Hythe & Dibden sit proudly at the top of Hampshire League, County Division One – for the first time in 42 years !
They swept to the top with a comfortable six-wicket win over Ryde – a result which coincided with Fareham & Crofton’s calamitous 270-run defeat by Parley.
It left the Watersiders boasting the only unbeaten CD1 record and a nine-point lead over second placed Ropley, who scraped a two-wicket win over Bishops Waltham.
Spinner Wayne Royan (4-60) and Hakim Peruzi (3-12) did the damage as Ryde were dismissed for 165 (Sam Rockley 31).
Opener Matt Young, whose egg sandwich spread is the pride of Jones lane, led Hythe home with an unbeaten 72.
Former King Edward VI batsman Harry McGhee hit 114 as Bishops Waltham posted 248-9 (Ross Bullard 66) at Ropley, whose narrow victory was based around a hefty 154-run stand between South African Tim Neimand (73) and Robert Smith (64).
St Cross Symondians’ III were put to the sword as Burridge II rattled up 296-5 (Chris Blake 53), with Duncan Field (80) and Jeremy Wright (70) sharing an unbroken 120 stand before tea.  St Cross were skittled for 67.
Longparish were bowled out for 101 (Tom Burns 4-21) and thrashed by eight-wickets at Hursley Park, while Shrewton heightened US Portsmouth’s misery by rushing the ten-man visitors out for 86 before easing to an eight wicket win.
County Division 2 pacesetters Bedhampton and South Wilts III each had centurions in their match winning sides.
Harry Hovey, who has played Premier League cricket for Havant and Kent’s Bickley Park for the past two seasons, hit 111 in Bedhampton’s six-wicket win at East Woodhay.
Joe Weld hit all bar 13 of his unbeaten 117 for South Wilts against Portsmouth in boundaries – six sixes and 17 fours ! 

Joe Weld struck his maiden South Wilts century and later chipped in with three wickets as Jody Everett’s third team continued their remarkable unbeaten County Division 2 journey with a 112-run victory over visiting Portsmouth.
The former Wimborne & Colehill all-rounder hit a boundary strewn and undefeated 117 and later took three Portsmouth wickets as the visitors fell well short of South Wilts’ 294-7.
South Wilts were already going well at 91-2 (Adam Prescott 40) when Weld arrived at the crease.
He went on to hit six maximums and 17 fours, with all bar 13 of his runs across the boundary : it was a hot day for running two’s !
With Edward Wade (43) and Robert Crossley (37) in support, Weld led South Wilts to 294-7 (Havell 3-39) before Everett’s young side made it seven wins in a row by restricting Portsmouth to 182-8 (James Mitchell 64).
The win leaves South Wilts three points behind leaders Bedhampton, who won by six wickets at Old Basing, where former Havant Premier League player Harry Hovey hit 111.
South Wilts IV recovered from an uncertain 46-3 to post a towering 275-5 against Amport II, who they beat by 146 runs to stay sixth in Regional 1 North West.
Tom Bolan smashed a quick fire 94 and Oli Hill 69 before Amport were bowled out for 129, Paul Wylie taking 3-33.
 

Parley all-rounder Ollie Green took a staggering 9-15 against previously unbeaten Fareham & Crofton to set a new Hampshire League County Division 1 bowling record.
The 23-year old right-arm seamer took the first eight Fareham wickets and was on for the magical all-ten when team-mate Chris Williams took his third catch of the innings to give Jamie Hicks the ninth.
“He deserved that,” Green said. “Jamie probably bowled better than me, but I kept getting the wickets.”
Fareham were skittled for a dismal 40 – an amazing statistic on its own as the joint overnight  leaders had racked up close on 1,000 runs in winning their previous four CD1 games – and lost by a thumping 270-run margin.
Six Fareham batsmen bagged ducks.
“Ollie bowled extremely well, consistently bowling the perfect length hitting the top of the stumps, swinging in to the right-hander and away from lefties, like myself,” praised Fareham skipper Tom Kent, who was among his victims.
“I think the term 'rabbit caught in the headlights' about sums up our batting performance, wickets just kept tumbling.”
Green's contribution wasn't confined to the ball either, as he was among three Parley batsmen to hit a half-century, joining Alex Nippard (75) and Shane Green (53) in the run stakes as last year’s County Division 2 champions posted a towering 310-9.
“It wasn’t a bad day – but it cost me big time afterwards,” he confessed.
Bowling quick and straight, Green clean bowled four of his victims, had another trapped leg before wickets and the other four caught.
“It’s been quite amusing to find out since that Ian Limb, from Purbrook, who held the previously record, took his 9-27 in 1993 – before I was even born,” Green chuckled.
Parley's colossal 270-run win (the heaviest defeat in Fareham's history) leaves Hythe & Dibden as the only undefeated County Division 1 team.
* Ollie Green is the fourth County Division 1 cricketer to take nine wickets in an innings, behind Gerry Jeftha (9-29, Cormorants, 1976), Ian Limb (9-27, Purbrook, 1993) and Aaron Dean (9-30, Purbrook, 2016).

the & Dibden and Fareham & Crofton go into the Hampshire League’s round 8 fixtures neck and neck at the top of County Division One, with 133 points each.
While the Watersiders were chalking up a 64-run win over Hursley Park, Fareham won by 75-runs at Hook & Newnham Basics, where Dan Reader (pictured) was busy buying the beers after a career-best 6-20 return.
A century stand between Tom Gates (66) and local policeman Andy Wakely (57) set up Hythe for a decent total against Hursley Park.
But it was Hakim Perusi’s (left) long handle which pointed Hythe to 277-7 (Scott Hills 3-34) – the former Lymington and OTs & Romsey all-rounder hitting a boundary strewn 79 including one spectacular six that crashed into the parish centre.
Scott Hills (41) and Paul Marks (36) eased Hursley’s reply to 94-1, but it needed Jai Solanki’s 44 to get the visitors to 213 all out. 
Fareham lost two early wickets at the KGV, but Australian James Heiniger (66) and Tom Kent (38) took the score to 139-2 before hockey starlet Luke Cornish weighed in with a brisk 48.
Lanky left-armer Liam Shore was back in the Hook side after his predictably brief stay at Lymington and took 2-58.
Jack Robson (44) and Colin Lye (37) gave Hook a steady start before Fareham unleashed Dan Reader, whose best ever six-wicket spell had the cash tills ringing in the Bath Lane bar later.  Hook made 182-9.
Bishops Waltham found themselves snookered behind a pair of Green’s when Parley visited the Albany and won by seven wickets.
Ian Budd (49) and Simon Culmer (39) top scored in Waltham’s 206-8, but Shane (91) and namesake Ollie Green (49) blasted four sixes and 19 fours between them in an unbroken Parley stand.
Will Gabb’s 5-23 spell broke the back of the United Services batting and set Ropley on the way to a comfortable eight-wicket win at Burnaby Road.
Winless US saw their 152 effectively polished off by former Hampshire spin all-rounder Shaun Udal (68) and Jimmy Hawkings (50).
At 66-6 chasing a Burridge total of 195 (Will Candy 56), Ryde looked set for defeat – but a half-century by Sam Rockley (61) turned the match around.
Key stands with Tom Morgan(33) and Ryan Hall (25) carried Ryde home by two wickets with ten overs to spare.
Batting with the aid of a runner, Raj Niak turned back the years by scoring 86 as St Cross Symondians III posted 237-8 (Steve Berryman 54) at the Green Jackets Ground.
But with teenager Rhys Wathen hitting a maiden 109, OTs & Romsey cruised to a four-wicket win.
Ollie Coetzee (3-20) staked a claim for a more permanent place in the Longparish side with early wickets, but Shrewton recovered to reach 167 through Dan Bingley (38), Sam Gillott (28) and Joe Plant (32).
Michael Taplin (54) dominated from the start for Parish, but George Plant and Chris Brewer chipped away with three wickets each before LP eventually got home.
Mike Salmon took 4-7 as ten-man Andover II were rushed out for 68 (Shaun Attwood 31) and beaten by nine wickets by Alton II at the Jubilee Ground.

Traditions die hard at Fareham & Crofton, where fifties, hundreds and five-wicket hauls are always celebrated.  Dan Reader ensured his team-mates didn't go thirsty after his career-best 6-20 spell set up a win at Hook & Newnham Basics.

Shrewton are through to the last 32 of The Cricketer National Village Cup for the first time in their recent history – but are being forced to play their first round tie against Marshfield on Sunday close on 20 miles away at Westbury !
“The village recreation ground is pre-booked for a six-a-side football tournament,” explains Shrewton’s Jamie Mitchell.
Marshfield won the Gloucestershire group and currently lie third in the West of England Premier Wiltshire Division, with five wins from their seven 50-over games.
Shrewton trimmed Lacock by 51 runs to win the Wiltshire county group, their victory owing much to  Sam Gillott (42) and Stu Cruise (42), whose fourth-wicket stand masked a disappointing start and laid the platform for a competitive 179 all out.
Lacock threatened at 100-3 (Adam Mitchell 58), but collapsed against the spin of Chris Brewer (3-23),  James Cash (4-18) and Gillot (2-2), the last seven wickets falling for 28 runs and the hosts to 128 all out.
Shrewton host winless United Services on Saturday (1pm) looking to boost their two wins in seven County Division 1 record.

 

Respected Isle of Wight cricket all-rounder Andrew White is celebrating his 1,500th wicket for his home town club, Shanklin.
The right-arm medium-pace bowler reached the milestone moment in his career during last week’s seven-wicket Hampshire League County Division 3 South victory over Woodgreen at Westhill, where White, now 52, began playing as a 13-year old.
A stalwart Shanklin cricketer for close on 40 years, White has also got a batting target in view.
“I need about 250 runs to complete an aggregate 20,000 for Shanklin,” he confirmed.
White, who boasts former Hampshire & England legend Robin Smith as his most notable scalp, says that Shanklin’s decision to join the Hampshire League four years ago has prolonged his career.
“I’m enjoying it as much as ever and hope to continue playing so I can play in the same Shanklin league side as my two sons,” he says.
His remarkable loyalty to Shanklin sport also includes 600-plus appearances for the town’s Island League soccer team, besides short spells at Cowes Sports and West Wight.

Its nosebleed time at Bath Lane as Fareham & Crofton find themselves top of Hampshire League County Division 1 for the first time in nine years.
The 38-run win over Easton & Martyr Worthy was their fifth on the spin and gives them a slender one- point lead over Hythe & Dibden, who inched a 558-run thriller at Shrewton.
Fareham lost in-form pair Tom Kent and Sam Stoddart for ducks before Australian James Heiniger (68), Dan Wimble (44) and James Headen (42) secured a competitive 242-8.
Wimble (3-17) and Ben White (3-36) got into Easton’s top order before Ben Stanbrook (74) put Fareham under pressure.  A tidy left-arm spell by Morgan Frost (2-31) reduced the visitors to 203 all out.
Hythe & Dibden narrowly defended 271 (Hakin Perusi 53) at Shrewton, who mounted a thrilling run chase, with Rich Barnett (60), Dan Bingley (49) and Will Harries (65) taking the Wiltshire side to 267-9 (Tom Richards 4-56) and within a boundary of a victory.
Beaten by Hythe the previous week, Ropley bounced back with skipper Rob Smith (82) pointing his side to 268 against Longparish, who were dismissed for 186.
One-time Southampton University skipper Jamie Richards returned to the Burridge scene – and dropped first team selectors a firm hint – by hitting 120 in his comeback match at OTs & Romsey.
His century paved the way to a Burridge total of 216-7, to which OTs could manage only 157 in reply (Wathen 71).
But the highest CD1 score was by Jack Middleton, pictured, who struck a career-best 154, including 27 boundaries, as St Cross Symondians III posted 293 at Andover, who have lost all five games.
Andy Sale (68) and Rob Liney (51) hit back for the Lions, who replied with 251-9.
Oli Green (4-7) had United Services reeling at 16-6 and eventually 89 all out after Parley had put 243 runs on the board.
Harry Medhurst (60), Harry McGhee (47) and Don Quincey (40) were to the fore as Bishops Waltham chased down a target score of 232 to give the visitors a four-wicket win at Hook & Newnham Basics.
It was their first win of the season. Teenager Jack Robson (72) and Kevin Light (70) shone for Hook.
A Rowledge total of 158 (Richard Fulham 36) proved too many for Alton II (79), Jack Powell taking 3-14.

Jamie Skeoch pictured in front of the Norman Edwards Ground pavilion after scoring a career-best 151 as Sparsholt seconds ran amok, with 259-2 against visiting County Division 4 West rivals Whiteparish.
The Horndean College PE head, one of the few remaining Preston North End supporters living locally, struck six maximums and 17 fours, sharing partnerships of 138 with former Meridan ITV legend Andy Steggall (52) and 121 alongside Chris Mitchell (121).
Whiteparish were skittled for 80, with Mike Doubell's 7-20 return a lesson in flight and guile to his watching teenage son, who didn't get a bowl in the club's Premier League win at Paultons.

Hythe & Dibden could be a force to be reckoned with in Hampshire League County Division 1 cricket this season.
They underlined their potential with a 48-run win over Ropley, the side regarded by many as title favourites.
Hythe were in difficulty at 47-3 at Jones Lane, but a 78-run partnership between the influential Hakim Peruzi, whose 64 included seven sixes, and Wayne Royan (38) steered the Watersiders to a healthy 184.
Peruzi (2-37) and Ahmadzai (2-25) had Ropley rocking at 54-4 before Royan (3-27) emerged with his left-arm spin to reduce the visitors to 136 all out.
Hythe are among four sides to emerge unscathed from the opening month of the season with an unbeaten record.
Longparish and Fareham & Crofton have won all four matches, while OTs & Romsey II kept their unbeaten start intact in a thrilling 274-run apiece tie at Ryde.
Parish recovered from 12-3 to post a respectable 208-7 before going on to beat promoted Parley by ten runs.
They rallied from Ollie Green’s opening blast, initially through Paul Blackmore (38) and Tom Trinder (33), and then former Locks Heath all-rounder Jack Levy (50), who hit a decisive fifty.
Mark Stutter (62) provided a solid response for Parley, but James Bevan (3-33) and Chris Clarke (2-26) got the Dorset side behind the rate. They closed 198 all out, ten runs adrift.
Fareham & Crofton’s top order batsmen are in good nick, with Sam Stoddart (98) and Tom Kent (84) pointing the Bath Lane club to 280-6 against Alton II at the Jubilee Ground.  Relegated Alton replied with 216-8, Andy Pearce hitting 64.
A leg bye off the final ball earned Ryde a last gasp tie against OTs & Romsey at Hardings Shute, where King Edward VI School all-rounder Jovan Dhariwal shone on debut.
The teenager hit an accomplished 87 and along with Iain Woodhall (58) and Colin Morris (41) pointed put-in OTs to 274 all out.
Stuart Robertson (70), who earlier took 4-54, and latterly Tom Morgan (76) led Ryde’s run chase which culminated in a thrilling finale, with seven required off the last over.
Stu Shapland (4-35) took an eighth wicket, was slogged for four through mid-wicket and then took a ninth scalp off the penultimate ball to leave Ryde needing two runs to win.  The leg bye tied it.
County Village Cup finalists Easton & Martyr Worthy crushed Bishops Waltham by 119 runs, while Tom Flynn, with 3-3 and an unbeaten 43, played an important role in Hursley Park’s six-wicket win over Shrewton (160).
Burridge II (233-6) powered to a massive 163-run win over Andover (70), Rowledge wewre skittled for 74 and beaten by nine wickets by St Cross Symondians III and teenager Josh Balcombe took 5-18 as Hook & Newnham Basics successfully defended a modest 104 by bowling winless United Services out for 80 (Sam Mallinson 40).

Sam Stoddart (left) and Australian James Heiniger shared a double-century opening partnership as Fareham & Crofton chased down a St Cross Symondians III score of 253-6 to win by eight wickets at Bath Lane.
It was Fareham’s third straight Hampshire League County Division 1 victory and puts them among five sides to have made an unbeaten start to the season.
Steve Berryman (69) top scored for St Cross, whose bowling was blown away by Fareham’s boundary laden 209-run stand – Stoddart and Heiniger breaching the boundary with 32 fours and two sixes.
Stoddart (105) brought up his maiden CD1 hundred with a six shortly after Heiniger (101) had made treble figures.
It was only the second 200-plus century in Fareham's history - Nigel Raymond and Richie Webb having been double-centurions at Penton some years ago.
Four Ropley batsmen made half-centuries as the County 1 title favourites ran up 271-9 against Hursley Park at Vicarage Lane.
South African Tim Neimand (62), Robert Smith (55) and Mark Donaldson (54) all past fifty before Martin Peters added a 4-42 return to his 53 with the bat.  Matt Branford (78) replied in Hursley’s 226 all out.
Second placed Longparish trimmed Hook & Newnham Basics II by 50 runs at the KGV, where Ben Gardner (53), Michael Taplin (40) and Scott Sturt (34) underpinned their 235 total. 
George Halfhide took 4-40 on debut as Hook replied with 185-9 (Andy Darmody 50).
Andy Wakely is making quite an impact on Waterside and was Hythe & Dibden’s star man against Parley.
The local policeman struck 113 and shared a handsome 147-run stand with Matt Howe (52) and followed it up with a 5-40 return with the ball.   Shane Green made 88 of Parley’s 214-9.