Middle order pair Chris Bollom and Tom Benfield dug Portsmouth & Southsea out of a hole - enabling them to extend their 100 per cent Southern Premier League run.
It’s now 10 wins out of 10 for P & S after a six-wicket Division 3 victory over Havant II once again underlined their fourth tier title credentials.
Chasing 164 for victory, the hosts were in a spot of trouble at St James’ Hospital at 68-4 with top scorers Jack Davies and Matt Benfield both back in the pavilion.
But Bollom and Tom Benfield - batting at Nos 5 and 6 respectively - shared a match-winning, unbroken fifth wicket stand of 96. Bollom struck nine fours in his undefeated 58, while Benfield hit three fours and a six in his 27 not out.
P & S captain Ben Saunders had earlier bagged his second best league figures after Havant had chosen to bat (a brave decision bearing in mind P & S have more bonus bowling points than anyone else in the SPL). Saunders took 5-47 as the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 163 (Keiron Dunstan 3-47). Saunders’ best haul remains his 6-27 against Tichborne Park last year.
Simon Loat (38), Ben Turk (34) and opener Andrew Galliers (20) and Pete Hayward (26 not out) were Havant’s main contributors.
The return of opening bowlers Jon Waller and Dave Steadman plus a Tim Noble/Greg Jones century partnership proved more than enough to secure Sway a comfortable 8 wicket win over Gosport Borough at Jubilee Fields.
Electing to bat, Gosport were never allowed to establish a significant partnership, bowled out for a modest 133 in only the 26th over. Chief destroyer was the swing bowler Waller with 4-43, supported by Steadman 2-34 who took the first wicket, bowling Lee Harrop for 6. Waller took the scalp of Jayaram Jayaraj 31, followed by the scoreless Scott Taylor and Viv Richards.
Thereafter, only four batsmen reached double figures. The rapid pace of Hugh Bernard 1-23 did not allow Borough to settle. When hard hitting St Lucian Tyrel Chicot was caught by Toby Ramwell for 40 off Royal Marine Jon Grasham, the left armer polished off the tail with 3-28.
In contrast, the convincing Sway 2nd wicket pairing of 114 by opener Tim Noble and Greg Jones, successfully promoted to No 3, shut out any chance of Gosport success. The defensively sound Noble hit the boundary 13 times in his 66, before being trapped lbw by Joe Williams, just 8 runs short of the target. Partner Jones, an arrival from Bransgore this season, made the most of his opportunity with an array of impressive shots, finishing on 41 not out. Sway 134-2.
Their seventh win in 10 games kept them second and on course for back-to-back promotions following last year’s Hampshire League elevation.
It’s now 10 wins out of 10 for P & S after a six-wicket Division 3 victory over Havant II once again underlined their fourth tier title credentials.
Chasing 164 for victory, the hosts were in a spot of trouble at St James’ Hospital at 68-4 with top scorers Jack Davies and Matt Benfield both back in the pavilion.
But Bollom and Tom Benfield - batting at Nos 5 and 6 respectively - shared a match-winning, unbroken fifth wicket stand of 96. Bollom struck nine fours in his undefeated 58, while Benfield hit three fours and a six in his 27 not out.
P & S captain Ben Saunders had earlier bagged his second best league figures after Havant had chosen to bat (a brave decision bearing in mind P & S have more bonus bowling points than anyone else in the SPL). Saunders took 5-47 as the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 163 (Keiron Dunstan 3-47). Saunders’ best haul remains his 6-27 against Tichborne Park last year.
Simon Loat (38), Ben Turk (34) and opener Andrew Galliers (20) and Pete Hayward (26 not out) were Havant’s main contributors.
The return of opening bowlers Jon Waller and Dave Steadman plus a Tim Noble/Greg Jones century partnership proved more than enough to secure Sway a comfortable 8 wicket win over Gosport Borough at Jubilee Fields.
Electing to bat, Gosport were never allowed to establish a significant partnership, bowled out for a modest 133 in only the 26th over. Chief destroyer was the swing bowler Waller with 4-43, supported by Steadman 2-34 who took the first wicket, bowling Lee Harrop for 6. Waller took the scalp of Jayaram Jayaraj 31, followed by the scoreless Scott Taylor and Viv Richards.
Thereafter, only four batsmen reached double figures. The rapid pace of Hugh Bernard 1-23 did not allow Borough to settle. When hard hitting St Lucian Tyrel Chicot was caught by Toby Ramwell for 40 off Royal Marine Jon Grasham, the left armer polished off the tail with 3-28.
In contrast, the convincing Sway 2nd wicket pairing of 114 by opener Tim Noble and Greg Jones, successfully promoted to No 3, shut out any chance of Gosport success. The defensively sound Noble hit the boundary 13 times in his 66, before being trapped lbw by Joe Williams, just 8 runs short of the target. Partner Jones, an arrival from Bransgore this season, made the most of his opportunity with an array of impressive shots, finishing on 41 not out. Sway 134-2.
Their seventh win in 10 games kept them second and on course for back-to-back promotions following last year’s Hampshire League elevation.