Portsmouth dodged the rain to secure a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Old Tauntonians & Romsey in the Southern Premier League Division One.
Their fourth successive win keeps Jack Marston's side second in the league hot on the heels of leaders Hook & Newnham Basics (writes Kevin Ricketts of The News, Portsmouth), whose match at Rowledge was washed out after 21 overs.
Marston admitted the biggest threat to his side was the weather.
“I won the toss and decided to bowl first because there was a lot of rain around,” said Marston. “ Fraser Hay (3-40) bowled well up top for us and we soon had OT's in trouble at 50 for five.
“Because he was struggling with his hip Fraser didn't try to bowl as fast as he usually does. He concentrated on hitting the top of off stump and put the ball into good areas. When we brought our spinners on they strangled the life out of the OT's innings.”
Andrew Marston and Fahad Ahmed went for just 40 runs off their 20 overs, the former bowling his left-arm spin conceded a miserly 12 runs in his ten over spell.
“Andrew has such good control that he is difficult to score against. Unless batsmen are prepared to try and hit him off his length by sweeping or going down the wicket, they won't succeed. OT's had lost five wickets by then so that wasn't likely to happen.”
Quick fire
The hosts were restricted to 172 for nine - Charlie King’s 71 underpinning the innings - off their 50 overs but the weather started to close in. Knowing the game could be reduced because of rain Portsmouth knew they needed to score quickly at the start of their innings.
Opener Will Smitherman made sure that happened with a quick-fire 40 off just 45 balls including 6 fours and one six. The rain finally arrived and forced the teams off with Portsmouth on 70-2.
With time lost the game changed into a 28 over affair and, thanks to Smitherman, Portsmouth only needed to score 20 off ten overs when they resumed.
"Will recognised the importance of scoring quickly and did what was necessary,' said Marston.
The captain and Hay easily scored the runs required to keep Portsmouth on the charge.
Unbeaten leaders Hook & Newnham Basics were in a good position at Rowledge, Jack Murrell taking 3-11 as the hosts reached 64-3 (Chris Yates 29) before the weather intervened.
Their fourth successive win keeps Jack Marston's side second in the league hot on the heels of leaders Hook & Newnham Basics (writes Kevin Ricketts of The News, Portsmouth), whose match at Rowledge was washed out after 21 overs.
Marston admitted the biggest threat to his side was the weather.
“I won the toss and decided to bowl first because there was a lot of rain around,” said Marston. “ Fraser Hay (3-40) bowled well up top for us and we soon had OT's in trouble at 50 for five.
“Because he was struggling with his hip Fraser didn't try to bowl as fast as he usually does. He concentrated on hitting the top of off stump and put the ball into good areas. When we brought our spinners on they strangled the life out of the OT's innings.”
Andrew Marston and Fahad Ahmed went for just 40 runs off their 20 overs, the former bowling his left-arm spin conceded a miserly 12 runs in his ten over spell.
“Andrew has such good control that he is difficult to score against. Unless batsmen are prepared to try and hit him off his length by sweeping or going down the wicket, they won't succeed. OT's had lost five wickets by then so that wasn't likely to happen.”
Quick fire
The hosts were restricted to 172 for nine - Charlie King’s 71 underpinning the innings - off their 50 overs but the weather started to close in. Knowing the game could be reduced because of rain Portsmouth knew they needed to score quickly at the start of their innings.
Opener Will Smitherman made sure that happened with a quick-fire 40 off just 45 balls including 6 fours and one six. The rain finally arrived and forced the teams off with Portsmouth on 70-2.
With time lost the game changed into a 28 over affair and, thanks to Smitherman, Portsmouth only needed to score 20 off ten overs when they resumed.
"Will recognised the importance of scoring quickly and did what was necessary,' said Marston.
The captain and Hay easily scored the runs required to keep Portsmouth on the charge.
Unbeaten leaders Hook & Newnham Basics were in a good position at Rowledge, Jack Murrell taking 3-11 as the hosts reached 64-3 (Chris Yates 29) before the weather intervened.
