Totton & Eling opener Mark Mbofana drives handsomely through the covers. Dave Vokes pic.
Totton & Eling’s proud six-week unbeaten stint as British Gas Southern League Division 2 leaders ended with a dramatic one-wicket defeat at second placed Hartley Wintney.
They fought tooth and nail to defend a modest 211 and were favourites when Hartley slipped to 172-7, but the home tail wagged with the last pair adding a precious ten runs to win the match.
Totton began confidently through openers Sam Bracey (28) and Dan Clouting (38), the formr Sarisbury Athletic wicketkeeper sharing a second half-century stand with Mark Mbofana (55) to take the visitors to 111-2.
Zimbabwean pair Kieran Geyle (25) and Mbofana enhanced Totton’s position before the last seven wickets fell for 39 runs and the visitors plunged from 172-3 to 211 all out.
Hartley soon found themselves 47-4, with Mbofana (2-39) removing key New Zealander Henry Collir in his first over.
Scott Baldwin (13) and Jamie Teale (47) got the reply back on track, adding 77 for the fifth wicket, before Baldwin departed.
Teale and top scorer Will Ross (50) added even more valuable runs, but at 172-7 Hartley still looked a long way from victory.
It was left to captain on the day, Rhys Batcup (batting at eight) to guide them home.
Along with James Beckwith and then Dan Reynaldo they pushed Hartley closer to their target.
However, as wickets fell the tension grew and in the end, it was left to final pair Rhys Batcup and Mark Teale to complete a memorable victory.
Batcup finished unbeaten on 35, having hit two sixes and two fours) as Hartley inched home with three overs to spare.
Trojans, who visit Totton’s Southern Gardens headquarters this Saturday, eased their anxieties in SPL2’s lower echelons leapfrogging Hambledon with a 31-run win.
Malcolm le Bas (37) and Ed Boyd (23) gave Trojans a 71-run start, which Dan Babidge(65) improved upon to enable the Stoneham side to post 219-8.
Hambledon’s response centred around left-hander George Marshall (70), but with Mark Oakden (3-31) making frequent inroads they didn’t really threaten, especially when Rob Atkins (37) was dismissed. They closed 188 all out.
They fought tooth and nail to defend a modest 211 and were favourites when Hartley slipped to 172-7, but the home tail wagged with the last pair adding a precious ten runs to win the match.
Totton began confidently through openers Sam Bracey (28) and Dan Clouting (38), the formr Sarisbury Athletic wicketkeeper sharing a second half-century stand with Mark Mbofana (55) to take the visitors to 111-2.
Zimbabwean pair Kieran Geyle (25) and Mbofana enhanced Totton’s position before the last seven wickets fell for 39 runs and the visitors plunged from 172-3 to 211 all out.
Hartley soon found themselves 47-4, with Mbofana (2-39) removing key New Zealander Henry Collir in his first over.
Scott Baldwin (13) and Jamie Teale (47) got the reply back on track, adding 77 for the fifth wicket, before Baldwin departed.
Teale and top scorer Will Ross (50) added even more valuable runs, but at 172-7 Hartley still looked a long way from victory.
It was left to captain on the day, Rhys Batcup (batting at eight) to guide them home.
Along with James Beckwith and then Dan Reynaldo they pushed Hartley closer to their target.
However, as wickets fell the tension grew and in the end, it was left to final pair Rhys Batcup and Mark Teale to complete a memorable victory.
Batcup finished unbeaten on 35, having hit two sixes and two fours) as Hartley inched home with three overs to spare.
Trojans, who visit Totton’s Southern Gardens headquarters this Saturday, eased their anxieties in SPL2’s lower echelons leapfrogging Hambledon with a 31-run win.
Malcolm le Bas (37) and Ed Boyd (23) gave Trojans a 71-run start, which Dan Babidge(65) improved upon to enable the Stoneham side to post 219-8.
Hambledon’s response centred around left-hander George Marshall (70), but with Mark Oakden (3-31) making frequent inroads they didn’t really threaten, especially when Rob Atkins (37) was dismissed. They closed 188 all out.
