The race for the title and potential promotion into the Southern Premier League for the top two took a significant twist as –
- overnight leaders Fareham & Crofton were shot out for 138 and beaten by eight wickets by Hursley Park;
- lowly Bishop’s Waltham upset the apple cart by beating second placed Hythe & Dibden; and
- Ropley were smashed for a massive 305-5 and resoundingly beaten by Andover seconds, who had lost eight of their previous ten games.
He was among five top-order batsmen to make double figures before Fareham collapsed to 138 all out, losing their last six wickets for 33 runs, Scott Hills taking 3-13.
Paul Marks hit an accomplished 60 to see Hursley Park home and into a threatening fourth place.
To add to Fareham’s woe, Australian James Heiniger injured his forearm sliding into a sightscreen and was unable to field. He expects to be fit for the Hythe & Dibden showdown on Saturday.
Sam Medhurst was the star of Bishop’s Waltham’s surprise 25-run win on Waterside, top scoring with 75 before taking 3-47.
Medhurst and Phil Baldock (51) guided Bishop’s to 268 all out – a total Hythe & Dibden were unable to match, despite Tom Gates (63), Matt Howe (46) and Tom Richards (41).
Andover’s crushing 192-run win over Ropley was unquestionably the shock result of the season, so far.
Cardiff University economics student Harri Williams, pictured, went on a number crunching spree, hitting three sixes and 19 fours in a stunning 152 not out at London Road.
Babu Veetil (88) gave support as Andover piled up 305-5 before shooting Ropley out for 113.
Longparish and Parley are in the top six after wins – Michael Taplin (57) and Dan Bearpark (39) putting on 116 for the first wicket before Jack Levy (40) saw them to 262-7 against winless US Portsmouth.
John Brazier (55) dug in for US, but Sam Trinder (6-27), pictured above, and Chris Clarke (3-31) took wickets as the other end as the visitors subsided to 117 all out and a 145-run defeat.
Alex Nippard and Sam Ayres each made 44 as Parley posted 234 (Stu Shapland 5-38) at OTs & Romsey before bowling their hosts out for 168 (Ian Woodall 78). Dave Elrick and Spencer Savage shared six of the wickets.
Easton & Martyr Worthy and Ryde both posted 300-plus totals, while Archie Ayling, teenager son of former Hampshire all-rounder Jon Ayling, took 5-22 for Burridge II against Hook & Newnham Basics, who were shot out for 98.
Suman Shreshtra (101) and Matt Giumelli (96) got two-thirds of EMW’s runs. Hosts St Cross Symondians were dismissed for 112, Brad Hole taking 3-14.
Julian Jayerajah (66), Cam Mitchell (60) and Ben Gregory (43) led Ryde to 303-9 against visiting Alton II, who came back with 257-5, Dave Evans (75) and Alex Hughes (59) both unbeaten.