Hook & Newnham Basics lie six points adrift of the nearest safety rung in the ECB Southern Premier Division after eight-times champions Havant inflicted their fifth defeat in six outings by an 82-run margin at the KGV.
The loss was compounded by Alton lifting themselves off the bottom rung with a narrow seven-run win at Burridge.
Any hope Hook had of challenging Havant’s competitive 211-9 disappeared directly Richard Jerry (6-26) ripped out four of the top five to leave the innings in tatters at 19-4. They were Jerry’s best SPL figures following his 6-41 return against Bashley (Rydal) on the final day of the 2018 season.
Sam Lockwood (52), with his first competitive fifty since joining the club from Kent League side Sidcup, and Josh Buckingham (19) rallied to hoist the score to 88 when Hook lost four more wickets – two more to Jerry and two others to the left-arm spin of teenager Freddie Gadd (3-36) – without adding a single run.
A ninth wicket fell four runs later at 92, and but for a last saloon rally by Aniket Divecha (26 not out) and Max Simpson (13), Hook would have been bowled out for far less than their eventual 129.
Earlier Simpson, with a tidy 2-22 off ten overs, caught the eye with the new ball and is clearly benefitting from his training with the Hampshire junior age groups.
Harry Gadd (65) was the batting lynchpin for Havant, supported by Richard Hindley (28) and Jez Bulled (33) as the visitors built a winning total.
The loss was compounded by Alton lifting themselves off the bottom rung with a narrow seven-run win at Burridge.
Any hope Hook had of challenging Havant’s competitive 211-9 disappeared directly Richard Jerry (6-26) ripped out four of the top five to leave the innings in tatters at 19-4. They were Jerry’s best SPL figures following his 6-41 return against Bashley (Rydal) on the final day of the 2018 season.
Sam Lockwood (52), with his first competitive fifty since joining the club from Kent League side Sidcup, and Josh Buckingham (19) rallied to hoist the score to 88 when Hook lost four more wickets – two more to Jerry and two others to the left-arm spin of teenager Freddie Gadd (3-36) – without adding a single run.
A ninth wicket fell four runs later at 92, and but for a last saloon rally by Aniket Divecha (26 not out) and Max Simpson (13), Hook would have been bowled out for far less than their eventual 129.
Earlier Simpson, with a tidy 2-22 off ten overs, caught the eye with the new ball and is clearly benefitting from his training with the Hampshire junior age groups.
Harry Gadd (65) was the batting lynchpin for Havant, supported by Richard Hindley (28) and Jez Bulled (33) as the visitors built a winning total.