It’s developed into a three-horse race for the Hampshire League, County Division 1 title, with Purbrook and Portsmouth & Southsea still clinging on to Alton’s shirt-tails at the top.
Alton have won all eight games so far, including a significant victory over Purbrook, and enjoy a 16-point lead at the top.
They predictably ran amok against winless Totton, rattling up 331-5 with Richard Anthony (98), Andy Pearce (51) and Laurence Hughes (42) leading the way.
Stephen Ball (5-15) and Lee Partner (3-30) did the damage with the ball while only Dominic Newman (40), back on the UK scene after a decade or more away in Australia, and Liam Houghton (34) helped Totton limp to 143 all out.
Fareham & Crofton’s young side were no match for Purbrook, who were never in danger after posting 244-7, with James Holder cracking late 48 after Martin Lee (40), Brad Mengham (26) and John Moller (47) had done the initial spadework. Three wickets each for Aaron Dean and Ben Michel sent Fareham slipping to 158 all out, hockey starlet Daniel Faulkner (33) top scoring.
Hook & Newnham Basics II may have kissed goodbye to their promotion prospects after a high scoring three-wicket defeat by Portsmouth & Southsea.
But the defeat, largely inflicted on the back of a 155-run third-wicket stand by P & S pair Tom Benfield (88) and Mark Smith (70), wasn’t without it’s positives for Hook.
Teenager Jack Robson, pictured, notched a maiden HCL 108 and shared important stands with Joe Allnutt (36), Andy Darmondy (47) and Kerr Franklin (45) as Hook posted 266-8.
But totals are never easy to defend on the compact St James’s Park ground and despite a late flutter P & S got home with 15 balls to spare.
Matt Rogers, the Australian who began the season with back-to-back centuries, hasn’t been scoring so prolifically of late. But the Canberra all-rounder hit 87 to underpin United Services’ 216 against Bishops Waltham at Burnaby Road.
Bishops were going nicely on the back of a second-wicket stand between Harry McGhee (66) and Andy Wakely (42).
But both got out in mid-innings before John Parker (5-33), who had earlier made an important late innings 36, ended their reply at 193 all out.
Ropley recovered from a shaky start with half-centuries by James Forrest (59) and South African Tim Niemand (59 not out) securing a seven-wicket win over County Division 1 rivals Burridge II.
Chasing down Burridge’s 188 (Seb Newens 3-25), principally built around Portsmouth Grammar School pair Alex Willoughby (41) and Ollie Wright (33), Ropley lost two early wickets, but Forrest knuckled down and built a match wining partnership with the South African all-rounder, who earlier took 3-50.
Niemand’s responsible and unbeaten 59 contained ten boundaries and gave Alex Stogden the freedom to crack eight of his nine scoring shots to the rope in his 34 not out.
New Milton have consolidating nicely in the top half, with Toby Edwards (65) and Matt Freeman (4-33) plotting the downfall of OTs & Romsey, who were bundled out for 78, having been asked to better their hosts’ 221-9.
Seven days after being humiliated and bowled out for an all-time HCL low score of 7 by United Services, Ellingham hit back with 289-8 (Mark Burrett 76) in their match at Shrewton.
But Ellingham still lost - as they did at Burnaby Road a week earlier !
Shrewton put the Ellingham bowlers to the sword, with Chris Brewer (98) and Stuart Cruse (65) tucking in during a total of 303-8.
Ventnor II eased their concerns and enhanced Sarisbury Athletic’s after bowling the mainlanders out for 175 (John Stewart-Hill 50) and winning by four wickets at Steephill.
Pierre Kriel’s 78, which included three sixes and nine fours, was crucial in Ventnor’s third win.
Andover seconds boosted their prospects of avoiding the drop back into CD2 when they chased down St Cross Symondians III’s 257-6 to win by seven wickets with nine overs to spare.
Steve Berryman (91) enjoyed prolific partnerships with Jon Aron (50) and Kelvin Lockwood (45), but their total was insufficient on the small Green Jackets second ground.
Andy Duckworth (78) and Olly Cox (84) led the way with a 117-run stand for Andover.
Alton have won all eight games so far, including a significant victory over Purbrook, and enjoy a 16-point lead at the top.
They predictably ran amok against winless Totton, rattling up 331-5 with Richard Anthony (98), Andy Pearce (51) and Laurence Hughes (42) leading the way.
Stephen Ball (5-15) and Lee Partner (3-30) did the damage with the ball while only Dominic Newman (40), back on the UK scene after a decade or more away in Australia, and Liam Houghton (34) helped Totton limp to 143 all out.
Fareham & Crofton’s young side were no match for Purbrook, who were never in danger after posting 244-7, with James Holder cracking late 48 after Martin Lee (40), Brad Mengham (26) and John Moller (47) had done the initial spadework. Three wickets each for Aaron Dean and Ben Michel sent Fareham slipping to 158 all out, hockey starlet Daniel Faulkner (33) top scoring.
Hook & Newnham Basics II may have kissed goodbye to their promotion prospects after a high scoring three-wicket defeat by Portsmouth & Southsea.
But the defeat, largely inflicted on the back of a 155-run third-wicket stand by P & S pair Tom Benfield (88) and Mark Smith (70), wasn’t without it’s positives for Hook.
Teenager Jack Robson, pictured, notched a maiden HCL 108 and shared important stands with Joe Allnutt (36), Andy Darmondy (47) and Kerr Franklin (45) as Hook posted 266-8.
But totals are never easy to defend on the compact St James’s Park ground and despite a late flutter P & S got home with 15 balls to spare.
Matt Rogers, the Australian who began the season with back-to-back centuries, hasn’t been scoring so prolifically of late. But the Canberra all-rounder hit 87 to underpin United Services’ 216 against Bishops Waltham at Burnaby Road.
Bishops were going nicely on the back of a second-wicket stand between Harry McGhee (66) and Andy Wakely (42).
But both got out in mid-innings before John Parker (5-33), who had earlier made an important late innings 36, ended their reply at 193 all out.
Ropley recovered from a shaky start with half-centuries by James Forrest (59) and South African Tim Niemand (59 not out) securing a seven-wicket win over County Division 1 rivals Burridge II.
Chasing down Burridge’s 188 (Seb Newens 3-25), principally built around Portsmouth Grammar School pair Alex Willoughby (41) and Ollie Wright (33), Ropley lost two early wickets, but Forrest knuckled down and built a match wining partnership with the South African all-rounder, who earlier took 3-50.
Niemand’s responsible and unbeaten 59 contained ten boundaries and gave Alex Stogden the freedom to crack eight of his nine scoring shots to the rope in his 34 not out.
New Milton have consolidating nicely in the top half, with Toby Edwards (65) and Matt Freeman (4-33) plotting the downfall of OTs & Romsey, who were bundled out for 78, having been asked to better their hosts’ 221-9.
Seven days after being humiliated and bowled out for an all-time HCL low score of 7 by United Services, Ellingham hit back with 289-8 (Mark Burrett 76) in their match at Shrewton.
But Ellingham still lost - as they did at Burnaby Road a week earlier !
Shrewton put the Ellingham bowlers to the sword, with Chris Brewer (98) and Stuart Cruse (65) tucking in during a total of 303-8.
Ventnor II eased their concerns and enhanced Sarisbury Athletic’s after bowling the mainlanders out for 175 (John Stewart-Hill 50) and winning by four wickets at Steephill.
Pierre Kriel’s 78, which included three sixes and nine fours, was crucial in Ventnor’s third win.
Andover seconds boosted their prospects of avoiding the drop back into CD2 when they chased down St Cross Symondians III’s 257-6 to win by seven wickets with nine overs to spare.
Steve Berryman (91) enjoyed prolific partnerships with Jon Aron (50) and Kelvin Lockwood (45), but their total was insufficient on the small Green Jackets second ground.
Andy Duckworth (78) and Olly Cox (84) led the way with a 117-run stand for Andover.
