It’s crunch time for Old Tauntonians & Romsey with the next three matches set to influence their prospects of featuring in the Southern Premier Division 2 promotion race.
They head into the return phase of fixtures – the back nine – comfortably placed second behind unbeaten leaders Hambledon and on a run of seven straight wins.
Now comes the test, starting against third-placed Andover at London Road on Saturday (1230), then a visit to Hambledon before Hartley Wintney come to the Rapids.
OTs won’t need reminding that Andover and Hambledon both beat them in early May, though skipper Charlie King will concede his side was probably undercooked at the time.
Successive win number seven came at Lapstone Park, where Fair Oak were beaten by 39 runs.
OTs started well. Liam Poolman (34), Joe Vaughan (24) and Charlie King (25) took them to 84-3, but a devastating 10 over spell by left-arm Monam Abbas, six wickets for 14 runs, gave Oaks the upper hand.
A former Hampshire Academy cricketer Abbas was beginning his Oaks comeback after a spell with Premier Division strugglers Burridge.
Harry Tulk (37) (left) possessed the technique to survive the carnage and saw five brief batting partners depart for ducks as OTs plunged to 105-8.
However, his crucial ninth-wicket stand of 64 with Gus Flack (29) took OTs to a far healthier 182 all out.
Abbas wasn’t the only left-arm spinner to influence proceedings as Matt Bampton (2-22) removed Ben Smith and Ed Kemp in quick succession before a 69 stand between the Reed brothers, Harry (40) and Sam (31), brought the Oaks side back into contention.
But Fair Oak, relatively comfortable at 109-4, then caved in against Hakim Peruzi (3-21), Jordan Ponting (2-37) and Rhys Wathen (2-17).
Fair Oak were bowled out for 143 in 44.4 overs to give OTR their seventh straight win by 39 runs.
Babu Veettil, who was driving from his home in Ilford/Essex to play for Andover last season, continues to burn up the miles and the wickets for the Lions - his 5-22 return setting up a rather unconvincing three-wicket win over Hook & Newnham Basics, who were dismissed for 137 (Dan Moore 35)at the KGV.
Andover were cruising it at 108-3, but lost four more wickets - three of them to Oli James (who had earlier made 28) - before they got over the line.
Jonny Kerr hit his highest competitive score of 89 as Hartley Wintney went on a 308-run frenzy against Southern Premier Division 2 strugglers Fawley at the Cricket Green.
They went on to win by a thumping 239 runs after Dan Reynaldo and Scott Baldwin took three wickets each as Fawley were skittled for 69.
Opening pair Kerr and teenager Ben Williams (44) cleared the boundary rope seven times, Kerr also hitting ten boundaries before his partnership with Hugo Hammond (31) ended at 180.
James Mulvey (66) took only 39 balls over his knock while Will Ross (26) chipped in before Wayne Smith (4-46) and Bailey Parratt (3-45) put some bowling bonus points on the board for the visitors.
Fawley, quickly 8-2 and later 24-4, were partially revived by Sufian Munir (28), but their last six wickets fell for 12 runs.
Jason Laney and Matt Swann shared an unbroken 137-run partnership as St Cross Symondians seconds powered to a nine-wicket win over their Bashley (Rydal) counterparts, who are now only two points ahead of them in the Southern Premier Division 2 relegation zone.
Laney hit an undefeated 94 and Swann 76 not out as St Cross cruised past their hosts’ 200 all out with 16 overs to spare. Laney hit two sixes and 14 fours, while Swann beat the rope ten times.
Depleted by the absence of a host of unavailable players, Bashley progressed to 110-2 through Finn Gordon 30), Saif Achalazi (25) and Josh Parsons (26), but Hampshire Ladies all-rounder Finty Trussler (3-50) celebrated her first SPL wickets and with Dave Orchard (3-24) triggered Bashley’s general decline.
Middle-order pair Tom Penycote (34) and Sam Stroud (32) rebooted the innings, but the tail folded in alarming fashion with the last five wickets falling for 14 runs and Bashley to 200 all out.
They head into the return phase of fixtures – the back nine – comfortably placed second behind unbeaten leaders Hambledon and on a run of seven straight wins.
Now comes the test, starting against third-placed Andover at London Road on Saturday (1230), then a visit to Hambledon before Hartley Wintney come to the Rapids.
OTs won’t need reminding that Andover and Hambledon both beat them in early May, though skipper Charlie King will concede his side was probably undercooked at the time.
Successive win number seven came at Lapstone Park, where Fair Oak were beaten by 39 runs.
OTs started well. Liam Poolman (34), Joe Vaughan (24) and Charlie King (25) took them to 84-3, but a devastating 10 over spell by left-arm Monam Abbas, six wickets for 14 runs, gave Oaks the upper hand.
A former Hampshire Academy cricketer Abbas was beginning his Oaks comeback after a spell with Premier Division strugglers Burridge.
Harry Tulk (37) (left) possessed the technique to survive the carnage and saw five brief batting partners depart for ducks as OTs plunged to 105-8.
However, his crucial ninth-wicket stand of 64 with Gus Flack (29) took OTs to a far healthier 182 all out.
Abbas wasn’t the only left-arm spinner to influence proceedings as Matt Bampton (2-22) removed Ben Smith and Ed Kemp in quick succession before a 69 stand between the Reed brothers, Harry (40) and Sam (31), brought the Oaks side back into contention.
But Fair Oak, relatively comfortable at 109-4, then caved in against Hakim Peruzi (3-21), Jordan Ponting (2-37) and Rhys Wathen (2-17).
Fair Oak were bowled out for 143 in 44.4 overs to give OTR their seventh straight win by 39 runs.
Babu Veettil, who was driving from his home in Ilford/Essex to play for Andover last season, continues to burn up the miles and the wickets for the Lions - his 5-22 return setting up a rather unconvincing three-wicket win over Hook & Newnham Basics, who were dismissed for 137 (Dan Moore 35)at the KGV.
Andover were cruising it at 108-3, but lost four more wickets - three of them to Oli James (who had earlier made 28) - before they got over the line.
Jonny Kerr hit his highest competitive score of 89 as Hartley Wintney went on a 308-run frenzy against Southern Premier Division 2 strugglers Fawley at the Cricket Green.
They went on to win by a thumping 239 runs after Dan Reynaldo and Scott Baldwin took three wickets each as Fawley were skittled for 69.
Opening pair Kerr and teenager Ben Williams (44) cleared the boundary rope seven times, Kerr also hitting ten boundaries before his partnership with Hugo Hammond (31) ended at 180.
James Mulvey (66) took only 39 balls over his knock while Will Ross (26) chipped in before Wayne Smith (4-46) and Bailey Parratt (3-45) put some bowling bonus points on the board for the visitors.
Fawley, quickly 8-2 and later 24-4, were partially revived by Sufian Munir (28), but their last six wickets fell for 12 runs.
Jason Laney and Matt Swann shared an unbroken 137-run partnership as St Cross Symondians seconds powered to a nine-wicket win over their Bashley (Rydal) counterparts, who are now only two points ahead of them in the Southern Premier Division 2 relegation zone.
Laney hit an undefeated 94 and Swann 76 not out as St Cross cruised past their hosts’ 200 all out with 16 overs to spare. Laney hit two sixes and 14 fours, while Swann beat the rope ten times.
Depleted by the absence of a host of unavailable players, Bashley progressed to 110-2 through Finn Gordon 30), Saif Achalazi (25) and Josh Parsons (26), but Hampshire Ladies all-rounder Finty Trussler (3-50) celebrated her first SPL wickets and with Dave Orchard (3-24) triggered Bashley’s general decline.
Middle-order pair Tom Penycote (34) and Sam Stroud (32) rebooted the innings, but the tail folded in alarming fashion with the last five wickets falling for 14 runs and Bashley to 200 all out.