Opener Jonty Sebborn returns from Exeter University to potentially boost the Rowledge batting against Southern Premier Division 1 rivals Sarisbury Athletic at Allotment Road, 12.30.
His inclusion is the only change in the Rowledge team which beat Portsmouth in a curtain raiser thriller last week, with teenager Ethan Martin doubtless having been on the receiving end of some leg pulls from his team-mates after being dismissed Handled the Ball !
Sarisbury were heavily beaten by New Milton, having had their top order batting seriously weakened by the flamboyant Sam Floyd’s decision to play golf instead of cricket this summer.
Rowledge: Ben Wish, Jake Wish, Ollie Baker, David Lloyd, Jonty Sebborn, Ricky Yates, Sam Plater, Ryan Littlewood, Ethan Martin, Olly Ryman, Zac Le Reux.
Portsmouth and Andover, who each lost their opening games, meet at St Helen’s, Southsea, where the pavilion and clubhouse refurbishment is well under way.
Skipper James Christian is absent for Portsmouth, while Ali Hooper misses out for the Lions. Ben Duggan wears the city captain’s armband, while spin all-rounder Charlie Ayres comes in for the visitors.
Portsmouth: Duggan, J Marston, Hammond, T Wallis, Hirani, Smitherman, D Wallis, Woolf, McArdle, A Marston, Webb.
Opening day winners Calmore Sports and Sparsholt – both involved in Village Cup second round action on Sunday - go head to head at the Norman Edwards Ground.
Calmore Sports: Bailey, Johns, Johnson, Lavelle, Lepervanche, Moss, Parker, Perry, Taylor, West, Wright.
In the other matches, Basingstoke & North Hants host an unchanged New Milton at May’s Bounty, where the Green & Golds aim to expand on last week's Lee Beck inspired 70-run win at Sarisbury Athletic.
New Milton: Watts, Edwards, Greig, Hall, L Beck, Golding, Hussey, Loader, Mills, R Beck, Bartlett.
Totton & Eling visit St Cross Symondians II, minus teen all-rounder Tommy Cheater, who has been called up by the Hampshire Academy.
Bashley (Rydal)’s Neil Taylor, nearing ‘legendary’ status at the BCG, is three victims shy of 1,000 competitive wickets in his career – a milestone he could achieve at Fair Oak.
Now in his mid-fifties, Taylor has enjoyed a fantastic career, having played for Middlesex, the Minor Counties, Dorset and SPL and HCB representative teams, besides his ‘home town’ clubs New Milton and Bashley (Rydal).
Bashley (Rydal) II: Francis, O’Sullivan, Morris, R Taylor, Underwood, Achakzai, Mulley, Baker, Penycate, N Taylor, Read.
South Wilts II host OTs & Romsey, their closest rivals, at Bemerton, with the visitors eager to build on last weekend’s three-wicket success over Liphook & Ripsley.
South Wilts II: Cranch, Litchfield, Pearce, Edwards, Pittman, Falconer, Pittman, Warner, Partridge, Atkinson, Brewer.
Elsewhere, Fawley host Ventnor at Holbury , both sides having lost their first match.
In Premier Division 3, Hambledon host near neighbours Purbrook, boosted by Chris Pratt's weekend return from Loughborough, but handicapped by one-time Hampshire left-arm spinner Ian Turner having a broken toe and James Marshall, who has a fractured finger. Opening bowler James Restall has a Churcher's College match.
Neither Hambledon nor Portsmouth & Southsea got going last weekend - their match at St James's Park was rained off - so P & S look to break the ice on Waterside against Hythe & Dibden at Jones Lane.
Hythe rattled up 249-4 at Basingstoke last week, with Tom Gates and Matt Young in good nick, but they still lost in a thrilling finish.
Hythe & Dibden:T Richards, T Gates, M Young, Z Millar, S Redford, W Mckay, A Wakely, A Nicholas, D Taylor, N Vaughan, T Ndowora.
Hook & Newnham Basics II look to improve on their round one win over Gosport Borough at Langley Manor, while Gosport Borough and Trojans aim to win their first games at Privett Park.
Hook & Newnham Basics II: Light, Bruin, James, Brown, Warner, Allnutt B, Gardner, Balcombe, May, Shore, Neville.
Tichborne Park host Basingstoke & North Hants II, who pipped Hythe & Dibden in a May's Bounty thriller.
