Hythe & Dibden scampered a bye off the penultimate ball to pull off a remarkable three-wicket Southern Premier League Division 3 win over Tichborne Park at Jones Lane.
Chasing Tichborne’s 266 all out, the Watersiders appeared to have little chance of victory at 157-6, but Zimbabwean all-rounder Craig Stow (left) struck a boundary strewn 99 only to be run out just before Hythe got that vital extra run.
The match featuring last season’s Hampshire League champions and Tichborne Park, relegated from SPL2, took some remarkable twists and turns.
After an opening stand of 70 between Ed Primmer (38) and Matt Bristow (31) Tichborne lurched to 143-8, with former Sparsholt seamer Tim Ndowra (4-39) and initially Mike Bowman (2-31).
But Lacian Jess, Tichborne’s overseas recruit from Cairns (Queensland), with an unbeaten 99 and Ed Berry (36) produced an outstanding stand of 123 for the ninth-wicket – the second highest on record in SPL3 – before two runs outs ended the visitors’ innings at 266.
That only proved a taster of what was to follow, as Hythe dipped to 157-6 (Zach Millar 55/Matt Young 31) and still needed 111 off the last 15 overs.
That didn’t deter Stow, who promptly blasted six sixes and eight fours in a dazzling 99 before being dismissed with Hythe almost home. Harry Smith (24*) did his bit too.
Tom Kent feels Fareham & Crofton can take lots of positives from their first game back in the Southern Premier League Division 3, despite their 33-run defeat against Portsmouth & Southsea.
The captain felt his young side were competitive even though they lack experience of playing at the higher level. Fareham finished third in County Division 1 last season, runners-up Parley being unable to meet SPL accreditation requirements.
“We are feeling our way at the start because not many if any of us have played at this level,” said Kent. “There wasn’t a huge amount in the pitch, which was a bit slow and we bowled tight.
“When we batted our top order chased a few wide balls and played some loose shots. If we had batted for the full 50 overs we knew that we would be close. We didn’t do that, but there are still lots of things we can take forward.”
Fareham couldn’t have wised for a better start when Portsmouth & Southsea opener Steve Clements edged a Ben White (3-36) delivery through to wicket-keeper Kent without scoring. Ollie Kanavan (72) and Matt Benfield (25) steadied the ship for the visitors before a useful Jonathan Willey (32) cameo guided them to 197 all out.
Fareham were in deep trouble at 67-7, but Chris Davey (61) hit out to get some batting bonus points on the board.
Davey, who struck four sixes, was eventually bowled by spinner Kieran Dunston (3-49) who along with Jake Peach (3-12) took three wickets apiece.
Trojans lost 11 matches on the trot on their way to relegation from SPL2 last summer, but reversed the trend with a six-wicket win at Purbrook, who lost out on promotion with a defeat by South Wilts in their final match of 2018.
Purbrook were bowled out for 145 - only Martin Lee (41) and latterly Aaron Dean (34) made their mark – with Syed Agha (4-27) and Syed Mahmood (3-30) taking seven of the wickets. Nigel le Bas hit an unbeaten 62 to steer Trojans home with three overs to spare.
Fawley fought an ultimately successful battle against relegation last season, but began on a positive note with a seven wicket win at Lymington (112), Sufian Munir hitting an unbeaten 57 after the oilers had lost three early wickets.
Chasing Tichborne’s 266 all out, the Watersiders appeared to have little chance of victory at 157-6, but Zimbabwean all-rounder Craig Stow (left) struck a boundary strewn 99 only to be run out just before Hythe got that vital extra run.
The match featuring last season’s Hampshire League champions and Tichborne Park, relegated from SPL2, took some remarkable twists and turns.
After an opening stand of 70 between Ed Primmer (38) and Matt Bristow (31) Tichborne lurched to 143-8, with former Sparsholt seamer Tim Ndowra (4-39) and initially Mike Bowman (2-31).
But Lacian Jess, Tichborne’s overseas recruit from Cairns (Queensland), with an unbeaten 99 and Ed Berry (36) produced an outstanding stand of 123 for the ninth-wicket – the second highest on record in SPL3 – before two runs outs ended the visitors’ innings at 266.
That only proved a taster of what was to follow, as Hythe dipped to 157-6 (Zach Millar 55/Matt Young 31) and still needed 111 off the last 15 overs.
That didn’t deter Stow, who promptly blasted six sixes and eight fours in a dazzling 99 before being dismissed with Hythe almost home. Harry Smith (24*) did his bit too.
Tom Kent feels Fareham & Crofton can take lots of positives from their first game back in the Southern Premier League Division 3, despite their 33-run defeat against Portsmouth & Southsea.
The captain felt his young side were competitive even though they lack experience of playing at the higher level. Fareham finished third in County Division 1 last season, runners-up Parley being unable to meet SPL accreditation requirements.
“We are feeling our way at the start because not many if any of us have played at this level,” said Kent. “There wasn’t a huge amount in the pitch, which was a bit slow and we bowled tight.
“When we batted our top order chased a few wide balls and played some loose shots. If we had batted for the full 50 overs we knew that we would be close. We didn’t do that, but there are still lots of things we can take forward.”
Fareham couldn’t have wised for a better start when Portsmouth & Southsea opener Steve Clements edged a Ben White (3-36) delivery through to wicket-keeper Kent without scoring. Ollie Kanavan (72) and Matt Benfield (25) steadied the ship for the visitors before a useful Jonathan Willey (32) cameo guided them to 197 all out.
Fareham were in deep trouble at 67-7, but Chris Davey (61) hit out to get some batting bonus points on the board.
Davey, who struck four sixes, was eventually bowled by spinner Kieran Dunston (3-49) who along with Jake Peach (3-12) took three wickets apiece.
Trojans lost 11 matches on the trot on their way to relegation from SPL2 last summer, but reversed the trend with a six-wicket win at Purbrook, who lost out on promotion with a defeat by South Wilts in their final match of 2018.
Purbrook were bowled out for 145 - only Martin Lee (41) and latterly Aaron Dean (34) made their mark – with Syed Agha (4-27) and Syed Mahmood (3-30) taking seven of the wickets. Nigel le Bas hit an unbeaten 62 to steer Trojans home with three overs to spare.
Fawley fought an ultimately successful battle against relegation last season, but began on a positive note with a seven wicket win at Lymington (112), Sufian Munir hitting an unbeaten 57 after the oilers had lost three early wickets.
