Matt Benfield, whose 82 set up the P & S victory [The News]
Max Goddard impressed with bat and ball on only his second Southern Premier League appearance for Portsmouth & Southsea, who are at last off the mark.
The former Waterlooville all-rounder had made a duck on his long-awaited debut against Trojans the previous week after P & S’ first four games of the Division 3 season had been rained off.
But he showed what he can do with valuable lower order runs and four cheap wickets as Purbrook were left rooted to the foot of the division following a 57-run defeat at St James’ Hospital.
After being inserted, the day began badly for the hosts when opener Jack Davies was out second ball, caught by Brad Mengham off Tom Amis. He had bagged a first baller against Trojans.
P & S slid to 47-4 with Aaron Dean (2-32) removing Ollie Kanavan (11) and Chris Bollom (0) and Mengham accounting for Alex Davidson (3).
Opener Matt Benfield had watched all those wickets fall, so was relieved to see Dean Lee (21) come in and help him add 44 for the fourth wicket.
Lee’s dismissal brought Goddard in at seven and he helped Benfield put on a further 73 for the fifth wicket before the latter was out for 82. Goddard [left] went on to hit an unbeaten 45 off 49 balls, with five fours and a six, as P & S closed on 198-8.
Purbook openers Clark Harding (20) and captain Sean Figgins (24) opened with a half-century partnership in reply, but that stand was ended when Harding was caught by Benfield off the bowling of Goddard.
Shortly after it was 79-4 with Goddard (8-3-8-4) claiming all the wickets.
Mengham impressed, hitting four sixes and three fours in his 42-ball unbeaten 46.
But the six batsmen after him in the order could only muster a combined 23 as Purbrook were dismissed for 141. Jake Peach, who had opened the bowling for P & S, returned to mop up the tail, dismissing Nos 10 and 11 Amis and Frank Leslie for ducks to end with 2-21.
Gosport skipper Lee Harrop hit his highest league score since May 2019 as the Borough thrashed Tichborne Park by eight wickets in rural Alresford.
Asked to chase 173 for victory, Harrop dominated an opening stand of 70 with Ollie Creal (24). He then put on 36 with twin Charlie Creal (17 not out) before the captain was bowled for 62 by Seb Newens.
His dismissal just brought Jacob Harris to the crease, though. Fresh from hitting 72 in the SPL win against Hythe & Dibden the previous week, Harris struck five fours and two sixes in racing to an unbeaten 49 from 30 balls. With Harris and Creal sharing an unbroken third wicket stand of 67, Borough won with five overs and two balls to spare.
Earlier, Martin Cheyney (40) had top scored for Tichborne in their 172-9 total before he was dismissed by Scott Taylor (3-43).
Tichborne, hit by Tom Allam’s decision to hang up his boots (at least for the time being) had been 132-8 - Charlie Creal (2-35) taking two wickets in two balls - before Henry Pratt (28) hit two sixes and three fours to boost his side’s score. Simon Carter, The News.
The former Waterlooville all-rounder had made a duck on his long-awaited debut against Trojans the previous week after P & S’ first four games of the Division 3 season had been rained off.
But he showed what he can do with valuable lower order runs and four cheap wickets as Purbrook were left rooted to the foot of the division following a 57-run defeat at St James’ Hospital.
After being inserted, the day began badly for the hosts when opener Jack Davies was out second ball, caught by Brad Mengham off Tom Amis. He had bagged a first baller against Trojans.
P & S slid to 47-4 with Aaron Dean (2-32) removing Ollie Kanavan (11) and Chris Bollom (0) and Mengham accounting for Alex Davidson (3).
Opener Matt Benfield had watched all those wickets fall, so was relieved to see Dean Lee (21) come in and help him add 44 for the fourth wicket.
Lee’s dismissal brought Goddard in at seven and he helped Benfield put on a further 73 for the fifth wicket before the latter was out for 82. Goddard [left] went on to hit an unbeaten 45 off 49 balls, with five fours and a six, as P & S closed on 198-8.
Purbook openers Clark Harding (20) and captain Sean Figgins (24) opened with a half-century partnership in reply, but that stand was ended when Harding was caught by Benfield off the bowling of Goddard.
Shortly after it was 79-4 with Goddard (8-3-8-4) claiming all the wickets.
Mengham impressed, hitting four sixes and three fours in his 42-ball unbeaten 46.
But the six batsmen after him in the order could only muster a combined 23 as Purbrook were dismissed for 141. Jake Peach, who had opened the bowling for P & S, returned to mop up the tail, dismissing Nos 10 and 11 Amis and Frank Leslie for ducks to end with 2-21.
Gosport skipper Lee Harrop hit his highest league score since May 2019 as the Borough thrashed Tichborne Park by eight wickets in rural Alresford.
Asked to chase 173 for victory, Harrop dominated an opening stand of 70 with Ollie Creal (24). He then put on 36 with twin Charlie Creal (17 not out) before the captain was bowled for 62 by Seb Newens.
His dismissal just brought Jacob Harris to the crease, though. Fresh from hitting 72 in the SPL win against Hythe & Dibden the previous week, Harris struck five fours and two sixes in racing to an unbeaten 49 from 30 balls. With Harris and Creal sharing an unbroken third wicket stand of 67, Borough won with five overs and two balls to spare.
Earlier, Martin Cheyney (40) had top scored for Tichborne in their 172-9 total before he was dismissed by Scott Taylor (3-43).
Tichborne, hit by Tom Allam’s decision to hang up his boots (at least for the time being) had been 132-8 - Charlie Creal (2-35) taking two wickets in two balls - before Henry Pratt (28) hit two sixes and three fours to boost his side’s score. Simon Carter, The News.
