Chris Pratt hit a superb, chanceless 148 not out as Hambledon successfully chased down a Rowledge total of 263-6 to win by two wickets with 16 balls to spare.
His unbeaten century attracted glowing praise from respected Rowledge all-rounder David Lloyd, who described Pratt's knock as "arguably the best I've ever seen" in the Southern Premier League.
Pratt, left, hit thee sixes and 17 fours having lost two top order team-mates Ian Berrill (who has subsequently returned to his Sparsholt roots) and teen Seb Rowland for ducks.
His subsequent 95-run stand with Western Province spin all-rounder Justin Behrens (42) got the Ridge Meadow scoreboard moving.
But the Rowledge spinners continued to nibble away and, at 121-5, the outcome was in the balance.
Opener Pratt, whose SPL best 151 came against New Milton in 2023, was playing imperiously and not giving any chances.
Spencer LeClercq (25) and James Restell (25) made useful contributions but wickets continued to fall and at 197-7 Rowledge fancied their chances.
Ryan Littlewood ran out two late order batsmen, but Pratt, never appearing to be in any trouble, took the game by the scruff of the neck and took the bowling apart to take the game away from Rowledge.
Earlier, a 143-run partnership between Ethan Martin (88) and Zac LeRoux (82) put Rowledge in a position to hit a close to 300 total. The stand left the visitors 187- 1 but 3 wickets fell in the space of four overs, leaving Olly Ryman (25) and the rest of the middle order batters to rebuild - but the momentum had gone and a total of 263-6 proved below par, but only due to Pratt's excellence.
* Hambledon host WEPL club Congresbury in the sixth round of the National Village Cup at Ridge Meadow on Sunday, 1pm.
His unbeaten century attracted glowing praise from respected Rowledge all-rounder David Lloyd, who described Pratt's knock as "arguably the best I've ever seen" in the Southern Premier League.
Pratt, left, hit thee sixes and 17 fours having lost two top order team-mates Ian Berrill (who has subsequently returned to his Sparsholt roots) and teen Seb Rowland for ducks.
His subsequent 95-run stand with Western Province spin all-rounder Justin Behrens (42) got the Ridge Meadow scoreboard moving.
But the Rowledge spinners continued to nibble away and, at 121-5, the outcome was in the balance.
Opener Pratt, whose SPL best 151 came against New Milton in 2023, was playing imperiously and not giving any chances.
Spencer LeClercq (25) and James Restell (25) made useful contributions but wickets continued to fall and at 197-7 Rowledge fancied their chances.
Ryan Littlewood ran out two late order batsmen, but Pratt, never appearing to be in any trouble, took the game by the scruff of the neck and took the bowling apart to take the game away from Rowledge.
Earlier, a 143-run partnership between Ethan Martin (88) and Zac LeRoux (82) put Rowledge in a position to hit a close to 300 total. The stand left the visitors 187- 1 but 3 wickets fell in the space of four overs, leaving Olly Ryman (25) and the rest of the middle order batters to rebuild - but the momentum had gone and a total of 263-6 proved below par, but only due to Pratt's excellence.
* Hambledon host WEPL club Congresbury in the sixth round of the National Village Cup at Ridge Meadow on Sunday, 1pm.
Zac LeRoux pictured at Ventnor [Dave Reynolds)
