Jack Davies lashed a stunning hundred as Portsmouth & Southsea moved another giant step closer to promotion with a crushing seven-wicket win over relegation troubled Basingstoke & North Hants II.
He struck an unbeaten 133 as P & S reached their 267 victory target at May’s Bounty with almost 15 overs in hand.
It was the club’s 13th Southern Premier League Division 3 win in 14 games, and they enjoy a whopping 68-point lead over third-placed South Wilts II with just four weeks of the season remaining.
Shaun Briggs had earlier given the P & S reply a rocket start at May’s Bounty. Opening the innings, he blasted 40 off just 16 balls - with seven fours and two sixes - before Jake Peach, shoved up the order to No 3, hit 28 off 36 deliveries.
Opening bowler Tyler Bradley, last year’s SPL1 bowling award winner, suffered more than most - conceding 58 runs off his four overs. He earlier got a first baller.
That was the prelude to Davies hitting 18 boundaries and five sixes in his scorching 95-ball knock.
Chris Bollom - 39 not out off 38 balls - helped Davies add an unbroken 149 for the fourth wicket as P& S strolled home in the 36th over.
Earlier, Greg Donaldson smashed eight sixes in a blistering 90 for Basingstoke, who face a critical relegation visit to Trojans on Saturday.
He struck an unbeaten 133 as P & S reached their 267 victory target at May’s Bounty with almost 15 overs in hand.
It was the club’s 13th Southern Premier League Division 3 win in 14 games, and they enjoy a whopping 68-point lead over third-placed South Wilts II with just four weeks of the season remaining.
Shaun Briggs had earlier given the P & S reply a rocket start at May’s Bounty. Opening the innings, he blasted 40 off just 16 balls - with seven fours and two sixes - before Jake Peach, shoved up the order to No 3, hit 28 off 36 deliveries.
Opening bowler Tyler Bradley, last year’s SPL1 bowling award winner, suffered more than most - conceding 58 runs off his four overs. He earlier got a first baller.
That was the prelude to Davies hitting 18 boundaries and five sixes in his scorching 95-ball knock.
Chris Bollom - 39 not out off 38 balls - helped Davies add an unbroken 149 for the fourth wicket as P& S strolled home in the 36th over.
Earlier, Greg Donaldson smashed eight sixes in a blistering 90 for Basingstoke, who face a critical relegation visit to Trojans on Saturday.
Sway’s hopes of taking the second promotion place took a dent when they were hammered by Havant II. The New Forest club were bundled out for 89 to lose by a mammoth 239-run margin at Havant Park.
Simon Loat (85) and county U15 prospect Ben Feeney (78) were the main contributors to Havant’s imposing 328-6 total - putting on 108 for the second wicket - while teenager Harrison Barnard (40) provided support.
University student Henry Pelling-Smith (4-30) removed four of the top five Sway batters as the visitors careered to 35-5. Sid Mutta (3-23) helped mop up the tail.
Two men with famous namesakes played a big part in Gosport Borough’s victory over Langley Manor.
First, Viv Richards top scored with 71 off 92 balls at Knellers Lane as the visitors were bowled out for 203, opening bowler Simon Peters bagging 5-36. Scott Taylor (31) helped Richards add 90 for the third wicket.
Gosport’s second famous namesake - Muhammad Ali - then claimed 3-26, removing three of Langley’s top four as the hosts slipped to 59-4. Sampath Prathapasinghe (4-21) ripped out the middle order as Langley slithered to 153 all out, little Tommy Spencer (30) and Nick Jenkin 29.
South Wilts seconds will be firmly in the promotion mix if they can chalk up a seventh successive win and beat off-colour Sway in the New Forest on Saturday. The recent win surge has lifted South Wilts into third place, just two points behind Langley Manor.
Canford teen Kit Blomfield underlined his growing all-rounder potential by top scoring with 68 (ten fours) in South Wilts' 202. He shared a century stand with Charlie Smith (36). Trojans were dismissed for 127, yellow boot peril Tom Lewis taking 3-25.
Simon Loat (85) and county U15 prospect Ben Feeney (78) were the main contributors to Havant’s imposing 328-6 total - putting on 108 for the second wicket - while teenager Harrison Barnard (40) provided support.
University student Henry Pelling-Smith (4-30) removed four of the top five Sway batters as the visitors careered to 35-5. Sid Mutta (3-23) helped mop up the tail.
Two men with famous namesakes played a big part in Gosport Borough’s victory over Langley Manor.
First, Viv Richards top scored with 71 off 92 balls at Knellers Lane as the visitors were bowled out for 203, opening bowler Simon Peters bagging 5-36. Scott Taylor (31) helped Richards add 90 for the third wicket.
Gosport’s second famous namesake - Muhammad Ali - then claimed 3-26, removing three of Langley’s top four as the hosts slipped to 59-4. Sampath Prathapasinghe (4-21) ripped out the middle order as Langley slithered to 153 all out, little Tommy Spencer (30) and Nick Jenkin 29.
South Wilts seconds will be firmly in the promotion mix if they can chalk up a seventh successive win and beat off-colour Sway in the New Forest on Saturday. The recent win surge has lifted South Wilts into third place, just two points behind Langley Manor.
Canford teen Kit Blomfield underlined his growing all-rounder potential by top scoring with 68 (ten fours) in South Wilts' 202. He shared a century stand with Charlie Smith (36). Trojans were dismissed for 127, yellow boot peril Tom Lewis taking 3-25.
Paul Longland plundered an unbeaten 148 as Paultons overhauled Purbrook's 236 to win by eight wickets - the former OTs & Romsey batsman hitting a six and 28 fours in his knock. He is now the leading Division 3 run maker.