Newly promoted Longparish thrashed them by 212 runs – a record defeat for the Southsea club – after piling up a towering 329-5 on the compact St James’s Park ground.
Will de Cani celebrated the end of his Town Planning ‘finals’ at Cardiff University with 141 and shared a double-century opening partnership with Ben Gardner (92), causing P & S to reflect on the wisdom of deciding to field first.
Will Samways tonked a quick fire 29 before Longparish’s pacey opening bowler Alex Coetzee ripped into the P & S top order with a 4-28 return which left the hosts 70-5.
There was no way back for P & S, who tumbled to 117 all out against the spin of James Bevan and Sam Trinder.
Ropley faced Hythe & Dibden today defending the sole unbeaten start in County 1 – a statistic they comfortably defended with a seven-wicket win over misfiring Hook & Newnham Basics II.
Hook began well enough through Harry Warner (36) and Joe Allnut (31), but from 60 without loss and later 114-2 they collapsed to 154 all out, with Matt Steers taking 5-20.
Hook never clawed it back after losing seven wickets for 32 runs and were always on a loser once Tom Wood (67not out) and Robert Smith (44) got into their stride.
Lymington II, the only side to have defeated Longparish thus far, rattled up a hefty 279-3 against United Services, who slumped to a fifth successive defeat.
Australian Billy Quigley smacked 134 and with Oli Kelly (49), Chris Blake (40) and Drew Robinson (29) in support, Lymington batted US out of the contest.
Blake then took 4-29 as US lost seven wickets before a half-century by Jon Parker (59) gave the visitors’ 227 an air of respectability.
Fareham & Crofton’s young side are picking up after a disappointing two-match losing start and swept to a fourth straight win with a ten-wicket demolition of Rowledge II, who may be reflecting on their decision to accept one of last season’s CD2 promotion spots.
Luke Gould took 5-18 and Aussie teen Reece Abrams (3-6) as Rowledge were rushed out for 60 – a total Fareham polished off in quick time.
Alex Wakely celebrated his second century in four seasons as Bishops Waltham climbed into second place with a convincing 130-run win over New Milton II at the Albany Ground.
Wakley’s last won came in 2014 when Bishops were a County Division 3 South side – and how they have risen since then !
But he struck a golden 105 (two sixes and 14 fours) and enjoyed fruitful partnerships with Adam Wymbs (36) and Gareth Lovett, with 54 not out, as BW steamed towards 258-9.
New Milton lost three quick wickets to the fiery Dan Wheeler (3-32) and limped to 118 (Steve Tilbury 30), with Wakley happy to buy the drinks after a 3-17 return.
With 313 runs and 15 wickets, Ben Wadmore is having some season with Ryde, who continued their push towards a promotion spot with a three-wicket win at St Cross Symondians.
The spin all-rounder took 3-41 before hitting a match winning 87, which lifted Ryde into third spot.
St Cross lost their way after Tom Fay (60), Kevin Neave (30) and James White (38) had taken them to 177-3 and finished a disappointing 223-8
Wadmore’s 87, which contained 11 fours, and Josh Procter (42) got the islanders’ home.
Shrewton’s match with Hythe & Dibden produced 526 runs – and a thrilling finish, the Watersiders getting home by one wicket, with Inamul Agha hitting 119, his knock containing three sixes and 13 fours.
Hythe were still 42 runs short when their last pair came together, but back to back sixes by Kiwi Tarin Mason in the penultimate over got the visitors home in a thrilling finish.
Stu Shapland (70) guided OTs & Romsey II to a four-wicket win at Burridge (213-6), while Chris Oliphant (66) and Chris Brown (56) provided middle-order security for Sarisbury Athletic against visiting Ventnor II at Allotment Road.
Chris Mottota’s quick-fire 50 lifted SA to 225-6, while Ventnor needed Ali Cotton (57) and Sam Read (36) to spare their blushes after Shayne Freemantle (3-17) had reduced them to 30-5. Ventnor finished with 146.