Charlie Gwynn took 4-22 for Fair Oak [Dave Vokes]
A stirring fifty-plus partnership by eighth-wicket pair Rhys Oxley and Jimmy Hawkings saw Fair Oak to their third win in three completed Southern Premier League Cup matches this summer after wickets had fallen regularly throughout the afternoon at steamy Whitemoor Lane.
The first part of the match saw Paultons journeyman opener Lee Wateridge compile 36 runs steadily while wickets tumbled at the other end. There was little in the pitch to help the Oaks pace attack, but the slower bowlers had a field day. The artful Charlie Gwynn took 4-22, Rhys Oxley 3-25 and Rufus Bullough 2-16 as the hosts slipped from 44-0 to 132 all out in the 40th over.
Monty McKenzie, making his Southern League debut, opened for Oaks and toughed it out to make 20 runs against an aggressive Paultons attack. Skipper Gwynn made an important 16 in the middle order, but at 81-7 Oaks had it all to do, the experienced Tony Richman taking 3-22 and left-arm Andrew Denney 2-10.
But Oxley (32no) and Hawkings (15no) remained calm, adding 55 and steering the visitors to a hard-earned victory with 16 balls in hand.
Fair Oak’s third win sets up an intriguing top of the log duel with West group leaders Bashley (Rydal) at Lapstone Park, Bash having thrashed Hythe & Dibden by nine wickets after 14-year old Ethan Baker had taken 8-15 (see separate story).
Overnight leaders Trojans were without eight regulars for the visit to Romsey, where they suffered a 163-run pasting at the hands of previously unsuccessful Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
The result means that OTR off to mark and now enjoy a nine-point credit at the bottom of the West Division 2/3 group, the maximum haul attained against Trojans wiping out the 25-point player eligibility penalties they incurred previously.
Zimbabwean Bothwell Chapungu, who has seen previous service with Hursley Park and Totton & Eling, hit 13 boundaries on his way to 100, dominating an opening stand of 95 with Rhys Wathen (30) before allowing teenager Jovan Dharwal to take centre stage and smack four sixes and nine fours in an unbeaten 79.
OTs went on to reach 270-3 before Jordan Ponting (5-28) ripped into the depleted Trojans line-up, removing Ed Boyd with his second ball before having Matt Harrington and the prolific Syed Agha caught behind by Tom George.
Touqeer Ahmed (28) hit out to raise Trojans’ spirits while Tom Strudley (38) batted manfully watching wickets tumble at the other end with regularity, Harry Tulk returning 3-7. He was eventually ninth out at 107, moments before Pointing celebrated his five-wicket haul.
Opener Kieran Earl (66) led the way as Fawley posted 209-7 to earn their first West group win points at the expense of Langley Manor, who suffered a second consecutive defeat.
Sufian Munir (35) and Brendan Streather (27) provided support, while little Tommy Spencer took 3-31 before Jack Budd (67) and Luke Carvey (30) took the Manor’s reply to a threatening 97-1.
With Munir (3-27) making inroads into the middle-order, the Langley threat subsided after that, the visitors conceding a 45-run defeat at 164.
The first part of the match saw Paultons journeyman opener Lee Wateridge compile 36 runs steadily while wickets tumbled at the other end. There was little in the pitch to help the Oaks pace attack, but the slower bowlers had a field day. The artful Charlie Gwynn took 4-22, Rhys Oxley 3-25 and Rufus Bullough 2-16 as the hosts slipped from 44-0 to 132 all out in the 40th over.
Monty McKenzie, making his Southern League debut, opened for Oaks and toughed it out to make 20 runs against an aggressive Paultons attack. Skipper Gwynn made an important 16 in the middle order, but at 81-7 Oaks had it all to do, the experienced Tony Richman taking 3-22 and left-arm Andrew Denney 2-10.
But Oxley (32no) and Hawkings (15no) remained calm, adding 55 and steering the visitors to a hard-earned victory with 16 balls in hand.
Fair Oak’s third win sets up an intriguing top of the log duel with West group leaders Bashley (Rydal) at Lapstone Park, Bash having thrashed Hythe & Dibden by nine wickets after 14-year old Ethan Baker had taken 8-15 (see separate story).
Overnight leaders Trojans were without eight regulars for the visit to Romsey, where they suffered a 163-run pasting at the hands of previously unsuccessful Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
The result means that OTR off to mark and now enjoy a nine-point credit at the bottom of the West Division 2/3 group, the maximum haul attained against Trojans wiping out the 25-point player eligibility penalties they incurred previously.
Zimbabwean Bothwell Chapungu, who has seen previous service with Hursley Park and Totton & Eling, hit 13 boundaries on his way to 100, dominating an opening stand of 95 with Rhys Wathen (30) before allowing teenager Jovan Dharwal to take centre stage and smack four sixes and nine fours in an unbeaten 79.
OTs went on to reach 270-3 before Jordan Ponting (5-28) ripped into the depleted Trojans line-up, removing Ed Boyd with his second ball before having Matt Harrington and the prolific Syed Agha caught behind by Tom George.
Touqeer Ahmed (28) hit out to raise Trojans’ spirits while Tom Strudley (38) batted manfully watching wickets tumble at the other end with regularity, Harry Tulk returning 3-7. He was eventually ninth out at 107, moments before Pointing celebrated his five-wicket haul.
Opener Kieran Earl (66) led the way as Fawley posted 209-7 to earn their first West group win points at the expense of Langley Manor, who suffered a second consecutive defeat.
Sufian Munir (35) and Brendan Streather (27) provided support, while little Tommy Spencer took 3-31 before Jack Budd (67) and Luke Carvey (30) took the Manor’s reply to a threatening 97-1.
With Munir (3-27) making inroads into the middle-order, the Langley threat subsided after that, the visitors conceding a 45-run defeat at 164.
