Saturday
Easton & Martyr Worthy v Bramshaw, Fareham & Crofton v Hook & Newnham Basics II, Gosport Borough v Hursley Park, Hambledon v Suttoners, Hartley Wintney v Liphook & Ripsley, Havant v Chichester Priory Park, Hook & Newnham Basics v Basingstoke & North Hants, New Milton v Lymington, Sarisbury Athletic v Waterlooville, St Cross Symondians v South Wilts, Tichborne Park v Calmore Sports, Totton & Eling v Bashley (Rydal), Wokingham v Alton.
Sunday
Bournemouth v Corsham, Havant v Middleton, Hook & Newnham Basics v Liphook & Ripsley, Hook & Newnham Basics II v Alton II, Littlehampton v Waterlooville, Portsmouth v Portsmouth University.

Local cricket, family and friends will say their farewells to Hampshire Seniors and Petersfield stalwart Jim Smallbone at The Oaks, Havant, on Thursday at 1pm.
The service of thanksgiving can be viewed at via www.obitus.com/ using references bita9915 then 949134.

Defending their own modest 147, Bashley (Rydal) fancied they had the game in the bag when Wokingham sank to 64-7 – but the visiting Home Counties Premier League side recovered to win by three wickets.
Anthony Clapham (54) and Joe Clark (29) turned the match on its head with an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership.
Bashley looked as though they might post a competitive total while Digby (41) and Michael Porter (32) were together, but the captain’s dismissal at 69-2 triggered a mini-collapse which saw three wickets fall for one run – and Jacob Gordon and Tom Jacques run out in quick succession.
The obdurate Digby was eventually seventh out at 115, having struck one sizzling boundary in a knock which held the Bash innings together.   Mitch Wilson hastened the pace with two maximums and four boundaries in his 34, one-time Hampshire U17 all-rounder Andy Rishton finishing with 3-20. 
Bashley’s four-pronged pace attack worked their way through Wokingham’s top order – Ben Fletcher and Wilson each taking a brace of wickets - but were unable to shift their eventual match winners.
Sean Read celebrated a winning start to his spell as Bashley IIs captain with a five-wicket victory over Wokingham seconds, whose 178-6 was overhauled with five overs to spare.
Teenage duo Will Tripcony, with an unbeaten 75, and leg spinner Ethan Baker, with four wickets, played influential roles in Bashley’s success, one they’’ll look to repeat at Totton & Eling on Saturday.

Teenage left-arm spinner Freddie Gadd trumpeted the family bragging rights by dismissing his elder brother Harry during Havant’s 15-run win over Portsmouth University at the Park.
The students were going nicely at 86-1 in pursuit of Havant’s 214 all out when the back garden Test Match cricket the Gadd brothers (who both play in the host club’s Premier Division side) had contested for years suddenly became for real out in the middle.
Harry had made 39 and was enjoying a fruitful second-wicket stand with Suren Patel (46) when Freddie came on for the 17th over at the railway end of the ground.
Hampshire U17 starlet Freddie (left above) bowled just five balls at his elder brother, who picked out Havant captain Chris Morgan at mid-off for the catch which sent Harry trudging back to the pavilion in time to swat up on some Business Studies revision.
Gadd, who finished with 2-28, struck a third blow immediately after, but the university kept going through Nick Ward (41) and Krissie Mistry (35 not out) to finish a creditable 199-7, Alfie Taw taking 3-38.
Earlier, Peter Hopson (56) top scored for Havant, who recovered from 53-3 to make 214, with Stuart Ransley (36) making a useful middle-order contribution before Chris Morgan hit a sprightly 48 not out.
Nick Ward completed a fine match for the university with a 4-35 return and will be a key member of their side for the upcoming BUCS Championship campaign which begins shortly against Chichester at St Helen’s, Southsea.
[Footnote: A reliable source has revealed that, at the after-match UOP fines session, Harry Gadd was duly fined for travelling with the opposition, for warming up with the opposition and for living with the opposition !]
Waterlooville might have chosen slightly less formidable curtain raising opposition than ECB Sussex Premier Division outfit Middleton and sank to a disappointing 90-run defeat at Sea Lane.
The prolific Sean Heather (54), Mason Robinson (50) and George Briance (50) all made half-centuries as Middleton, who play three runs higher on the recreational pyramid, posted 215-4 off 40 overs, with Haydn Knight taking 2-41.
Jon Hudson (37) held firm as Matthew Reynolds (4-16) created inroads into Ville’s reply, but there was no recovery against Briance (3-20), son of former Chichester Priory Park captain David Briance, who ended the innings at 125.
St Lucia Under-19 all-rounder Denzel James and Jacob Harris dominated Gosport Borough's handsome 56-run win over Southampton University, the pair adding 111 in a third-wicket stand.
James, who plans to join the Army, hit 86 and Harris an unbeaten 82 as Gosport made 233-4 before dismissing the students for 177, Charlie Creal taking three of the wickets.

​Ben Huntley smacked a quick fire 40 off 18 balls and followed it up with a tidy seven-over spell before South Wilts’ pre-league warm-up match against Corsham was abandoned when rain swept across Bemerton.
The game was interestingly poised with Corsham 137-4, needing 89 more runs off the last 15 overs to overhaul South Wilts’ 225 all out.
That competitive score owed much to the burly left-hand teenager from South Newton, who arrived at the crease with his side wobbling at 153-8.
But Huntley (left), who has been with the Hamnpshire Academy, clubbed two big sixes on to the football pitch and hit four other boundaries – his unbeaten 40 giving the team’s eventual 225 all out an air of respectability.
Earlier, South Wilts had slumped from a promising 77-1 (Jack Stearman 40) to 81-5, four wickets falling for four runs in less than ten minutes.
Peter Rowe (31), Arthur Godsal (18) and Jack Mynott (36) redeeming the situation before Huntley produced his late innings fireworks.
The left-arm paceman then stuck an early blow with the ball before Will Harries took 2-31 to leave the West of England Premier Division 2 visitors 54-3.
Liam Hughes (48) and Tom Young (35 not out) appeared to guide Corsham into a strong position, but when Peter Rowe collected a return catch to dismiss the former immediately before the rains came down, the outcome was back in the balance.
South Wilts II, meanwhile, pulled off a fine eight-wicket win over Southern Premier League Division 1 side Calmore Sports, who suffered an astonishing top order collapse against seamers Nick Partridge and Jayden Atkinson.
Calmore were progressing nicely at 30-0 through Matt Taylor (20) and Ben Johns (16), but then Partridge (3-19) and Atkinson (3-30) struck to leave the visitors 37-6.
Ben Perry (43) and Mark Lavelle (24) improved Calmore’s lot at 93-7 before Mike West’s 21 not out pushed the score along to 136, at which point Sam Pittman stumped Perry and Tom Lewis (3-6) finished the innings with a hat-trick.
Once Joe Cranch (31) and Sam Arnold (19) launched the South Wilts reply with a half-century opening stand there was little doubt about the outome.
George Edwards (40) and Ben Howgrave-Graham (34) completed the formalities with stacks of time  to spare.

Paultons made heavy work of their Voneus Village Cup preliminary round tie against Overton before finally securing a two-wicket win at a freezing Whitemoor Lane.
Overton made a steady start with openers Stefan Cox (18) and Toby Deacon (14) scoring 47 against some tight bowling from Chris Dunn (0-10) and Josh Metcalfe (1-13). 
After a stoppage for a snow storm, Paultons gained the upper hand with the introduction of left-arm spinner Andy Denney (5-28), who initiated an Overton collapse from 78-3 (Kevin Barlow 23) to 100 all out.
Paultons also made a slow start in their chase and lost Cameron Grierson early on, but a 32 run partnership between Jacob Lee and 16 year old wicketkeeper Ben Rogers got them back on track. Andy Galvin (3-20) was introduced to the attack and to have Paultons lurching at 44-4.
Rogers recruited useful partners in Lee Wateridge and Peter Lamb to put Paultons in the box seat, but when the teenager was bowled by Barlow (2-18) for a mature  43 the hosts wobbled at 87-7.
When Archie Dunn was then bowled by Barlow for a duck (93-8), Overton sensed a cup upset, but Lamb (16*) and Chris Dunn calmed nerves and saw Paultons nervously home by two wickets.   They will host Oakley next on April 25.
Paultons will now host Oakley in the next round, at Whitemoor Lane on 25 April
Revised Village Cup first round draw (April 25): Beehive & Southwick v Parley, Paultons v Oakley, Langley Manor v Calmore Sports, Sarisbury Athletic v Easton & Martyr Worthy, Hambledon v Ventnor, Amport v Sway, Bramshaw v Locksheath, Hursley Park v Tichborne Park, Sparsholt v Hook & Newnham Basics, Valley End v Rowledge, Emsworth v Bedhampton Mariners, Shrewton v Lacock, Liphook & Ripsley v Balcolme, Charlton Down v Redlynch & Hale.

Hampshire 612-5 Leicestershire 202 and 305.
Hampshire win by an innings and 105 runs. Hampshire 24pts Leicestershire 2pts.

Hampshire took just 30 minutes to take the two wickets they needed to complete a comprehensive innings victory in their opening LV=Insurance County Championship match against Leicestershire.
Kyle Abbott pinned Gavin Griffiths leg before wicket for 16 before Mohammad Abbas, formerly of Leicestershire, bowled Alex Evans for 2, leaving Chris Wright unbeaten on 31.
Hampshire captain James Vince, who made a superb double century in Hampshire’s only innings, said: “We’re delighted, winning the toss on an incredible wicket to bat on for the time of the year was ideal, and a score like ours at the rate we made it gives you a bit of leeway.
“I felt pretty good, the wicket was so true and had decent pace in it and from the word go I felt in good touch and was timing it well. It couldn’t have gone any better for myself and the team.”
Regarding the controversial dismissal of batsman Hassan Azad, who was given out stumped in Leicestershire’s second innings after Hampshire wicket-keeper Lewis McManus knocked of the bails with his left hand while holding the ball in the air with his right hand appealing for a catch, Vince said: “Lewis is pretty down about how it looks but from his and our point of view we weren’t aware there was an issue until a few overs later. We’re talking split seconds. Had we known instantly we would have called [Azad] back and knowing Lewis if he’d known exactly what he’d done he would have said something.”
Match referee Stuart Cummings spoke to both captains after the game and said a statement would be issued by the ECB in due course. A spokesman for the club said Hampshire would be making no official comment at this stage. 
Leicestershire head coach Paul Nixon said: “We were disappointed with what happened and we’ve spoken to the match referee, it’s something we don’t want to see in our game – I’ve never seen it before in all my years of cricket, and we’ll wait to see how the ECB handle it.”
Regarding the match Nixon said: “We had to be at our best to compete against a very good side and we weren’t. It was the perfect pitch, but we had a very bad session on the first day, and James Vince was outstanding in the way he took advantage of some wayward bowling. Allsop and then Dawson backed him up and made it tough for our bowlers.
“We battled well in our second innings but have to convert 50s and 60s into hundreds.”
Leicestershire chief executive Sean Jarvis said the club would be writing to the ECB to “express their disappointment with the behaviour of the Hampshire wicket-keeper”.

Hampshire 612-5 Leicestershire 202 and 279-8 
​
Hampshire took 14 wickets in the day as they closed in on a comprehensive innings victory in their opening LV=Insurance County Championship match against Leicestershire.
It took the visitors only 80 minutes to wrap up the Leicestershire first innings after the Foxes resumed on 151-4. The rout started with the second ball of the day, when non-striker Colin Ackermann, who had shared a partnership of 68 for the fourth wicket with Harry Swindells, was called through for a quick single and was well short of his ground when James Vince’s throw hit the stumps.
Swindells went on to make a career-best 59 but fell to leg-spinner Mason Crane, who found good turn to pick up 3-11 in his spell.
Leicestershire’s second innings followed a similar pattern, though Harry Dearden hit some fine off-side drives in going to 62 and Lewis Hill battled hard in making 65.
But there was controversy in the dismissal of Hassan Azad, the opener being given out stumped off Liam Dawson when wicket-keeper Lewis McManus knocked off the bails with his left hand while the ball was in his right hand, which was raised in the air as he appealed for a catch.
Crane was again amongst the wickets, dismissing Dearden, Swindells and Ben Mike, but Leicestershire’s stubborn late resistance ensured play would go into a fourth day.

Captain James Vince made the third double century of his first-class career as Hampshire continued to dominate their LV=Insurance County Championship match against Leicestershire.
Vince (pictured above by Getty Images) received fine support from Liam Dawson, who made an unbeaten 152 before the visitors declared, leaving the Foxes needing 463 simply to avoid the follow-on.
That prospect looked even more unlikely when Hampshire’s seamers picked up four wickets before the close. Kyle Abbott made an early breakthrough, pinning Sam Evans leg before having Hassan Azad caught by Dawson at second slip.
Harry Dearden looked in good touch before edging a catch behind off Brad Wheal, and Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas, formerly of Leicestershire, had Lewis Hill caught at second slip during a spell of five consecutive maidens as Hampshire turned the screw.
Resuming on his overnight score of 168, Vince continued to score freely, particularly through the offside, as Leicestershire’s bowlers once again failed to maintain a consistent line and length.
Vince’s 200 came up off 195 balls and included 32 fours and two sixes, and he looked certain to pass his previous first-class career best score of 240 (made against Essex) when he tried to help an innocuous leg-side delivery from left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson down to the fine leg boundary and got a thin edge into the gloves of wicket-keeper Harry Swindells.
It was Parkinson’s only reward and came the ball after he had seen Dawson badly dropped off his bowling by Dearden on the midwicket boundary. It was an expensive miss, as Dawson, who was on 101 at the time, raced on past 150 before Vince called his batsmen in on 612, the county’s highest score against Leicestershire, comfortably surpassing the 548-8 declared made at Southampton in 1927.
Leicestershire captain Colin Ackermann and Harry Swindells fought hard in the evening session to put together an unbroken partnership of 70 for the Foxes' fifth wicket , but a three day win for the visitors remains a distinct possibility.

Long sleeve sweaters, bobble hats, thermals and woolly mittens will be the order of the day for the intrepid band of local cricketers who plan to brave the elements and get their respective seasons under way this weekend.   Temperatures could sink as low as 1 cel and reach as 'high' as a heady six on the mercury on Saturday.
That’s when Bashley (Rydal), Gosport Borough, South Wilts and Waterlooville plan to be in action – the overall weather forecast doesn’t look over-promising – with Portsmouth and Liphook & Ripsley all set to sweat it out in slightly ‘warmer’ conditions at St Helen’s, Southsea, on Sunday afternoon.
2019 Southern Premier League champions Bashley (Rydal) host Home Counties Premier League club Wokingham in a first and second team double header at the BCG, while Gosport Borough face Southampton University at Privett Park, where the Creal triplets expect to take centre stage.
Gosport Borough: L Harrop, G Kitchin, S.Creal, D James, O Creal, C Creal, T Larner, M Toogood, J Richards, J Harris, J Dore.
There’s another double header at Bemerton, where South Wilts host Corsham, while the seconds play Calmore Sports on the Academy ground.
South Wilts: Morton, Stearman, Hussey, Hayward, Draper, Rowe, Godsal, Mynott, Harries, Huntley, Wade.
Waterlooville cross the county boundary to play Sussex Premier League side Middleton, with Archie Reynolds taking the captain’s armband.
Waterlooville: A Reynolds, Judson, A Shephard, D Birch, N Verma, M Shaw, A Silva, H McBride, J Pearce, H Knight, C Parker.
Alton were due to have played Henley, but with the Berkshire club’s Thameside ground not quite ready for match action, the Brewers plan a full-scale training session at the Jubilee Ground.
Ed Ellis has summonsed the St Cross Symondians first team squad to a testing practice session at the Green Jackets Ground.
Ryan Covey has returned to the Liphook & Ripsley camp after a short spell with Alton and marks his comeback against Portsmouth, alongside Joe Randall, whose switch from Rowledge still has to go to arbitration, the panel to meet once to pubs reopen.
Portsmouth: Duggan, J Marston, Hammond, Christian, Smitherman, T Wallis, Hirani, D Wallis,  McArdle, A Marston, Webb, Woolf.
Liphook: Ryan Covey, Rob Nicklin, Harry Munt, Giles Cover, Chris Martin, George Neave, Joe Randall, Henry Amis, Oscar Amis, Sean Burton, Charles Janczur.

Ten major governing bodies and venues have written to prime minister Boris Johnson to appeal for action ahead of all restrictions being lifted from June 21.
​
The England and Wales Cricket Board have appealed to prime minister Boris Johnson for the introduction of Covid certificates to help bring grounds back to 100 per cent capacity this summer.
Per the government roadmap, all restrictions are due to be lifted from June 21 meaning, theoretically, that venues could be full.
Currently, matches in England are being played behind closed doors. From May 17, attendances will be capped at 25 per cent until a full lifting of provisions the following month, with social distancing measures remaining in place.
An open letter, penned to Mr Johnson, Labour leader Keir Starmer, the Scottish National Party's Ian Blackford, Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats and Liz Saville-Roberts of Plaid Cymru, from 10 of the leading sporting governing bodies and venues says only a certification process can ensure the safe return of spectators when the regulations allow. 
The Premier League, The Football Association, Lawn Tennis Association, Wimbledon, Rugby Football Union, Rugby Football League, English Football League, Scottish Professional Football League and Silverstone Circuit, along with the ECB, have put their names to the document which calls for immediate action.
The plea asks the government to move quickly to develop the system, which would see fans present a negative Covid test or an antibody test alongside a vaccination certification to gain entry to an event, "to deliver the great sporting summer the whole nation craves".
Governing bodies are asking for clarity as soon as possible to ensure they can plan effectively ahead of a busy period of elite sport. 
A series of upcoming events will be used as part of the Events Research Programme (ERP) to trial to return of fans to venues, including the World Snooker Championships at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals at Wembley Stadium and three mass participation runs at Hatfield House.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled out Covid certificates being part of the third step of reopening from May 17, but plans thereafter have yet to be confirmed.
"It is important that we have certainty as soon as possible on the form this guidance will take so we can plan efficiently and effectively with many big sporting events scheduled for late June and onwards," the letter read.
"The return of fans will give a huge boost to millions who enjoy a day out at a sporting event with their friends and families and be of great benefit to the economy. 
"It is right that every possible action is considered to secure this outcome as soon as possible, but only for as long as an unrestricted return is considered unsafe to fans, matchday staff and the wider public.
"This includes investigating how a Covid certification arrangement could reduce and then safely remove the requirement for social distancing. 
                                                                                      Assessment
"There are many issues to be addressed including how the technology would work and its ease of use at major events, for both the attendees and the organisers.
"All of our sports can see the benefit that a Covid certification process offers in getting more fans safely back to their sport as quickly as possible. We know that our stadia can only be fully filled with an assurance process.
They added: "Based on these principles, we support the review of the use of covid certification for major events. Any final decision on their application should follow an assessment of the evidence gathered in the forthcoming ERP trials.
"We look forward to working with government and all interested parties, including our stakeholders and fans, to deliver the great sporting summer the whole nation craves." 
Speaking ahead of the new domestic cricket season, ECB managing director of country Neil Snowball said the governing body were braced for restrictions to remain in place in some form during the campaign.
"We'll do whatever we're asked to do to make sure we can get the maximum number of people back," said Snowball. "The ideal combination would be some kind of certification, with some kind of social distancing and probably wearing masks and we'll do that to get as many people in as possible."
Given the uncertainty over when grounds will return to full capacity, counties have been asked to make financial forecasts based on 50 per cent crowds being possible during the 2021 season.
Fans were again absent for the beginning of the campaign, having been locked out of all international, Bob Willis Trophy and T20 Blast matches last year. The ECB's initial projections estimate £200 million has been lost from the game due to the absence of supporters.    

Contrasting centuries from James Vince and Tom Alsop saw Hampshire establish a dominant position in their LV=Insurance County Championship match against Leicestershire at Grace Road.
Hampshire skipper Vince was all power and timing as he took full advantage of some wayward bowling from Leicestershire’s inexperienced seam attack, hitting 17 fours and two sixes in racing to three figures off just 81 balls. 
Alsop, who had just reached his half-century when Vince came to the crease on the dismissal of Sam Northeast, was less fluent, but while his century came off 153 deliveries (and included 17 fours), it was no less valuable to his side.
Together the pair added 224 for the fourth wicket before Alsop got a leading edge trying to turn a delivery from Alex Evans into the legside and was caught at point. Vince, however, remained unbeaten, reaching his 150 off 140 deliveries before closing on 168 not out. It is the sixth time he has made a score of 150 or more in his first-class career. 
Vince started the day as well as he ended it, winning the toss and choosing to bat first on a slightly drier pitch than might normally have been expected for the time of year – Leicestershire have two spinners in their side.
Ian Holland was the first man dismissed, edging a Chris Wright out-swinger to wicket-keeper Harry Swindells, but Joe Weatherley looked in good order, stroking seven fours in going to 41 before top-edging a pull at a short delivery from Gavin Griffiths and skying a catch to Swindells.
Northeast was dismissed shortly after lunch, leg before to Wright (who, now 36, played Southern Premier League cricket for Liphook & Ripsley and Havant in his formative years) to make the score 127-3, and Vince edged his first ball from Wright towards Leicestershire skipper Colin Ackermann at second slip. It dropped an inch short, and that was as close as the Foxes came to dismissing the England international: from that moment on he was in complete control.

HOOK & Newnham Basics are preparing to play in the highest standard of league cricket in the club’s history – twelve months later than was originally planned !
It was late August 2019 when the Hook Army celebrated a magnificent double, with Josh Buckingham’s side capturing the Southern Premier League Division 1 title and Kevin Light leading his second team to the runners-up spot in Hampshire League County Division 1.
A double promotion secured a coveted spot in the ECB accredited Premier Division – ironically at the expense of arch rivals Basingstoke & North Hants – and SPL Division 3 cricket for the seconds.
Then along came the coronavirus pandemic and everything had to put on hold.
Hook’s decision to play intra-club cricket last July as opposed to participating in the hastily arranged 40-over Southern League Cup left them without any competitive cricket, but Buckingham reckons that will have little or no impact come the start of the Premier League season on May 1.
“Our own intra-club matches were competitive and gave us the opportunity to evaluate our squad. If anything, it has made us more hungry,” he said.
The Southern Premier League fixture computer hasn’t been kind to Hook, with away days in May at Havant and South Wilts listed either side of the visit of 2018 champions St Cross Symondians to the KGV.
But Buckingham isn’t overly concerned about facing three of the Premier Division’s heavyweights in the opening weeks.
He said: “We are a young squad and feel that we have yet to reach our potential as a group. We feel that our best chance of success is to play our own game and respect the opposition but never fear reputations.”
Hook will have all of their triumphant 2019 squad available, but have beefed up their playing strength with the return of fit-again Ben Thane and Jordan Hobday after spending the 2019 season at May’s Bounty, while former captain Matt Love is back at the KGV after a spell playing Surrey Championship cricket for Spencer, his appearances being limited due to a back injury.
                                                                                     New experience
Sam Lockwood, who joined Hook last summer having previously helped Sidcup gain promotion in the Kent League, will be a newcomer to Southern League cricket.
With no all-day ‘time’ cricket, Hook will be playing familiar 50-over cricket all summer, with the season split between traditional red and white ball matches, the latter in coloured kit.
“Playing all-day cricket would have been a new experience for us, so only playing 50 overs certainly reduces the unknown in playing premier league cricket for the first time,” Buckingham continued.
Kevin Light’s promoted second team will only play 40-over matches in Division 3.
When Hook lifted the Division1 championship in 2019, a lot of emphasis was on pre-season fitness training and general cricket preparation.
But with everyone in lockdown until recently, how have Hook managed to overcome the numerous hurdles to achieve that this time ? 
Buckingham explained: “We have organised four training opportunities per week since 28 March, when we got the go-ahead to go outdoors and train.
“There have also been on-line physical training groups on fitness. We have done as much as we could in tricky circumstances.”
Hook’s season gets underway with a KGV visit from Basingstoke & North Hants on April 17, with the seconds travelling to Fareham & Crofton.

​Waterlooville will have to make do without their principal bowling economist for the upcoming season’s Southern Premier League Division 2 programme.
Captain for the past two summers, schoolteacher and father-to-be Sam Hillman [pictured left by the Portsmouth News] has hot footed it Down Under to enjoy a spot of Australian parenthood.
With him to Perth may have gone the Ville’s ability to tie down top order opposing batsmen at the start of their innings.
Hillman, who taught Maths at Portchester and more recently Bohunt School, Liphook, took 197 Hampshire and Southern Premier League wickets for the Ville.
But, more significantly, he frequently bowled his ten over allocation with an economy rate of 2.3 runs per over – often putting opposition sides behind the rate.
Hillman’s departure opens the door for Archie Reynolds to follow in his father’s footsteps and take over the Ville captaincy ahead of the SPL2 opener against Fawley at Holbury on May 1.
“Archie has skippered across all the junior levels, including South East Hants and West Sussex along with Sunday and midweek Cricket for the last few seasons, so his pathway had been planned for some time,” explained Andy Reynolds, who led the Ville back in the old Southern and Hampshire League days.
“Archie’s been the leading spin bowler over the past seasons which, coupled with his role now opening the batting, means he’s in the thick of the action from start to finish.”
Although influential all-rounder Max Goddard has gone to Portsmouth & Southsea, Waterlooville have been boosted by the return of Tim Jackson and Portsmouth Grammar School spinner Jack Pearce, nephew of the Bognor Regis Town supremo.
Jon Hudson and Alex Shephard will provide plenty of experience, while South African Chris Taylor, a batsman/wicketkeeper, is due to arrive from Johannesburg this weekend and be available for the final set of friendlies over the weekend April 24 and 25.
Ville get the first run out at Sussex Premier League club Middleton on Saturday.

What a difference 48 hours makes !  Two days ago South Wilts were basking in the Easter Sunday sunshine and enjoying a very early season run fest against Solent University.  Come Tuesday and its all change with sleet and snow sweeping across Hook & Newnham Basics' King George V Ground.
"Good job there was no game on," said Hook chairman Keith Lovelock. "Otherwise everyone would have been scurrying to sit in their cars !"

South Wilts lifted the curtain on the new cricket season with a bang - a staggering 1,056 runs being scored during an Easter weekend Bemerton batting bonanza.
Jack Mynott and Joe Cranch, in particular, caught the eye as South Wilts stole a march on all their upcoming ECB Southern Premier League rivals by playing probably the earliest club cricket ever in the region over the first weekend in April.
They have another three weekends of competitive warm-up matches before the SPL campaign begins with a visit to Bemerton of reigning 2019 SPL champions Bashley (Rydal) on May 1.
South Wilts played an intra-club game before hosting Southampton Solent University, whom they beat by 22 runs in a 45-over match.
Mynott took full advantage, following his 69 in the club match with a classy 92 against the Solent students, the prominent off-spin all-rounder hitting three sixes and nine fours in his innings, which laid the foundation for South Wilts to post a formidable 300-6.
Arthur Godsal, who hardly played last summer, made his mark too with a blistering nine-four 64 against the students, having got his eye in with 40 the previous day.  Skipper Ben Draper made 35 and 40 in the two matches.
Solent certainly gave South Wilts a run for their money, with Alton left-hander Tom South striking a fluent 82 (four sixes and nine fours) and sharing a century-plus partnership with former Torquay batsman James Degg (54).
Hampshire Academy scholar James Trodd kept Solent’s hopes alive, underlining how much his batting has improved with a finely struck 62 – his first significant score in local cricket since his days as an Under-13 in the Old Tauntonians & Romsey colts set-up !
Godsal (3-54) broke through at the crucial time, mopping up the tail to leave Solent a commendable 278 all out.
Crouch, meanwhile, hit 93 and exciting Millfield sporting prospect Ben Howgrave-Graham, who made 55.  He also plays centre for the Bath Academy rugby team.
• South Wilts continue their pre-season warm-up against Corsham at Bemerton on Saturday, while the second team hosts Calmore Sports on the Academy pitch, both matches starting at noon.

Charlie Mumford struck a career-best 94 not out alongside half-centuries by fellow Academy prospect Harry Broderick and George Metzger as Hampshire Second XI posted 314-6 before defeating Dorset by 141 runs on the Ageas Bowl Nursey Ground.
Hampshire had reached an uncertain 95-4 (Tom Prest 32) when Mumford, a batsman/wicketkeeper from Sir Alastair Cook's Bedford School, joined Broderick (52) for a fifth-wicket stand which yielded 82 runs.
Mumford, who caught Hampshire's eye at the 2019 Bunbury Under-15 Festival, hit two sixes and seven fours in his 94 and enjoyed a century stand with Metzger, who hit a quick fire 53 before Hampshire reached 314-6.
Dorset quickly lurched to 20-3 but redeemed themselves through St Cross Symondians pair Harry Came (53) and Ed Ellis (30).  Hilton College trialist John Turner, with an impressive 3-15 off ten overs, and Felix Organ (3-34) shared six wickets as Dorset fell to 177 all out.

Bournemouth and Southampton Solent have been paired alongside Oxford University and Surrey in the Western Division of this summer's BUCS Championships, with the local pair going head-to-head in the opening round of matches at Chapel Gate on Wednesday 21 April 2021.
Chichester and Portsmouth are in the South Eastern section and they too pair off first at St Helen's, Southsea, a week later on April 28.  Brighton, Canterbury, Essex and Reading complete a six-team group. 

Saturday April 10
Bashley (Rydal) v Wokingham (double header), Gosport Borough v Southampton University, Henley v Alton, Middleton v Waterlooville, South Wilts v Corsham, South Wilts II v Calmore Sports.
Sunday April 11
Portsmouth v Liphook & Ripsley
Saturday April 17 
Easton & Martyr Worthy v Bramshaw, Fareham & Crofton v Hook & Newnham Basics II, Gosport Borough v Hursley Park, Hartley Wintney v Liphook & Ripsley, Havant v Chichester Priory Park, Hook & Newnham Basics v Basingstoke & North Hants, New Milton v Lymington, Sarisbury Athletic v Waterlooville, St Cross Symondians v South Wilts, Tichborne Park v Calmore Sports, Totton & Eling v Bashley (Rydal), Wokingham v Alton.
Sunday April 18
Bournemouth v Corsham, Havant v Middleton, Hook & Newnham Basics v Liphook & Ripsley, Hook & Newnham Basics II v Alton II, Littlehampton v Waterlooville, Portsmouth v Portsmouth University.
Saturday April 24
Andover v South Wilts II, Bournemouth v Broadstone, Calmore Sports v Langley Manor, Fareham & Crofton v Gosport Borough, Fawley v Lymington, Hambledon v Bishop’s Waltham, Hook & Newnham Basics v St Cross Symondians, Hythe & Dibden v Bramshaw, Longparish v Hook & Newnham Basics II, Portsmouth v Havant, Portsmouth & Southsea v Waterlooville, Purbrook v Bedhampton Mariners, Slough v Basingstoke & North Hants, South Wilts v Hampshire Academy.
Sunday April 25
National Village Knockout first round
Bournemouth v Bournemouth University, Longparish v Compton & Chandler's Ford, Shanklin & Godshill v Ryde.

* This list can be extended. Clubs wishing to have any 'warm-up' matches publicised should email vimpscricket@gmail.com

​

​Felix Organ and Toby Albert made 70-plus scores as Hampshire 2nd XI ran up 320-9 before dismissing Exeter University for 129 in a pre-season friendly on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground.
Opening, Organ made 77 and fit again Albert (pictured) 71, while Charlie Mumford (49), Tom Prest (33) and Harry Broderick (32) pushed the 50-over total beyond 300.
Exeter, who included Bashley (Rydal) batsman Alex Turner in their ranks, made 129, with Ryan Stevenson, Ben Huntley, Tom Prest, Kamran Khanna and Hilton College trialist John Turner sharing the ten wickets.

Ryde and Ventnor are to be told to re-bowl the Super Over which decided last season’s dramatic Isle of Wight cup final – because the umpires did not interpret the protocol covering the correct application of super overs correctly.
The final, played in glorious late September sunshine, ended in a tie with Ventnor, batting second, matching Ryde’s 156-6, albeit with nine wickets down.
Normally, the side losing least wickets in a cup tie would be declared the winner, but with no such regulation in place in the island ko rules, the final was decided by a hastily arranged Super Over, which Ryde won by 20 runs to 14.
But, six months on from the dramatic Newclose final, cricket’s rulers have stepped in and are set to order the Isle of Wight cricket board to replay the Super Over.
In a statement issued today, it has been pointed out to the IWCB that “the team who batted second in the match (Ventnor) bats first in the Super Over, while the bowling team chooses the end to bowl from. 
“We would expect the match day officials to be aware of this especially given the outcome of the 2019 Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand was decided in this manner”
“This means that Ventnor should have batted first, therefore we have no alternative but to declare the result of the Isle of Wight cup final null and void,” the statement concludes.
It means Ryde must hand back the trophy they thought they had won to complete a unique All Wight league and cup double – and re-enact the Super Over all over again.
The two finalists will now re-assemble at Newclose at noon on Sunday April 18 to re-bowl the Super Over.
Whatever the outcome, its certain to provide island cricket with a perfect curtain raiser to the new season …
So, who was reeled in by the 2021 April Fool ?  No names are being mentioned here as a protection, but one irate email came bouncing through from a former county cricketer now based at a prestigious private school in South Africa, while it is believed the 'replay' story caught the eye of a sports reporter at a well known local radio station, who was all set to plunge into a follow-up when the penny dropped !

​Andover cricket is saddened to learn that Liz Hall MBE has passed away - the sprightly 96-year old having dedicated her life to community service in the town.
Her work at the cricket club was just one part of this, yet it is hard to overstate the extent of her impact and her importance in the London Road club's recent history.   In the 1970s, she became a pillar of the cricket club, inspiring hundreds (possibly thousands) of young people in Andover to give the sport of cricket a go. She remained fully involved well into her 80s, organising fixtures, running training sessions, managing sides and scoring. Without her efforts Andover CC would not remotely resemble the thriving club it is today. 
The achievements of Liz extend far beyond the cricket club and a full eulogy that adequately recognises the immense breadth of her impact will be released in due course. 
Part of her phenomenal life of community service, which included setting up Andover & District Mencap more than 50 years ago, was rewarded in 2016 when she was presented with the Spirit of Andover Award, having set up the support group for people with disabilities and their families.

​Portsmouth have been granted planning permission by the city council to refurbish the 50-year old pavilion and clubhouse at the St Helen’s Ground on Southsea seafront.
The club raised almost £25,000 towards the cost of the project through Crowdfunder and donations, with Sport England chipping in £10,000. Work expected to start shortly after Easter. The club has long out-grown the existing pavilion which was built back in 1970 and is now badly in need of refurbishment. 
The refurb will include:-
• A complete internal redesign of the pavilion, with a new entrance;
• Cladding and general external enhancements;
• Improvements to the ground floor changing, shower and toilet facilities, incorporating those for disabled persons and a flexible layout to accommodate women and girls;
• A roof top spectator balcony; and  
• An improved bar and beer cellar. 
Portsmouth play their first match at St Helen’s on Sunday week, April 11 when Liphook & Ripsley visit Southsea seafront.

The Hampshire Academy have retained nine of last season’s squad for the upcoming ECB Southern Premier League programme which will begin against Lymington on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground on May 1.
The only newcomer to the 2021 intake is South Wilts left-arm pace bowler Josh Croom, who will start training in a fortnight’s time after he has quarantined following his successful winter at the Darren Lehmann Academy in Adelaide.
Croom joins Newbury-based batsman Toby Albert and fellow left-armer James Trodd as the senior U19 players in this year’s Academy set-up, with the trio lining-up alongside U15 all-rounder Dom Kelly, who is the youngest player in the programme.
U17 prospects, wicketkeeper Charlie Mumford and Huw Wheeler, as well as U18 quartet Harry Broderick, leg spinner Kamran Khanna, pace bowler Harry Petrie and Tom Prest, round out this year’s intake.
An exciting top-order batsman and spinner, Prest was recently selected for England’s Young Lions postponed tour of Australia after being named in a travelling party to head Down Under with Alton-bound Fletcha Middleton, who is now on the county staff.
Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a truncated 2020 season, Hampshire Academy finished third in last year's Southern Premier League East Division, claiming four victories from their eight contests. They were also T20 Cup finalists.
Hampshire Cricket’s player pathway system, including the Academy, has a strong history of producing talented youngsters that go on to succeed in the professional game, highlighted by more than 12 products of the youth system representing Hampshire throughout last summer’s campaign.
Mason Crane, Liam Dawson and Hampshire skipper James Vince have all gone on and played for England. 
“We’re excited to see what the whole squad can achieve this summer and are looking forward to what’s sure to be a promising season ahead,” said Charlie Freeston, Hampshire’s head of player development.

Ed Ellis is to skipper St Cross Symondians in the ECB Southern Premier League this summer, with the Winchester club eager to repeat its title triumph of four years  ago.
St Cross were crowned Premier Division champions for the first time in 2018, with batsman/wicketkeeper Ellis celebrating his first season at the Green Jackets with a winner’s medal. 
Having cut his teeth in adult cricket at Sparsholt as a promising teenage gloveman, Ellis had spent the previous five seasons at Lymington, producing arguably his best form in 2016 and 2017 for both the New Forest club and for Dorset in the Minor Counties Championship.
Vice-captain to left-hand opener Tom Foyle in the title season, Ellis led St Cross to success in last summer’s truncated Southern League Cup.
He’ll wear the captain’s armband for real this summer, with Simon Beetham – ironically his skipper at Lymington – second in command.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge. All being well we’ll get a full and proper season in and play some top competitive cricket in what looks a pretty strong Premier League,” he said.
With the sun shining and lockdown restrictions relaxed, Ellis has wasted no time in getting Symondians’ preparations for the season under way.
He added: “We’ve started training with a lot of emphasis on fitness and fielding.  Being restricted to smaller groups is perfect for proper and constructive net practice sessions.
“We have had great numbers to training over the last few years and are now looking to take the sessions to the next level. If everyone strives to get better every time, they train we will fulfil our potential as a squad’’.  
                                                                                                Exciting
St Cross have retained all of their players, but Ellis plans to announce one or two new signings which will boost the Winchester club’s overall strength for what promises to be a demanding season.
“We are in the fantastic position of fielding sides in not only the Premier Division, but also the feeder league immediately below, so there is going to be great competition in the squad which is an exciting place to be” Ellis beamed.
“I imagine that’s almost a unique situation. To have our first and second teams competing in the top 20 and a 3rd XI in Hampshire League Division 1 is superb and guarantees good standard cricket across the board.”
St Cross have strong friendly matches planned – a first and second team double header against South Wilts at the Green Jackets in April 17 and at promoted Hook & Newnham Basics the following Saturday.    
The Southern Premier League season begins on May 1 with St Cross Symondians hosting Bournemouth – ironically, a repeat of last September’s League Cup final – and Dave Orchard’s second team at Calmore Sports.