Promoted Old Tauntonians & Romsey suffered a second consecutive Southern Premier League Division 1 defeat, losing by 96 runs to Bournemouth, having had the title favourites on the ropes with the new ball.
Bristol University recruit Jack Folkestone removed the Lions’ top three, the Park brothers and Ben Brigden, to have Bournemouth rocking at 30-3 and in deeper trouble at 46-4.
But Ed Denham, back on the local scene after a seven-year spell playing in the Midlands, turned the match on its head with a century.
His 106 steered Bournemouth to 226, a target score trimmed to 197, which OTs were asked to chase off 38 overs. They closed adrift at 130-9.
Folkestone, a 19-year old schooled at Radley, clean bowled the Park brothers, having had Bridgen caught behind.
When Shaun Redman (2-43) picked up Simon Woodruff (18), OTs sniffed a potential upset.
But Denham (pictured), whose batting skills have blossomed in recent seasons, particularly during his time with Walsall, gradually wrested the initiative away from the Romsey hosts, finding a reliable partner in George Wilson (24), the former Parley batsman.
He went on to hit a run-a-ball 106, containing three sixes and 12 fours, and with late support from the evergreen Martin Miller (21), guided Bournemouth to 226 all out. Folkestone returned to dismiss two tail-enders and finish with a creditable 5-42.
OTs had 12 overs trimmed off their innings, but lost two wickets at 19.
Teenage pair Harry Tulk (41) and Joe Vaughan (23) added 51, but thereafter wickets tumbled all too regularly, with left-arm slipper Robbie Pack taking 4-26 and Jake Hurley 2-23.
They were only able to get three balls in at last man Matt Bampton, so with OTs 130-9 were denied a maximum-point win.
Bristol University recruit Jack Folkestone removed the Lions’ top three, the Park brothers and Ben Brigden, to have Bournemouth rocking at 30-3 and in deeper trouble at 46-4.
But Ed Denham, back on the local scene after a seven-year spell playing in the Midlands, turned the match on its head with a century.
His 106 steered Bournemouth to 226, a target score trimmed to 197, which OTs were asked to chase off 38 overs. They closed adrift at 130-9.
Folkestone, a 19-year old schooled at Radley, clean bowled the Park brothers, having had Bridgen caught behind.
When Shaun Redman (2-43) picked up Simon Woodruff (18), OTs sniffed a potential upset.
But Denham (pictured), whose batting skills have blossomed in recent seasons, particularly during his time with Walsall, gradually wrested the initiative away from the Romsey hosts, finding a reliable partner in George Wilson (24), the former Parley batsman.
He went on to hit a run-a-ball 106, containing three sixes and 12 fours, and with late support from the evergreen Martin Miller (21), guided Bournemouth to 226 all out. Folkestone returned to dismiss two tail-enders and finish with a creditable 5-42.
OTs had 12 overs trimmed off their innings, but lost two wickets at 19.
Teenage pair Harry Tulk (41) and Joe Vaughan (23) added 51, but thereafter wickets tumbled all too regularly, with left-arm slipper Robbie Pack taking 4-26 and Jake Hurley 2-23.
They were only able to get three balls in at last man Matt Bampton, so with OTs 130-9 were denied a maximum-point win.
