Calmore Sports’ lead at the top of British Gas Southern League Division 1 has been cut by three points.
Basingstoke & North Hants took advantage of the cancellation of Sarisbury Athletic’s scheduled visit to Loperwood Park to score a comprehensive 92-run win over Portsmouth.
But Calmore still enjoy a commanding 16-point advantage over the Bountymen going into the penultimate round of matches.
Former Hampshire pace bowler David Griffiths (above)(6-12) blasted out the Portsmouth tail with four wickets in the space of 16 balls as the city visitors crashed to 74 all out in response to Basingstoke’s 166 at May’s Bounty.
They were already in deep trouble at 37-5 after a new ball blast by Martyn James (3-27).
Hampshire hopeful Fraser Hay (28) did his best to hold the innings together, but Griffiths’ second spell was too quick for the tail-end and Portsmouth lost their last four batsmen for only four runs.
Earlier, openers Dan Belcher (23) and Max Harsham (16) provided Basingstoke with a 44-run start, which Mitch Stokes (36) and Chris Froud (16) improved.
But from 101-2, Basingstoke completely lost their way – and their wickets – the last eight falling for 65 runs, Reuben McArdle (3-34) and Prad Bains scalping five of them.
Basingstoke skipper Stokes said: “It was a predictably slow pitch, difficult to bat on and I felt we could defend 166 - but I did not think we would get them out for 74.
“Griff came back just at the right time and ended up with a six-fer.”
Calmore’s match against Sarisbury Athletic was called off after Loperwood Park was hit by a mid-morning storm.
“It hit around 10am, the covers didn't survive the Friday night storm either so we were already pretty wet, so the Saturday rain ruled any play out completely,” explained Calmore skipper Mark Lavelle.
“It was disappointing as we were all itching to play.”
With two matches left, Calmore are firm favourites to land a second consecutive Premier League title, having won Division 2 last term.
Sixteen points ahead, they visit Rowledge – a side fighting for their SPL1 lives – on Saturday, while Basingstoke go to relegated Tichborne Park.
Lavelle, though, still isn’t getting carried away.
“I'm not looking too much into the league table. We are set for a top three finish, which is far beyond all our expectations.
“We have two tough games left – Portsmouth visit on September 2 - so let's just see where we are at 8 o’clock over the next couple of Saturdays.”
Basingstoke & North Hants took advantage of the cancellation of Sarisbury Athletic’s scheduled visit to Loperwood Park to score a comprehensive 92-run win over Portsmouth.
But Calmore still enjoy a commanding 16-point advantage over the Bountymen going into the penultimate round of matches.
Former Hampshire pace bowler David Griffiths (above)(6-12) blasted out the Portsmouth tail with four wickets in the space of 16 balls as the city visitors crashed to 74 all out in response to Basingstoke’s 166 at May’s Bounty.
They were already in deep trouble at 37-5 after a new ball blast by Martyn James (3-27).
Hampshire hopeful Fraser Hay (28) did his best to hold the innings together, but Griffiths’ second spell was too quick for the tail-end and Portsmouth lost their last four batsmen for only four runs.
Earlier, openers Dan Belcher (23) and Max Harsham (16) provided Basingstoke with a 44-run start, which Mitch Stokes (36) and Chris Froud (16) improved.
But from 101-2, Basingstoke completely lost their way – and their wickets – the last eight falling for 65 runs, Reuben McArdle (3-34) and Prad Bains scalping five of them.
Basingstoke skipper Stokes said: “It was a predictably slow pitch, difficult to bat on and I felt we could defend 166 - but I did not think we would get them out for 74.
“Griff came back just at the right time and ended up with a six-fer.”
Calmore’s match against Sarisbury Athletic was called off after Loperwood Park was hit by a mid-morning storm.
“It hit around 10am, the covers didn't survive the Friday night storm either so we were already pretty wet, so the Saturday rain ruled any play out completely,” explained Calmore skipper Mark Lavelle.
“It was disappointing as we were all itching to play.”
With two matches left, Calmore are firm favourites to land a second consecutive Premier League title, having won Division 2 last term.
Sixteen points ahead, they visit Rowledge – a side fighting for their SPL1 lives – on Saturday, while Basingstoke go to relegated Tichborne Park.
Lavelle, though, still isn’t getting carried away.
“I'm not looking too much into the league table. We are set for a top three finish, which is far beyond all our expectations.
“We have two tough games left – Portsmouth visit on September 2 - so let's just see where we are at 8 o’clock over the next couple of Saturdays.”
