THE ROWLEDGE VERDICT
Rowledge suffered yet another narrow British Gas Southern League loss this time by three wickets against Division 1 relegation rivals Portsmouth, whom they beat at St Helen’s in mid-June.
Having lost the toss on a Church Road pitch that was always going to be helpful for the first hour, Jake Wish departed in the first hour caught behind to an excellent Fraser Hay delivery. Thereafter, Hay dismissed Nick Morant played on, whilst Vikram Dawson (5-24) settled into a good groove to send Plater and Lloyd back to the pavilion. Ricky Yates and Metcalfe were then dismissed lbw, and then when Hay (3-32) returned to remove Randall, Rowledge were in the mire at 61-7.
Australian left-hander Tom Treble (pictured by the Farnham Herald) was looking in classy form as he continued to have more time than anyone else, and with some classy drives and cuts he was in need of partners.
Captain Ben Wish joined him as the pair added 60 for the eighth wicket. That was until Dawson returned to dismiss Wish (23), the fourth ’leg before’ victim of the innings. With plenty of overs to go, George Keeley treated the crowd to some delightful cover drives and put on 82 with Treble for the ninth wicket.
Treble continued to be positive as he three sixes and eight fours in his 107 not out, his third hundred of the season to get Rowledge up to 204-9, a total they could only dream about at one stage.
In response, Joe Randall opened the bowling to dismiss Portsmouth captain Richard Locke caught by Treble at cover, but with decisions not quite going in Rowledge's favour taking the vital early wickets was becoming a problem.
A fantastic turn and throw by Lloyd sent James Christian packing and when George Keeley finally got his reward for another excellent spell of bowling, he had Randall to thank for a quite superb chance at mid-wicket to see the end to Palmer Goddard's innings.
Rowledge then struggled to break the fourth wicket partnership between Fraser Hay and Jack Marston. The bowling was regularly changed, but Hampshire second teamer Hay was able to find the vital boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking with it more often than not being a glorious cover drive
Momentum swung back in Rowledge's favour as Lloyd dismissed Marston (27) round his legs, Jake Wish got rid of Hay for 67 off 69 balls, and then Chris Yates got two wickets in consecutive balls as Collier and Hammond (a first baller) flattered to deceive. It was then 164-7 : six overs to go.
The luckless Rowledge then saw the ball go through the slip cordon on three occasions for boundary runs and with some quick scampering and the ball not going to hand Dawson backed up his earlier 5 wicket haul with 28 not out and Bains saw the visitors home with 3 wickets in hand and 8 balls to spare.
Skipper Wish reflected: “Rowledge once again showed a lot of fight and grit, as they have done all season to get back into the game and nearly win it. With three games to go, we are going to have to continue with this approach as we continue to fight for survival. We are 17 points adrift of Ventnor at the bottom.”
Rowledge suffered yet another narrow British Gas Southern League loss this time by three wickets against Division 1 relegation rivals Portsmouth, whom they beat at St Helen’s in mid-June.
Having lost the toss on a Church Road pitch that was always going to be helpful for the first hour, Jake Wish departed in the first hour caught behind to an excellent Fraser Hay delivery. Thereafter, Hay dismissed Nick Morant played on, whilst Vikram Dawson (5-24) settled into a good groove to send Plater and Lloyd back to the pavilion. Ricky Yates and Metcalfe were then dismissed lbw, and then when Hay (3-32) returned to remove Randall, Rowledge were in the mire at 61-7.
Australian left-hander Tom Treble (pictured by the Farnham Herald) was looking in classy form as he continued to have more time than anyone else, and with some classy drives and cuts he was in need of partners.
Captain Ben Wish joined him as the pair added 60 for the eighth wicket. That was until Dawson returned to dismiss Wish (23), the fourth ’leg before’ victim of the innings. With plenty of overs to go, George Keeley treated the crowd to some delightful cover drives and put on 82 with Treble for the ninth wicket.
Treble continued to be positive as he three sixes and eight fours in his 107 not out, his third hundred of the season to get Rowledge up to 204-9, a total they could only dream about at one stage.
In response, Joe Randall opened the bowling to dismiss Portsmouth captain Richard Locke caught by Treble at cover, but with decisions not quite going in Rowledge's favour taking the vital early wickets was becoming a problem.
A fantastic turn and throw by Lloyd sent James Christian packing and when George Keeley finally got his reward for another excellent spell of bowling, he had Randall to thank for a quite superb chance at mid-wicket to see the end to Palmer Goddard's innings.
Rowledge then struggled to break the fourth wicket partnership between Fraser Hay and Jack Marston. The bowling was regularly changed, but Hampshire second teamer Hay was able to find the vital boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking with it more often than not being a glorious cover drive
Momentum swung back in Rowledge's favour as Lloyd dismissed Marston (27) round his legs, Jake Wish got rid of Hay for 67 off 69 balls, and then Chris Yates got two wickets in consecutive balls as Collier and Hammond (a first baller) flattered to deceive. It was then 164-7 : six overs to go.
The luckless Rowledge then saw the ball go through the slip cordon on three occasions for boundary runs and with some quick scampering and the ball not going to hand Dawson backed up his earlier 5 wicket haul with 28 not out and Bains saw the visitors home with 3 wickets in hand and 8 balls to spare.
Skipper Wish reflected: “Rowledge once again showed a lot of fight and grit, as they have done all season to get back into the game and nearly win it. With three games to go, we are going to have to continue with this approach as we continue to fight for survival. We are 17 points adrift of Ventnor at the bottom.”
PORTSMOUTH REFLECTIONS
Rich Locke praised the way Portsmouth handled the pressure to come away with a vital Southern League Division One win at Rowledge.
Portsmouth eased themselves over the line for a three-wicket success but not before enduring some tense moments.
With just seven points separating four teams in the relegation dogfight Portsmouth still have it all to do to stay up.
With their final three games all against top sides Locke knows his side must be at their best.
'We handled the pressure really well considering we knew that this was a must win game for us,' said Locke.
'It is good to see us step up and maintain our skill levels despite the pressure.
'This should stand us in good stead in our remaining games.
'We have shown that we have the ability to get over the line in tight situations.
'It isn't good for the old ticker though.
'There is no reason why we can't get the results we need in our final games.
'We have already beaten Basingstoke and Calmore this season but had a bit of an aberration against Hook.
'Our main problem has been inconsistency and we have to make sure that we put in the performances from now on.'
Locke won the toss and invited Rowledge to bat first with the decision soon paying off.
Aussie Fraser Hay bowled well up top and soon removed both the home openers.
Rowledge were in big trouble at 61 for seven but their overseas player batted through for an unbeaten century helping them to 204 for nine.
'With so much on the game we knew that it wasn't going to be easy,' said Locke.
Portsmouth lost Locke early on but James Christian (22) and Jordan Palmer-Goddard (29) led the fight back guiding the visitors to 52 for 2.
It looked comfortable all the time Hay (68) was at the wicket but when he was caught out it triggered a mini collapse.
At 164 for seven Portsmouth still had plenty of work to do but fortunately the experience of Vikram Dawson (28 not out) came to the fore.
'Vikram and Prad Baines produced a really mature partnership to secure the win,' said Locke.
'It was a terrific all round performance from Vikram,' said Locke.
'He is one of our senior players and that showed.'
Rich Locke praised the way Portsmouth handled the pressure to come away with a vital Southern League Division One win at Rowledge.
Portsmouth eased themselves over the line for a three-wicket success but not before enduring some tense moments.
With just seven points separating four teams in the relegation dogfight Portsmouth still have it all to do to stay up.
With their final three games all against top sides Locke knows his side must be at their best.
'We handled the pressure really well considering we knew that this was a must win game for us,' said Locke.
'It is good to see us step up and maintain our skill levels despite the pressure.
'This should stand us in good stead in our remaining games.
'We have shown that we have the ability to get over the line in tight situations.
'It isn't good for the old ticker though.
'There is no reason why we can't get the results we need in our final games.
'We have already beaten Basingstoke and Calmore this season but had a bit of an aberration against Hook.
'Our main problem has been inconsistency and we have to make sure that we put in the performances from now on.'
Locke won the toss and invited Rowledge to bat first with the decision soon paying off.
Aussie Fraser Hay bowled well up top and soon removed both the home openers.
Rowledge were in big trouble at 61 for seven but their overseas player batted through for an unbeaten century helping them to 204 for nine.
'With so much on the game we knew that it wasn't going to be easy,' said Locke.
Portsmouth lost Locke early on but James Christian (22) and Jordan Palmer-Goddard (29) led the fight back guiding the visitors to 52 for 2.
It looked comfortable all the time Hay (68) was at the wicket but when he was caught out it triggered a mini collapse.
At 164 for seven Portsmouth still had plenty of work to do but fortunately the experience of Vikram Dawson (28 not out) came to the fore.
'Vikram and Prad Baines produced a really mature partnership to secure the win,' said Locke.
'It was a terrific all round performance from Vikram,' said Locke.
'He is one of our senior players and that showed.'
