Umpire Denis Batchelor's right index finger is raised as Trojans batsman Rhaul Bhome is trapped leg before wicket by Sparsholt new boy Liam Doran. Bob Shelley picture.
Trojans borrowed Sparsholt’s ground for the day – and then beat their hosts by two runs in a Southern Premier League Division 2 thriller at Locks Lane.
With Stoneham Lane out of commission for the foreseeable future due to well chronicled outfield issues, the match was switched to the Norman Edwards Ground, where Trojans posted a healthy 218-6.
The innings was built around the hugely influential Syed Mahmood (72), who shared a handy partnership with Ed Boyd (26) and later claimed four Sparsholt wickes.
But it was Abdul Manjra’s quick fire 52, which included four sixes and three boundaries, that lifted Trojans to 148-5 and changed the course of the match.
Michael Haworth underpinned Sparsholt’s reply, his knock containing two maximums and ten fours.
His stand with Jerry Frith (20) got Sparsholt off to a good start, which Bournemouth University student Sam Kennett (40) and David Banks (24) enhanced.
Mahmood (4-24) continued to chip away, leaving Lewis Mitchard (25) and Stuart Taylor (15) to set up an enthralling finish.
Sparsholt needed 15 to win off the last over and after Taylor had cleared the ropes it trickled down to needing a four off the last ball. Sparsholt didn’t quite get there and finished two runs short at 216-6.
Relegated Tichborne Park went down by an identical two-run margin after visiting St Cross Symondians had put 154 on the board, former Hampshire Jason Laney (52) hitting a half-century and Kevin Neave (32) holding the tail intact.
Jamie Aldridge (4-34) struck early blows for St Cross, leaving the Allam brothers Will (39) and Tom (33) to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Matt Perry-Lewis (3-30) weighed in with a three-wicket haul, but when things got tight and Tichborne 152-9 in the final over, Aldridge grabbed the final wicket.
With Stoneham Lane out of commission for the foreseeable future due to well chronicled outfield issues, the match was switched to the Norman Edwards Ground, where Trojans posted a healthy 218-6.
The innings was built around the hugely influential Syed Mahmood (72), who shared a handy partnership with Ed Boyd (26) and later claimed four Sparsholt wickes.
But it was Abdul Manjra’s quick fire 52, which included four sixes and three boundaries, that lifted Trojans to 148-5 and changed the course of the match.
Michael Haworth underpinned Sparsholt’s reply, his knock containing two maximums and ten fours.
His stand with Jerry Frith (20) got Sparsholt off to a good start, which Bournemouth University student Sam Kennett (40) and David Banks (24) enhanced.
Mahmood (4-24) continued to chip away, leaving Lewis Mitchard (25) and Stuart Taylor (15) to set up an enthralling finish.
Sparsholt needed 15 to win off the last over and after Taylor had cleared the ropes it trickled down to needing a four off the last ball. Sparsholt didn’t quite get there and finished two runs short at 216-6.
Relegated Tichborne Park went down by an identical two-run margin after visiting St Cross Symondians had put 154 on the board, former Hampshire Jason Laney (52) hitting a half-century and Kevin Neave (32) holding the tail intact.
Jamie Aldridge (4-34) struck early blows for St Cross, leaving the Allam brothers Will (39) and Tom (33) to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Matt Perry-Lewis (3-30) weighed in with a three-wicket haul, but when things got tight and Tichborne 152-9 in the final over, Aldridge grabbed the final wicket.
