Oli Baker, four wickets in Rowledge win [Bob Selley]
Rowledge got off to the best possible start and gave promoted Hambledon a rude awakening about life in Southern Premier Division 1 with a comfortable seven-wicket win at Ridge Meadow.
Hambledon, buoyant after back to back SPL2 and 3 title triumphs, probably reflected on the wisdom of their decision to bat first on a damp, used track and were rolled out for a meagre 54 inside 28 overs. Rowledge won inside 16 overs.
The medium/spin attack of Richard Forbes and Max Martin was perfect, both bowlers producing tight spells and containing the hosts with control and movement with the new ball. Hambledon found it difficult against superb fielding to ascertain any sort of dominance with the bat.
Openers Spencer LeClercq and James Marshall, then South African Justin Behrens soon after fell to Forbes, who finished with figures of 3-4 off his six overs.
When Henry Glanfield was bowled through the gate by the Australian teen Connor Cook, from the NSW Premier League club Gordon, Hambledon were in deep trouble at 30-4.
Ollie Baker (4-22) and Cook (2-16) ripped through Hambledon batting line up. Baker, with his left arm spin, and off-spinner Cook controlled everything the batters could throw at them and with a stunning run out by Oli Ryman and a couple of great catches by Ben Davidson and Richard Forbes the visitors were on a high.
Rowledge coach Chris Yates beamed: “It was a spectacular display in the field by our boys, who had no previous match practice and little grass wicket training. They fielded with enthusiasm and quality that would take some beating any where in the league.”
But Rowledge lost Ricky Yates and Martin cheaply and were 23-2 with runs equally had to come by. But Jonty Seeborn (23) looked in no trouble and dispatched the bowling to all parts of the ground. Cook completed formalities with a huge six over the Ridge Meadow pavilion.
Hambledon, buoyant after back to back SPL2 and 3 title triumphs, probably reflected on the wisdom of their decision to bat first on a damp, used track and were rolled out for a meagre 54 inside 28 overs. Rowledge won inside 16 overs.
The medium/spin attack of Richard Forbes and Max Martin was perfect, both bowlers producing tight spells and containing the hosts with control and movement with the new ball. Hambledon found it difficult against superb fielding to ascertain any sort of dominance with the bat.
Openers Spencer LeClercq and James Marshall, then South African Justin Behrens soon after fell to Forbes, who finished with figures of 3-4 off his six overs.
When Henry Glanfield was bowled through the gate by the Australian teen Connor Cook, from the NSW Premier League club Gordon, Hambledon were in deep trouble at 30-4.
Ollie Baker (4-22) and Cook (2-16) ripped through Hambledon batting line up. Baker, with his left arm spin, and off-spinner Cook controlled everything the batters could throw at them and with a stunning run out by Oli Ryman and a couple of great catches by Ben Davidson and Richard Forbes the visitors were on a high.
Rowledge coach Chris Yates beamed: “It was a spectacular display in the field by our boys, who had no previous match practice and little grass wicket training. They fielded with enthusiasm and quality that would take some beating any where in the league.”
But Rowledge lost Ricky Yates and Martin cheaply and were 23-2 with runs equally had to come by. But Jonty Seeborn (23) looked in no trouble and dispatched the bowling to all parts of the ground. Cook completed formalities with a huge six over the Ridge Meadow pavilion.
