St Cross Symondians opener Steve Hirst survives a loud 'leg before' appeal [Keith Woodland/The News]
Portsmouth inflicted a first loss of the season on Southern Premier League Cup Premier/1 East group leaders St Cross Symondians seconds at St Helen's.
The hosts reduced their Winchester-based visitors to 38-7 en route to bowling them out for 104.
Portsmouth skipper James Christian then calmed the nerves - after had the side was back in the Southsea pavilion (aka gazebo) - by guiding his city team to a five-wicket victory.
But St Cross will still top the East group if they can score a decent points win against Rowledge in their final game at the Green Jackets on Saturday, 12.30, writes Simon Carter of The News, Portsmouth.
St Cross had fielded Hampshire pair Felix Organ and Harry Came in the previous week’s triumph against Alton, but neither played against Portsmouth.
Organ was playing in the county’s final Bob Willis Trophy game against Kent at Canterbury, while Ed Ellis was absent with hockey commitments with Oxford Hawks. Came, meanwhile, swapped back to the St Cross Symondians team in the West division which beat Lymington.
The hosts reduced their Winchester-based visitors to 38-7 en route to bowling them out for 104.
Portsmouth skipper James Christian then calmed the nerves - after had the side was back in the Southsea pavilion (aka gazebo) - by guiding his city team to a five-wicket victory.
But St Cross will still top the East group if they can score a decent points win against Rowledge in their final game at the Green Jackets on Saturday, 12.30, writes Simon Carter of The News, Portsmouth.
St Cross had fielded Hampshire pair Felix Organ and Harry Came in the previous week’s triumph against Alton, but neither played against Portsmouth.
Organ was playing in the county’s final Bob Willis Trophy game against Kent at Canterbury, while Ed Ellis was absent with hockey commitments with Oxford Hawks. Came, meanwhile, swapped back to the St Cross Symondians team in the West division which beat Lymington.
 Portsmouth's Joe Kooner-Evans (above) appeals and Jason Laney trudges back to the St Helen's pavilion [Keith Woodland/The News] |  |
Ex-Hampshire batsman Jason Laney opened the innings, though, after St Cross elected to bat first. It was a short visit to the crease as he was bowled by former Portsmouth Grammar School captain Joe Kooner-Evans for a six-ball duck.
Kooner-Evans, now a law student at Swansea University, then dismissed Chris Whelan (1) in identical fashion to make it 4-2.
Steve Hirst and Harry Foyle took the score to 31 before Portsmouth bagged five more wickets for the addition of only seven runs.
Foyle was leg before to Harrison Webb and Ben Gould was caught by Christian off Henry Woolf. Three more wickets tumbled with the score on 38 - Dan Wallis accounting for Hirst and Dylan Clarke with Rob Hadfield trapped leg before to Andy Marston.
Dismissed
Tailender Charlie Bowden staved off even more embarrassment, after St Cross had dived to 51-8, by adding 37 for the ninth wicket with skipper Dave Orchard.
Webb (2-11) and Kooner-Evans (2-17) impressed in their eight-over spells as St Cross were dismissed for 104 in 39 overs.
Marston only conceded 1-5 off his eight overs, including five maidens, while Woolf (2-19 off seven overs) and Wallis (2-39 off seven) were also on the wickets.
Portsmouth didn’t have things all their own way when they replied. Opener Jack Marston was bowled for a duck and Tom Wallis (10), Dan Wallis (1) and Will Smitherman (2) also fell cheaply.
Portsmouth were struggling on 44-5 when Woolf walked out to join his captain in the middle.
But they added an unbroken 61 for the sixth wicket with Christian 30 not out and Woolf 25 not out.
Portsmouth have now won three successive SPL games and will be confident of making it four at rock bottom Sparsholt next weekend. Sparsholt have lost all six games they have played so far.
Kooner-Evans, now a law student at Swansea University, then dismissed Chris Whelan (1) in identical fashion to make it 4-2.
Steve Hirst and Harry Foyle took the score to 31 before Portsmouth bagged five more wickets for the addition of only seven runs.
Foyle was leg before to Harrison Webb and Ben Gould was caught by Christian off Henry Woolf. Three more wickets tumbled with the score on 38 - Dan Wallis accounting for Hirst and Dylan Clarke with Rob Hadfield trapped leg before to Andy Marston.
Dismissed
Tailender Charlie Bowden staved off even more embarrassment, after St Cross had dived to 51-8, by adding 37 for the ninth wicket with skipper Dave Orchard.
Webb (2-11) and Kooner-Evans (2-17) impressed in their eight-over spells as St Cross were dismissed for 104 in 39 overs.
Marston only conceded 1-5 off his eight overs, including five maidens, while Woolf (2-19 off seven overs) and Wallis (2-39 off seven) were also on the wickets.
Portsmouth didn’t have things all their own way when they replied. Opener Jack Marston was bowled for a duck and Tom Wallis (10), Dan Wallis (1) and Will Smitherman (2) also fell cheaply.
Portsmouth were struggling on 44-5 when Woolf walked out to join his captain in the middle.
But they added an unbroken 61 for the sixth wicket with Christian 30 not out and Woolf 25 not out.
Portsmouth have now won three successive SPL games and will be confident of making it four at rock bottom Sparsholt next weekend. Sparsholt have lost all six games they have played so far.
