Jack Marston
Unlucky Portsmouth opener Jack Marston struck his third Southern Premier League century for the Southsea club - and for the third time finished on the losing side!
Marston hit 104 as Portsmouth, asked to chase youthful Rowledge’s 269-6 total in the St Helens sunshine, finished just 12 runs short of victory, writes Simon Carter of the Portsmouth News..
Remarkably, it was a mirror image of another Division 1 game against Liphook & Ripsley in 2017 where Marston had compiled a career best 129 not out. On that occasion, Portsmouth also finished 12 runs short after being asked to chase 278.
Marston’s first SPL ton was his 102 against Totton & Eling IIs in a Division 2 fixture in 2014, where Portsmouth were also beaten.
Openers Marston and skipper Ben Duggan (48) put on 80 for the first wicket against table-topping Rowledge before the latter fell.
Marston then shared an 84-run partnership for the second wicket with James Mitchell (46). When that stand was ended, Sri Lankan overseas all-rounder Minhaj Jalill promptly collected his second duck in three Division 1 outings.
Wicketkeeper Sujeeth Daini (28) helped Marston add 59 for the sixth wicket before the latter was finally dismissed – trying to play a fanciful ramp shot - by sporting all-rounder Oli Ryman - who is having youth football trials for Chelsea - after hitting 13 fours in a 138-ball innings.
Marston hit 104 as Portsmouth, asked to chase youthful Rowledge’s 269-6 total in the St Helens sunshine, finished just 12 runs short of victory, writes Simon Carter of the Portsmouth News..
Remarkably, it was a mirror image of another Division 1 game against Liphook & Ripsley in 2017 where Marston had compiled a career best 129 not out. On that occasion, Portsmouth also finished 12 runs short after being asked to chase 278.
Marston’s first SPL ton was his 102 against Totton & Eling IIs in a Division 2 fixture in 2014, where Portsmouth were also beaten.
Openers Marston and skipper Ben Duggan (48) put on 80 for the first wicket against table-topping Rowledge before the latter fell.
Marston then shared an 84-run partnership for the second wicket with James Mitchell (46). When that stand was ended, Sri Lankan overseas all-rounder Minhaj Jalill promptly collected his second duck in three Division 1 outings.
Wicketkeeper Sujeeth Daini (28) helped Marston add 59 for the sixth wicket before the latter was finally dismissed – trying to play a fanciful ramp shot - by sporting all-rounder Oli Ryman - who is having youth football trials for Chelsea - after hitting 13 fours in a 138-ball innings.
That set the scene for South African 19-year-old off-spinner Ash-Lee Harvey (left) (4-36) to take centre stage.
With Harvey removing Daini, Steven Warner (4) and Henry Woolf (3) - as well as running out Ashan Silva for a duck - Portsmouth closed on 258-9 off their 50 overs. Their last five wickets fell for ten runs.
Zac Le Roux (68), a fresher at Durham University, had earlier hit a SPL best as Rowledge - with six home-grown teenagers in their XI - rattled up 269-6 after electing to bat.
Opener Ricky Yates, once a teenager himself, hit 41 off 53 balls before Rowledge stepped on the accelerator - Harvey hitting 30 off 24 deliveries, Le Roux collecting 10 boundaries in his 30-ball knock, Ryman swatting 34 off 16 balls (with three sixes) and Ryan Littlewood ending unbeaten on 43 off 30 deliveries.
Silva conceded 63 runs off his wicketless seven-over stint, while Rakshith Rao took 2-63. Jalill avoided coming in for any punishment, with 2-21 off his 10 overs.
* Rowledge host second placed Ventnor in a top of the table clash at Church Road on Saturday, 1230.
With Harvey removing Daini, Steven Warner (4) and Henry Woolf (3) - as well as running out Ashan Silva for a duck - Portsmouth closed on 258-9 off their 50 overs. Their last five wickets fell for ten runs.
Zac Le Roux (68), a fresher at Durham University, had earlier hit a SPL best as Rowledge - with six home-grown teenagers in their XI - rattled up 269-6 after electing to bat.
Opener Ricky Yates, once a teenager himself, hit 41 off 53 balls before Rowledge stepped on the accelerator - Harvey hitting 30 off 24 deliveries, Le Roux collecting 10 boundaries in his 30-ball knock, Ryman swatting 34 off 16 balls (with three sixes) and Ryan Littlewood ending unbeaten on 43 off 30 deliveries.
Silva conceded 63 runs off his wicketless seven-over stint, while Rakshith Rao took 2-63. Jalill avoided coming in for any punishment, with 2-21 off his 10 overs.
* Rowledge host second placed Ventnor in a top of the table clash at Church Road on Saturday, 1230.
