James Trodd’s return from Hampshire Academy duty gave Old Tauntonians & Romsey the boost they needed to reboot their Southern Premier Division 2 promotion challenge.
He took 5-13 as OTs dismissed challengers Fair Oak for 87 at Lapstone Park – a target the nervy visitors chased down, losing seven wickets in the process.
With leaders Hartley Wintney losing heavily at South Wilts II, it is become increasingly tight at the top of the table, with effectively only eight points separating the top four sides. OTs are third, with Ventnor emerging as a rear threat.
A third consecutive reverse, meanwhile, has turned Fair Oak’s fine start to the season into a distant memory.
Left-armer Trodd (5-13), who has produced some good performances for Hampshire’s junior age group sides this summer, and spinner Joe Vaughan (3-17) ripped through the Fair Oak batting, reducing the hosts to 32-5.
Oaks improved in the second half of their innings thanks to the Under-19 contingent, Max Watson making 30, Harry Reed 13 and Monty McKenzie 15.
But 87 all out in 32.1 overs was never going to be enough on a day when the weather, as well as the OTS & Romsey side, made it too hot for the home side.
It was no cakewalk for the visitors, though, as left-arm spinner Charlie Gwynn (4-10) made survival a major task for OTs & Romsey.
Opener Jovan Dharival (31), just back from his second year reading law at Cambridge University made the day’s top score, but lost partners regularly and when he was caught off Rufus Bullough at 65 for 6 Fair Oak had a sniff of a chance.
But Trodd (13 not out) and Lewis Allen (12 not out) put on 20 for the eighth wicket and steered their side to a three-wicket victory at 89-7 in the 37th over.
Jovan’s sibling brother Kamran is pushing for an OTs first team slot against Fawley on Saturday after scoring a senior best 107 in the 2nd XIs emphatic 107-run victory over Emsworth. Dhariwal junior struck a six and 13 fours in his 107 as OTs outscored Emsworth 209-7 to 102, Phil Wyatt taking 4-37.
Bottom of the pile Paultons fancied their prospects of a shock when, defending a relatively modest 155, they reduced Liphook & Ripsley to 70-5.
But they were unable to separate sixth-wicket pair Rob Nicklin (41) and Grant Rouse (41), who got the last 86 second placed Liphook required.
Earlier, Paultons dropped to 18-3 before stand-in skipper Nathan Feltham (76), aided by Cam Grierson and Liam Longland, got them out of trouble. Joe Randall took 4-16.
He took 5-13 as OTs dismissed challengers Fair Oak for 87 at Lapstone Park – a target the nervy visitors chased down, losing seven wickets in the process.
With leaders Hartley Wintney losing heavily at South Wilts II, it is become increasingly tight at the top of the table, with effectively only eight points separating the top four sides. OTs are third, with Ventnor emerging as a rear threat.
A third consecutive reverse, meanwhile, has turned Fair Oak’s fine start to the season into a distant memory.
Left-armer Trodd (5-13), who has produced some good performances for Hampshire’s junior age group sides this summer, and spinner Joe Vaughan (3-17) ripped through the Fair Oak batting, reducing the hosts to 32-5.
Oaks improved in the second half of their innings thanks to the Under-19 contingent, Max Watson making 30, Harry Reed 13 and Monty McKenzie 15.
But 87 all out in 32.1 overs was never going to be enough on a day when the weather, as well as the OTS & Romsey side, made it too hot for the home side.
It was no cakewalk for the visitors, though, as left-arm spinner Charlie Gwynn (4-10) made survival a major task for OTs & Romsey.
Opener Jovan Dharival (31), just back from his second year reading law at Cambridge University made the day’s top score, but lost partners regularly and when he was caught off Rufus Bullough at 65 for 6 Fair Oak had a sniff of a chance.
But Trodd (13 not out) and Lewis Allen (12 not out) put on 20 for the eighth wicket and steered their side to a three-wicket victory at 89-7 in the 37th over.
Jovan’s sibling brother Kamran is pushing for an OTs first team slot against Fawley on Saturday after scoring a senior best 107 in the 2nd XIs emphatic 107-run victory over Emsworth. Dhariwal junior struck a six and 13 fours in his 107 as OTs outscored Emsworth 209-7 to 102, Phil Wyatt taking 4-37.
Bottom of the pile Paultons fancied their prospects of a shock when, defending a relatively modest 155, they reduced Liphook & Ripsley to 70-5.
But they were unable to separate sixth-wicket pair Rob Nicklin (41) and Grant Rouse (41), who got the last 86 second placed Liphook required.
Earlier, Paultons dropped to 18-3 before stand-in skipper Nathan Feltham (76), aided by Cam Grierson and Liam Longland, got them out of trouble. Joe Randall took 4-16.
Nathan Feltham (75) revived Paultons' prospects.
