FAIR OAK. Standing (from left): Sam Reed, Monam Abbas, Joeh Turner, Tom Clark, Toby Wolverson, Harry Clark. Front: Lewis Goodyear, Matt White (capt), Ben Smith, Nathan Lys, Charlie White.
Fair Oak (pictured) will play Rowledge in the Hampshire Under-19 T20 Cup final at St Cross Symondians' Green Jackets Ground next Sunday (September 12) at 2pm.
Fair Oak successfully defended a modest 118-8 before bowling Portsmouth out for 85, while half-centuries by Zac LeRoux and Oli Ryman pointed Rowledge towards victory over Sparsholt at the Norman Edwards Ground.
Ben Smith shone with bat and ball for Fair Oak, top scoring with 26 before a 4-10 return wrecked Portsmouth's prospects of a place in next Sunday's final.
Openers Ben Smith (26) and Monam Abbas 17 (17) prospered, but Portsmouth took wickets regularly, including two apiece for Joe Smitherman and Joe Eles. A steady 31 by the rapidly maturing Tom Clark saw the visitors to a final total of 118 for 8 – which appeared lightly below par.
Portsmouth started their own innings at eight an over, Smitherman again impressing with some fine shots. But the run rate slowed as wickets began to tumble, Lewis Goodyear taking 2-16 and Joeh Turner 2-11. Smitherman top scored with 37, but was trumped by Smith, the Oaks paceman finishing with a match-winning 4-10. Portsmouth were all out for 85, leaving Fair Oak winners by 33 runs.
Fair Oak (pictured) will play Rowledge in the Hampshire Under-19 T20 Cup final at St Cross Symondians' Green Jackets Ground next Sunday (September 12) at 2pm.
Fair Oak successfully defended a modest 118-8 before bowling Portsmouth out for 85, while half-centuries by Zac LeRoux and Oli Ryman pointed Rowledge towards victory over Sparsholt at the Norman Edwards Ground.
Ben Smith shone with bat and ball for Fair Oak, top scoring with 26 before a 4-10 return wrecked Portsmouth's prospects of a place in next Sunday's final.
Openers Ben Smith (26) and Monam Abbas 17 (17) prospered, but Portsmouth took wickets regularly, including two apiece for Joe Smitherman and Joe Eles. A steady 31 by the rapidly maturing Tom Clark saw the visitors to a final total of 118 for 8 – which appeared lightly below par.
Portsmouth started their own innings at eight an over, Smitherman again impressing with some fine shots. But the run rate slowed as wickets began to tumble, Lewis Goodyear taking 2-16 and Joeh Turner 2-11. Smitherman top scored with 37, but was trumped by Smith, the Oaks paceman finishing with a match-winning 4-10. Portsmouth were all out for 85, leaving Fair Oak winners by 33 runs.

Callum Doran scored a good 50 and with Will Berrill alongside got Sparsholt off to a flying start, taking advantage of some loose bowling.
Two wickets in consective deliveries by Henry Hinchliffe set back the innings but Doran went on to a very good 50 and with support from the mid order had 100-plus at the half way stage. Rowledge were looking at a 180-plus, but a second half come back by Ryman, Foskett and Ollie Hinchliffe sent wickets falling at regular intervals. Rowledge were set a 152 target.
Two early wickets left the visitors at 18-2 but Leroux (left) and Ryman brought the score around to 68-2 at the halfway stage - but Rowledge still had a huge ask on their hands.
The pair suddenly produced a partnership of high quality and with swift running and big hitting turned the game on its head. A century partnership and both retiring at 50 left Rowledge with 28 to get off four overs. Henry Hinchliffe and Alex Macadam to produced some big hitting and sensible batting to win the game with an over to spare. Pictures Bob Selley
Two wickets in consective deliveries by Henry Hinchliffe set back the innings but Doran went on to a very good 50 and with support from the mid order had 100-plus at the half way stage. Rowledge were looking at a 180-plus, but a second half come back by Ryman, Foskett and Ollie Hinchliffe sent wickets falling at regular intervals. Rowledge were set a 152 target.
Two early wickets left the visitors at 18-2 but Leroux (left) and Ryman brought the score around to 68-2 at the halfway stage - but Rowledge still had a huge ask on their hands.
The pair suddenly produced a partnership of high quality and with swift running and big hitting turned the game on its head. A century partnership and both retiring at 50 left Rowledge with 28 to get off four overs. Henry Hinchliffe and Alex Macadam to produced some big hitting and sensible batting to win the game with an over to spare. Pictures Bob Selley