Anthony Alleyne powers a four through extra-cover (Dave Reynolds pictures)
Charlie King and Harry Tulk hit half-centuries, but Old Tauntonians & Romsey were unable to make a sufficiently challenging total to prevent high flying Ventnor from a four-wicket win in the Southern Premier Division 2 promotion showdown at Steephill.
OTs posted 177-9, but with Barbados left-hander Anthony Alleyne hitting an unbeaten 66 Ventnor eased to victory.
The defeat dropped OTs to fifth place in the table, but three of their last four matches are against teams in the bottom three, so they ought to take the promotion race to the wire.
Chris Russell (5-45), the former Worcestershire pace bowler, worked up a lively pace from the sea end and took three early wickets to have OTs rocking at 31-3 before King (60) and left-hander Harry Tulk (59) produced a century fourth-wicket stand to balance the books.
OTs posted 177-9, but with Barbados left-hander Anthony Alleyne hitting an unbeaten 66 Ventnor eased to victory.
The defeat dropped OTs to fifth place in the table, but three of their last four matches are against teams in the bottom three, so they ought to take the promotion race to the wire.
Chris Russell (5-45), the former Worcestershire pace bowler, worked up a lively pace from the sea end and took three early wickets to have OTs rocking at 31-3 before King (60) and left-hander Harry Tulk (59) produced a century fourth-wicket stand to balance the books.
 Charlie King |  Harry Tulk |
Russell’s second spell and two wickets for the off-spin of Alleyne saw OTs slip from 140-3 to their eventual 177-9.
Matt Bampton (2-39) celebrated a double breakthrough with Ventnor’s reply at 39, but the visitors were unable to capture Alleyne’s wicket and the West Indian proceeded to win the match for the islanders.
He got support from his middle-order and ended 66 not out, Tulk’s own spin accounting for three of his partners. Tulk finished with 3-28, while Russell completed proceedings with two big sixes.
Matt Bampton (2-39) celebrated a double breakthrough with Ventnor’s reply at 39, but the visitors were unable to capture Alleyne’s wicket and the West Indian proceeded to win the match for the islanders.
He got support from his middle-order and ended 66 not out, Tulk’s own spin accounting for three of his partners. Tulk finished with 3-28, while Russell completed proceedings with two big sixes.
Harry Munt
South Wilts seconds removed both Liphook & Ripsley openers before the visitors had ten runs on the Bemerton scoreboard – but were eventually beaten by 108 runs by the Southern Premier Division 2 leaders.
Jayden Atkinson and Nick Partridge achieved the early successes, but Harry Munt (78) and Suman Ganguly (62) added 100 for the third wicket before Adam Rouse (42) pushed the score to 226-7.
South Wilts slipped to 22-3 before George Edwards (29), Rob Pittman (26) and latterly Nick Partridge (20) gave their 139 all out any form of substance.
Jayden Atkinson and Nick Partridge achieved the early successes, but Harry Munt (78) and Suman Ganguly (62) added 100 for the third wicket before Adam Rouse (42) pushed the score to 226-7.
South Wilts slipped to 22-3 before George Edwards (29), Rob Pittman (26) and latterly Nick Partridge (20) gave their 139 all out any form of substance.
Sufian Munir Jon Kerr and Roy Cockram hit 70 as Hartley Wintney maintained their promotion push with a convincing 67-run win over relegation threatened Fawley on Southampton Waterside.
They remain in second place, eight points behind leaders Liphook & Ripsley but are conscious that Saturday’s showdown with high flying Ventnor at the Cricket Green will be crucial for both sides.
Ventnor lie effectively three points behind Hartley Wintney, having won eight of their last nine games.
Kerr (70) shared key 70-run partnerships with Angus Brown (26) and later Cockram (70) as Hartley Wintney built a winning 218-9 at Holbury, where spinner Sufian Munir (left) took 5-25 for the hosts.
Andy Parratt (30) gave Fawley a positive reply, but when Cockram (2-had the dangerous Munir caught behind by Simon Carter, the oilmen sank to 61-5.
Usman Ali (26) and Aqab Ahmed (34) raised Fawley’s response to 100 when Cockram and later James Darnell (3-31) dismissed the pair, leaving the hosts to slip to 151 all out.
Fair Oak climbed to fourth place after an emphatic 131-run victory against basement club Paultons at Lapstone Park.
A brief flurry of 16 runs from Oaks’ Gregor McKenzie set the scene for a match-winning third-wicket stand of 105 between Charlie Gwynn (89) and Sam Reed (48). With young Harman Chandhoke (3-40) picking up three wickets no other home batsman reached double figures. Paultons shuffled the pack by trying out eight bowlers but the home side’s final total of 220-7 turned out to be more than enough.
The new-ball magic of Ben Smith (2-21) and Ross Stewart (2-20) quickly reduced Paultons to 34- 4. The visitors were rallied by Simon Ennew (33) and Josh Metcalfe (24), but another clatter of wickets followed as the consistent Gwynn boosted his tally by taking 3 for 10. Monty McKenzie ended Paultons’ innings at 89 all out with three late wickets for nine runs.
Bashley (Rydal) II, promoted as Division 3 champions in 2019, eased their relegation fears with a six-wicket win over a weakened Waterlooville at the BCG.
They shot the Ville out for 62 - skipper Sean Read took 3-12 - but slumped to 16-4 themselves before om Jacques hit an unbeaten 34 to dig them out of a hole and win the game without further loss.
They remain in second place, eight points behind leaders Liphook & Ripsley but are conscious that Saturday’s showdown with high flying Ventnor at the Cricket Green will be crucial for both sides.
Ventnor lie effectively three points behind Hartley Wintney, having won eight of their last nine games.
Kerr (70) shared key 70-run partnerships with Angus Brown (26) and later Cockram (70) as Hartley Wintney built a winning 218-9 at Holbury, where spinner Sufian Munir (left) took 5-25 for the hosts.
Andy Parratt (30) gave Fawley a positive reply, but when Cockram (2-had the dangerous Munir caught behind by Simon Carter, the oilmen sank to 61-5.
Usman Ali (26) and Aqab Ahmed (34) raised Fawley’s response to 100 when Cockram and later James Darnell (3-31) dismissed the pair, leaving the hosts to slip to 151 all out.
Fair Oak climbed to fourth place after an emphatic 131-run victory against basement club Paultons at Lapstone Park.
A brief flurry of 16 runs from Oaks’ Gregor McKenzie set the scene for a match-winning third-wicket stand of 105 between Charlie Gwynn (89) and Sam Reed (48). With young Harman Chandhoke (3-40) picking up three wickets no other home batsman reached double figures. Paultons shuffled the pack by trying out eight bowlers but the home side’s final total of 220-7 turned out to be more than enough.
The new-ball magic of Ben Smith (2-21) and Ross Stewart (2-20) quickly reduced Paultons to 34- 4. The visitors were rallied by Simon Ennew (33) and Josh Metcalfe (24), but another clatter of wickets followed as the consistent Gwynn boosted his tally by taking 3 for 10. Monty McKenzie ended Paultons’ innings at 89 all out with three late wickets for nine runs.
Bashley (Rydal) II, promoted as Division 3 champions in 2019, eased their relegation fears with a six-wicket win over a weakened Waterlooville at the BCG.
They shot the Ville out for 62 - skipper Sean Read took 3-12 - but slumped to 16-4 themselves before om Jacques hit an unbeaten 34 to dig them out of a hole and win the game without further loss.
