Hook & Newnham Basics' 53-run defeat by Rowledge underlined the unpredictability of Southern Premier Division 1 cricket, where on their day, any of the ten sides are capable of beating each other.
With Rowledge 95-5 in mid-innings, Hook probably fancied their chances of a fifth win in seven starts, but the visitors thrived on 70-plus contributions from opener Max Martin and Will Ryman to post 203-9, a total their third-placed hosts struggled to match on a wearing KGV surface.
With basement side New Milton unexpectedly beating Ventnor, the result came as some relief to Rowledge, who had previously won only twice.
Hook, who face West of England Premier League outfit Goatacre in the Venous Broadband national village cup at the KGV on Sunday (1pm), were rolled over for 150.
Rowledge wobbled at 12-2, but when opener Max Miller was joined by teenager Oli Ryman (19) the innings began to take shape.
The pair added 58 but a double breakthrough by spinner Will Gardner (2-44) led to Rowledge slipping to 95-5.
With Rowledge 95-5 in mid-innings, Hook probably fancied their chances of a fifth win in seven starts, but the visitors thrived on 70-plus contributions from opener Max Martin and Will Ryman to post 203-9, a total their third-placed hosts struggled to match on a wearing KGV surface.
With basement side New Milton unexpectedly beating Ventnor, the result came as some relief to Rowledge, who had previously won only twice.
Hook, who face West of England Premier League outfit Goatacre in the Venous Broadband national village cup at the KGV on Sunday (1pm), were rolled over for 150.
Rowledge wobbled at 12-2, but when opener Max Miller was joined by teenager Oli Ryman (19) the innings began to take shape.
The pair added 58 but a double breakthrough by spinner Will Gardner (2-44) led to Rowledge slipping to 95-5.
But Martin, with 69 in his previous innings against Calmore Sports, looked in good nick, hitting 74 in a half-century partnership with Will Ryman to lift the total to 146.
Ryman, back from his geology studies at Durham University, took the Hook bowlers apart, with four sixes and seven fours in a breezy 74 which, with Ollie Baker alongside, saw another 52 added.
The Rowledge total of 203-9 looked a long way off when Richard Forbes (2-15) removed openers Harry Warner and Josh Buckingham to leave Hook 3-2.
Left-hander Harry Robson (28) and Matt Buckingham (45) got Hook's reply back on track, but strikes by teenage Aussie Conor Cook and Baker limited progress to 68-4.
Hook continued to attack, but the dry surface aided Rowledge spin, Baker (4-28) and the evergreen David Lloyd using the conditions to their advantage and dismissing their hosts for 150.
Ryman, back from his geology studies at Durham University, took the Hook bowlers apart, with four sixes and seven fours in a breezy 74 which, with Ollie Baker alongside, saw another 52 added.
The Rowledge total of 203-9 looked a long way off when Richard Forbes (2-15) removed openers Harry Warner and Josh Buckingham to leave Hook 3-2.
Left-hander Harry Robson (28) and Matt Buckingham (45) got Hook's reply back on track, but strikes by teenage Aussie Conor Cook and Baker limited progress to 68-4.
Hook continued to attack, but the dry surface aided Rowledge spin, Baker (4-28) and the evergreen David Lloyd using the conditions to their advantage and dismissing their hosts for 150.