Bashley (Rydal) seconds have made a perfect two-match winning start in Southern Premier Division 3 and chase a third straight victory when Gosport Borough visit the BCG.
They had hoped their new ball attack would be strengthened by Kevin Nash dropping down from the first team, but the evergreen seamer pulled a fetlock diving in the field last week.
Gosport have yet to complete a match and were soundly on the back foot at 123-8 when last week’s visit to Portsmouth & Southsea was washed out.
Bashley (Rydal) II: Turner, S Morris, Anstee, Underwood, S Ridley, M Wilson, Lewis, Grierson, Taylor, Eede, Saunders.
Fair Oak, who began with a tight win over Hambledon, are without skipper Ed Kemp against promoted Portsmouth & Southsea at St James’s Park.
Rhys Oxley, who takes the captain’s armband, is also without opening bowler Ross Stewart, but Gregor McKenzie who took five wickets against Hambledon will front up the attack.
Fair Oak: Gwynn, Todd, Hockenhull, Smith, Plowman, Bullough, Oxley, McKenzie, R Featherstone, J Featherstone, Mash.
South Wilts II are eager to bounce back from their 92-run home beating by Bashley, but must do without Army all-rounder Stephen Booth at Fawley.  Spin all-rounder Rob Franklin comes in.  Fawley newcomer Khaj Sharma is injured, so Ali Bryers comes in.
Fawley: Earl, A Parratt, Plunkett, Smith, K Earl, B Parratt, Godden, Sharma, Crossley, Freeman, Bryers.
South Wilts II: Phillips, S Pittman, Weld, R Pittman, Pearce, Kidd, Franklin, Marc Burton, Fisher, J Wade, Matt Burton
Lymington II were also beaten last weekend and have explosive Ryde Cavaliers all-rounder Tommy Barton in their side at Purbrook, who have yet to stage a home match this season..
But Suji Wickramasinghe, the former Burridge player, and new ball bowler Guy Layman are both missing.
Lymington II: Kelly, Agha, Adams, Barton, Robinson, Sutherland, Royan, K Moors, Chandler, Bowring, Shore.
 

Lifelong Pompey soccer fan Ted Burridge, arguably one of Fareham’s best known residents and much liked personalities has passed away, aged 84, after a short illness.
Distinguishable by his handle bar moustache and Oddjob (Goldfinger:1964) physique, Ted hadn’t been in great shape since a fall last summer and underwent surgery for a hip replacement last year. He spent all his working life on the Fareham council roads gang.
A Fratton Park season ticket holder for decades, Ted followed Portsmouth through thick and thin for years and years, watching the Blues on every ground across the country umpteen times over. He loved his soccer, having played as a goalkeeper locally following post WW2 RAF service in Egypt and after hanging up his boots, became ‘bucket and sponge’ man for several clubs, including Gosport Sunday League side Achilles.
Ted played his cricket in Fareham for Good Intent and Park Lane, maintaining his winter goalkeeping prowess behind the stumps.  He later became a qualified umpire, officiating in the old Sarisbury Green Knockout and later Gosport Borough in the old Southern League.
Away from sport he was an avid book reader and a great source of conversation on the many away days he spent with soccer and cricket.  A hugely likeable character with a wealth of stories, Ted was the ultimate genuine guy, a massive and generous stalwart of the Royal British Legion. His Poppy Day appeal spot at the entrance to the Fareham shopping precinct every autumn attracted hundreds of visitors. Ted was a magnet for poppy sales : people would find him to buy one !
The town of Fareham has lost a great character. Sportsman or not, everyone seemed to know Ted – and he knew them !  Funeral details will be posted when known.

A century partnership between Zane de Monte (48) and Joe Coombes (49) pointed Bramshaw towards a three-wicket victory over Langley Manor – and a national Village Cup upset.
Their stand came just in the nick of time as Bramshaw, chasing Manor’s 201, were wobbling at 34-3.
They added 112 and with Terry Harrison making a useful 39 Bramshaw overcame a mini-collapse to win with six overs to spare.
Next up on May 27 is a visit from Liphook & Ripsley, who enjoyed a comfortable  win at Hursley Park, where a 97 run opening stand by Ryan Covey (63) and Rob Nicklin (56) provided the foundation for a comfortable 96-run victory.
Jack Campbell cracked an unbeaten 59 as Liphook rattled up 221-8.
Aaron Williams and skipper Nick Turner, with 29 each, were the only Hursley batsmen to make an impression.
Off spinner Dave Oliver 4-28 and medium pacer Sean Burton 3-37 were the chief wicket takers as Hursley faded to 125 all out.
Simon Barnard’s unbeaten 114 for Hambledon proved to no avail as Tichborne Park chased down a formidable 229-5 (Ben Allen 4-28) to win by two wickets with seven balls to spare.
Leading the post-tea assault was Tom Allam, who struck a blistering 96, including three sixes and 13 fours.
Ed Primmer (41) shared a significant 134-run partnership.
Redlynch & Hale exited the NVC after being on the receiving end of a 252-run blast from Lacock.
Shrewton’s Will Harries produced one of the bowling performances of the round with a 7-28 return which left Burbage in tatters at 94 all out.
Will Sleeman (42) and Rich Barnett (40) completed the ten-wicket formalities for Shrewton, who now play Parley, who thrashed them by a massive 186 runs in the only Hampshire League County Division 1 match to finish last Saturday.
A 144-run stand between Shane Green (66) and Alex Nippard (77) set the tone for Parley’s formidable 244-7, while Ollie Green took 6-26 as Shrewton collapsed to 60 all out.

Basingstoke & North Hants put paid to Goatacre’s ECB Royal London national club championship  prospects with a 77-run victory at May’s Bounty, where they will entertain Normandy for a place in the zone final.
Mitch Stokes (44), Brad Neal (43), Chris Froud (39) and George Metzer (29) provided the bulk of Basingstoke’s 201-9 (Jack Haines 4-42).
Only Brad Dawson (26) made much impression (before he was yorked by David Griffiths) as Goatacre slipped to 124 all out.
Elsewhere, Hythe & Dibden’s Zac Millar hit an unbeaten 54 as Bath crushed visiting Pershore by seven wickets at North Parade.
Former Havant opener Robert Gibson hit an unbeaten 55 in Richmond's second round win.

Bashley (Rydal) had to break the back of a threatening Waterlooville partnership in order to clinch a place in next month’s ECB Royal London national club championship regional semi-finals.
Defending a modest 176, Bash were under pressure as Waterlooville rallied from two early blows by Scott Currie (2-21) to reach 111-2 through Jon Hudson (45) and Alex Shephard (44).
But once the pair were parted, Ville lost their way and their wickets, five falling for only 16 runs, three of them to left-armer Brad Currie (3-16), who was playing alongside his sibling brother for the first time in senior cricket.
Waterlooville closed 164-9, 12 runs adrift of Bashley’s 176, an innings underpinned by Michael Porter’s 76, which included four maximums and five fours.
Fielding only four first team regulars, Bashley suffered an identical collapse, from 160-5, but hung on to win.
Bashley are away to Havant – comfortable eight-wicket winners over Chichester Priory Park – in round three on Sunday June 3.
Left-arm spinner Graham Burns took 5-19 and Clive Prentice 3-31 as Chichester tumbled from 45-0 to 127 all out – a total Havant polished off with ease.
Chris Stone (32 not out) and Andy Gorvin (25) virtually completed the formalities after Peter Hopson (26) and Stu Ransley (15) had provided a sound base.

Bashley (Rydal) lost by three runs to South Wilts in the only ECB Southern Premier Division match to survive the mid-afternoon rain which swept across the region, washing out all bar five of the scheduled programme.
The BCG contest between two of the Premier Division’s leading lights went to the wire, with South Wilts narrowly defending 243-6 after Bashley had clawed their way back from 136-6 to needing five runs to win off Ryan Murray’s final ball, with their last pair at the crease.
But an absorbing affair ended on a sour note with Bashley distinctly unhappy about a number of umpiring decisions and skipper Michael Porter making his feelings known when the players left the field.
The South Wilts innings was based around a century second-wicket partnership between Tom Morton (73) and Will Wade (49), who eased the visitors to 125-1 at the mid-point of the innings, at which point the latter was superbly run out by a direct hit
Morton showed all of past characteristics, blasting 12 boundaries as the 100 came up after 18 overs.
Wade, filling out physically in his late teenage years, now strikes the ball a lot harder and, with a fifty beckoning, was unlucky to be the victim of some excellent fielding.
His departure prompted a mini wobble with Bournemouth University all-rounder Tim Taylor (3-46), the architect of Wade’s demise, taking three wickets in six overs.
The exit of Ben Draper (21) left the South Wilts innings at a potential crossroads at 176-5.
But Arthur Godsal (46 not out) and James Hibberd (19 not out) tilted the balance, their unbroken pre-tea stand taking South Wilts to 243-6.

James Hibberd, who finished with 4-43, reduced Bashley to 41-2 in the 11th over.
Taylor (16) and Porter lifted the reply to 85-3 when the Leicestershire-raised university media student was trapped leg before.
Confident after his unbeaten century at Alton a week earlier, Porter (44, seven fours) was timing the ball nicely and at 116-3 (25 overs) was steering Bashley into a threatening position.
But his contribution ended abruptly when Jack Mynott, bowling his off-spin round the wicket, got a ‘leg before’ verdict from umpire John Attridge as Porter attempted a low pull shot.
It fuelled ill-feeling and when Phil Morris was superbly run out by Godsal and Josh Digby fell to Mynott (2-28) Bashley were 136-6.
The tide was turning towards South Wilts, who maintained the pressure through their constant appealing.
But Premier Division sides bat in depth and a battling 62-run partnership between the emerging Patrick Holly (49) and Sam Thomson (24) put the outcome back in the melting pot.
A slick piece of glovework by Morton curtailed Holly’s fight-back one run shy of a deserved half-century.
Bashley lost two wickets at 198, but with 33 runs required off the last five overs, Thomson and Brad Currie (26 not out) gave it a real crack.
They took 12 runs off the next two overs, but found nine runs off Murray’s final over a step too far and closed four runs short of victory at 240-9.

Alton’s Michael Heffernan, who made 90 against Bashley (Rydal) in round 1, continued his good early season form with 55 as Alton posted 147-7 at ECB Southern Premier Division champions Havant before the rains came.
But it was Andy Gorvin’s spell of 3-28 which put Havant in the box seat when rain drove the players off the field in the 43rd over.
Havant captain Chris Stone, who took a cheeky 2-12, felt his side would have gone on to record the win.
“We had got ourselves into a very good position to win the game,' said Stone. “After winning the toss we put Alton in and bowled really well.
“Once we came off for rain, however, there was little chance of going back out. We looked at the weather radar and could see it was coming in heavier. It is just one of those things you can't do anything about.”
Gorvin, recovering from his 21st birthday celebrations, gave further evidence that he starting the season in tremendous form.  For the second game running he took a wicket in his first over to put the Brewers on the back foot from the start.
Stone praised the contribution of Gorvin, who struck two early blows.
“Andy has made an excellent start with bat and ball,' said Stone. “He scored 60 in the first game and is also doing the business with the ball. He is putting the ball into the right areas with great line and length.  Last season was disappointing for him so it is great to see him starting like this because he is a wonderful cricketer.”
Dan Harris (29) and Mark Heffernan (25) rallied, but with only seven of their 50 overs remaining, Alton weren’t in the best place when the match was abandoned.
Felix Organ followed up his unbeaten 86 against St Cross Symondians with 78 for the Hampshire Academy (170-7), Matt Metcalfe taking 4-24 for visitors Lymington before rain halted play.

Southampton Solent University left-hander Richard Lock got his eye in for today’s (Wednesday's) important BUCS Championship match against Cambridge MCCU by hitting an ECB Southern Premier League century in only his second match for Burridge.
The former Lymington all-rounder struck an 18-boundary 122 and shared a hefty 139-run stand with Cape Town CC's Hilo De Abreu (54) before rain washed out play after 41 overs of New Milton’s visit to Botley Road.
At 231-5, Burridge were headed for a potential 300-plus total when rain intervened with nine overs of the innings remaining.
Solent need to beat Cambridge at Totton & Eling’s Southern Gardens (1230), having lost to Durham by 20 runs and had their last two BUCS matches against Leeds & Bradford and Loughborough washed out.

BASINGSTOKE and North Hants are still looking for their first points of the ECB Southern Premier League campaign, after a second week’s encounter was abandoned.
Last weekend, the Bountymen’s game at New Milton was cancelled and then their round two contest against visiting St Cross Symondians was abandoned after 34 overs.
This was after heavy rain arrived at 2.40pm and flooded the pitch at May’s Bounty.
At this point, the home side were 132-6, having been put into bat by the visitors.
It did not start well for the Bountymen as their top three of Ben Thane, Dan Belcher and Max Harsham were all back in the pavilion with only 27 scored, two of the wickets falling to catches off Jack Bransgrove (2-16), with Belcher bowled by Matt Stokes.
Top scorer Brad Taylor (49) and Mitch Stokes (12) added 49 for the fourth wicket, before Stokes departed.
Craig Williamson was then dismissed – a second wicket for Steve Mitchell (2-30), before Taylor and David Griffiths (21 not out) took the score into three figures.
Taylor, who had dashed back from 12th man duties at Hampshire’s ultimately drawn match at Taunton to play, was the last man out before the rain arrived, caught by former Hook man Harry Came, his third catch of the game.
Afterwards skipper Stokes said: “The weather has beat us today. Five of our six wickets were due to playing indoor cricket shots, we really need to play some cricket on grass.”

Champions Calmore Sports were among several sides to be grateful for the rain intervention as Andover were denied a potential Southern Premier League Division 1 win at London Road.
Last season’s league winners were struggling at 68-3 in response to Andover’s 231 when the rains came and the match was abandoned.
Andover experienced early problems against left-armer Steve Wright (3-31), but opener Ali Hooper (12 fours in his 57), aided by debutants Robin Liney (22) and Nathan Birks (24) steadied the ship.
A four-wicket spell by James Rose (4-32) clawed back the initiative for Calmore, whose work was undone when at 141-9, wicketkeeper Matt Knight (48 not out) was joined by last man Luke Graham, who powered 49 and lifted the Lions to 231 all out.
The pair added 90 for the tenth wicket, the duo each hitting six boundaries and Graham a maximum.
Spinner Matt Hooper (2-13) had Calmore’s backs to the wall at 68-3 when the rains came.
At 87-7 (Chris Russell 3-18), Portsmouth were in a worse state at Ventnor, while Hartley Wintney were 129-8 (Scott Baldwin 38 not out) against Sarisbury Athletic, and Liphook & Ripsley 130-6 against Hook & Newnham Basics.

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.

Michael Haworth thumped nine fours in an unbeaten 44, but any hops he had of leading Sparsholt to a Southern Premier League Division 2 victory over visiting Rowledge were dashed by the rain.
He took Sparsholt to 66-1 in 16 overs after Rowledge had made 209-8.
Rowledge based their total around a 71-run opening partnership between Nick Morant (45) and Jake Wish (27), but it needed a patient half-century by debut making Australian teenager Fraser Wilson (50) to steer the visitors past the 200-run mark.
The 18-year old plays for Gordon, the Sydney Grade club where Hampshire & England leg-spinner Mason Crane played over the 2016/17 winter.
It was the first time in 24 days (since his arrival from Sydney) he had actually managed to pick up a bat in anger, such has been Rowledge’s plight with the weather.

Paultons left-arm spinner Andrew Denney whipped through Tichborne Park’s lower-order to complete a 5-26 return – but still found himself in the losing dressing room at the end of play.
Saints fan Denney was almost solely responsible for Tichborne collapsing from 145-4 to 185 all out.
But bat rusty Paultons failed to match it and were bowled out for 167, 18 runs adrift in he Southern Premier League Division 2 match.
Relegated last season, Tichborne enjoyed the sound base provided by openers Martin Cheyney (31) and Tom Allam (34), then Ryan Brooks (22) and Will Allam (27).
But Denney’s introduction sent wickets tumbling, the left-armer capturing five of the last six to go down.
Paultons looked to have it in the bag on the back of a hefty stand between Simon Ennew (48) and Rob Pike, pictured, (64) – but they too collapsed in equally dramatic fashion.
A threatening 101-1 became 167 all out, with Ed Berry (3-27), Ben Allen (3-41) and Jake Bristow (2-16) doing the damage.
St Cross Symondians II and Trojans had their matches abandoned.
Paul Hawkins (55) and Dave Orchard (41) top scored as St Cross posted 205-9 against Basingstoke & North Hants II (25-0), while Trojans had made 106-6 (Nigel le Bas 31) at Waterlooville when the weather intervened.
The SPL2 derby featuring Langley Manor and Totton & Eling was cancelled as Knellers Lane was unfit.

It’s two out of two for Bashley (Rydal) seconds, who are desperate to improve on last season’s third place finish and regain their lost Southern Premier League Division 2 slot.
Five points shy of an SPL3 promotion place last summer, Bashley improved on their close opening day win over Fawley with a creditable 92-run success against South Wilts II at Bemerton.
Simon Morris (37) and Ellingham raised Alex Turner (32) laid the foundations for Bashley, who scored runs all the way down the order.
Mitch Wilson made 26 before teenager Patrick Lewis struck a lively 33, including an enormous six which sailed over the electronic scoreboard and into the distance.
It gave Bashley a healthy 226-8, a total South Wilts were never capable of chasing after suffering a horrific batting collapse.
With Owain Phillips (41) at the helm, they progressed to 53-0 – but then lost seven wickets for 21 runs before Stephen Booth and Ben Fisher (both 22) gave their eventual 134 an air of respectability.
Simon Watkins (3-10) and left-armer Chris Vaughan (3-17) made inroads into the South Wilts order.
Lymington seconds suffered an identical collapse as they plunged from 81-2 to 102 all out against Hambledon at the Sports Ground.
They fell apart after Ollie Kelly (33) and Drew Robinson (21) had been parted, eight batsmen contributing 14 runs between them as one-time Hampshire left-arm spinner Ian Turner pictured (4-9) and George Harding (3-33) ran amok.
Lean and lanky Liam Shore, a pre-season signing from distant Hook & Newnham Basics who makes a 110-mile round trip to play in home games, struck two blows for Lymington, but Will Bond (26) and Henry Glanfield (33) remained unbeaten to steer the Dons to a seven-wicket win.
Bond believes it will give the team just the boost of confidence they need going forward.
"It is an important result for us,' said Bond. "Luckily we managed to beat the weather and seemed to remain on the fringes of any heavy rain.
"At lunch time it looked as though they might have to get the covers on. It was raining but it never really got going.
"After losing our opening game (at Fair Oak) narrowly by five runs it was important for us to bounce back.
"This should set us up now and help us move forward. It is good for the confidence because we didn't get many wins last season.
"That is why it is important to get one on the board early on.
"We are still a relatively young team with six players 22 years old or younger.'
But for former Hampshire Academy all-rounder Josh McCoy, Purbrook would have been in similar strife against Fair Oak at Holbury.
McCoy cracked 15 fours in an unbeaten 82 while his team-mates floundered against seamer Ross Stewart (3-35) and the left-arm spin of Charlie Gwynn (3-15).  Purbrook were 133-7 when rain stopped play.
Also washed out were Fawley (22-1) in reply to Havant II’s 142, and Gosport Borough, who were struggling at 123-8 against Portsmouth & Southsea at Privett Park.
“"We were in complete charge," said P & S vice-captain Matt Benfield. "Gosport were very much on the back foot with our opening bowler Chris Turrell leading from the top. In the end the rain saved them."

SOUTHERN PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE
RESULTS: ROUND 2 – MAY 12 2018

ECB PREMIER DIVISION

Alton 147-7 (Mike Heffernan 55, Harris 29, Mark Heffernan 25, Gorvin 3-25) v Havant. Match abandoned.

Basingstoke & North Hants 132-6 (Taylor 49) v St Cross Symondians. Match abandoned.

Burridge 231-5 (Lock 122, De Abreu 54) v New Milton. Match abandoned.

Hampshire Academy 170-7 (Organ 78, Metzger 32, Metcalfe 4-24) v Lymington. Match abandoned

South Wilts 243-6 (Morton 73, Wade 49, Godsal 46*, T Taylor 3-46)
Bashley (Rydal) 240-9 (Holly 47, Porter 44, Jacques 26, Hibberd 4-43)
South Wilts won by three runs.

DIVISION 1

Andover 231 (A Hooper 57, Graham 49, Knight 48*, Rose 4-32, Wright 3-31)
Calmore Sports 68-3 (M Hooper 2-13).  Match abandoned.

Bournemouth 226 (Denham 106, Wilson 24, Folkestone 5-42)
Old Tauntonians & Romsey 130-9 (target 197 off 38 overs)(H Tulk 41, Park 4-36)
Bournemouth won by 96 runs.

Hartley Wintney 129-8 (Baldwin 38*, Ross 24, Sanders 3-16) v Sarisbury Athletic. Match abandoned.

Liphook & Ripsley 130-6 (Munt 37, Nicklin 27, Williams 23, Franklin 2-9) v Hook & Newnham Basics. Match abandoned.

Portsmouth 87-7 (C Russell 3-18) v Ventnor. Match abandoned.

DIVISION 2

Tichborne Park 185 (T Allam 34, Cheyney 31, W Allam 27, Denney 5-26)
Paultons 167 (Pike 64, Ennew 48, Berry 3-27, Allen 3-41)
Tichborne Park won by 18 runs.

Rowledge 209-8 (Morant 49, Wilson 46, J Wish 27, Weir 3-51)
Sparsholt 66-1 (Haworth 44*).  Match abandoned.

St Cross Symondians II 205-9 (Hawkins 55, Orchard 41, Perera 3-39)
Basingstoke & North Hants II 25-0.  Match abandoned.

Trojans 106-6 (Le Bas 31, Verma 3-14) v Waterlooville.  Match abandoned.

Match postponed: Langley Manor v Totton & Eling.

DIVISION 3

Bashley (Rydal) 226-8 (Morris 37, Lewis 33, A Turner 32)
South Wilts II 134 (Phillips 41, Watkins 3-10, Vaughan 3-17)
Bashley (Rydal) II won by 92 runs.

Havant II 142 (Clark 32, Jerry 28, Freeman 3-15, Loat 3-23)
Fawley 22-1. Match abandoned.

Lymington II 102 (Kelly 33, Turner 4-9.
Hambledon 105-3 (Glanfield 32, Bond 26)
Hambledon won by seven wickets.

Purbrook 133-7 (McCoy 82*, Gwynn 3-15, Stewart 3-35) v Fair Oak.  Match abandoned.

Gosport Borough 123-8 (Larner 26, Kitchen 21, Dunstan 2-10) v Portsmouth & Southsea. Match abandoned.

Hampshire prospect Brad Taylor is currently dashing back from Taunton to make his long awaited ECB Southern Premier Division debut for Basingstoke & North Hants at May's Bounty, 12.30.
Taylor has been released from 12th man duties in Hampshire's match with Somerset and will place instead of former South Africa Under-19 captain Sib Makhanya, who is ineligible for SPL cricket until his CSA coaching credentials are received.

Talk about poachers turned gamekeepers !  The latest addition to the Southern Premier/Hampshire League umpire's panel is none other than Trojans oft controversial batsman Simon Williams, who makes his debut in the white coat in Fareham & Crofton's County Division 1 match against Old Tauntonians & Romsey II at Bath Lane today.
Williams, who accumulated a tidy 5,234 SPL runs including four centuries and 31 fifty-plus scores, has been training to become an umpire since he realised he wouldn't be adding to his run tally due to a nagging wrist injury for which he has already undergone surgery.
"I'm really looking forward to it. It's my way of putting something back into the game I've loved since I played all those back garden Test matches with my dad (Trevor) and brother Paul," he explained.
"It will be a lot of fun umpiring guys I've played with and against over a long period of time and it will be a totally new experience for me."

Basingstoke & North Hants, Havant and Waterlooville all have home matches in Sunday’s ECB Royal London national club championship second round.
The Bountymen host newly promoted West of England Premier Division side Goatacre at May’s Bounty, while Havant entertain Chichester Priory Park, and Waterloovile seek an upset when Bashley (Rydal) visit Rowlands Avenue.
There are also seven local matches in the National Village Cup, with Bramshaw against Easton & Martyr Worthy and Rowledge’s tie with Valley End arguably the stand out games.
Fixtures -
ECB Royal London Club Championship round two, 1pm
Basingstoke & North Hants v Goatacre, Havant v Chichester Priory Park, Normandy v Aldershot, Waterlooville v Bashley (Rydal).
Village Cup round two, 1pm
Bramshaw v Langley Manor, Easton & Martyr Worthy v Paultons, Hambledon v Tichborne Park, Hursley Park v Liphook & Ripsley, Lacock v Redlynch & Hale, Parley v Aldbourne, Rowledge v Valley End, Shrewton v Burbage.

Hampshire Seniors’ previously successful 60’s team must beat Wiltshire at Marlborough on Wednesday to avoid being bottom of their Sixties County Championship west group.
Beaten by five wickets by Devon in their opening match, Hampshire crashed a 95 all out and a crushing 119-run defeat by Gloucestershire at Hursley Park.
Responding to Gloucestershire’s 214-6, Hampshire sank to 49-6 before Chris Yates (24) and Martin Shephard (21) combined to almost double their score to 95 all out.
Wiltshire have also lost both their matches against Somerset and Wales.

It’s far too early in the day to be talking ‘must win’ matches, but having lost their ECB Southern Premier Division opener to Burridge, South Wilts can ill-afford another slip up at Bashley (Rydal).
Runners-up to Havant last season, Bashley are among the fancied teams this season – as are South Wilts – so James Hibberd’s side will need to produce a much improved performance in the New Forest.
The return of James Hayward will strengthen the South Wilts middle-order, but Steve Warner is out and replaced by Matt Burton.
Bashley skipper Michael Porter, fresh from his century at Alton, is mulling over whether to recall unwell spin all-rounder Sam Thompson (left) or include Simon Watkins.
“Tommo dropped out unwell just before we were leaving for Aton so coach Steve Wilson had to play,” Porter explained.
“Sam’s not played any cricket yet, nor done much training, so it’s a difficult one.”
Bashley (Rydal): Porter, C Ridley, Digby, Andrew, Taylor, P Morris, Holly, Thomson/Watkins, Goodey, B Currie, Nash.
South Wilts: Morton, Cowley, Wade, Draper, Hayward, Mynott, Godsal, Hibberd, Evans, Murray, Matt Burton.
Champions Havant, who beat Lymington last week, expect Chris Morgan back for Alton’s visit to the Park, but seam duo Richard Jerry and Jeremy Ord are out.
Havant: Stone, Gorvin, Hopson, Ransley, Gadd, Hindley, Morgan, Bulled, Jones, Prentice, Burns.
Alton: A Hammond, Mike Heffernan, Marais, Harris, Myers, Mark Heffernan, H Hammond, Mortimer, Salmon, Bochereau, Ballinger.
Waterlooville-raised Sonny Reynolds makes his Hampshire Academy debut against Lymington on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground.
The Academy sparkled in a seven-wicket at St Cross Symondians last week, while Lymington – boosted by the return of skipper Simon Beetham and Matt Metcalfe – crashed at Havant.
Academy: F Organ, Kantolinna, Middleton, Scriven, South, Metzger, S Currie, Pardoe, Mo Abbas, Reynolds, Searle.
Lymington: Hand, Cox, Scott, Grady, Beetham, Moors, Calcott, Metcalfe, Proctor, Layman, Willis.
New Milton are without Toby Edwards at Burridge, who began with a fine 25-run win at South Wilts. Evergreen Steve Watts steps in.
New Milton:  R Beck, L Beck, G Watts, S Watts, A Hussey, R Hussey, T Arnold, D Loader, N Gargaro, J Lilley, J Haggaty.

Former South Africa Under-19 captain Sibonelo Makhanya has arrived at May’s Bounty as Basingstoke & North Hants’ overseas player – but the club is uncertain whether he will be able to make his ECB Southern Premier League debut against St Cross Symondians, 12.30pm.
The Dolphins right-arm all-rounder arrived yesterday and met his team-mates for the first time at last night’s training session.
The 22-year old KwaZulu-Natal cricketer captained South Africa on their UK tour in 2015, having played in his country’s ICC Under-19 World Cup winning side in Bangladesh.
But it is taking time for his Premier League registration to be sorted out.
“We obviously need to get the necessary paperwork signed off before Sib can play, so its a case of wait and see,” said Basingstoke skipper Mitchell Stokes.
“Sib certainly hasn’t missed anything as few of the first team has managed to play any cricket yet.”
This will be Basingstoke’s delayed Premier Division debut, last week’s scheduled visit to New Milton being called off because Fernhill was unfit.
St Cross Symondians did play last weekend and took a seven-wicket biffing from the Hampshire Academy – weaknesses in their bowling armory being exposed.
They are without skipper Tom Foyle, but Southampton Solent University all-rounder Matt Stokes is expected to return and beef up the pace attack.
Basingstoke & North Hants: Belcher, Thane, Harsham, Stokes, Makhanya, Williamson, Griffiths, Jolley, Benge, Porter, James.
St Cross Symondians: Stokes, Young, Came, Ellis, Mead, H Foyle, Bransgrove, C Ayres, Lunn, Veillard, Mitchell.

Calmore Sports have Dom Ducellier back as they plan to reboot their faltering Southern Premier Division 1 start against Andover at London Road.
The right-arm seamer and useful lower-order batsman missed last week’s hiccup at Ventnor, where Calmore allowed their hosts to recover from 142-6 and post a winning 290-8.
The evergreen Tom Pegler is expected to take the wicket-keeping gloves for Calmore, who had not had any cricket or done any meaningful training before their island voyage. Andover call up Robin Liney and teenager Nathan Birks.
Andover: M Hooper, A Hooper, Hart, Treagus, Arnold, Birks, Liney, Knight, Taylor, Graham, Adams.
Calmore Sports: Lavelle, Hardy, Johns, Manning, Taylor, Proudley, Rose, Wright, Pegler, West, Ducellier.
Bournemouth give a debit to teenage left-arm seamer Ollie Breckon against Old Tauntonians & Romsey, who look to greatly enhance last week’s grip batting performance at Hook & Newnham Basics.
Paceman Dan Conway and left-armer David Kidner are missing for Bournemouth, who call in experienced gloveman Martin Miller, pictured above.
Hartley Wintney lost their opener by 24 runs at Portsmouth (away to Ventnor in round two) but give an DSPL debut to Rajiv Nair against Sarisbury Athletic on their historic Cricket Green. 
The Indian all-rounder clocked up a cool 852 runs, including four separate hundreds, as HW’s overseas player in HL CD2 last season and warmed up with an elegant 100 not out in last week’s nine-wicket win over Ramsdell.
Hartley Wintney: Batcup, W Kerr, M Kerr, Plume, Earney, Baldwin, Wrenn, Ross, Reynaldo, Nair, J Teale.
Liphook & Ripsley face Hook & Newnham Basics in the other SPL2 match.

Sparsholt are desperate to kick-start their season with a Southern Premier League Division 2 win over relegated and potentially ring-rusty Rowledge at the Norman Edwards Ground.
“Losing by two runs to Trojans and then being knocked out of the Village Cup the very next day wasn’t the ideal start,” concedes skipper Jerry Frith, pictured. “We need to hit the ground running tomorrow.”
Bottom of Division 2 last season, Rowledge have yet to play a game due to waterlogged grounds and teenage Australian import Fraser Wilson hasn’t picked up a bat since he left Sydney last month.
Rowledge: B Wish, Morant, Randall, Baker, Swan, M Martin, S Martin, Moseley, Wilson, J Wish.
Trojans visit a jubilant Waterlooville, who celebrated a league win at Totton & Eling before knocking Ventnor out of the ECB national club championships. 
Beaten at Basingstoke in their opening match, Langley Manor are boosted by the return of all-rounder pair Azeem Hamid and Nick Wheeler for the Totton & Eling derby at Knellers Lane.
Langley Manor: Budd, Brown, Browne, Harris, Wheeler, Hamid, Morgan, Knight , Spencer, Ponting, Mooney, Jerram.
Elsewhere, Paultons look to get their season underway against relegated Tichborne Park and Basingstoke & North Hants II go to St Cross Symondians II.
Fixtures: Langley Manor v Totton & Eling, Paultons v Tichborne Park, Sparsholt v Rowledge, St Cross Symondians II v Basingstoke & North Hants II, Waterlooville v Trojans.

Fourteen-year old Edward, the youngest of the Wade cricketing family, will create a spot of local folklore when he debuts for South Wilts’ seconds in the Southern Premier League Division 3 match against Bashley (Rydal) II at Bemerton, 12.30.
It will mean all four members of the Wade clan will have played SPL cricket for the Salisbury club – father Rob being a past captain, eldest son William currently in the firsts, with Edward joining James as a second teamer.
“It may be a first in Premier League cricket,” smiled Rob Wade, who is still heavily involved in the club’s youth set up.
The junior-most Wade (picture left by Roy Honeybone), a prolific run scorer in Wiltshire county age group cricket, is listed to bat at three.
Both sides open their opening matches – South Wilts at newly promoted Portsmouth & Southsea and Bashley against Fawley.
South Wilts II: Phillips, Berzins, E Wade, R Pittman, Pearce, Lloyd, S Pittman, Booth, Marc Burton, Fisher, Ghauri.
Kieran Earl, who hit his maiden Premier League century at Bashley last weekend, names an unchanged Fawley side against Havant II at Holbury.
Tasmanian Stuart Plunkett makes his home debut after a tidy 1-21 spell at the BCG, where he narrowly finished on the losing side.
Fawley: C Earl, K Earl, S Plunkett, K Sharma, K Sharma, A Parratt, B Parratt, W Smith, W Crossley, A Freeman, D Godden.
Lymington II, looking to build on last week’s emphatic 98-run win over Havant II, are strengthened by Drew Robinson’s return alongside a debut for teenager Hugo Smith against visiting Hambledon.
Lymington II: Kelly, Agha, Atkins, Robinson, Sutherland, Royan, Wickramasinghe, Smith, Moors K, Chandler, Shore.
Hambledon: Bond, Marshall, Chakrabarti, Willoughby, Barnard, Glanfield, Le Clerq, Beagley, Harding, Turner, Chapman.
Fair Oak, who edged a five-run win at Hambledon, host Purbrook at Lapstone Park, where left-armer Gregor McKenzie will be looking to repeat last week’s five-wicket haul.
Fair Oak: Gwynn, Hughes, Kemp, Hockenhull, Smith, G Stewart, Bullough, McKenzie, Featherstone, R Stewart, Mash.
Beaten by South Wilts II, Portsmouth & Southsea are unchanged for the eagerly awaited cross-harbour derby at Privett Park, where Gosport Borough parade their new Kiwi signing Liam Campbell, who made an unbeaten century at Lyndhurst in his first knock on UK soil.

Openers Ollie Wright and Chris Pratt etched themselves firmly in Portsmouth Grammar School cricketing record books this week with a remarkable stand of 275 in the thumping win over Reading Blue Coats at Sonning.
Wright notched a career-best 149, while Pratt carried his bat throughout the PGS total of 313-4, making an unbeaten 115. The 275-run partnership is a record for any stand in the PGS annals.
Wright, who sits his A-levels shortly, struck five sixes and 17 fours in his century.
At 15 years of age, GCSE year student Pratt is believed to be the youngest schoolboy, alongside former Hampshire all-rounder Jon Ayling, to score a century for PGS.   He hit one six and 12 fours.
Having posted a mammoth 313-4 in 50 overs, PGS bowled Reading Blue Coats out for 138 to win by a thumping 177 runs, skipper Joe Kooner-Evans taking 3-28.