Hursley Park’s bid to claw away from the British as Southern League Division 3 danger zone is gaining momentum.
A second consecutive win, an eight-wicket thrashing of Fair Oak, lifted them off bottom place, now occupied by newly promoted Alton II.
Hursley skipper Paul Marks confessed he “wasn’t the most popular guy around the dressing room when I put Fair Oak into bat in the heat.
“But means justified the ends as we bowled well, knocked them over for 113 and went on to win by eight wickets.”
Jai Solanki, with remarkable figures of 4-7 off seven overs, cut deep into Oak’s top order, his four-wicket haul including top scorer Will Hughes (34).
Tom James (4-24) accounted for the lower-order, leaving Hursley a fairly straightforward target, which they achieved in 24 overs, with Neil Jackson (48) leading the way.
Alton, who won the Hampshire League with some comfort last season, are finding life far more difficult one rung up on the ladder.
Despite Ryan Hale making an unbeaten 103 and Hugo Hammond scoring 60, Alton’s 234-8 (Jacob Harris 3-29) was easily overcome at Privett Park.
Gosport lost two early wickets and five others later, but were always in the driving seat through (pictured) Mike Ruffell (117) and Lee Harrop (72).
Basingstoke & North Hants II remain top, but their eventual 19-run victory over Bashley (Rydal) owed much to 17-year old left-arm all-rounder Matt Deadman.
Although Max Harsham (39), Chris Oliver (35) and Craig Williamson (28) all made starts, the Bountymen were an uncertain 127-5 (Pierre van Wyk 4-60) at May’s Bounty before Deadman arrived at the crease.
The Queen Mary’s College student changed the face of the game with a personal SPL best 87 not out which swept Basingstoke to 291-9 (Jake Lilley 3-54).
The experienced Bashley side slipped to 79-3, but staged a middle-order fight-back though Phil Morris (54), Andy Neal (40), Harry Anstee (56) and van Wyk (31).
They reached 259-5 but with time running out and Chris Chandler and Ash Neal each taking three wickets, Bashley closed at a creditable 272-9.
Waterlooville lie second after a comfortable 87-run win over visiting Fawley, who sank to 110 all out against the seam bowling of Jon Hudson (5-22) and spin of young Archie Reynolds (3-29).
Openers James Scutt (54) and Tasmanian James Hortle (44) earlier shared a 91-run start for the Ville, who made 197-8.
Purbrook breezed past Havant II’s 176-9 (Simon Loat 51), with Andy Holder (61) prominent and Brad Mengham making a key 42 not out.
A second consecutive win, an eight-wicket thrashing of Fair Oak, lifted them off bottom place, now occupied by newly promoted Alton II.
Hursley skipper Paul Marks confessed he “wasn’t the most popular guy around the dressing room when I put Fair Oak into bat in the heat.
“But means justified the ends as we bowled well, knocked them over for 113 and went on to win by eight wickets.”
Jai Solanki, with remarkable figures of 4-7 off seven overs, cut deep into Oak’s top order, his four-wicket haul including top scorer Will Hughes (34).
Tom James (4-24) accounted for the lower-order, leaving Hursley a fairly straightforward target, which they achieved in 24 overs, with Neil Jackson (48) leading the way.
Alton, who won the Hampshire League with some comfort last season, are finding life far more difficult one rung up on the ladder.
Despite Ryan Hale making an unbeaten 103 and Hugo Hammond scoring 60, Alton’s 234-8 (Jacob Harris 3-29) was easily overcome at Privett Park.
Gosport lost two early wickets and five others later, but were always in the driving seat through (pictured) Mike Ruffell (117) and Lee Harrop (72).
Basingstoke & North Hants II remain top, but their eventual 19-run victory over Bashley (Rydal) owed much to 17-year old left-arm all-rounder Matt Deadman.
Although Max Harsham (39), Chris Oliver (35) and Craig Williamson (28) all made starts, the Bountymen were an uncertain 127-5 (Pierre van Wyk 4-60) at May’s Bounty before Deadman arrived at the crease.
The Queen Mary’s College student changed the face of the game with a personal SPL best 87 not out which swept Basingstoke to 291-9 (Jake Lilley 3-54).
The experienced Bashley side slipped to 79-3, but staged a middle-order fight-back though Phil Morris (54), Andy Neal (40), Harry Anstee (56) and van Wyk (31).
They reached 259-5 but with time running out and Chris Chandler and Ash Neal each taking three wickets, Bashley closed at a creditable 272-9.
Waterlooville lie second after a comfortable 87-run win over visiting Fawley, who sank to 110 all out against the seam bowling of Jon Hudson (5-22) and spin of young Archie Reynolds (3-29).
Openers James Scutt (54) and Tasmanian James Hortle (44) earlier shared a 91-run start for the Ville, who made 197-8.
Purbrook breezed past Havant II’s 176-9 (Simon Loat 51), with Andy Holder (61) prominent and Brad Mengham making a key 42 not out.
