significant pressure on the host venue’s ability to create pitches and outfields that can replicate the qualities of the Test Match and County grounds.
‘Outgrounds’ have to be able to reassure the County Clubs and the England & Wales Cricket Board that a four-day match will go the distance, and Newclose officials and ground staff have worked overtime to try to ensure this will be a ‘pitch perfect’ venue.
For the full decade since the ground opened in 2009, Newclose has enjoyed the luxury of having had the same head groundsman, Andy Butler. While Andy is assisted by volunteers who mow the outfield, the ‘square’ and 22 yard pitches have always had the benefit of quality preparation by a gifted and professional man in charge.
Since well before the showpiece fixture was announced last December, Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl Head Groundsman, Nigel Gray has been making regular visits to inspect the playing surface and has been impressed.
The recent four days of cricket between Hampshire and Middlesex Second XIs was a perfect dress-rehearsal for the forthcoming match. It finished late on the final day after more than 1,500 runs were scored on the same pitch. Hugh Griffiths, Newclose Trustee, said: “The Island Community is showing great enthusiasm for County Cricket at Newclose and if all goes to plan, a similar cricket festival is in prospect for at least another three seasons, probably more. I really hope that local club cricketers, followers of the game and sports enthusiasts in general will come along to make an annual event of cricket’s version of the Isle of Wight Festival.
“They may not have quite the status of celebrity singers and musicians, but England cricketer Stuart Broad and India’s Test team Vice-Captain Ajinkya Rahane are top names in the world of sport, and there’s a good chance they’ll be in action here on the Island from 20th to 23rd May.”
Tickets, memberships and hospitality bookings are selling well at Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl and at Newclose, and Isle of Wight residents can find details at the Newclose Cricket Ground website, www.newclose.org.  Potential spectators can pay at the gate.

Young Australian Sam O’Brien hit an unbeaten 63 and featured strongly in a dramatic tenth-wicket partnership as Sparsholt snatched a nail-biting victory over Southern Premier Division 1 rivals Andover at the Norman Edwards Ground.
Chasing Andover’s 210 all, Sparsholt lost half their wickets for 73 – Mike Adams (3-43), Babu Veettil (2-42) and Aiden Jansen (2-33) doing the damage – but were pulled round by half-century from Dave Banks (50).
At 169-6, the game was in the balance.  Then Sparsholt lost three wickets for one run and were back in the mire at 170-9 when last man Dan Weir joined O’Brien for a stand which turned the match.
Hitting eight fours, wicketkeeper O’Brien went on to make 63 not out and Weir a crucial 16 not out – the pair adding 41 to secure a one-wicket victory with eight balls to spare.
Earlier, Hampshire’s Lewis McManus (71) top scored for Andover, sharing an important stand with Charlie Ayres (33) before Michael Haworth (4-33) cut through the lower order.

On Monday morning (20 May) County Championship Cricket returns to the Isle of Wight for the first time since 1962.
In Newclose Cricket Ground’s tenth Anniversary season Hampshire will face Nottinghamshire’s best,   including England Test star and fast bowler Stuart Broad.
The late Brian Gardener would have been immensely proud that the ground he developed was at last being graced by such high profile professional sportsmen.
During the two months of the ICC Cricket World Cup both teams will be unable to play home games at their respective Test Match grounds at The Ageas Bowl and Trent Bridge, both of which are fully committed to World Cup international matches.
In the case of Hampshire that means the best alternative venue is Newclose [Isle of Wight] situated one mile south of Newport on Blackwater Road, PO30 3BE.
Both Newclose and Hampshire are confident that the four day match from 20-23 May will be a great success for the players, officials and spectators and that confidence is reflected in a four year staging agreement for County Cricket at Newclose extending to the 2022 season.
This puts significant pressure on the host venue’s ability to create pitches and outfields that can replicate the qualities of the Test Match and County Grounds.
                                                                                   Groundsman luxury
Outgrounds’ have to be able to reassure the County Clubs and the England & Wales Cricket Board that a four day match will go the distance. There have been some notable instances of grounds where under-prepared pitches have given bowlers an undue advantage over batsmen to such a degree that what should have been a four day match finishes early on the third day - to the proverbial crowd of ‘one man and a dog’!
For the full decade since the ground opened in 2009, Newclose has enjoyed the luxury of having had the same Head Groundsman, Andy Butler. Whilst Andy is assisted by volunteers who mow the outfield, the ‘square’ and 22 yard pitches have always had the benefit of quality preparation by a gifted and professional man in charge.
Since well before the fixture was announced last December, the Ageas Bowl’s Head Groundsman Nigel Gray has been making regular visits to inspect the playing surface and has been impressed.
The recent four days of cricket between Hampshire and Middlesex Second Elevens finished late on the final day after over 1,500 runs were scored on the same pitch. A challenge is now in prospect for County First Eleven bowlers - although assuming Stuart Broad is in the Nottinghamshire team, batsmen may find the going a bit tougher.
Excitement is building at the ground and the late Brian Gardener’s dream is about to come true. He invested £2million in the development of Newclose and on Monday his family will join a large crowd of cricket fans to see top professional cricketers back in action on the Isle of Wight for the first time since 1962.

Matt Buckingham struck his maiden Southern Premier League century – an undefeated 137 – as Hook & Newnham Basics recovered from an uncertain 41-3 to post a towering 307-7 against Portsmouth at the King George V Ground.
He struck three sixes and 15 fours, sharing a 165-run fourth-wicket stand with his brother Josh Buckingham (77) as Hook batted Portsmouth out of the match.
Jack Murrell (29) added some useful run after James Holder had taken 3-22 for the visitors.
Portsmouth’s innings folded like the proverbial pack of cards against Martyn James (4-12) and Shane Brewer (2-28) and it was left to Dan Wallis (34) and Holder (30) to give their eventual 117 (Liam Shore 2-29) any credibility.
Chris Sanders took 6-25 as Sarisbury Athletic followed up an impressive opening day win at Sparsholt by bowling relegated New Milton out for 113 (Dan Loader 45) and knocking off the runs to win by seven wickets.    Tom Mills (35) and Josh Hill (34) completed the formalities.
Spin pair Matt Bampton (4-27) and Jody Brown (4-36) bowled OTs & Romsey to a decisive 96-run win over Ventnor at Steephill.
They took eight wickets between them as Ventnor fell to 155 all out (Rob Snell 43) after OTs had posted a formidable 215-8 through Rhys Wathen (57), Rob Newman (45) and Joe Vaughan (35).
An hour-long rain stoppage led to the Rowledge-Calmore Sports match being reduced to 40-overs per side – the hosts coming out on top by four wickets.
Calmore made 139-6 (Ben Johns 28) before Mark Lavelle (3-10) and left-armer Steve Wright (2-27) reduced Rowledge to 57-5.
But Ian Metcalfe (40) and Chris Board (32) turned things around to give Rowledge a second consecutive win.

Mitchell Stokes has dropped an early season bombshell by stepping down as Basingstoke & North Hants captain.
May’s Bounty HQ have accepted his resignation which follows disappointing ‘white ball’ defeats by Bournemouth and South Wilts.
Stokes, 32, who played 14 Twenty20 matches for Hampshire from 2005 to 2006, explained: “I don’t have the same drive and passion for cricket that I once had all those years ago.”
He added: “I no longer feel I can give the club what it needs to move forward, time commitment 100 per cent every week when my mind is not fully there.
“It’s only fair I hand over the reigns to someone that can offer the club more than I can at this present time and they’re able to put their own stamp on the club’s 1st team with 16 games to go in the Premier Division.”
Reflecting on his decision, Stokes continued: “I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to captain the first team at a very young age and then again on my return from a six year absence playing cricket in Staffordshire.
“The club have done their up most to help make my life as easy as possible over the years and I thank them for that and I’ll be forever grateful for the part they played in helping me through my cricketing years.
“Hopefully relinquishing the captaincy will give me more focus and I can start to enjoy the game I once use to love.”
Stokes will continue to play for Basingstoke, who host Burridge at May’s Bounty on Saturday, 12.30.
The club will announce Stokes's successor shortly.

Michael Porter grafted an unbeaten half-century to guide Bashley (Rydal) to a five-wicket win over the Hampshire Academy – the second win placing them joint top of the embryo ECB Southern Premier Division table.
Lymington and South Wilts, who meet at the LSG this Saturday, have also won both their opening games.
Bashley successfully chased down an Academy total of 189 on a pitch which Porter described as “one on which you had to get your head down and graft.”
“It certainly wasn’t a 190 surface, but batsmen needed to apply themselves to get runs.”
A double Dan Goodey strike and one from Brad Currie (who both finished with 2-24) had the Academy youngsters wobbling at 22-3, before Brad Taylor (31) and the impressive George Metzger (47) improved matters.
Josh Digby (3-27) dropped the county side deeper into the mire at 124-7 before Hartley Wintney prospect Harry Broderick (36) guided the innings to 189 all out.
Bashley were never seriously troubled as they chased down the target, all the top order making starts - Tim Taylor (25) and Ben Walker (31) – but Porter needed to get his head down with an unbeaten 54 (seven fours) to secure the victory.  Tom Jacques made a handy 22.
Rick Ankers played the key batting role to steer Burridge to a three-wicket win over visiting Alton in a match full of twists and turns.
At 139-1 with Ryan Covey (71) and Dan Harris (31) going well, Alton looked to be headed for a decent total, but Cape Town’s Hilo De Abreu (3-34) and Richard Lock (2-39) stemmed progress and Scott Myers (38) apart none of the subsequent Brewers, save 31 extras, contributed as the visitors slipped to 214-9.
Azim Chowdhury (25) and Joe Collings-Wells (29) got Burridge away to a decent start - Kiwi Matt Bacon, who conceded 17 wides among the 42 extras Alton conceded, not helping the cause.
But Alton had their noses back in front at 87-4 before Chris Blake (27) and Dan Stancliffe (22) began to turn the tide.  Wickets continued to fall and at 167-7, Burridge still had plenty to do.
Cometh the hour, cometh Ankers with an unbeaten 32 which, with Oli Southon (14) in support, saw Burridge home without further loss.

Champions St Cross Symondians suffered their first defeat - the experience of Richard Hindley and South African seam bowler Siviwe Gidana proving crucial as Havant chalked up their first ECB Southern Premier Division win by a six-wicket margin.
Needing ten runs off the final over, Gidana hit the winning boundary off Harry Foyle’s penultimate ball as Havant successfully chased down 239-7, Hampshire prospect Harry Came making 113 and Billy Mead 32
Mindful of the previous week's batting collapse against Lymington, Havant began their reply in determined if guarded fashion.  When both openers departed, leaving them 57-2, much depended on Pete Hopson (48) and Hindley, who went on to make a decisive 89 not out.
When Hopson was out, Havant still had much to do but second team stalwart   Andrew Galliers (42) used his experience with a quick-fire innings at over a run a ball, which maintained the momentum and helped set up the winning finish. Galliers' added a crucial 90 with Hindley, pictured above.

HAMPSHIRE sport is mourning the loss of much-loved former Southern Evening Echo and BBC journalist John Hughes.
The legendary broadcaster has passed away after a long battle with illness, following a distinguished career in local journalism.
Hughes, who was from Nottingham, began his career at the Worthing Herald then as a colleague of BBC legend John Motson on the Sheffield Star and worked for the Echo as a sports reporter/sub-editor for five years after joining in the late 1960s, following several years in Rhodesia working for The Herald.
After leaving the Echo, he made the transition from newspapers to radio and television as a freelancer and soon built a reputation as the voice of Hampshire sport on BBC Radio Solent and South Today, commentating on Saints, Pompey and Hampshire Cricket.  He fronted the Monday evening Radio Solent Cricket Scoreboard for many summers.
He also worked as a press officer at Hampshire and edited the Saints programme for many years.
Hughes, who was educated at Lancing College, lived in Bassett.
After a long illness, he spent the last five years in a nursing home a goal-kick away from The Dell.
He died in his late seventies, just a few months after former Pompey and Hampshire star Mike Barnard, his co-commentator on Hampshire Cricket matches for several summers, passed away.
Hughes is survived by his devoted wife Pat, two children and grandchildren.
On a personal MV note: “John was my mentor as I embarked into sports writing and broadcasting, and became a great friend over a long period of time. We often checked the fat over games we’d covered on Saturday evenings, frequently reflecting on broadcasting equipment not working. Great days that will live long in the memory.
“He was a decent footballer and cricketer: a great bloke with whom the media ‘team’ spent many often amusing hours as he rushed around, often in a chaotic state as he tried to make radio and TV broadcasting deadlines.
“We had endless hours of fun in his company travelling to Hampshire cricket, Pompey and Saints away games – not always in the right direction - the days long before satnavs.
"But, above all, he was a top journalist and broadcaster, often covering Saints soccer for more than one radio station at the same time: far from a straighforward task."
Tributes galore have poured in - BT Sports football commentator Ian Darke tweeted: “Sad to hear of death of John Hughes, polished and affable BBC broadcaster on the south coast for so long. Great bloke. RIP John.”
Match of the Day’s John Roder wrote: “As a kid I watched and listened to John Hughes on @BBCSouthNews and @BBCRadioSolent & he then became a colleague, a kind lovely man, a man of Hampshire, John was great company, it was always super to see him at @SouthamptonFC @officialpompey @hantscricket RIP John.”     Daily Echo.