SARISBURY ATHLETIC, 29 points clear at the top of Southern Premier Division 1.
Standing (from left): Jordan Wright, Sam Floyd, Sam Hill, Tom Mills, Ronan DeGrussa, Ricky Rawlins. Seated: Cameron Grierson, Rob Franklin, Josh Hill, Jack Lovett, Matt Journeaux.
Standing (from left): Jordan Wright, Sam Floyd, Sam Hill, Tom Mills, Ronan DeGrussa, Ricky Rawlins. Seated: Cameron Grierson, Rob Franklin, Josh Hill, Jack Lovett, Matt Journeaux.
The path appears clear for Sarisbury Athletic to win the Southern Premier Division 1 title and reclaim the ECB Premier Division status they lost in 2015.
With five games to go – the last three against the bottom three clubs in the table – Sarisbury enjoy a healthy 29-point lead at the top, having brushed aside Alton, Calmore Sports and Rowledge, their three closest challengers, in the past few weeks.
Next up is a trip to Southsea seafront to play inconsistent and unpredictable Portsmouth before Ventnor (one of the three sides to beat them) come to Allotment Road on August 13.
The five-wicket win over Rowledge was Sarisbury’s sixth in a row and a tenth in all, underlining their undeniable claim to be the best side in Division 1.
Alas, the way they are going about things is winning them few friends.
Watching the initial hour of the Rowledge match, in which they managed to bowl only 13 overs and Jordan Wright (2-47) take two wickets, was an unedifying experience.
Incessant appealing from all quarters, fielders standing ‘tea-pot’ like and in silence when umpiring decisions didn’t go their way (which few did) and, worse still (it was claimed) unpleasantries being directed at the batsmen.
Captain Josh Hill was spoken to on three separate occasions in the 13th over.
When things quietened and Sarisbury got on with calling the tune with the ball, as opposed to their rants and tongues, MCC man Rob Franklin (3-19) bowled a hugely influential ten-over spell off off-spin.
The dry, dusty conditions were to the liking of the former South Wilts Premier Division title winner, who removed opener Ricky Yates for a patient 31, David Lloyd and Oli Baker in quick succession. Rowledge were soon in deep trouble at 97-6.
It was left to Zach LeRoux, an emerging 19-years old talent, to recharge the Rowledge batteries - which he did in some style.
A fresher Physics student at Durham university, Le Roux played a series of eye-catching shots, hitting one six and nine fours in a splendid 73.
His 43-run seventh-wicket rally with Will Ryman (21) was the highest of the Rowledge innings of 185.
Sarisbury lost opener Tom Mills for a third ball duck - ironically leg before - and Ricky Rawlins at 33-2, both to Richard Forbes (2-27).
Sam Floyd knuckled down, losing journeyman Cameron Grierson (55-3) whose reaction suggested he was unhappy with his particular leg before decision to Lloyd.
Jack Lovett (18), in a fruitful 48-run stand with Floyd, looked good and strengthened Sarisbury's position.
The left-handed Floyd went on to make a key 53 (one six and nine fours) before handing the baton to Matt Journeaux and Josh Hill to finish the job.
Journeaux (29), on holidays from his teaching job in the Emirates, hardly looked as though he'd been away while Hill cracked a brutal 37 off 15 balls, LeRoux's solitary three deliveries being hit for 16 runs, mainly in the undergrowth ….
With five games to go – the last three against the bottom three clubs in the table – Sarisbury enjoy a healthy 29-point lead at the top, having brushed aside Alton, Calmore Sports and Rowledge, their three closest challengers, in the past few weeks.
Next up is a trip to Southsea seafront to play inconsistent and unpredictable Portsmouth before Ventnor (one of the three sides to beat them) come to Allotment Road on August 13.
The five-wicket win over Rowledge was Sarisbury’s sixth in a row and a tenth in all, underlining their undeniable claim to be the best side in Division 1.
Alas, the way they are going about things is winning them few friends.
Watching the initial hour of the Rowledge match, in which they managed to bowl only 13 overs and Jordan Wright (2-47) take two wickets, was an unedifying experience.
Incessant appealing from all quarters, fielders standing ‘tea-pot’ like and in silence when umpiring decisions didn’t go their way (which few did) and, worse still (it was claimed) unpleasantries being directed at the batsmen.
Captain Josh Hill was spoken to on three separate occasions in the 13th over.
When things quietened and Sarisbury got on with calling the tune with the ball, as opposed to their rants and tongues, MCC man Rob Franklin (3-19) bowled a hugely influential ten-over spell off off-spin.
The dry, dusty conditions were to the liking of the former South Wilts Premier Division title winner, who removed opener Ricky Yates for a patient 31, David Lloyd and Oli Baker in quick succession. Rowledge were soon in deep trouble at 97-6.
It was left to Zach LeRoux, an emerging 19-years old talent, to recharge the Rowledge batteries - which he did in some style.
A fresher Physics student at Durham university, Le Roux played a series of eye-catching shots, hitting one six and nine fours in a splendid 73.
His 43-run seventh-wicket rally with Will Ryman (21) was the highest of the Rowledge innings of 185.
Sarisbury lost opener Tom Mills for a third ball duck - ironically leg before - and Ricky Rawlins at 33-2, both to Richard Forbes (2-27).
Sam Floyd knuckled down, losing journeyman Cameron Grierson (55-3) whose reaction suggested he was unhappy with his particular leg before decision to Lloyd.
Jack Lovett (18), in a fruitful 48-run stand with Floyd, looked good and strengthened Sarisbury's position.
The left-handed Floyd went on to make a key 53 (one six and nine fours) before handing the baton to Matt Journeaux and Josh Hill to finish the job.
Journeaux (29), on holidays from his teaching job in the Emirates, hardly looked as though he'd been away while Hill cracked a brutal 37 off 15 balls, LeRoux's solitary three deliveries being hit for 16 runs, mainly in the undergrowth ….
