Jack Marston
A century second-wicket stand between Jack Marston and Alex Hammond set up Portsmouth’s 25-run win at Rowledge – the victory cementing the city club runners-up behind Hook & Newnham Basics, albeit 41 points behind the runaway leaders.
Portsmouth went about setting an acceptable target with reckless abandon, opener Ben Duggan (23) batting seemingly as a pinch hitter as a rain delayed Southern Premier Division 1 match was reduced to 42 overs a side.
Once Duggan was dismissed, skipper Jack Marston (66) and Alex Hammond (49) manipulated the Rowledge bowlers around beautifully as they piled on the runs, their partnership of 120 threatening to put the contest out of the home side’s reach.
A late flurry of boundaries from Australian Fraser Hay (37) left Rowledge needing a 222 for victory.
The Rowledge reply stuttered early on, with some lively bowling from Hay (1-24) and Reuben McArdle (2-15), until young Sydneysider Fraser Wilson was joined at the crease by the evergreen David Lloyd with the score 27-3.
The pair steadied the ship before taking the attack to Portsmouth. When Wilson (32) departed, arguably playing one too many attacking shots, it was left to the impressive Lloyd to bat with the middle order and somehow chip away at this seemingly insurmountable total.
Rowledge were always slightly behind the rate until a quick fire 65 run partnership between Lloyd and teenager Will Ryman looked to have given the home supporters a glimmer of hope. These hopes were dashed when Lloyd was run out for 61, followed by Ryman out caught for 35, with Rowledge still 39 runs short and balls running out. Rowledge finally finishing 25 runs short on 196 for 8.
Portsmouth went about setting an acceptable target with reckless abandon, opener Ben Duggan (23) batting seemingly as a pinch hitter as a rain delayed Southern Premier Division 1 match was reduced to 42 overs a side.
Once Duggan was dismissed, skipper Jack Marston (66) and Alex Hammond (49) manipulated the Rowledge bowlers around beautifully as they piled on the runs, their partnership of 120 threatening to put the contest out of the home side’s reach.
A late flurry of boundaries from Australian Fraser Hay (37) left Rowledge needing a 222 for victory.
The Rowledge reply stuttered early on, with some lively bowling from Hay (1-24) and Reuben McArdle (2-15), until young Sydneysider Fraser Wilson was joined at the crease by the evergreen David Lloyd with the score 27-3.
The pair steadied the ship before taking the attack to Portsmouth. When Wilson (32) departed, arguably playing one too many attacking shots, it was left to the impressive Lloyd to bat with the middle order and somehow chip away at this seemingly insurmountable total.
Rowledge were always slightly behind the rate until a quick fire 65 run partnership between Lloyd and teenager Will Ryman looked to have given the home supporters a glimmer of hope. These hopes were dashed when Lloyd was run out for 61, followed by Ryman out caught for 35, with Rowledge still 39 runs short and balls running out. Rowledge finally finishing 25 runs short on 196 for 8.
