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Hook & Newnham Basics are two points away from being crowned Southern Premier League Division One champions – without physically having to lift the willow or bowl a ball in anger last weekend.
Their washed out visit to Ventnor – which the club guestimates will cost them some £500 in non-refundable ferry fares – coincided with closest rivals Sparsholt and Portsmouth both losing.
Sparsholt came a cropper with a David Lloyd inspired two-wicket home defeat by Rowledge and Portsmouth lost at relegation battlers Calmore Sports – a result not received with overdue excitement at nearby OTs & Romsey, who also won.
David Lloyd (top left) and 18-year old spin all-rounder Ollie Baker inspired Rowledge to their first win in five matches at Sparsholt, whose progress was pegged by some decent bowling.
Michael Haworth (52) top scored for Sparsholt before becoming one of four victims for the developing left-arm spinner Baker (4-39), his dismissal triggering a collapse which saw four wickets fall (from 131-3) for six runs. Sparsholt limped to 181 all out, mainly thanks to Liam Doran (26).
Chris Yates (26) and Baker (24) prospered as Rowledge lost wickets too regularly for comfort before Salesian head boy designate Jonty Sebborn (35) joined David Lloyd in a fifth-wicket stand which turned the tide in the visitors’ favour.
Lloyd went on to hit a match winning 58 not out as Rowledge got home with two balls to spare.
A season’s best 65 by James Manning, top right, which underpinned Calmore’s 187-6, proved pivotal in the five-run win over Portsmouth which gave the club’s survival prospects a timely lift.
Left-armer spinner Andrew Marston (3-19) bowled tidyily for Portsmouth who, despite losing two early wickets, appeared in charge while Fraser Hay (56) and Tom Wallis (37) were at the crease.
But Ben Perry (3-27) nipped out both batsmen as Portsmouth slipped from a promising 138-3 to 181 all out, Make Lavelle’s 3-44 return proving crucial.
Calmore’s celebrations dimmed when news leaked through that OTs & Romsey had bowled off-colour Sarisbury Athletic out for 105 (Chris Sanders 40) and won by four wickets.
Hampshire’s Chris Wood (30) and Rob Newman (24) got OTs across the line.
With two matches left, Calmore Sports (166) remain eight points ahead of OTs & Romsey.
Calmore’s last two matches are at Sarisbury and at home to New Milton, while OTs go to New Milton before hosting champions designate Hook & Newnham Basics on August 31.
Andover’s scheduled home game with New Milton was rained off.
Their washed out visit to Ventnor – which the club guestimates will cost them some £500 in non-refundable ferry fares – coincided with closest rivals Sparsholt and Portsmouth both losing.
Sparsholt came a cropper with a David Lloyd inspired two-wicket home defeat by Rowledge and Portsmouth lost at relegation battlers Calmore Sports – a result not received with overdue excitement at nearby OTs & Romsey, who also won.
David Lloyd (top left) and 18-year old spin all-rounder Ollie Baker inspired Rowledge to their first win in five matches at Sparsholt, whose progress was pegged by some decent bowling.
Michael Haworth (52) top scored for Sparsholt before becoming one of four victims for the developing left-arm spinner Baker (4-39), his dismissal triggering a collapse which saw four wickets fall (from 131-3) for six runs. Sparsholt limped to 181 all out, mainly thanks to Liam Doran (26).
Chris Yates (26) and Baker (24) prospered as Rowledge lost wickets too regularly for comfort before Salesian head boy designate Jonty Sebborn (35) joined David Lloyd in a fifth-wicket stand which turned the tide in the visitors’ favour.
Lloyd went on to hit a match winning 58 not out as Rowledge got home with two balls to spare.
A season’s best 65 by James Manning, top right, which underpinned Calmore’s 187-6, proved pivotal in the five-run win over Portsmouth which gave the club’s survival prospects a timely lift.
Left-armer spinner Andrew Marston (3-19) bowled tidyily for Portsmouth who, despite losing two early wickets, appeared in charge while Fraser Hay (56) and Tom Wallis (37) were at the crease.
But Ben Perry (3-27) nipped out both batsmen as Portsmouth slipped from a promising 138-3 to 181 all out, Make Lavelle’s 3-44 return proving crucial.
Calmore’s celebrations dimmed when news leaked through that OTs & Romsey had bowled off-colour Sarisbury Athletic out for 105 (Chris Sanders 40) and won by four wickets.
Hampshire’s Chris Wood (30) and Rob Newman (24) got OTs across the line.
With two matches left, Calmore Sports (166) remain eight points ahead of OTs & Romsey.
Calmore’s last two matches are at Sarisbury and at home to New Milton, while OTs go to New Milton before hosting champions designate Hook & Newnham Basics on August 31.
Andover’s scheduled home game with New Milton was rained off.
