Dan Wimble smashed his maiden league century as Portsmouth romped to their third straight Southern Premier League victory.
The former Fareham & Crofton batter finished on 100 not out with the match-clinching boundary in an eight-wicket Division 1 caning of New Milton.
In all, Wimble [left] struck 16 fours and four sixes in an innings that lasted only 55 balls at St Helens.
Coming in at No 5 with the score 62-2 - opener Jack Marston had retired hurt on 22 - Wimble struck the third ball he faced from Joe Hall for a six.
Wimble proceeded to dominate an unbroken third wicket stand of 138 with skipper Ben Duggan, who ended on 57 not out as Portsmouth climbed into the top four.
Wimble hit two sixes and a four off George Watts in the 27th over, and in the next over - bowled by Ed Bartlet - he hit three fours in four balls to seal victory.
New Milton - bottom of the second tier and losing for the fifth match in a row - had earlier been bowled out for 197.
Fraser Hay (3-39) reduced the visitors to 16-2 by removing opening pair Joseph Wooster and James Adams for only three runs between them.
Ed Bartlett (83) and skipper Watts (31) added 85 for the fifth wicket, but the tail failed to wag - the last four wickets going down for the addition of just two runs.
The former Fareham & Crofton batter finished on 100 not out with the match-clinching boundary in an eight-wicket Division 1 caning of New Milton.
In all, Wimble [left] struck 16 fours and four sixes in an innings that lasted only 55 balls at St Helens.
Coming in at No 5 with the score 62-2 - opener Jack Marston had retired hurt on 22 - Wimble struck the third ball he faced from Joe Hall for a six.
Wimble proceeded to dominate an unbroken third wicket stand of 138 with skipper Ben Duggan, who ended on 57 not out as Portsmouth climbed into the top four.
Wimble hit two sixes and a four off George Watts in the 27th over, and in the next over - bowled by Ed Bartlet - he hit three fours in four balls to seal victory.
New Milton - bottom of the second tier and losing for the fifth match in a row - had earlier been bowled out for 197.
Fraser Hay (3-39) reduced the visitors to 16-2 by removing opening pair Joseph Wooster and James Adams for only three runs between them.
Ed Bartlett (83) and skipper Watts (31) added 85 for the fifth wicket, but the tail failed to wag - the last four wickets going down for the addition of just two runs.
Hambledon’s search for a first league win of 2023 goes on after being on the receiving end of a century from former Test player Richmond Mutambami.
The Zimbabwean struck 17 fours and five sixes in reaching 135 off 104 balls as new leaders Andover powered their way to 299-8 at London Road.
Opener Harri Williams - who had scored just five runs in his previous three SPL knocks - added 74 in a third wicket stand of 157 with Mutambami, pictured left by Dave Reynolds.
Mutambami has easily adapted to life in the SPL - he scored 55 not out on debut against Sarisbury and has also hit 93 (v New Milton) and 85 (v Ventnor).
Hambledon lost opener Henry Glanfield leg before first ball. The golden boy of 2021 has managed only 32 league runs in five knocks this term and is in desperate need of a score.
Teenage wicket-keeper Mark Butcher, promoted to No 3, top scored with 55. But the Dons only had 136 on the board when he was seventh man out. Young Ollie Bembridge (30) and Dan Mugford (27) added 48 for the eighth wicket as the visitors eventually reached 218, Andover conceding 40 extras.
Sarisbury Athletic are just two points behind Portsmouth in fifth place after beating Ventnor - but they were given a few scares before reaching their 128 victory target for the loss of seven wickets.
Indeed, they were tottering on 91-7 when Jordan Wright strode to the crease to partner Rob Franklin. Together, they added an unbroken 39 for the eighth wicket with Wright hitting three fours and a six in a 16-ball undefeated 23.
Ventnor had been bowled out for 127 due to some indifferent batting. Openers Tom Friend and Dineth Thimodya have both hit large SPL centuries this season, but here both fell cheaply.
Kegan Holzmann accounted for Friend (8) while Thimodya was dismissed by Jaiden Richardson (2-25) - Jack Robson taking two catches.
Sam Hill (3-26) and Wright (2-19) also played their part in an impressive bowling display at Allotment Road.
The Zimbabwean struck 17 fours and five sixes in reaching 135 off 104 balls as new leaders Andover powered their way to 299-8 at London Road.
Opener Harri Williams - who had scored just five runs in his previous three SPL knocks - added 74 in a third wicket stand of 157 with Mutambami, pictured left by Dave Reynolds.
Mutambami has easily adapted to life in the SPL - he scored 55 not out on debut against Sarisbury and has also hit 93 (v New Milton) and 85 (v Ventnor).
Hambledon lost opener Henry Glanfield leg before first ball. The golden boy of 2021 has managed only 32 league runs in five knocks this term and is in desperate need of a score.
Teenage wicket-keeper Mark Butcher, promoted to No 3, top scored with 55. But the Dons only had 136 on the board when he was seventh man out. Young Ollie Bembridge (30) and Dan Mugford (27) added 48 for the eighth wicket as the visitors eventually reached 218, Andover conceding 40 extras.
Sarisbury Athletic are just two points behind Portsmouth in fifth place after beating Ventnor - but they were given a few scares before reaching their 128 victory target for the loss of seven wickets.
Indeed, they were tottering on 91-7 when Jordan Wright strode to the crease to partner Rob Franklin. Together, they added an unbroken 39 for the eighth wicket with Wright hitting three fours and a six in a 16-ball undefeated 23.
Ventnor had been bowled out for 127 due to some indifferent batting. Openers Tom Friend and Dineth Thimodya have both hit large SPL centuries this season, but here both fell cheaply.
Kegan Holzmann accounted for Friend (8) while Thimodya was dismissed by Jaiden Richardson (2-25) - Jack Robson taking two catches.
Sam Hill (3-26) and Wright (2-19) also played their part in an impressive bowling display at Allotment Road.
