Centurion Ricky Rawlins (left) and Chris Sanders, right.
There was high Village Cup county semi-final drama as Sarisbury Athletic narrowly defended their total of 235 for 6 to overcome Hook & Newnham Basics, a side they had been heavily defeated by in a Southern Premier League Division 1 match the previous weekend.
The match went down to the very last ball over as the visitors finished their innings on 231-7 – just five runs short of the target.
Sarisbury struggled at first as early wickets tumbled. Dan Clouting fell for 4, Matthew Journeaux was out for just 1, and second round double centurion Josh Hill could only add 18.
But while partners fell around him, Ricky Rawlins remained composed at the crease. The Sarisbury captain anchored the innings with an excellent 109, containing a six and ten fours.
He was soon supported in a stand of 155 by Chris Sanders, who scored an unbeaten 90 off 92 balls to get the hosts up to a competitive total of 235-6.
In response, Hook & Newnham started well. Kieran Thomson (49) and Sam Bruin (64) put them in a good position at 86-1.
However, a middle-order collapse initiated by Tom Kitcher (3-39) and Philip Jewell (2-35) saw the visitors dip from 95-1 to 146-6. Useful knocks from teenager Alex Brown (22) and Shane Brewer (31) steadied the innings, but they could not get over the line and Sarisbury celebrated a narrow victory.
Speaking after the match, Jon Floyd, Sarisbury’s chairman of selectors, (who had struck a masterful 96 not out the previous day) was delighted with the performance of Rawlins and Sanders.
“Ricky and Chris were the ones who won us the game,” claims Floyd. “We knew we had to get to 200 plus. If they had got either Rick or Chris out early, or got us out for 160 or 170, that would have never been anywhere near enough.
“The bowlers did well, but if it wasn’t for them two, they would have had no chance.”
Floyd went on discuss the importance of Rawlins as both a batter and a captain. “Ricky has been at the club a number of years, he is the best batsman,” says Jon. “He generally just scores from the word go; there’s no holding him back.
“[He’s also] a really great captain; we’ve got a really young side and he’s definitely the leader. Whatever he says, goes.
“He’s a great club man. He’s brought us through the leagues; not so many years ago we were down in the Hampshire Leagues and now we’re in the Southern [Premier] League Division One.”
And with Rawlins in great form, Floyd is hopeful Sarisbury can progress to the national phase of the competition.
“Well we’re confident. Liphook & Ripsley are a dangerous side. We know them well and won’t be taking them lightly.”
If they were to beat Liphook & Ripsley, it would a huge scalp for the Jon’s club. They were Hampshire’s regional champions in 2017, and last year, they were beaten finalists at Lord’s.
They have also started this season’s tournament in ominous form.
They hammered Overton by 10 wickets in the first round, eased past Hurley Park with eight wickets to spare in the second, and recorded a 78-run victory over Sparsholt in the third.
The match went down to the very last ball over as the visitors finished their innings on 231-7 – just five runs short of the target.
Sarisbury struggled at first as early wickets tumbled. Dan Clouting fell for 4, Matthew Journeaux was out for just 1, and second round double centurion Josh Hill could only add 18.
But while partners fell around him, Ricky Rawlins remained composed at the crease. The Sarisbury captain anchored the innings with an excellent 109, containing a six and ten fours.
He was soon supported in a stand of 155 by Chris Sanders, who scored an unbeaten 90 off 92 balls to get the hosts up to a competitive total of 235-6.
In response, Hook & Newnham started well. Kieran Thomson (49) and Sam Bruin (64) put them in a good position at 86-1.
However, a middle-order collapse initiated by Tom Kitcher (3-39) and Philip Jewell (2-35) saw the visitors dip from 95-1 to 146-6. Useful knocks from teenager Alex Brown (22) and Shane Brewer (31) steadied the innings, but they could not get over the line and Sarisbury celebrated a narrow victory.
Speaking after the match, Jon Floyd, Sarisbury’s chairman of selectors, (who had struck a masterful 96 not out the previous day) was delighted with the performance of Rawlins and Sanders.
“Ricky and Chris were the ones who won us the game,” claims Floyd. “We knew we had to get to 200 plus. If they had got either Rick or Chris out early, or got us out for 160 or 170, that would have never been anywhere near enough.
“The bowlers did well, but if it wasn’t for them two, they would have had no chance.”
Floyd went on discuss the importance of Rawlins as both a batter and a captain. “Ricky has been at the club a number of years, he is the best batsman,” says Jon. “He generally just scores from the word go; there’s no holding him back.
“[He’s also] a really great captain; we’ve got a really young side and he’s definitely the leader. Whatever he says, goes.
“He’s a great club man. He’s brought us through the leagues; not so many years ago we were down in the Hampshire Leagues and now we’re in the Southern [Premier] League Division One.”
And with Rawlins in great form, Floyd is hopeful Sarisbury can progress to the national phase of the competition.
“Well we’re confident. Liphook & Ripsley are a dangerous side. We know them well and won’t be taking them lightly.”
If they were to beat Liphook & Ripsley, it would a huge scalp for the Jon’s club. They were Hampshire’s regional champions in 2017, and last year, they were beaten finalists at Lord’s.
They have also started this season’s tournament in ominous form.
They hammered Overton by 10 wickets in the first round, eased past Hurley Park with eight wickets to spare in the second, and recorded a 78-run victory over Sparsholt in the third.
