Josh Balcombe celebrated a maiden five-wicket return in only his third ECB Southern Premier Division appearance for Hook & Newnham Basics.
Balcombe, who Joined Hook in 2017 from Bagshot men’s and Yateley colts, and was among the most prolific wicket takers in the Hampshire junior age groups.
Balcombe, left, took five of the last six Hampshire Academy wickets to fall and finished with a pleasing 5-62 return before the match was abandoned through heavy rain at its mid-point with the Young Hawks 245 all out.
The Bournemouth University fresher Sports Management student found himself in the firing line after dismissing Hartley Wintney-raised Harry Broderick (33) and Louis Prichard in quick succession to leave the Academy 100-6, team-mate Aniket Divecha (3-29) having made initial inroads.
Then followed a century partnership between the richly promising Dom Kelly (76 not out) and James Trodd (50), both left-handers, which steered the Academy to a far healthier 207-6.
While Kelly struck out, hitting three big sixes into the KGV undergrowth, Balcombe teased out the last three Academy batsmen to finish with a maiden ‘five-fer’ return.
The abandonment of the match favoured Hook, who go into Saturday’s match against Havant with a seven-point lead over Alton, who suffered a four-wicket defeat by Lymington.
Balcombe, who Joined Hook in 2017 from Bagshot men’s and Yateley colts, and was among the most prolific wicket takers in the Hampshire junior age groups.
Balcombe, left, took five of the last six Hampshire Academy wickets to fall and finished with a pleasing 5-62 return before the match was abandoned through heavy rain at its mid-point with the Young Hawks 245 all out.
The Bournemouth University fresher Sports Management student found himself in the firing line after dismissing Hartley Wintney-raised Harry Broderick (33) and Louis Prichard in quick succession to leave the Academy 100-6, team-mate Aniket Divecha (3-29) having made initial inroads.
Then followed a century partnership between the richly promising Dom Kelly (76 not out) and James Trodd (50), both left-handers, which steered the Academy to a far healthier 207-6.
While Kelly struck out, hitting three big sixes into the KGV undergrowth, Balcombe teased out the last three Academy batsmen to finish with a maiden ‘five-fer’ return.
The abandonment of the match favoured Hook, who go into Saturday’s match against Havant with a seven-point lead over Alton, who suffered a four-wicket defeat by Lymington.
