Waterlooville produced a stunning fielding display in yesterday's ECB indoor sixes regional play-offs in Cheltenham to reach the national finals at Lord's on Sunday March 29.
They beat Neyland, the Pembrokeshire based Welsh champions, by six runs in the zone semi-final before defeating Cheltenham by 16 runs to win the regional final.
Remarkably, the Ville ran out NINE opposition batters as they celebrated their wins.
Waterlooville successfully defended two modest totals, posting 96-4 against Neyland, Jon Hudson(17) and Joe Mitchell (19*) complementing an unbeaten 31 by opener Archie Reynolds. 
At 80-2, Neyland were favourites but they lost four wickets for ten runs and were 90 all out - five batsmen run out !
West of England Premier League club Cheltenham brushed aside Ventnor (66-5) by five wickets to win their semi-final.
Dan Birch was Ville's batting hero, making an unbeaten 57 to guide the Hampshire indoor champions to 95-5.
But Cheltenham couldn't handle Waterlooville's superb fielding, their first four batsmen being run out before the side was dismissed for 80.
Waterlooville will be joined by AK XI, Derbyshire's Ockbrook & Borrowash and past national champions Whitstable at Lord's on March 29. 

Cole McConchie was a raw teenager, not long out of college in New Zealand, when in 2011 he ventured away from his Canterbury home and pitched up on the Isle of Wight to play for Ventnor in the second tier of the Southern Premier League.
He didn't do badly either, topping the Division 2 batting charts with 718 runs - 150 at Hartley Wintney and 117 against Burridge - and taking 20 wickets with his right-arm off-spin.
The following summer was spent playing for Blaydon in the North East Premier League and later (2019) Surrey Championship cricket for Wimbledon.
Back home McConchie nailed a regular spot in Canterbury's provincial side and was named as a travelling reserve for New Zealand's ICC T20 World Cup squad.
From not being part of the squad in the first place, McConchie has emerged as an unlikely hero for the Black Caps.
McConchie, 34 years of age and largely unheralded at international level before this tournament, delivered only one over in New Zealand's semi-final stomping of South Africa at the 2026 T20 World Cup. But it was a match-made match-up heaven. Turning the ball away from the lefties, McConchie claimed the wickets of the most accomplished left-hander in South Africa's top order (Quinton de Kock) and the most successful leftie of the tournament (Ryan Rickelton) till then.
McConchie had not originally been picked in this squad, and came in only as a replacement for the injured Michael Bracewell. And yet, this is the second key contribution he made in the tournament, having also struck 31 not out off 23 on a tough Khettarama track against Sri Lanka. 
                                                                                        Whirlwind
When he walked out to bat against Sri Lanka at Khettarama, New Zealand were under serious pressure at 84-6 in the 13th over, but he absorbed all of it along with Mitchell Santner and carried them to an above-par 168-7, the one-time Steephill teen scoring 31 off 23 balls..
McConchie wasn't done yet. He fronted up to bowl two overs in the powerplay, in which he gave up just eight runs, and manned the hotspots between deep midwicket and wide long-on.
It has been a whirlwind few weeks for McConchie. He had led Canterbury to the 20-over Super Smash final at the end of January and in February, his plan was to plug away for his domestic team with his off-spin and batting in the 50-over Ford Trophy.
He had turned 34 in January and before the T20 World Cup, his last game for New Zealand was in April 2024 as part of a second-string side that had toured Pakistan. McConchie probably thought that his time in international cricket had passed.
But cricket is a funny game and this Sunday afternoon in front of a partisan 80,000 plus crowd in Ahmedabad he hopes to play a key role for the Black Caps against India in the World Cup final.  Sky Sports Cricket, 1.30pm. 

All-rounder Tom Robinson will captain a youthful Bournemouth side in the ECB Southern Premier League this summer.
The 26- year old takes over from left-armer Simon Woodruff, who remains at Chapel Gate as a prominent first team player.
A regular first team pick since joining Bournemouth from Poole Town in 2019, Robinson has scored over 1,200 SPL runs and taken 60 wickets.
His family is steeped in local cricket, with Tom's late grandfather David a leading Dorset Minor Counties and Poole Town cricketer.  
"Stepping into the role of first team captain at Bournemouth is a real honour," says Robinson, adding: "We've built a strong foundation over the past seasons, with a talented group of players who have now gained valuable experience competing in a tough league.
"There's a genuine belief within the squad and I'm excited for the cricket we hope to produce this coming season.
"If we continue to work hard for each other and build on what's already been established, I'm confident we can make this a strong and successful summer for the club."
Bournemouth have lost Dorset skipper Luke Webb to Wimborne, but are lining up a leading overseas cricketer to bolster their top order batting.
"I can't go into any details yet because there are a few things to iron out, but judging by his form this winter, we've got an exciting prospect headed to Chapel Gate next month," Robinson said.
RJ Jhala, a postgraduate student at Bournemouth university, wasn't eligible to play Premier League cricket in 2025 but made his mark in the Hampshire League, scoring over 700 runs, including an unbeaten century in a successful run chase at Basingstoke & North Hants.
He also made seven scores of fifty and more and expected to be challenging for a middle-order slot.
Past Canford head boy George Guirdham is expected to challenge for a Bournemouth first team place, alongside Alfie Appleby Ingram, who has spent the last three months homing his talents at Toowoomba Grammar School in Queensland as part of an exchange programme with Bryanston School.
Alfie’s Aussie sojourn has been especially productive, including a recent ton, and he will be available for Bournemouth throughout the whole season. After several bravura performances towards the end of last season that belied his youth, Ingram  is expected to feature prominently with bat and ball. 
Josiah Edy, who joined Bournemouth last year from Poole, Is a right-arm fast medium bowling  prospect and did well in the IIs.  He has spent the winter attending the National Fast Bowling Academy run by Ian Pont and., by all accounts, is looking very good.
Seasoned left-arm spin all-rounder Robbie Pack will skipper Bournemouth II in Hampshire Division 1.

Sarisbury Athletic ground staff have put in many hours work and spent over £5,000 this winter to bring the Allotment Road outfield up to ECB Southern Premier League standard. 
Club president and head curator Andy Oliphant explained: "At the end of the 2025 season, having had soil samples removed and taken on board what would be the best seed for us to use, we disc seeded and spread fertiliser over the whole outfield . 
"The outfield has been fenced off for the whole winter period. When conditions allowed, we started cutting the outfield with our two rotary mowers this has continued over most of February and early March . Hopefully over the next weekend and with a continuation of the Spring-like weather, we should be able to start using the outfield sit-on mowers."
Towards the end of March, Sarisbury Athletic plan to overseed the whole outfield again and adding fertiliser to promote growth and herbicide to kill off any weeds.
"Confidence is high that all should be ready for the start of the pre-season friendlies in mid April," Oliphant added.
Sarisbury Athletic are back in the Southern Premier Division this summer following their 2025 Division 1 title win, with the club's second team set to make its debut in Division 3.
They begin at Bournemouth on May 2, with the 2nd XI home to Hook & Newnham Basics II.

Bashley (Rydal) captain Michael Porter [above] put a problematic foot injury behind him to make a match winning score for Brunswick, his adopted Victoria sub-district side, in Melbourne.
Porter's second trip to Australia has been dogged by a painful heel injury which only cured when he had a insole fitted several weeks ago
"I was in a lot of pain, particularly at the crease, and I'm sure it contributed to a run of low scores," he explained.
Since the insole was fitted, Porter made 47 against Key and last weekend an unbeaten 66 against Ivanhoe, whom Brunswick beat by six wickets.
Porter and Bashley team-mate Dan Goodey play their final match this weekend before flying home - via China !

Archie Reynolds will captain Waterlooville in Sunday's ECB national indoor sixes regional finals in Cheltenham, having turned down the opportunity of joining promoted Sarisbury Athletic.
He appeared set to sample Southern Premier Division cricket for the first time this summer following the Ville's relegation into the competition's third tier last August.
But, after a change of mind, Reynolds - the eldest of four brothers at Rowlands Avenue - will remain at the Ville.
He has, however, handed the captain's armband to batsman/wicketkeeper Dan Birch, with whom he will play alongside in Sunday's indoor cricket.
Ville are paired against the Pembrokeshire side Neyland in the second of the west semi-finals at 1.45pm, after Cheltenham have played Ventnor in the 12.15pm opener.
Ville team is : Archie Reynolds, Charlie Whitfield, Dan Birch, Jon Hudson, Joe Mitchell and Ray Reynolds.
Ventnor will be on a breakfast time car ferry from the Isle of Wight ahead of a near three-hour trip to Cheltenham.
Sunday's winners will play in the ECB national championship finals at Lord's on Sunday March 29.

Winters can be tough for cricket squares through slow growth, laying wet, limited sunshine with low temperatures creating disease and weeds setting in.
Now is the time to kick start your pre-season work with a weed and feed boost - a job Utilita Bowl groundstaff pair Ian Tulk (left) and Tom Cowley (right) can handle by coming to your club to offer over 30 years experience with any advise you may need.
"Our professional advice will include selective weed killer, killing off broad leave plants, including daisys, dandelions, clover, buttercup ribwort plantain 18-9-9 to boost colour." Ian Tulk explained.  "We also harden up the plants to boost colour."
Charge is a modest £25 per pitch on your square.
Contact Ian and Tom on 07709 142 663.

Lymington all-rounder and captain Gareth Berg has been appointed as Dorset Cricket’s new Head of Performance.
After leading as Interim Pathway Lead, Gareth now steps into a permanent role at the heart of the county's newly established Performance function, bringing together the Dorset Cricket Academy and reformed Dorset County Cricket Club under one clear, ambitious vision.
A full-time professional with Middlesex, Hampshire and Northants, Berg brings an exceptional pedigree to Dorset, a former professional cricketer with a distinguished playing career and experience as past Head Coach of the Italy national team, steering them into the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup finals. 
"He understands elite performance. But just as importantly, he understands pathways, development, and what it takes to build environments where players can thrive," read a Dorset statement.
Berg said: "Dorset has incredible potential. The foundations are strong, and the ambition is clear. My focus is on creating a high-performance environment where standards are high, opportunities are fair, and every player understands what it takes to represent this county. I’m excited to help shape the next chapter."
"Strong league performances will matter. Connections with MCC Hubs and wider programmes will open doors. Talent and commitment, not background, will define opportunity.
Following a historic 2025 season, winning the NCCA One Day Trophy, finishing runners-up in the T20 Trophy, and becoming National Counties Champions, Dorset now look ahead with renewed energy and purpose.
Dorset will play all their home matches at Wimborne, with Cornwall the first visitors for an NCCA Trophy tie on April 26.

Old Tauntonians & Romsey all-rounder Joe Vaughan continued his fine form in Melbourne's Southern Bayside competition with a top score 44 followed by 5-33 spin return in the tense one-wicket win over Mordialloc.  He followed it up by scoring 97 v Mentone, taking his winter run aggregate to 593 in the process.

Tony Pulis, the guest speaker at the Dorset Cricket Society (Hurn Bridge) on Thursday (2 pm), has managed multiple English clubs over five decades, achieving notable promotions, cup finals, and European qualification throughout his career.   
A football manager with a love for baseball caps, Tony managed 12 separate clubs, guided Stoke City into the Premier League during his second stint in 2008, and later led them to an FA Cup final against Manchester City.
​A one-time AFC Bournemouth footballer, he's famous for introducing the long throw into the game and nowadays appears on Sky Sports relaxing by a swimming pool alongside promoting take-away foods.   The DCS is anticipating a bumper attendance on Thursday.

*  A truly superb two-hour session in front of probably the highest Dorset attendance yet. These cricket society afternoons at Christchurch and Romsey (HCS) have proved hugely popular.  

.
​Former Hampshire Academy seamer Oli Cordery is about as far from Winchester as you can get right now, bowling in the fierce Aussie heat in Tamworth, New South Wales in Aussie grade cricket.  
Little wonder he’s making the most of it.  By the time he’s lining up for St Cross Symondians in this season’s Southern Premier Cricket League (SPCL) in April, he’ll be getting soaked like the rest of us, writes Richard Edwards.  
Cordery, 19, was released by Hampshire at the end of last season after three years in the Academy, one of which culminated in a championship winners medal.  
But there’s not a shred of bitterness or disappointment. In fact, you get the sense that he’s exactly where he wants to be.  
“I’m loving it so far,” he says. “We’re here until April 1. It’s just a good chance to play, enjoy cricket and see where I’m at.” 
Tamworth isn’t a coastal paradise - “It’s about three hours from the sea, a bit like Birmingham” he laughs - but it has been good to him since he touched down (alongside Bashley Rydal spin all-rounder Zack Basey) in October.  
And he’s not only developing his cricket skills in this corner of Australia, he’s also honing his skills behind the bar as well, with the club’s deputy chairman lining him up work at Wests, a chain that runs a number of pubs and sports bars in town. 
“We’ve been really lucky,” says Cordery.  “We can work as much as we want around cricket — and it pays well too. It’s ideal.” 
Back home in Hampshire's Meon Valley, the next chapter in his fledgling career is waiting to be written.  
Defending champions St Cross had been keeping tabs on Cordery for some time, and their interest accelerated after Cordery bowled against them for the Hampshire Academy in the Premier League last season. 
“It’s one of the closest clubs to me, it’s a great place to play and I know a few of the lads already,” he says. “The atmosphere seems brilliant, I’m really looking forward to it.” 
Leaving the Hampshire Academy could easily have felt like hitting a dead end. But with Rookie Contracts at a premium, Cordery paints the experience in a positive light.  
“You either get a rookie contract or you don’t — that’s just how it works,” he says.
“But the academy guys, the likes of Tommo (James Tomlinson) and Charlie (Freeston) were really good with me. "They said, ‘You’ve got our numbers, stay in touch.’
"Even guys who left years ago still contact them. The support doesn’t suddenly stop.” 
                                                                                          Injury issues
Injuries in recent seasons were always going to make that contract award unlikely, with Cordery battling, variously, an asymptomatic stress fracture, ankle ligament damage, a chipped bone and two side strains. 
“There is a point when you start questioning whether your body will actually hold up,” he says. “So no, I wasn’t really surprised not to get the rookie.” 
But that doesn’t mean the dream has died. 
“Playing county cricket is still the goal,” he says.  “We started speaking to other counties towards the end of last season, but while there were still opportunities at Hampshire, it didn’t make sense to go elsewhere.  
“I’ll do England, Australia, England back-to-back, and if I’m still loving it after that, then I know I’m in the right place.  
“If that happens, then I’ll look at options properly next year.” 
Cordery knows the kind of quality that the Hampshire pathway can produce. He has, after all, spent the last three years bowling at the county’s next big things. 
“Ben Mayes and Manny Lumsden – they're seriously good cricketers,” he says.
“I’ve played with them since we were about 11.  “Ben was always this small, quiet lad and then suddenly he’s built like a tank and smacking it everywhere. I genuinely think he could go all the way. 
“But I think all of us have benefited from playing for the Academy in league cricket.  It’s not just about the standard of cricket, it’s about having to adapt.
"Away to Bournemouth, for example, is a completely different challenge to bowling on the nursery ground at the Utilita Bowl.  
“You learn how to work things out for yourself. And that’s what county cricket is like too.” 
But for all the ambition, he’s just as excited about the simple things that cricket can offer - Saturday evenings, a packed clubhouse, a few pints and shared stories from teams returning to Winchester after their Saturday outings. 
“The best part of the week,” he says. “All the teams comes back, you have a beer in the sun and talk about everything that has happened - it doesn’t get better than that.” 
Article reproduced by kind permission of The Hawk magazine.

Former England Test opening batsman and 1987 Ashes winner Chris Broad (left above) and Sussex Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace (right) are the guest speakers at this week's Hampshire & Dorset Society meetings.  
Now Nottinghamshire president, Broad speaks to the HCS at the Romsey Golf Club on Wednesday (2pm), with Farbrace set to discuss Sussex and England Test & T20I performances at Hurn Bridge on Thursday, 1.45pm.

Former South Wilts and Sarisbury Athletic spin all-rounder Ryan Burl helped Zimbabwe pull off a major ICC T20 World Cup shock - the African nation claiming a stunning 23-run win over 2021 champions Australia in Colombo.
Burl, who spent three seasons playing Southern Premier League cricket between 2013 and 2015 after being spotted playing in an U19 international tournament in Cape Town while he was at Peterhouse School, hit 35 off 30 balls as Zimbabwe posted 169-2.
Australia were in big trouble at 29-4 before Matt Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell put on 77 for the fifth wicket.  That ended when Burl, bowling his solitary over, bowled the one-time Hampshire and South Wilts 'big show' for 31.  Australia needed 34 from the final two overs, but fell short.
Burl scored over 1200 runs and took just over 50 wickets in his three seasons playing locally, his 2014 summer at Bemerton being curtailed when he broke his collar bone playing against the Hampshire Academy on the Rose Bowl Nursery Ground.
Logan Van Beek, who played for St Cross Symondians in Winchester in 2017, has been playing for the Netherlands in the CWC tournament, while one-time Burridge recruit Marcus Campopiano will in the Italy team against England at Eden Gardens on Monday, 9.30.

Bashley (Rydal) left-armer Brad Currie picked up the wicket of Jos Buttler in a superb first spell with the ball for Scotland against ICC World Cup neighbours England, but they weren't able to defend their total of 152 as Harry Brook's side bounced back from their West Indies defeat.
Currie scored two from number 11 as Scotland reached 152, having been put in by Brook at at Calcutta's Eden Gardens
The Poole based seamer took the second over with the ball as Scotland looked to defend that total, and he bowled impressively in tandem with Brandon McMullen as they got off to a good start.
Opener Phil Salt was dismissed by McMullen for two in the first over, before Currie's second went for nine runs - although five of those came from a four behind the keeper from a ball that just swung down leg and beat everything.
But Currie used the extra ball brilliantly to see Buttler caught at mid-off as he tried to clear the ring.
Currie's second over was equally as impressive as it went for just five runs, leaving England 21/2 after four overs.
His third and final over came in the 14th over and that again was economical, going for just seven, but England by that point had got themselves into a strong position thanks to Somerset's Tom Banton, and they reached their target after two balls of the 19th over.
Currie's Scotland are next in action on Tuesday as they face Nepal in Mumbai in their final group game.

Rod Bransgrove, a former resident of Awbridge, near Romsey, and the financial saviour of Hampshire Cricket Club, will be talking about his time as its chairman in a question and answer session in Awbridge village hall on Saturday March 28, the evening before the clocks change and sunlight bursts through our lounge windows. 
This will include a two-course supper and the chance to win a copy of the biography of his life and career, which takes in building the Rose Bowl, battles to stage Test matches and securing a first-ever Ashes contest in the county, to be held next year. 
Tickets are £25 and all proceeds go towards renovating Awbridge Church. The event starts at 7pm. Please contact Ivo Tennant of The Times, who will be introducing him: [email protected]

Former AFC Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn, rightly acknowledged as the man who saved the Cherries, speaks to the Dorset Cricket Society at Hurn Bridge (Christchurch FC) on Thursday, 1.45pm.
The following Thursdays the DCS will hear from Sussex cricket coach Paul Farbrace, then retired soccer manager Tony Pulis.   

Promising all-rounder Asad Abbas is the latest Lymington player to achieve international recognition.
​Representing Pakistan in the Asian Legends T20 cup competition in Thailand, the Hampshire Seniors spin ace took seven wickets in four matches, including 3-1 against Sri Lanka. Pakistan finished fourth in the tournament, which Asad described as "an amazing experience".
His son Monam continues to play for Port Fairy in Melbourne, where his winter has so far produced 453 runs and 28 wickets.

Brad Currie's biography on social media platform X reads: "21/22 OR: 1k. 22/23 OR: 1.8k."
The Bashley (Rydal) left-armer will likely open the bowling for Scotland against England at the T20 World Cup on Saturday, but those numbers do not reference his cricket stats.
Instead, they are Currie's record playing Fantasy Football because online he is known by another name, 'FPL Scofield'.
There he runs an account with thousands of followers offering tips and tactics on the online football game.
"My notes page on my iPad is filled with FPL transfers and fixtures rotations," Currie told BBC Sport.
"My YouTube algorithm is just FPL videos galore. My Twitter is nothing other than football and even my TikTok. My girlfriend absolutely hates it."
Currie, 27, was once ranked 30th in the world in a game now played by almost 13 million people.
Playing a World Cup in India comes with one obvious problem - the five-and-a-half-hour time difference to the UK.
This week's Premier League matches kicked off in the early hours and the deadlines to make transfers were late at night.
"It was horrible," he says. "I can't figure out a way to get the games on and I am even struggling to see highlights. "It has been absolute torture, but thankfully it is the FA Cup this weekend."
Though the secret has started to come out, the professional cricket world was initially unaware of Currie's alter ego.
These days he gets messages from team-mates and opponents asking for advice.
"[Sussex bowler] Sean Hunt is one," Currie says. "He messaged me a screenshot before our West Indies game and said: 'I know you have bigger things at play, but what do you think of my team?'
"The other day he said: 'What do you think of my team? Oh and well bowled.'"
So what about a tip for the rest of the FPL season?
"Chip strategy," Currie replies quickly. "Dead-end into Gameweek 31. Wildcard in 32. Bench boost 33.  "Triple captain whenever you want."
                                                                                   All clear ?
Currie is the brother of Scott - the Scotland bowler who was called up by England last year. They both qualify for Scotland via their Scottish dad, Bill, having grown up on England's south coast. Left-armer Brad studied sports psychology at Bournemouth University, having previously studied at Poole Grammar and Millfield.
A lifelong fan, Brad was at the Cherries' 3-2 win over Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium - when Amine Adli scored a 95th-minute winner against the Premier League champions - the day he got the call from coach Owen Dawkins to tell him he had made Scotland's World Cup squad.
"I said to my mate: 'I know exactly what this is, but I can't pick this up because I won't get any signal," Currie says. "I got to the phone later and Dawks said: 'That was a good result, wasn't it?' "I said: 'Yeah, and I hope you're not going to ruin my mood now.'"
Having been pipped at qualifying by the Netherlands and Italy, Scotland got a place at this World Cup when Bangladesh opted to boycott the tournament.
The preceding weeks were uncertain, filled with claims and counterclaims about whether the Tigers would take part and what it would mean for Scotland if they did not. Even the players were not immune.
"I was at Sussex training in the indoor school and was asking all of the powers that be and the coaching staff," Currie says.
"It was crazy to have people saying we were going. I just thought, 'you know more than me and I am one of the players in the official Scotland group chat'."
As a county pro at Sussex, Currie was fortunate he had been training through the winter.
Bowlers' workloads are notoriously important to manage, however, and Scotland's focus switched from the Cricket World Cup League 2 at the end of March to a T20 World Cup in India at the start of February.
"I don't know what date it officially got announced but the two days after were the weekend and I just did nothing," he says.
"My girlfriend's family were like: 'Should you not be training? Should you not be doing something?'
"You can't cram in. You just will get injured. It is not like a school test where you can cram in revision."
Uncertainty also surrounded the availability of the younger Currie brother.

​Despite being picked by England for the tour of Ireland last year, he did not make his debut, leaving some to wonder if he could switch back to the Scots.
As it turned out, one spell as a substitute fielder made him ineligible.
"I had to text him and ask," Brad says. "My heart sank because there are loads of brothers out here playing.
"We have just played the Manentis and the Moscas [against Italy]. There's the Sheikh brothers [Nepal] as well.
"It probably would have forced Mum and Dad to remortgage the house and get some flights out but there's only one son out here so it's not needed.
"He is going to try and please Mum and play for England, but I am going to keep Dad sweet and stick to my Scottish genes."
England's defeat by West Indies effectively means Saturday's encounter is a must-win for both sides.
They last met at the 2024 T20 World Cup when an impressive Scotland batting performance meant England were faced with a tricky 110 in 10 overs before rain prevented what could have been an intriguing situation.
"It is something we will never have the answer to," Currie says. "I have learned to fear no one and go into games expecting to win.
"I have a fair background in sports psychology and that is the best way to approach these games. They have Adil Rashid [batting] at 11 with 10 first-class hundreds and I haven't got a first-class double-digit score. I am not naive. They have got to play and travel. We have played two games at Eden Gardens.
"I am just looking forward to it."

Hampshire teen talents Ben Mayes and Manny Lumsden headed the ICC Under-19 World Cup batting and bowling charts, despite England losing the final by 100 runs to India, who carried off the trophy fora sixth time.
Mays' 48 runs in final edged him ahead of 14-year old India superstar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose astonishing 175 effectively sealed England's fate in mid-morning.  
Ben Mayes' performance in the World Cup was nothing short of remarkable. He topped the run-scorers' charts, with 444 runs in seven innings, which included 191 against Scotland, and two other 70-plus scores 
He hit a breezy 48 in the cup final defeat by India, having earlier snared three catches. 
Lumsden finished the tournament with 16 victims, including a five-wicket return against New Zealand. 
It was no disgrace for England to lose to India. They were confronted not just by a left-handed prodigy but a sporting phenomenon. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added a brutal 175 – from just 80 balls and including 15 sixes – to his remarkable list of achievements in his 14 years and 315 days on this planet. 
Not only is he the youngest-ever signing in the IPL (aged just 13 when he was bought by Rajasthan Royals) but he then hit the first ball he received in the tournament – from Test bowler Shardul Thakar – for six in a debut innings of 34 from 20 balls. 
Not long afterwards he became the youngest-ever IPL centurion (aged 14 years 32 days), getting to three figures in just 35 balls, the second fastest hundred in IPL history. And he hasn’t even started shaving.

Cape Town leg-spin all-rounder Craig Jeffery is leaving Fareham & Crofton to ply his trade with Tonge, a Bolton-based club in the North West League.
He has been at Fareham for the past three summers, skippering the Bath Lane club to sixth place in Southern Premier Division 3 last season.
His 667-run tally, which included centuries against Gosport Borough and Parley, left him fourth in the division's batting charts. He also took 20 wickets.
"I've had a marvelous three seasons at Fareham helping the club establish itself in Premier League cricket.  My stay there has not only enhanced my cricket, but also set up junior coaching clinics which my successor will hopefully benefit from," he said 
Anxious to fill their overseas player vacancy, Fareham recently sent their chairman and left-hand opener Tom Kent to Cape Town to spend three months with the Plumstead based Western Province League outfit.
Kent got an immediate - and painful - taste of what WPCA cricket is about as opponents Claremont rattled up 457-8 in 50 overs against Cape Town seconds.
"A guy named Perez made 237 of them, hitting 20 sixes and 21 fours. I've never seen hitting like it," Kent said.
Cape Town made 223 in reply, Kent adding 13 runs to the two catches he took.

Hampshire teens Ben Mayes and Manny Lumsden featured as England's Young Lions pulled off a tense 27-run victory over Australia to secure a place in Friday’s final of the 2026 ICC U19s Men’s World Cup. 
They will face five-times CWC champions India, the winner of Wednesday's second semi-final against Afghanistan in Harare.  The match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket.
Thomas Rew’s 110 led England to 277-7, Mays (the CWC's leading run maker)  playing some crisp leg-side shots in his 24 before being yorked. 
That left England 60-3 until a decisive century stand between Rew and Caleb Falconer (40) swung the match.
A double strike by Lumsden (2-55) reduced the Aussies to 134-5 after which Australia captain Oliver Peake’s 85-ball century threatened to steal the game away, despite battling with cramp late in his innings.
But England’s bowlers held their nerve as they again shared the wickets around, Winchester College schooled Seb Morgan taking 2-33 and then the tenth wicket catch which dismissed Peake for 100 and left Australia 250 all out.

Leading sports commentor Ian Darke is guest speaker at this Thursday's Dorset Cricket Society meeting at the Hurn Bridge Social Club (aka Christchurch FC) at 1.45pm.
After cutting his teeth in provincial journalism, Ian spent ten years on the BBC sports desk in London, frequently presenting Sports Report alongside covering top soccer and world championship boxing. He later moved into television as a front line commentator with Sky Sports. He subsequently switched to BT Sport (now TNT) where he now covers Champions League and Premiership soccer.
Ian comes highly recommended, so why not pop along ?  

Promoted Sparsholt have recruited Aussie left-arm quick bowler Jak Willcox to spearhead their attack in Southern Premier Division 2 this summer.
Jak has a wealth of high level experience in Australia and has overseen success as the First Grade captain and club coach of Ginninderra in the Camberra based ACT Premier Cricket competition for the last 4 years. 
Jak says “It’s a very exciting opportunity and a privilege to come across and be a part of the Sparsholt family for the upcoming UK summer. 
"I can’t wait to arrive and provide opportunities for the club to grow across all programs, not only this summer but hopefully for many more to come”. 
Willco, who replaces Totton & Eling bound Joe Merlino as Sparsholt's overseas player, will coach the club's juniors, men’s and women’s sections.
Sparsholt open their SPL2 challenge at Liphook & Ripsley on May 2.

Hampshire's Manny Lumsden carried off the Man of the Match award after his five-wicket haul swept England to a 65-run win over New Zealand and into Tuesday's opening ICC Under-19 semi-final tie against Australia.
The Hook & Newnham Basics raised teenager struck twice early in the Kiwi innings before taking three wickets in four balls to end their reply at 165. Hampshire Academy team-mate Ben Mayes top scored with 53 in England's 234-7.
Discussing Lumsden's 5-17 return, England skipper Thomas Rew said: "Manny was incredible. He's been great all tournament. He's bowled quick and stayed aggressive, which is exactly what we ask of him. 
"Having that kind of firepower in the squad is a massive asset. It's nice to win today and know we're through. We'll still be watching the games on Sunday, but we are really looking forward to that semi-final."
A beaming Lumsden, who is in his A-level year Radley College, is now the World Cup's leading wicket taker with 13 scalps. 
"It's a lovely feeling. It feels amazing to contribute to a win and get five wickets on the board. I just tried to keep the stumps in play with the variable bounce. As you saw with the last couple of wickets, the ball was staying low. It was about staying disciplined with my line and length to eventually get the reward." 
About his 'enforcer' role, Lumsden added: "Yeah, that comes quite naturally to me. I've been doing that for a while back at home as well, so the role fits my game perfectly.
                                                                                    Absolutely chuffed
"It feels amazing to have won all five games we've played. All the boys have contributed really well throughout the group stage and the Super Sixes. It's been a great team performance and I'm absolutely chuffed. "Everyone in our team is really tight and close, which is a very good thing. The captain lets you know early on when you're bowling so you can get loose and try to affect the game from those first few balls."
Winchester College raised Seb Morgan, who plays for Ealing and Middlesex, bowled well with a 2-38 return after Mayes asserted himself at the top of the CWC U19 World Cup batting charts with 53, which largely held the England innings together.
Rew added: "I'm really proud of how we stuck at it with the bat; Caleb Falconer and Mayes, in particular, really grinded on a tough wicket. To get up to that total put us in a good place at half-time, and the way the seamers bowled after that was an incredible performance all around. "
"The bounce was just so inconsistent, up and down, and there was a bit of spin too, especially when the ball was slower. The way the boys dealt with that was incredible. Then, we used the bounce to our advantage by hitting hard lengths and targeting the top of off-stump for as long as possible." 
* England's semi-final tie v India in Bulawayo is being screened live on Sky Sports Cricket from 7.30am on Tuesday.