Justin Behrens 35 wickets so far : Dave Reynolds photo.
Hambledon could finish runners-up in the second tier of the Southern Premier League – just 12 months after promotion.
They will seal second place, almost certainly behind Sarisbury Athletic, if they beat Rowledge and Ventnor lose at Havant on the final day this weekend.
That’s the simple equation after the Dons dealt Ventnor’s own title challenge a potentially fatal blow in a remarkable low-scoring encounter at Ridge Meadow.
An afternoon which started with the hosts bowled out for just 125, ended with them claiming a stunning 19-run victory thanks a five-wicket haul from South African spin ace Justin Behrens.
Having elected to bat, Dons skipper Spencer Le Clercq could only watch on as Archie Lucy ran through the home top order.
A week after bagging 6-24 against Fair Oak, Lucy reduced Hambledon to 24-4 by removing Mark Butcher (1), Christopher Pratt (0), Justin Behrens (2) and BBC Proms guru Henry Glanfield (18). It was 25-5 when Jonty Oliver was trapped leg before by Ollie Morgan for a duck.
Le Clercq (28) and Seb Rowland (26) hoisted their side up to 109 all out, Lucy finishing with 5-24, figures which earned the teenage seamer this website's Cricketer of the Week award.
The Dons needed to remove Ventnor dangerman Dinesh Thimodya early, and they did – James Restell having him caught by teen Oliver Whittle for 11, a brief innings containing a six and a four.
Behrens claimed his first wicket when he trapped Hugh Calloway (0) leg before, reducing the islanders to 50-6. He then took the next four, ending with 5-24, as Ventnor crashed to 83-9.
George Watts (14 not out) and last man Morgan (11) ensured tension levels rose as they added 23 for the last wicket, before the latter was caught and bowled by Glanfield, whose mum's tea was quite magnificent.
Behrens, who plays for the Western Province club in Cape Town, has now taken 35 SPL Division 1 scalps in 2025, three more than anyone else. Alas, he is not eligible for the SPL bowling award ... The News.
They will seal second place, almost certainly behind Sarisbury Athletic, if they beat Rowledge and Ventnor lose at Havant on the final day this weekend.
That’s the simple equation after the Dons dealt Ventnor’s own title challenge a potentially fatal blow in a remarkable low-scoring encounter at Ridge Meadow.
An afternoon which started with the hosts bowled out for just 125, ended with them claiming a stunning 19-run victory thanks a five-wicket haul from South African spin ace Justin Behrens.
Having elected to bat, Dons skipper Spencer Le Clercq could only watch on as Archie Lucy ran through the home top order.
A week after bagging 6-24 against Fair Oak, Lucy reduced Hambledon to 24-4 by removing Mark Butcher (1), Christopher Pratt (0), Justin Behrens (2) and BBC Proms guru Henry Glanfield (18). It was 25-5 when Jonty Oliver was trapped leg before by Ollie Morgan for a duck.
Le Clercq (28) and Seb Rowland (26) hoisted their side up to 109 all out, Lucy finishing with 5-24, figures which earned the teenage seamer this website's Cricketer of the Week award.
The Dons needed to remove Ventnor dangerman Dinesh Thimodya early, and they did – James Restell having him caught by teen Oliver Whittle for 11, a brief innings containing a six and a four.
Behrens claimed his first wicket when he trapped Hugh Calloway (0) leg before, reducing the islanders to 50-6. He then took the next four, ending with 5-24, as Ventnor crashed to 83-9.
George Watts (14 not out) and last man Morgan (11) ensured tension levels rose as they added 23 for the last wicket, before the latter was caught and bowled by Glanfield, whose mum's tea was quite magnificent.
Behrens, who plays for the Western Province club in Cape Town, has now taken 35 SPL Division 1 scalps in 2025, three more than anyone else. Alas, he is not eligible for the SPL bowling award ... The News.
