Two rounds in and Totton & Eling are the only club still able to boast an unblemished record in Southern Premier Division 2.
But beating Liphook & Ripsley by one wicket to record a second consecutive victory was a close call – Totton having lurched to 84-5 (chasing 224-7) before Dimitri Adams, with one six and 15 fours in a blistering 89, changed the face of the game. Sam Beer’s 16 not out at the end proved critical.
Earlier, Liphook struggled, slipped to 67-5 (Ethan Taylor 3-30) before Jon Pryce (50), Grant Rouse (36), Andy Barnes (31) and Sean Burton (29), aided by 40 extras, put a competitive total on the board.
Nineteen wickets for 206 runs at Whitemoor Lane, where Paultons inched a slender victory over Fair Oak with four balls to spare and their last pair at the crease.
On a hastily prepared track (the original strip is understood to have been rendered unusable when oil accidentally leaked from a mower while the pitch was under preparation), Fair Oak were shot out for 101 – a target Paultons took all bar four balls to reach, for the loss of nine wickets.
Philip Smith (38) rescued Oaks from a desperate 23-4 (Tony Richman 2-17 with the new ball), but when Paultons lurched to 44-5 (Andy Mash 3-28), it was anyone’s game.
Tom Smart (26) and Richman (15) added 41 before Paultons lost four more wickets for 12 runs. It brought about a nerve jangling climax.
Conor Browne (66) and Steve Harris (44) were Langley Manor’s match winners in the seven-wicket win over Hartley Wintney (141), while Basingstoke & North Hants II got home by three wickets chasing down a South Wilts’ total of 167.
Steven Booth (66) and Rob Pittman (44) anchored the South Wilts total – Chris Chandler returned 4-18 – while Greg Donaldson (48) and Joe Oates (38) did the trick for the Bountymen after early damage caused by James Wade (3-3-34).
The season has begun poorly for Waterlooville, who fell to a second defeat, by 19 runs against St Cross Symondians II, whose 201-8 (Jason Laney 50) proved just too many. Dave Orchard took 4-20 as the Ville were reduced to 182-9.
But beating Liphook & Ripsley by one wicket to record a second consecutive victory was a close call – Totton having lurched to 84-5 (chasing 224-7) before Dimitri Adams, with one six and 15 fours in a blistering 89, changed the face of the game. Sam Beer’s 16 not out at the end proved critical.
Earlier, Liphook struggled, slipped to 67-5 (Ethan Taylor 3-30) before Jon Pryce (50), Grant Rouse (36), Andy Barnes (31) and Sean Burton (29), aided by 40 extras, put a competitive total on the board.
Nineteen wickets for 206 runs at Whitemoor Lane, where Paultons inched a slender victory over Fair Oak with four balls to spare and their last pair at the crease.
On a hastily prepared track (the original strip is understood to have been rendered unusable when oil accidentally leaked from a mower while the pitch was under preparation), Fair Oak were shot out for 101 – a target Paultons took all bar four balls to reach, for the loss of nine wickets.
Philip Smith (38) rescued Oaks from a desperate 23-4 (Tony Richman 2-17 with the new ball), but when Paultons lurched to 44-5 (Andy Mash 3-28), it was anyone’s game.
Tom Smart (26) and Richman (15) added 41 before Paultons lost four more wickets for 12 runs. It brought about a nerve jangling climax.
Conor Browne (66) and Steve Harris (44) were Langley Manor’s match winners in the seven-wicket win over Hartley Wintney (141), while Basingstoke & North Hants II got home by three wickets chasing down a South Wilts’ total of 167.
Steven Booth (66) and Rob Pittman (44) anchored the South Wilts total – Chris Chandler returned 4-18 – while Greg Donaldson (48) and Joe Oates (38) did the trick for the Bountymen after early damage caused by James Wade (3-3-34).
The season has begun poorly for Waterlooville, who fell to a second defeat, by 19 runs against St Cross Symondians II, whose 201-8 (Jason Laney 50) proved just too many. Dave Orchard took 4-20 as the Ville were reduced to 182-9.
